How does travel insurance work for a cruise?
A cruise is a great way to experience multiple vacations stops in a safe and organized manner. Your ship takes you from one port to another, allowing you to experience new locales without having to worry about traveling from one to the other. Not only that, but the cruise ship itself is often an adventure. Featuring live entertainment, amazing food, on board pools, and seemingly endless activities, there is no shortage of things to do while out on the open water. For some, it is the ultimate way to travel. And while it is quite a unique way to travel, there is one way it is just like every other trip, you need to ensure you have proper travel insurance.
Classic travel insurance
If you are a traveler, you know that getting affordable travel insurance is an important part of your trip planning. However, even seasoned travellers may not know that travel insurance doesn’t always come in the form of a “one size fits all” policy. For example, if you are heading out west to conquer the snow hills, you’ll want a travel policy that includes additional ski/snowboard protection.
While you can still opt for traditional travel insurance, with its emergency medical, trip delay/cancellation, and baggage coverage, vacations with added risk outside the norm benefit from seeking additional protection. While it may not seem like it a first blush, a cruise falls into the category of one of those vacation where you may want to seek out additional coverage.
Cruise insurance
Cruise insurance goes above and beyond your typically travel insurance, and offers protection catered to the risks associated with taking a cruise.
Emergency evacuation – Medical emergencies can happen anywhere, which is why you need to have medical emergency travel coverage when you travel. However, needing immediate medical attention while on a cruise is slightly different than it would be on other vacations taking place on land. Yes they have trained medical staff on board, but if you require a hospital, things can become tricky. When on open water, there are not many options to get you to a hospital, so chances are a medi-vac helicopter would be needed, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Cruise insurance helps to cover emergency medical transportation, such as this, above and beyond traditional travel insurance.
Extreme weather – A cruise poses a new level of weather risks, especially down in Caribbean destinations. While you can’t get compensation if it rains every day of your trip you, can get coverage for extreme weather situations that hinder your cruise. If your cruise is delayed or cut short due to extreme weather such as a hurricane, you may be forced to stay in hotels, rebook flights, etc. Often your cruise line will cover some of the costs, but in the event that they do not or do not cover it for the extent that you need, your cruise specific travel insurance will.
Trip/port delay/cancelation – On a traditional vacation your travel insurance will help cover you if you miss your flight thanks to your cab breaking down on the way, or if you have to cancel thanks to a sudden illness. However, if you miss your flight during a cruise vacation, chances are you will also miss your ship, as the high seas wait for nobody. Additional cruise coverage will help you get to the next port if you miss your initial flight, allowing you to get on your cruise at the next possible opportunity. It will also help you if you get delayed at a port (for legitimate reasons), helping you with lodgings and getting you to the next port. And, if you find yourself needing to cut your trip short for an emergency, your cruise coverage will help you get home from the nearest port.
Traveling to a country with mandatory travel insurance
There are three countries that require you to have travel insurance to enter, Cuba, Poland, and Czech Republic. If one of those destinations are on your Cruise itinerary, you must be able to provide proof that you have valid emergency medical coverage. Speak to your booking agent or read your travel package carefully to know where your ship will be going and what ports would will have to pass through.