How to Get the Best Travel Insurance for a Cruise?

Posted on: Sep 15, 2022 | 3 Min | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

How to Get the Best Travel Insurance for a Cruise?

Under the spell of any unfortunate circumstances, you might need to cancel your cruise trip. Sometimes the situation may turn out so sour that it may twist even the best-laid cruise trip plan. Similar to the events like the onset of any pandemic like Covid 19, you are left with no other option but to cancel the trip. Maybe, during your journey, you may fall seriously ill and need immediate professional medical attention, or because of the lack of punctuality of the vessel, you might even miss your flight back home.

To handle such unfortunate tough situations, you need befitting travel insurance. However, you must remember that not all cruise insurances cover every sort of probable anomaly. Depending on the terms, conditions, rules, and regulations of the concerned insurance company, the coverage scope of every cruise policy varies. That is why you need to read and understand the entire policy document to understand the inclusions and exclusions of the concerned plan.

What Does Travel Insurance Cover During a Cruise?

Any standard cruise insurance policy covers various issues that may go wrong before and during your cruise. Most plans often duly reimburse the cost of the cruise during unavoidable cancellation. They even cover costs like flying home amidst the cruise as the ship broke down midway. These typical circumstances are technically labelled as trip cancellation and interruption, respectively.

Some of the cruise insurances even cover certain out-of-the-pocket expenses related to flight cancellations or delays resulting in cruise departure. Moreover, baggage loss expenses are also covered. However, more essentially, cruise insurances cover the medical expenses you incur during your journey. Moreover, if you are trapped amidst any medical emergency crisis, some insurance plans will even cover the evacuation costs from any foreign land. The design of certain policies even allows for coverages of the default of the concerned travel service provider.

A cruise travel plan never covers every issue. For example, no standard travel insurers ever reimburse the expense of the concerned cruise that you might cancel because of the looming worries about any pandemic. To enjoy such coverages, you need to seek more expensive cruise insurance options that offer coverage irrespective of the reason for cancellation.

Where Do You Find the Best Cruise Travel Policy Options?

You can easily purchase any cruise insurance policy directly from the cruise line while booking your trip or in case you use a travel agent, the agency will arrange it. Depending on your preference, you can even approach a third-party travel insurance provider or any travel insurance aggregator site to complete the task. However, whichever method you choose, you need to know certain details.

• Third-party Insurance Companies

Third-party insurance companies specialise in writing various travel insurance companies like Allianz Travel, AIG Travel, American Express Travel Insurance, Travelex Insurance, etc. one of the essential reasons for using a travel aggregator or a travel agent is that they are capable of providing befitting policies offering added coverage specific to the requirements of cruising.

Several plans specifically appeal to the cruise travellers like missed port-of-call, cruise disablement coverage, missed port-of-call, etc. missed connection coverage easily reimburses the cruisers for a specific amount in case they require travel rebooking for catching up with the cruise at the following port.

Missed port-of-call coverage pays for a benefit in case the concerned cruise ship misses any pre-scheduled port of call because of unfavourable weather conditions, mechanical breakdown or any natural disaster. Cruise disablement coverage pays for benefits if the concerned traveller remains confined on any ship for over five hours without food, water, restroom, or power.

The terms, conditions, rules, and regulations of the travel policies may widely vary depending on the concerned company’s tactics. It is best to make a comparative study of different plans, ensuring that it involves the essential feature as per your requirement. One size never fits all.

• Credit Cards with Various Travel Benefits

Certain premium credit cards offer essential travel protection, which may be comparable to what you might achieve from any standard travel insurance strategy. For instance, paying for any travel insurance using a selected variety of cards will reimburse the expenses incurred if the baggage gets damaged, overnight stranding because of flight cancellation or delay or while returning home due to any family emergency reasons.

You need to pay for a portion or sometimes the entire part of the concerned trip with that particular credit card to enjoy all the relevant advantages in full. Before purchasing, you must ensure if your credit card offers coverage limits, foreign hospital bill payment, travel accident insurance, pre-existing medical conditions and its average tenure for reimbursement.

• Cruise Lines

Cruise lines generally ask the consumers to buy the protection offered by the line while booking any cruise trip through them. However, you must clear all the necessary details beforehand, like review coverage perks and limits, and then compare it with at least two other independent policies or the benefits your credit card offers to make a clear assessment.

However, you have to keep in mind that travel insurance plans at times offer quirks. Several cruise companies only offer credit for the future or a travel voucher for using it during covered cancellation and do not provide an outright refund.

Moreover, financial default may also remain excluded from a cruise line plan. However, it is essentially covered by third-party travel insurance plans. Although cruise-line insurance has been more inclusive compared to its previous styles, it still does not cover pre-or-post-travel arrangements or air arrangements in case these elements are bought through the concerned cruise line.

What is the Average Cost of Cruise Insurance?

Any standard and reputable insurance company offer a “free-look” period, in which you are eligible to receive an entire refund of your premium. This provides you to review your selected plan and return it irrespective of the reason within the stipulated time. Under general circumstances, you are not required to buy any cancel for any reason add-on to your cruise plan unless you need any flexibility. However, such sort of upgrades is considerably pricier.

What are the Major Reasons for Buying Cruise Insurance?

Buying travel insurance depends on several factors. However, before buying cruise insurance, you must consider certain crucial factors where having such a policy might save the day. If you need evacuation for medical reasons, it might be quite expensive. Under such circumstances, possessing a cruise plan might come in handy. Moreover, weather conditions remain independent of any plan or program. It might lead to unpredictable cancellations, interruptions, or delays. It is best to keep yourself covered in such situations.

In case of any crucial circumstances, the cost of things will mount higher. Moreover, the cruise medical facilities cannot support serious medical illnesses, especially if you possess pre-existing medical conditions. Having befitting cruise insurance might save your day.

FAQs

1. What insurance do I need for a cruise?

As you prepare for a cruise, get a cruise insurance plan (or comprehensive travel insurance in the absence of a specific insurance plan for a cruise). This type of coverage will protect you against various risks on a cruise, like trip cancellations, medical emergencies, the loss of belongings, and misplaced documents or other valuables.

2. Should you have travel insurance for a cruise?

Yes, travel insurance covers more than just flights and hotels and includes coverage for cruises. Consider travel insurance for a cruise as a safety net against trip interruptions, medical emergencies, or the unfortunate event of lost luggage. It will add an extra layer of security to your trip, allowing you to enjoy your journey with peace of mind.

3. Can you buy travel insurance after booking a cruise?

Yes, it is possible to purchase travel insurance after booking your cruise. However, pre-existing medical conditions might be excluded from coverage if you wait. Purchasing one during the booking process for the maximum coverage options and rates is recommended. With travel insurance for a cruise, you will be protected against issues that may arise before (like cruise cancellation) or during the cruise (like medical emergencies or loss of luggage).

4. What’s the difference between cruise insurance and travel insurance?

While cruise and general travel insurance offer general travel protection, they fulfil distinct purposes. Cruise insurance is designed for the unique risks of a cruise holiday, such as itinerary changes and missed ports. On the other hand, general travel insurance provides broader coverage, including various travel-related uncertainties such as flights and accommodations. When choosing between the two, assess your individual needs and preferences, costs, coverage, and the terms and conditions of your policy regarding inclusions and exclusions.

Conclusion

Cruise insurance is not made for every type of traveller heading for the sea, nor they are inexpensive. However, it offers you a lot of peace of mind by offering coverage for several crucial situations. Be it air travel or sea travel. International travel insurance is the ultimate protective shield in case of any foreign travel.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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