Hello and welcome to Byte Size Cruises! If this is your first time here, we are glad you found us. We are a small travel agency in Philadelphia, PA and we specialize in all things cruises. If you are interested in cruising or would like to plan and go on your best cruise vacation, you are in the right place! Our goal here is to give you the best information available so you can enjoy your time at sea. Today we are breaking down travel insurance. Have you ever been on a trip and been confused about whether or not the travel insurance is a good idea for you? This post is all about whether or not travel insurance is a good idea for you on your next cruise.
Travel insurance comes at a cost. Depending on the insurance provider, the price can be based on a handful of things such as your age, where you are traveling to, the length of your trip, etc. The insurance company you go with is a personal choice and we highly recommend you read all the fine print to make sure you are receiving the amount of coverage you feel comfortable with. Not all insurance companies are the same; do your homework. You can purchase travel insurance either through the cruise line that you book the cruise with or a separate company.
Now, why would you need travel insurance?
1. Purchase for Cancellation Insurance
The first concept is pretty common: you simply need to cancel your cruise. This can happen to anyone who wants to cancel a cruise and you don't want to reschedule. For example, we have seen this happen to cruisers who have medical emergencies or deaths in the family, etc. where they need to pivot their focus and cannot cruise. This also could apply if you have an unpredictable job and suddenly need to cancel due to a work commitment. Keep in mind, if you are purchasing insurance in case of cancellation, it is more expensive and will cover about 95% of your outlying costs. In order to qualify for reimbursement, you'll need to purchase cancellation insurance prior to your final payment.
2. Cancel for a Valid Reason Insurance
This type of insurance is generally covered in most insurance binders. This type of insurance can be used if you have a personal medical emergency and you are no longer able to travel (for example, you break a bone or come down with an illness.) Often this type of insurance will cover a death in your immediate family or in a situation where you need to care for someone in your immediate family following an illness or surgery. Again, make sure you read the fine print to check what is covered and what is not. Also, keep in mind that if you should need to use this type of insurance you will need to prove the legitimacy of your claim.
3. Medical Emergencies
This is the number one space where we recommend travel insurance. If you have a medical situation on the ship and need to receive care, the ship will charge your Sea Pass card for the care if you do not have insurance. You will not be permitted to leave the ship until payment is rendered for services received. This is one of the reasons why it's really important to read your cruise contract and make sure you understand what you are saying yes to when you board that ship. This is a reason it might make sense for you to use a travel agent. A good agent will know exactly what the fine print is and can make recommendations to you based on the vacation you are going on and what you are looking for.
Here is another example; let's say that someone in your travel party has a stroke and they need to be taken by a helicopter off the ship. Without travel insurance, that can run you anywhere from 25K to 100K. That is lifelong medical debt. Also, if you are abroad and at port keep in mind that your American medical insurance will not work there. If something should happen in another country your travel insurance will cover your medical costs.
Just like any insurance, we can complain about the high premiums and question whether or not we really need it. However, at the end of the day, when you need travel insurance, you REALLY need it. We absolutely recommend having travel insurance when you cruise.
4. Personal Liability
This type of insurance covers the situation where you accidentally break or damage something of high value while traveling.
Some things that might be covered under travel insurance that you might not know:
1. Missing a Port. If you miss a port due to bad weather, etc. with some insurance companies you can fill out a form and get some of your money back.
2. Missing Luggage
3. Delayed Flights
4. In the case a flight is canceled and you need to book something else or get a hotel.
5. Natural disasters that disrupt travel (hurricanes, etc.)
In all of these situations, you can look at your insurance rider and see if they are covered for some kind of reimbursement.
At the end of the day, insurance is peace of mind. If you are planning a cruise, look into your insurance options and choose what makes the most sense for you. Do your homework and make sure to protect yourself for those "just in case" moments.