CRUISE TRAVEL INSURANCE
Taking a cruise holiday is becoming increasingly popular with travellers, with the number of cruising holiday bookings hitting the 1.5 million mark this year.
As well as being the favourite choice of the over 65’s, cruise holidays are also becoming a popular alternative with families as well.
So it becomes even more important to make sure that you have the appropriate travel insurance when you go on your cruise.
This is where cruise travel insurance comes in. Cruise insurance is just like normal travel insurance but is specifically designed for cruise holidays and provides some extra protections.
Some of the things that cruise travel insurance should specifically provide cover against are:
- A missed port.
- Cabin confinement.
- Any unused excursions.
- Departure delay – due to technical reasons or adverse weather.
- Cancellation of cruise.
A good cruise insurance policy should also cover you during any time spent on land at stopover destinations along the way, as well as whilst aboard the ship.
There are however a few things that most, if not all, cruise holiday insurance policies will not cover, such as:
- An Itinerary Change – Changes in your cruise travel schedule are sometimes unavoidable due to adverse weather or shipping hazards and most cruise insurance policies will not compensate for them.
- Change of heart – If you decide you no longer want to go on the cruise holiday most polices will not reimburse you.
- Financial Instability – If you lose your job or could no longer afford to pay for your cruising holiday you would not usually be covered. However some providers will now let you add this option as an extra clause.
- Bad Weather – As long as it doesn’t affect your departure or duration of trip.
- Any Pre-Existing Medical Conditions – Unless you declared them when booking your cruise holiday insurance.
- Free Cruises – These types of cruise holidays are usually exempt from travel insurance cover.
- Pregnancy or Childbirth – Unless emergency medical aid is required this will not usually be covered. Note that many cruise lines will not allow women who are more than 28 weeks pregnant to book a cruise with them.
However despite these exclusions you must still get cruise travel insurance.
In fact most cruise lines will insist upon you having it when you book your cruise holiday.
So where should you buy your cruise insurance from? Well many of the cruise line operators offer their own insurance and although that is an easy and convenient way to buy, it is not actually the best option.
Cheaper cruise holiday insurance can normally be bought from independent or specialist cruise insurance providers. They can provide particular cover for a world cruise, a family cruise, a Caribbean cruise or a European cruise. Even if you are only going on a short cruise or a mini cruise you will find that they can offer cheap cruise holiday insurance.
As well as being less expensive, cruise travel insurance from a third-party insurer usually offers you much better protection, especially if the cruise line goes into bankruptcy. Making claims is also normally much more straightforward and you get your cash back, rather than the cruise credits that some cruise liners insurance offers.