How Much Is Cruise Insurance
The cost of a cruise insurance policy depends on a number of factors, including:
- The cost of your trip
- Date of first and final payment
- How long you’re traveling
- Which country are you are going to
- Your age
- Which state you live in
For an eight-day cruise to Mexico in November 2020, this table illustrates the cost to insure a $3,500 trip with economy, mid-level and premium cruise insurance policies from third-party providers. With these three providers, prices ranged from $131 to $246, depending on the carrier and the coverage level.
| Insurance Company |
|---|
| $174 |
Norwegiancruise Cancellation Protection Cancel For Any Reason
Those of us who have ever booked an airline ticket know that airlines love to charge an absolute fortune for the privilege of buying a refundable ticket. Actually, Southwest allow you to cancel your flight and re-credit to a future booking, but they are an exception. Many cruise lines offer similar flexibility to Southwest if you buy their travel insurance. Norwegian is one of those.
So, if you buy Norwegian Cruise Travel Insurance, you will get Norwegian’s version of Cancel for Any Reason protection built in. It is not, strictly, insurance, as you will not get your money back if you cancel. You will get a credit to be used for future cruises, which is a pretty good substitute.
Norwegian Cruise Travel Insurance offers two alternatives Platinum or Standard. Standard will provide a credit of 75% of your funds if you cancel your cruise with Norwegian. You can then use these funds for a future cruise. Platinum offers a 90% credit. The cover is expensive, but travelers may well benefit from it. A sensible alternative to Norwegians Cancel for Any Reason cover would be the Cancel for Any Reason protection that is embedded into many Comprehensive Travel Insurance policies. We will show a few alternatives later in this article.
What Coverages Should You Look Out For In Your Cruise Travel Insurance
The following is a comprehensive list of the coverages that are most useful to cruise travelers.
Medical coverage This is of utmost importance as it provides coverage for emergency medical and dental care in the case of a sudden illness or injury on your cruise.
Cancellation coverage This type of coverage offers reimbursement for your pre-paid travel expenses if you have to cancel your trip due to any of the reasons mentioned in the policy schedule.
Coverage against evacuation In case the ship needs to be evacuated, the cover arranges and pays for medically necessary evacuations or for the repatriation of a travelers remains.
Missed connection coverage This coverage comes in handy for travelers who encounter extreme climatic conditions while sailing, unplanned labour strikes, and overbooking errors.
Trip interruption coverage – Enjoy reimbursement for your pre-paid travel expenses if you have to end or curtail your trip and return home.
Read Also: Do Cruise Ships Go Through The Panama Canal
Can I Get Cruise Insurance If I Have A Pre
Similarly to standard travel insurance, it may be possible for you to get cruise insurance if you have a pre-existing medical condition.
Where insurers may be able to offer you cover, the policy is likely to be much more expensive, due to the higher-risk of you needing to claim for medical assistance.
Find out more about how to get the best cover for in our guide to medical conditions travel insurance.
Iti Travel Lite Travel Insurance
One of our favorite low-cost travel insurance policies is the iTI Travel Lite plan. Here are the protection levels incorporated into the policy.
Time-Sensitive Benefits Cancel for Any Reason: 0% refund Cancel for Work Reason: 100% refund Preexisting Waiver: Yes Time Sensitive Period: 20 days Free Look Period: 10 days Preexisting Look Back: 60 days Regular Benefits Medical Cover: Primary Hospital of Choice: No Covered Cancellation: 100% refund Financial Default: Yes Medical Sickness: $100,000 Medical Evacuation: $250,000
This cheap travel insurance from iTI comes in at $60 for our two travelers. Yet, it has $100k of Travel Medical Health Insurance embedded into it. Remember that Norwegians Platinum Policy has $20k of cover, and costs over $300. Norwegians Standard Policy has $10k of cover. For Travel Medical Insurance, there really is no comparison Norwegians policies make no sense whatsoever. Lets take a look now at our final piece of critical cover medical evacuation insurance.
Recommended Reading: Which Cruise Lines Depart From New York
Where To Buy Cruise Travel Insurance
While cruise lines usually offer their own insurance policies, experts advise looking instead to an independent, third-party insurer. Travel insurance policies from independent insurers tend to be more comprehensive than those you might purchase through a cruise line, McDaniel says. Cruise line insurance is usually secondary coverage, meaning youll first need to file through any private insurance policies that you have before your travel insurance will kick in. This could mean needing to pay out-of-pocket to start.
Adds Page: The advantage of purchasing a comprehensive travel insurance policy through an insurance provider like Travel Guard is that the comprehensive plans may offer additional benefits, such as emergency medical evacuation, which may not be available under protection plans offered through cruise lines.
In addition, cruise line insurance can be more limited than you might expect. Travelers who purchase the cruise lines policy can only insure expenses purchased directly through that cruise line,” says Jenna Hummer, former director of public relations for Squaremouth. “Any outside airfare or expenses would be forfeited in the event of a cancellation.
You can pick up a policy from your travel agent directly through a reputed individual insurance provider , or via an insurance comparison site that lets you compare plans from various insurers .
Costs Can Mount Quickly When Things Go Wrong
Even if the cruise line does provide a full or partial refund or cruise credit for an itinerary change or some other interruption, travelers could have to swallow the cost of other travel elements not purchased through the line. That could include nonrefundable flights, prepaid resort or hotel nights, nonrefundable tour fees and more.
Travel insurance can cover those, plus help with flight delays or cancellations, baggage loss or theft.
If a winter storm causes you to miss your flight to where the ship is boarding, Travel insurance could help you get to the next port to join the cruise, so you dont miss your entire trip, Page said.
In fact, 13% of billing reasons for claims to Allianz are for common carrier delays , while weather and natural disaster related claims account for about 3%.
You May Like: Which Cruise Line Has The Best Food
When To Get Travel Insurance
When youre planning a vacation, youre probably thinking about booking a flight, a hotel and maybe a rental car. While youre in the process of all that planning, its a good time to consider another important piece of the vacation planning puzzle: protecting your trip with travel insurance. Purchasing travel insurance is a smart, inexpensive investment that can provide financial protection in cases of covered trip or flight cancellations, unexpected medical expenses while traveling and costs incurred due to baggage delays, loss or theft.
When should you buy travel insurance? Here are some commonly asked questions along with answers to help you decide:
Is Your Trip Prepaid And If You Need To Cancel What Is The Refund Policy
Many cruise lines offer graduated refunds for cruise fares, but if you need to cancel your cruise shortly before traveling, it may be too late to get any money back without an independent insurance policy since the cruise line will have difficulty filling your empty space. If you have not prepaid the entire cruise fare, however, there may be more refund options available.
Read Also: Cruises Departing Mobile Al
Sample Trip Cancellation/interruption Policy
Below are the included coverages in Allianz Travel OneTrip Cancellation Plus, a trip cancellation/interruption policy. Allianz Travel Insurance is one of the largest travel insurance companies in the world, and it is one of many third-party insurance companies that offer travel insurance for your cruise vacation.
| Benefits |
|---|
| Included |
Why You Should Buy Travel Insurance
You should consider buying travel insurance if:
- Youre worried about something happening at your destination
- Youre afraid something might happen that would make you cancel or interrupt your trip
- Youre not sure what youd do if you had a medical emergency while you were traveling
- You want to protect your belongings from loss, damage, or theft
- You want travel help ready and waiting in a travel emergency
Also Check: How To Get From Southampton Cruise Terminal To London
How Is The Coronavirus Affecting Travel Insurance
When it comes to coronavirus, its important to know that circumstances like epidemics and pandemics are not typically listed as covered events under most standard cancellation policies. Also worth noting: Preemptively canceling a trip out of fear for your health and safety is never part of a standard policy. Accordingly, while some insurers honored claims associated with the onset of the epidemic, almost none are paying out trip cancellation claims for travel or policies booked after late January . This is owed to the rationale that once the outbreak became a known event, risk is assumed by the would-be travelers who book.
However, there are now some providers who do not consider contracting the virus as foreseen, even during a global pandemic like the coronavirus outbreak, says Kasara Barto, public relations manager for Squaremouth. In this case, trip cancellation benefits can still apply if a traveler contracts the virus or is physically quarantined and unable to travel as planned.”
Economic-woe scenarios, like having to cancel if you are laid off from your job, or if a travel supplier should declare bankruptcy, are typically covered under standard plans. Squaremouth notes, however, that coronavirus-prompted impacts like travel bans and border closures are not usually covered by standard policies, nor are cases of cruise lines canceling a scheduled sailing .
What Doesnt Cruise Insurance Cover
Cruise insurance actually covers more things and offers more benefits than just what is listed above. But it doesnt cover everything and policies are pretty specific about what they will and wont pay.
The most notable exception is that you cant just cancel your cruise for any reason and get reimbursed for any money you lose. Instead, the only way the policy will pay is if you cancel for one of the specific reasons cited in your policy for cancelling your cruise.
You also wont be compensated for inconveniences on your trip. For instance, if your trip doesnt go as planned, but you dont suffer an actual loss, then you wont be able to make a claim. If it pours rain an entire day that your ship is in port and you cant even get off the boat, your travel insurance wont cover the loss of a day of vacation. Weather is not covered unless it causes an actual interruption to the cruise.
Also, its important to understand that your benefits are less any refunds you might receive otherwise. So if your cruise is cancelled and the cruise line refunds your fare, you wont be able to claim the cruise fare as a loss.
Also Check: What Cruise Ships Sail Out Of Mobile Alabama
Cruise Travel Insurance Three Critical Benefits
Irrespective whether you buy Norwegian Cruise Travel Insurance, or buy a different travel insurance, there are three critical benefits that you really need to have in place.
- Cruise Cancellation Protection
- Travel Medical Health Insurance
- Medical Evacuation Coverage
There are other protections that you will want to see as well, of course. Lost luggage, trip delay, etc. But these three are the big ones. We want you to be able to recover most, if not all, of your funds if you need to cancel your cruise. If you get terribly sick or injured whilst on vacation, we want you to be able to get treated at the finest hospitals, without any out-of-pocket expenses. Finally, we need to know that you will be airlifted to the correct treatment center without cost to you.
Should You Buy Travel Insurance For A Cruise
It is a universally known fact that though travelling by cruise is comparatively safer than other modes of travel yet cruise travel insurance is one of the most largely purchased forms of travel insurance, across the world. The primary reasons for this can be attributed to the fact that cruises are not only quite expensive, but also come along with dangers like sea-sickness, drowning, and are heavily dependent on the weather. If you are going for a cruise holiday, it is essential that you buy a comprehensive cruise travel insurance policy that protects you from all the possible dangers.
Read Also: What Cruise Lines Leave From Mobile Alabama
Do I Need Travel Insurance For A Cruise Holiday
Travel and cruise cover are not legal requirements but can cover expensive claims for medical emergencies, cancellation or lost luggage.
Most travel operators you book through will recommend that you get cruise insurance. They may also try to sell it to you but its always best to shop around.
If you are going on a cruise make sure your travel insurance covers cruises and that it has medical cover, this is the most important feature.
Specific cruise cover an be useful for inconveniences that are more likely to occur on a cruise.
Travel insurance can also cover cancellation. Its worth considering annual cover so that youre protected for any trips taken during the policy year.
Further information and an offer on insurance are available in our cruise insurance travel group.
When You Don’t Need It
Consider your vacation an investment. Would you be OK losing that money? On a whole, if you’re spending a relatively small sum on your trip, insuring that investment is probably not worth it.
- Skip It: For U.S. travel
Traveling to Florida? Road-tripping around the American Southwest? You can probably skip any extra insurance. Travel within the U.S. is typically a less expensive investment and most people tend to plan only a few weeks in advance. ValuePenguin estimates the average domestic trip spans about four days and costs $576 per person.
Plus, if you have medical insurance, you’re typically covered for any emergencies that occur. As always, double check the fine print, but experts generally recommend opting out of trip insurance for short trips within the U.S.
- Skip It: If your card offers it
Check your wallet before buying any travel insurance, since some credit cards actually offer it as a perk. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card offers built-in trip interruption insurance that reimburses up to $10,000 per person if your trip is cancelled or cut short because of situations such as an illness or severe weather. The Citi Prestige and Citi ThankYou Premier cards also offer baggage and trip cancellation protection.
So even if you are traveling outside the U.S., if your credit card’s coverage is thorough, you won’t need to purchase anything extra.
- Skip It: For flights
- Skip It: Just for flexibility
Also Check: Norfolk Va Cruise Terminal
Reasons You Need Cruise Insurance
For many travelers who choose to go on cruises, the experience is far and away smooth sailing.1
But when something goes awry on a cruise vacation, from missing bags to missing your port of call, things can go south quickly. Consequently, travel insurance is as essential to pack as your favorite bathing suit and smartphone charger.
Otherwise, here are some of the reasons and scenarios that make purchasing travel insurance such an important step for getting prepared for your big cruise vacation.
Does Travel Insurance Cover Coronavirus
In most cases, no. Many travel insurance policies specifically exclude claims related to coronavirus. However, some insurers are making exceptions for policies already in effect. For example, Allianz will cover medical expenses for existing policyholders who get sick with COVID while on a trip. Additionally, they will cover trip cancellation or interruption if you get sick with COVID before or during a trip. But if you havent purchased travel insurance yet, the policy youre considering probably wont cover you for COVID.
Also Check: Are There Any River Cruises In Italy
How Much Does It Cost
Ah, the most important question. After all, every type of insurance is basically a bet between you and the insurance company whether something will happen on your trip.
Prices will vary based on company, trip length, cost, who is being covered, and the sort of coverage you choose. Most companies also offer different levels of plan that have different limits and thus, higher or lower prices.
As a general rule of thumb, traditional cruise insurance offered by a third-party will run about 5%-7.5% of your trip cost. So for a $5,000 trip, expect to pay around $250-$375 for coverage.
Why You Should Buy Insurance Before Your Next Cruise
By Heidi Sarna
It’s not difficult to imagine all of the things that could go wrong on a cruise. Terrorist attacks, hurricanes, political upheaval, war, broken down ships, new ships not finished on time, cruise lines going out of business, or a sudden illness are just some of the snafus that could get in the way of you and the cruise of your dreams. Or maybe it’s as simple as a flat tire on the way to the airport that causes you to miss your flight to the ship. Who knows?
On the other hand, how many times to things actually go wrong? Hardly ever.
It’s that “what if” obsession that drives some of us to buy a piece of paper indemnifying us against the unknown. But is travel insurance really necessary?
“Insurance was sure a big help to those who bought it for cruises during the 2004 and 2005 hurricane season, but for 2006 it was a waste of money because there weren’t any hurricanes,” says Cruise Week editor Mike Driscoll.
Now, if you personally need to cancel your own cruise for some reason, most lines give you every cent back if you cancel at least two to three months before your departure date, although details vary from line to line. If you cancel closer to departure, you’ll usually get a partial refund up until about 15 to 30 days before the cruise. If you cancel the whole thing just a few days beforehand, you’ll be out the entire cost of the trip.
There are policies sold through the cruise lines and others sold independently. Both sources have pros and cons.
Also Check: Best Month To Take A Cruise To Alaska