Be Prepared For Your Next Cruise: Cdc Recommendations For Your Next Excursion
Are you cruising this summer? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently lifted the risk advisory for cruise travel.1 While that doesnt mean there is no risk for COVID-19 transmission on cruises, travelers are encouraged to make their own risk assessment. Heres what you should know about the CDC COVID-19 guidelines regarding cruises:
- Be up-to-date on vaccinations before cruising2
- Talk to your health care provider about additional precautions that may be needed before, during and after travel if you are immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe illness
Carnival Cruise Insurance Guide
Cruise travel insurance is a crucial element to consider when planning a cruise vacation. It is the insurance intended to cover you and your loved ones in matters such as medical expenses, trip accidents, loss of luggage, trip cancellations, interruptions and any other loss that you may incur during a cruise trip. Carnival Cruise Insurance is an essential part of preparing for your cruise.
When planning to go on a cruise trip, you should consider that things could change at any given moment. Many times things dont go as planned and as such you could lose a lot of money due to unforeseen events. Most people take a vacation to have a peaceful and relaxing time away from home. The only way you can have this is by having a cruise insurance plan.
While there are many independent travel insurance bodies that offer cruise insurance, considering one offered by your cruise provider would not hurt either. Thats why we have decided to write a guide on one such cruise.
This guide takes a look at the Carnival cruise insurance cover. It aims to provide you with important information about it such as what it covers, benefits offered, and why you may need it. The guide also answers some of the most common questions asked about the cover.
It aims to provide you with important information about it such as what it covers, benefits offered, and why you may need it. The guide also answers some of the most common questions asked about the cover.
Are All Travel Insurance Policies The Same
Travel insurance is state regulated, but the policies do not have to conform to an industry standard like your homeowners or automobile policy.
Every travel insurance policy is unique and has different restrictions, and who you buy it from and what you pay can mean a world of difference.
Its vitally important to read and understand whats included in the policy youre purchasing, and make sure it meets your needs.
Even two policies that seem to offer the same essential benefits at first glance could be very different once you read the details.
The amount youll be reimbursed for a particular incident, the specifics of what constitutes a covered reason for a cancellation, and important details like if youll need to pay upfront for an airline ticket to catch up with the ship or even a medical evacuation can make a big difference in stress levels and initial out-of-pocket costs.
As mentioned above, Travel Protection sold directly by the cruise line may not offer all the same benefits as an actual travel insurance policy sold by an insurance company, so its important to do your homework before you agree to a slick sales pitch or bargain add-on when you book your cruise.
Though its costly and may be hard to find, some travel insurers offer Cancel for Any Reason add-on policies in all states except New York.
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Coverage For Cruise Excursions
Some cruisers plan to partake in adventurous excursions, including snorkeling, surfing, scuba diving, and other water activities. Some travel insurance plans provide specific coverage for these types of activities, most notably, medical benefits if the traveler is hurt. These plans may also reimburse the traveler if related equipment is lost or damaged. Travelers can search for a cruise insurance policy that covers sports here.
Squaremouth ranks the 10 best travel insurance companies for cruises based on policies sold.
How Much Does Cruise Travel Insurance Cost
In general, travel insurance costs between 4-10% of your insured trip cost. I chose the policies above because they met the criteria listed. The plans also had unique individual coverages and were well priced.
Here is a summary of the cost of travel insurance from the examples above:
- Best Overall Plan TravelSafe Classic 6.6% of the trip cost
- Best Family Plan Travel Insured WTP 3.4% of the trip cost
- Best Senior Plan TravelSafe Classic 10.4% of the trip cost
Why is the family plan such a low percentage of the trip cost? Because there are more travelers the cost of the trip is spread between all travelers, and therefore the risk per traveler is reduced. This reduces the insurance companys risk exposure.
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What Is Carnivals Coverage Scope
Carnival cruise insurance coverage begins when your final payment for the insurance cover is received by the cruise line.
In the cases of trip cancellation and interruption, the coverage time is different. For trip cancellation, the coverage begins from the time the full payment of the cover is made. For trip interruption cancellation the coverage starts from the scheduled departure date.
Your vacation protection plan coverage ends the moment the cruise is completed or when you arrive at your return destination. It also ends the moment you cancel the vacation.
Sometimes You Need Travel Insurance For Cruises To Help You Deal With The Unexpected
In the middle of your Caribbean journey from Nassau to San Juan, you get word that your mother has fallen seriously ill. You need to get home fast, but how can you do it without breaking the bank? This is when Allianz Travel Insurance is your best friend. Call 24-hour assistance, and a travel expert can help you make arrangements to fly home from the ship’s next port of call. You can be reimbursed for up to 150 percent of the cost of the trip: both the unused portion of your cruise and the additional transportation costs for returning home early, if you must interrupt your trip for a covered reason.
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Carnivals Travel Insurance Requirement For Florida Passengers
Per an executive order issued by governor Ron DeSantis in May, no business or government entity can require proof of COVID-19 vaccination in Florida. That means while travelers from other US ports are required to show proof of vaccination, its unlawful for cruise lines to require passengers to prove their vaccination status in Florida.
Carnival will continue to set sail from Florida ports and has put requirements in place to protect the safety of all passengers. Unvaccinated passengers can travel but will need to purchase a travel insurance policy in their name before doing so. Starting July 31st, travel insurance is necessary for all unvaccinated passengers that are age 12 and over traveling from a Florida port.
Policies can be purchased through Carnivals Vacation Protection program or from an independent insurer as long as they cover:
- All guests ages 12 and up
- $10,000 per person in medical expenses
- $30,000 per person in medical evacuation coverage related to COVID-19
The policy must also not have any COVID-19 exclusions.
In addition to requiring travel insurance for unvaccinated passengers, Carnival has other specific COVID-19 policies in place that guests must follow.
Can I Cancel A Carnival Cruise Without Incurring A Penalty
According to Carnivals site, if you cancel a trip before you make the full vacation payment there will be no charges incurred. However, if you had booked a promotional trip that has a non-refundable policy, there will be charges incurred.
Cancellation charges or penalties will depend on the length of your trip for example,
For cruises that are less than 5 days, you have up to 60 days to make a final payment before departure.
For cruises which are 6-9 days long, you have up to 75 days to make the final payment before departure.
For cruises that are 10 plus days, you will have up to 90 days to make the final payment before departure.
To avoid being penalized, you have to cancel the trip before the given days elapse provided you have not finished paying for your vacation cruise.
There are some promotions on Carnival that have a non-refundable policy such as the early saver, super saver, and pack and go travel packages. The deposits made for these packages are non-refundable after booking.
Once your booking enters into the cancellation penalty period, note that the penalties will increase the more the departure approaches.
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Do You Need Special Insurance For A Cruise
Due to the unique nature of traveling by cruise ship, travel insurance is strongly recommended for all travelers. Depending on the plan, cruise travel insurance can protect against missed connections, an emergency evacuation, unexpected medical issues, baggage loss, and more.
As of July 2021, some cruise lines now recommend or require unvaccinated American passengers to show proof of valid travel insurance as a condition of boarding. InsureMyTrip offers cruise travel insurance plans that meet and/or exceed such requirements.
How Much Does Cruise Insurance Cost
Expect to pay anywhere from 4% to 8% of your total prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses for a travel insurance policy. Thats a wide range, we know, but it reflects the wide range of products that are out there.
Youll find some basic plans that cost even less than 4% of your trip expenses. Some super-premium plans that cover just about any conceivable issue can cost as much as 12% of your trip expenses.
Related: What’s included in your cruise fare?
All reputable insurance companies will offer a free-look period during which you can receive a 100% refund on your premium. This allows you to review the policy youve selected and return it for any reason within the period allotted usually for a small administration fee under $10.
Under normal circumstances, you dont need to purchase a so-called cancel for any reason add-on to your cruise travel insurance policy unless you really need the flexibility. The upgrades are significantly more expensive.
You can receive a quote and purchase a policy online in minutes with any credit card. Note that, although you may think travel insurance should code as travel when paid on a credit card and thus be eligible for bonus points on certain cards, that isnt always the case. Your points earnings will depend on the individual underwriters merchant code. When in doubt, expect that the purchase will fall under the insurance category for earnings.
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What Coverage Is Time
Cancel For Any Reason coverage is an optional coverage with some plans. Every company that sells CFAR requires you to purchase within their time frame. If you try to purchase after this time period, you will not be able to.
Pre-existing condition coverage is time-sensitive. This does not cost extra, but many companies will cover this if you purchase at the right time.
Cruise Travel Insurance Faqs
Before we wrap up our yearly review of the best cruise insurance companies and plans, we want to answer some frequently asked questions we get on this subject. If you still have questions after reading through these FAQs, dont hesitate to reach out were passionate about helping you get coverage that fits your needs and budget!
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Whats The Deadline For Buying Required Cruise Insurance
Most cruise lines and travel insurance companies allow you to purchase a policy within 24 hours of your cruise departure.
But there are advantages to purchasing a travel insurance policy from a travel insurance company when you put the deposit down on your cruise:
- Youre covered longer for trip cancellation in case something happens that forces you to cancel your trip .
- You can get a pre-existing medical condition waiver for your travel medical coverage, but this has to be added shortly after your cruise deposit.
- You can buy a cancel for any reason upgrade if your travel insurance company offers you one. This add-on will allow you the most flexibility in making a trip cancellation claim. If you cancel for a reason not listed in the base policy you can still receive partial reimbursement .
What Makes Cruises Different Than Other Trips
Cruises are a different type of travel. To find the best cruise travel insurance, you need to consider some extra risks that are unique to cruises. These include hurricanes and other weather-related concerns, the harsh cancellation policies associated with cruise lines, high pre-paid expenses, and the distance to emergency medical help. Well break these issues down more in-depth to help you understand why travel insurance for cruises is so important.
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When Should I Buy My Plan
My rule: Buy travel insurance within 10 days of your first trip payment.
Some travel insurance coverage is time-sensitive. This means you need to purchase your plan soon after your initial trip deposit. This period of time is different for each company. The lowest is 10 days, and some companies are as high as 30 days.
This is why 10 days is the safest goal for you. No matter which company, 10 days will put you within that time-sensitive window.
How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost For A Cruise
Most travel insurance policies will cost between 5 to 8 percent of your cruise fare. So, youd expect to pay up to $25 per person for a three- or four-night cruise, and well over $100 per person for a 14-night vacation.
Again, though, prices can vary widely and a pricier policy isnt necessarily better. Just as its not always a good idea to book your cruise solely based on price, buying the cheapest travel insurance policy doesnt necessarily make it the best deal. Its important to understand what youre buying and that the coverage meets your needs. Buying the perfect travel insurance policy for you is well worth the additional cost.
Comparison websites like TripInsurance.com allow you to easily compare policies from a number of different insurers and see your costs upfront for easy shopping.
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Reasons Why Your Baggage Wont Be Protected
The baggage protection cover also has specific exclusions that you should be keen of, such as:
Medical Coverage For Cruisers
Most primary health insurance plans do not provide coverage abroad. Receiving medical care on a cruise can be an expensive unplanned cost, especially if it requires an evacuation from the ship or port. Insurance plans with Emergency Medical and Medical Evacuation benefits can cover illnesses or injuries that occur during the trip. When buying travel insurance for a cruise, Squaremouth recommends at least $100,000 in medical and $250,000 in medical evacuation benefits.
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Carnival Insurance Company Ratings & Customer Service
Aon Affinity Travel Practice sells and administers Carnival cruise travel insurance, so Aon Affinity is responsible for all claims processing and other policy services. Therefore, its best to consider customer reviews and ratings for Aon Affinity when looking into a Carnival travel insurance policy.
Aon Affinity Travel Practice has an A+ rating from the BBB. This is indicative of the companys honesty and transparency, as well as its responsiveness to customer inquiries and complaint resolution. The company has received a total of 154 customer complaints in the past three years, with 49 of these posted in the past 12 months.
Most recently, common issues related to the company denying claims, and to processing speeds. Many customers complain about the amount of documentation and verification the company requires when filing claims.
On Trustpilot, Aon Affinity Travel Practice has a TrustScore of only 3.2 out of 10. TrustScores are based on the reviews and ratings from past and current customers of the Aon Affinity Travel Practice. Although the company has some positive reviews, particularly regarding efficient claims processing and customer service, the majority of the reviews posted on Trustpilot are poor.
Complaints are similar to those on the BBB website and pertain to the companys claims process, which is generally slower than many competitors and requires a significant amount of documentation.
Cruise Lines Have Harsh Cancellation Penalties
Cruise companies usually have the most harsh cancellation penalties of all travel suppliers. Hotels would let you cancel up until the day before, and airlines would charge a fee to change your tickets. Cruise lines would have a penalty schedule that put you on the hook for the full expense weeks before departure.
One bright side of the Covid pandemic has been the relaxing of some of these hard policies. To get travelers spending money again, travel suppliers have reduced or eliminated many of these penalties.
Even with these new policies the best you can hope for in the event of a cancellation is a voucher with the cruise line. The downside is they expire. This puts you under pressure to book another trip with the same cruise line in that time frame.
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