Do Know Whats Covered
Is a job loss covered? How about a death in the family? Be sure to read the terms and conditions of the policy, particularly the schedule of benefits and coverage details, which serve as a summary.
For example, is a COVID-19 related issue covered? The answer depends on when you bought your policy, since pandemics and epidemics are often specifically excluded. So if you bought the policy after your insurance company declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic, you may not be covered for COVID-19-related reasons. There are also several companies now including COVID-19 related illnesses as covered reasons but fear of traveling doesnt qualify. Bottom line: Know what is covered and what isnt.
» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance
Travel Insurance Aggregator Sites
Insurance aggregator sites can be a great way to comparison shop for cruise insurance. Much like Expedia lets you shop for the best prices on flights and hotels, insurance aggregator websites offer quotes from numerous insurance providers.
The advantage of using a travel insurance aggregator is speed and convenience. Most of us donât use travel insurance on a regular basis, so we may not be familiar with all of the available providers. Travel aggregators may include insurance companies you’ve never heard of. The site allows you to compare quotes from a variety of companies and filter the search results based on whatâs most important to you.
The aggregator website is a good starting point when comparing cruise insurance policies. But before you buy from an aggregator, try speaking directly to the insurance companies. They may offer a lower price since they wonât have to pay a commission to the aggregator website.
This table shows our sampling of a few travel insurance aggregator sites, the number of policies displayed and the cost of the lowest priced option for a sample trip. The trip details in this example were for a single man in his mid-40s traveling to Mexico for seven days from Nov. 7 through Nov. 14, 2020. He lives in Tennessee and paid $3,500 for his trip on Sept. 1, 2020.
| Website |
|---|
| $106 |
Which Cruise Ships Accommodate Dialysis Patients
For individuals who require the aid of dialysis, there are a number of cruises and one independent service dedicated to ensuring that you can enjoy a relaxing cruise with your loved ones regardless of your medical condition.
This is a fantastic way for dialysis patients to visit some of the most beautiful and exotic destinations in the world and experience the luxurious splendour of some of the seas most celebrated cruise ships.
Also Check: When Is The Best Time To Cruise To The Bahamas
Recommended Reading: Best Months To Cruise To Alaska
Norwegian Cruise Line Asking Guests To Wear Masks
Guests booked on sailings of Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Breakaway, and Norwegian Gem have received notification emails that the health and safety protocols onboard their upcoming sailings as early as tomorrow, December 18, 2021 have been changed.
Masks should now be worn on board in indoor areas unless passengers are actively eating or drinking or while in passengers staterooms. Masks must also be worn in any outdoor areas where social distancing cannot be maintained.
While the emails language does say they are asking guests to wear masks and does not use the word required this amounts to a direct change of the lines cruise mask-free policy in recent weeks, a policy for NCLs fully-vaccinated sailings that many cruise passengers have appreciated.
The email goes on to reiterate the cruise lines vaccination and pre-cruise testing protocols, which have not been changed. Guests who do not comply with the requirements listed in the email will be denied embarkation for their cruise without any refund or compensation.
The lines official website has not yet been updated about this change in protocol and there is no confirmation as to whether this is a fleet-wide change or how long the protocol may be in effect.
Weve Partnered With Holiday Extras To Offer Cover For Our Holidays
Holiday Extras offer cruise-specific travel insurance policies perfect for your next holiday. One of the key benefits is that this cruise-specific cover includes things most travel insurance policies dont cover as standard, such as missed ports, missed shore experiences and cabin confinement.
Holiday Extras offer three levels of cover to choose from: bronze, silver and gold. Should you wish to purchase travel insurance through our insurance partner, Holiday Extras, COVID-19 cover is included as standard with all policies, full details can be found here.
Tailored options are also available from Holiday Extras should you have pre-existing medical conditions.
To find out more, visit www.holidayextras.com/pocruisesor phone 0800 093 3070 and quote PAOHX.
You May Like: Best Time To Cruise The Mediterranean
Cancellation Due To Cdc Noaa Or Other Government Warning
Say the State Department issues a travel warning for your cruise destination, or the CDC is cautioning travelers not to cruise during a disease outbreak. If you think, “I’ll be safe, take their advice and cancel my paid-in-full cruise,” you might be in for a surprise because your travel insurance provider most likely won’t reimburse you for cancellations due to travel warnings. That applies to storms, geological activity and terrorist activity. Only policies labeled as cancel-for-any-reason would pay in instances where you are nervous about a possible event that has yet to happen.
Missing The Ship In Port
If you forget to set your watch to ship’s time, get drunk at Margaritaville and lose track of time, or get stuck in traffic coming back from a far-flung private shore excursion and miss your ship, travel insurance will not pay for your flight to the next port or your hotel for the night. Missing embarkation and getting left behind is not a covered situation for travel insurance, no matter how good your excuse is.
Read Also: Best Time To Take A Cruise To The Bahamas
Top Norwegian Cruise Itineraries
Most Norwegian cruise lines sail Norways coastline into fjordsmajestic waterways carved out by ice during the Scandinavian Ice ageand stop at multiple port cities that invite you to experience local culture.
- Coastal Voyages: Norway is expansive. If your must-sees include both the Norwegian fjords and the Arctic circle, youll want to book a longer cruise itinerarypreferably one that hugs the coastline and stops at favorite port cities for the full coastal journey experience. Recommended: The locally-based Hurtigruten cruise line offers a coastal voyage itinerary that starts in the southern fjords and crosses the Arctic Circle, all the way to the Lofoten Islands.
- Norwegian Fjords: Norway has more fjords than any other country or region, worldwide. These majestic geological phenomena are by far the most popular reason to book a Norwegian cruise. If you’re looking for a shorter, week-long trip, a Norwegian fjord cruise in Norways central fjord region, located along and near its Western coast is a top choice.
- Arctic Circle: Although accessible year-round, many visitors book excursions to cross the Arctic Circle during dark winter months when the Northern Lights shine brightest.
Also read: Best European Tours: Choosing One that Fits Your Travel Style
What Does Dialysis At Sea Cruises Specialize In
Dialysis at Sea Cruises specializes in the treatment of hemodialysis care while onboard cruise ships. Hemodialysis patients have undergone renal failure and must be dialyzed with an artificial kidney to rid the body of fluids and toxins. Dialysis at Sea Cruises provides a renal care specialist team consisting of a Nephrologist, dialysis nurses and certified technicians. We sail on select cruise sailings with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise Lines. We provide the most advanced equipment and supplies which are housed and maintained with Dialysis at Sea Cruises and undergo strict maintenance protocols for the most optimum performance.
Dialysis at Sea Cruises is the largest provider of dialysis services aboard cruise ships in the world. Since our inception in 1977, thousands of individuals on dialysis and their families have been able to experience the pleasures of cruising and the excitement of taking their dream vacation. Travel with us in confidence as all of your shipboard medical needs are handled by experienced and trained medical professionals.
Read Also: Are World Cruises Worth It
Also Check: Jamrock Cruise 2021 Lineup
Cruise Ship Medical Center
On all cruise ships, you will find a well equipped medical center with a number of highly trained medical staff. Generally speaking the larger the cruise ship the bigger the medical center but all are equipped to deal with life-threatening injuries and illnesses.
On many of the newer, bigger cruise ships youll find full x-ray machines and a lot of equipment that youd expect to find in a hospital on land. Of course, the priority is always to try and get unwell patients to land as soon as possible but as this isnt always option cruise ships have to be as prepared as they can be.
In the medical center, youll find a wide variety of common medicines used to treat almost any illness. The range of medicines is not as wide as that that youd find in a hospital on land but cruise ships are well equipped to deal with most situations.
If you do need to visit the medical center at any point, this is what will happen:
How Much Does The Vacation Protection Plan By Carnival Cost
The Carnival vacation protection plan cost between $49-$189. The insurance price rises with the higher the price is of your trip. But averagely it will not cost you more than 15% of your total trip cost.
Feel free to discuss this topic and all things cruise at our new boards. A place where readers can ask questions, help their fellow cruisers and general cruise discussions on cruise lines and ports.
And if you like, feel free to cast your vote in the 2021 Cruise Ship Awards covering a range of categories, including best cruise ship and best cruise line.
Read Also: Alaskan Cruise Cost Per Person
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.
What Else Should I Check Before Buying Cruise Insurance
Other features to look out for when booking cruise insurance include:
- cancellation: is the amount you can claim sufficient to cover the cost of your cruise?
- baggage: would the maximum amount cover all your baggage and valuable items?
- delays: how much can you claim if your trip is marred by delays?
- activities: are the activities you plan to do both on board and on shore covered?
As a general rule, its also a good idea to check you have medical cover of at least £1 million within Europe or £2 million worldwide.
Don’t Miss: Best Time Of Year For Alaska Cruises
Delayed Or Lost/ Stolen Baggage
Its one of our worst fears: arriving at our destination only to find the bag we spent days carefully packing hasnt decided to join us. By having delayed or lost baggage coverage in your policy, youll be able to claim for the expenses you incur until your bag catches up.
My Top Tip:
Always pack a change of clothes for each person in your party in your hand luggage as well as small toiletries and any medical requirements.
Do Consider Whether You Want A Standard Or Cancel For Any Reason Policy
A standard policy has good protection and comes with a list of restrictions on whats covered. If you want to make sure that you are covered for any reason, whether thats a pandemic or a last-minute change in plans, look into a cancel for any reason add-on to your policy. A CFAR policy is just what the name sounds like. You can cancel your trip for any reason you want and are restricted only by the timing of your cancellation notice .
CFAR insurance isnt free though, and comes with a few conditions. First, it can cost 40%-50% more than a standard policy, and it generally wont cover 100% of your uncovered costs. Youll find that 50%-75% of coverage is more common.
Its also important to note that you cannot simply buy CFAR by itself. You must buy a travel insurance policy that is eligible for a CFAR add-on. Many insurance sites will include a CFAR filter in their search tool. You’ll also need to buy the policy within a certain time frame after purchasing your cruise, which will vary based on the insurance company.
» Learn more:Cancel For Any Reason travel insurance explained
You May Like: What’s The Newest Norwegian Cruise Ship
What Is Carnival Vacation Protection
Carnival Cruise Line partnered with Transamerica casualty insurance company and came up with an insurance cover called Carnival Vacation Protection plan. Whichs main aim is to protect you, a traveling companion and a family member together with your belongings and your financial investment when vacationing with them.
How Much Does Cruise Travel Insurance Cost
The cost of a standard policy is calculated as a percentage of your overall vacation expensesgenerally anywhere from 5 to 10 percent of your total prepaid, nonrefundable trip cost, according to data provided by Squaremouth. The premium varies by policy and provider, depending on three primary factors: total trip cost, age of travelers, and length of travel, Hummer says. Older travelers taking long, expensive cruises will most likely be paying more for the same policy as a younger traveler taking a cheaper trip.
According to Squaremouth, cancel for any reason benefits will typically increase a policys premium by roughly 40 percent over the cost of a standard policy, and will only cover a portion of the total trip costs reimbursement.
Also Check: How Much Does A Week Long Cruise Cost
When To Buy Cruise Travel Insurance
Experts say to buy your travel insurance as soon as youve booked your cruisethat will give you the biggest window of protection should anything arise before you set sail. Hummer says that coverage for preexisting medical conditions is sometimes available at no additional cost from independent insurersbut only if you purchase that policy within 14 to 30 days of your first trip payment.
Remember that you cant purchase a policy after an event transpires that leads to a claim , but you can purchase standard insurance plans as late as 24 hours in advance of your scheduled departure. As noted before, “cancel for any reason” policies typically must be purchased within 14 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit.
Though you may never use the insurance you purchase, should an issue pop up, the investment can prove to be of great benefit, both economically and psychologically. Lord says, from experience, You never know when you will need it, but if you do, you will be so grateful that you have it.
This story was last published in March 2020. It has been updated with new information.
Tips For Planning A Norwegian Cruise: From Fjords To Northern Lights
Norway has one of the worlds longest and most complex coastlines. With winding twists and turns, it covers more than 63,000 miles and 7,000 islands. To fully take in everything this country has to offer, many of which are out-of-the-way and seen best from bodies of water, you may want to navigate the country by taking a Norwegian cruise.
Seasoned travelers know that cruising is a great way to enjoy full itineraries with plenty of sightseeing and activities. Norwegian cruises are unique in that instead of endless ocean views typical on cruises, passengers enjoy uninterrupted scenic views. We’ve highlighted the most popular itineraries and port cities that showcase the best of Norway all-year round
See all of our cruise articles
Read Also: Best Cruises Out Of Baltimore
How Much Does Cruise Ship Travel Insurance Cost
How much you have to pay for cruise insurance will depend on a number of factors, including your age and state of health, as well as how long youre travelling for and where you are going.
Cruises that visit North America and the Caribbean, for example, often cost more to insure due to the high cost of medical treatment there.
If your cruise is deemed more likely to be affected by bad weather, for example because its in Arctic waters, you may also find you have to pay a higher premium for your travel insurance.
There Are Three Types Of Travel Insurance To Consider When It Comes To Cruising:
Firstly, there are travel insurance policies that dont cover a cruise these are obviously to be avoided if you are heading on a cruise as they wont cover you for a medical emergency on the ship. Next, there are travel insurance policies that do cover medical treatment on board, but dont provide any cruise-specific extras, such as compensation payments if you are ill or confined to your cabin and miss pre-booked excursions. Finally, there are cruise specific travel insurance policies that provide a comprehensive level of cover.
As well as medical expenses on board the ship and medical evacuation from the vessel, a cruise specific policy will cover reimbursement for cabin confinement, missed departure cover and missed port cover . We would recommend you choose the comprehensive, cruise specific travel insurance if you are taking a cruise holiday. This will offer the most comprehensive cover and best peace of mind.
Read Also: Cruise Lines Leaving From Norfolk Va