Our Checklist For Choosing The Right Cover
- Make sure your insurance provides full cover for:
- When travelling with us, your insurance must include medical cover of £2 million minimum and cover for emergency evacuations and medical expenses related to COVID-19
- Ensure your policy includes cover for repatriation, cancellation and curtailment
- Going on more than one holiday this year? Look into annual or multi-trip policies.
Can I Use This Covid
- Its specifically designed to offer coverage for COVID-19 while the Government of Canadas avoid all non-essential travel advisory , which is still in place at time of publication.
- However, if the Government of Canada changes to an avoid all travel advisory , your coverage may cover you for trip interruption. Certain exclusions, limitations and conditions may apply. Please review the Certificate of Insurance to learn more about what is/isnt covered.
- WestJet reserves the right to terminate this offer at anytime.
- While we continue to closely monitor this evolving situation, travelling comes with risks to your personal health and safety its up to you to give each one proper consideration before going through with your trip. Bookmark travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories to stay informed.
How Is International Travel Affected By The Covid
In 2020, confirmed cases of the Coronavirus disease 2019 spread across the world. However, 2021 has seen a significant rollout of vaccines and global travel has begun to resume.
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus outbreak constitutes a pandemic. Because of this, many countries implemented travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines, closed borders, and prohibited non-citizens from entry with little notice in advance. For current information, please refer to this COVID-19 travel outlook map from On Call, which aggregates credible intelligence in key areas that impact the decision of when to resume travel.
In the United States, the Department of State has issued various travel advisories. Travelers are encouraged to review these advisories, and the corresponding COVID-19 Traveler Information page, before considering international travel. Due to the fluidity of the situation, these advisories and guidelines may change at any time. U.S. residents looking to travel domestically are advised to read about the latest COVID-19 travel restrictions per state before departing.
Some countries require visitors to have travel insurance. For an updated list of countries with this mandatory requirement, please see our guide outlining which countries require travel insurance for entry.
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Travel Insurance Can Cover Last
Having to cancel a planned cruise isnt just disappointing it can also hit your wallet hard. Thats because most cruise lines give no refund at all if you cancel less than 14 days before sailing.i Even if you cancel months in advance, you might only be reimbursed for a percentage of what you paid, or you might be given credits toward a future cruise.
Travel insurance with trip cancellation benefits can reimburse up to 100 percent of your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you must cancel your cruise due to a covered reason. That means you can get your money back not only for your cruise costs, but also your airfare, onboard dining or drinks plans, excursions, etc.
What Canadians Need To Know About Cruise Insurance
One of the biggest issues for Canadians wanting to cruise is the federal governments advisory against cruise travel and its impact on insurance.
This level of risk assessment can void a portion or all of a travel policy, even if already purchased. Some cruisers have expressed concerns about the lack of transparency as it relates to insurance coverage in the current situation.
Consider the following tips when evaluating cruise travel insurance requirements.
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Will You Need A Medical Certificate
We very rarely ask for a medical certificate. We rely on you answering the medical questions accurately we do not cover claims for any existing medical problem which you have not told us about.
Based on Trustpilot reviews of all companies in the Travel Insurance Company category that have over 25,000 reviews as of May 2021.
Where To Find A Travel Insurance Policy For Cruises
You can buy a travel insurance policy directly from your cruise line when booking your trip, or through your travel agent . You also can go directly to a third-party travel insurance provider or a travel-insurance aggregator site, such as InsureMyTrip.com or TravelInsurance.com.
Third-party insurance companies that specialize in writing travel insurance include AIG Travel, Allianz Travel Insurance, Travelex Insurance and American Express Travel Insurance.
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One reason to use a travel agent or a travel aggregator: They can help you find a policy that offers added coverage specific to cruising.
Many plans now offer benefits that will specifically appeal to cruise travelers, such as missed connection, missed port-of-call and cruise disablement coverage, Stan Sandberg, cofounder of TravelInsurance.com, told TPG.
Missed connection coverage reimburses cruisers for a set dollar amount if they need to rebook travel to catch up with their cruise at the next port. Missed port-of-call coverage pays a benefit if the cruise ship misses a scheduled port of call due to weather, a natural disaster or mechanical breakdown.
Cruise disablement coverage pays a benefit if the traveler is confined on a ship for more than five hours without power, food, water or restrooms.
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Can I Be Covered For Other Medical Emergencies
No, this plan is specifically designed to cover expenses related to COVID-19. Individual circumstances may vary. You may wish to contact a licensed insurers representative or a licensed insurance agent if you need advice about your insurance needs. To learn more about travel insurance, please talk to your insurance agent.
How Much Does Cruise Insurance Cost
In general, the average policy with Trip Cancellation coverage will cost between 5% and 10% of a travelerâs total trip cost. The primary factors that determine the cost of a policy are the trip cost, the length of the trip, the age of the travelers, and the coverage amounts. Travelers who choose not to insure their trip cost can expect their policy to be less expensive.
Tip for Cruisers: Check in advance to see if your cruise line will provide a refund or voucher if you cancel. If they will, you can forgo insuring the cost of the cruise. A medical travel insurance policy will be less expensive.
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Is There A Vaccine For The Coronavirus
Through Operation Warp Speed, the federal government has been working to make one or more COVID-19 vaccines available as soon as possible. In December of 2020, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine were In February 2021, Johnson & Johnsons Janssen COVID-19 vaccine was added to that list. As this situation remains fluid, please refer to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention website for the most up to date information on vaccine development and approval.
Where Should I Buy My Policy
While cruise lines typically offer customers the option to opt-in to their insurance, these policies are often limited, and only cover expenses purchased directly through the cruise line. For this reason, Squaremouth always recommends shopping around and comparing policies from multiple sources to find the most comprehensive coverage for your trip for the lowest possible price. This can include a comparison site like Squaremouth.com, a travel insurance provider, or directly from the cruise line.
Tip for Cruisers: Travel insurance isnât a one-stop-shop, and cruisers especially have many options. Determine which benefits are most important to you, and select the policy with the most coverage within those benefits for the best price.
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Travel Insurance Is There When You Miss The Boat Literally
Time and tide wait for no one. Neither do cruise ships. That’s why missed flights and missing bags become big problems when you’re beginning your cruise vacation. If your flight to Miami is canceled due to weather, causing you to miss embarkation, you’re out of luck and out that snorkeling excursion you were really looking forward to unless you have travel insurance
Trip delay benefits can reimburse you for eligible hotel stays, meals and lost prepaid expenses if your trip is delayed by more the amount of time specified in your travel insurance plan for a covered reason. Missed connection benefits can reimburse you for the cost of transportation to your cruise’s first port of call, where you can catch up with the ship. And Allianz Global Assistance’s 24-hour hotline assistance can help you make the needed changes to your travel plan.
With the right travel insurance from Allianz Global Assistance, you dont have to sweat unpredictable delays and missed connections. Youll get there in fact, just think of it as making a grand entrance.
How Is Domestic Travel Affected By The Covid
As of April 2, 2021, people who are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine can travel safely within the United States. Refer to the CDC Guidelines on Domestic Travel for more information.
For unvaccinated domestic travelers, the CDC recommends taking the following steps to protect yourself and others from COVID-19:
- Get tested 1-3 days before your trip, and do not travel if you are positive for COVID-19
- Wear a mask, avoid crowds, and wash your hands often while traveling
- Get tested 3-5 days after travel and quarantine a full 7 days after traveling, even if the test is negative.
For all travelers, states have different guidelines and restrictions. Be sure to refer to InsureMyTrips guide to Pandemic Travel Restrictions By State.
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Should You Take Your Ehic Or Ghic On A Cruise
Ehic and Ghics are free medical card, which can be used throughout the EU . Both entitles you to treatment in state hospitals at the same price as residents of the country youre visiting.
If you have an Ehic already, it will still be valid until it reaches its expiry date. But now that the UK has left the EU the Ehic has been replaced by the Ghic, which is almost identical but isnt valid in any non-EU countries.
Its advisable that you take your Ehic or Ghic with you if your itinerary includes stops in any EU countries, as it could allow you to access state healthcare.
Medical facilities onboard a cruise are usually operated by private, non-state funded, healthcare companies. As a result, your Ehic or Ghic is unlikely to be accepted as a way of getting medical treatment.
You can find out more about how this work in our guide to the Ehic and Ghic.
Tailored Policies For Your Personal Needs
At Holiday Extras we have three levels of comprehensive cover available for you – our Bronze, Silver and Gold policies. For a vacation at sea, travel insurance suitable for your cruise is essential in order to cover costs including changes to your cruise schedule, being confined to your cabin and any missed port departures or unused prepaid shore activities. It’s also important to cover medical costs, lost baggage and unforeseen cancellations.
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You May Need More Assistance Than You Think
If youre injured or becomes severely ill during a trip, especially in a foreign country, it may be difficult to access help without the assistance of trained professionals that comes with many insurance plans.
Many travel insurance companies provide around-the-clock assistance with locating overseas clinics and pharmacies getting to a doctor or hospital refilling lost or depleted prescriptions assisting with up-front payments to hospitals and arranging flight changes so you can get home.
Travel insurance companies also can arrange for an air ambulance, a nurse escort, oxygen and a lie-flat seat on a flight home if your medical condition warrants it.
What Is Cruise Insurance
Cruise insurance is a specific type of travel insurance policy that covers accidents, injuries and other potential mishaps that could occur during a cruise holiday.
It’s designed around the activities that you’re likely to take part in during your cruise and also offers cover for additional accommodation and travel expenses under certain circumstances.
Bear in mind that the European Health Insurance Card and new Global Health Insurance Card won’t cover the cost of rescue from a cruise, so relying on them alone could prove extremely costly.
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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%.
What Is The Best Cruise Travel Insurance
With so much to consider, it can be hard to decide which cruise travel insurance to choose.
Be aware that while many cruise companies offer their own insurance, the conditions are often stricter, and you might find it hard to make a claim. For example, they often will only reimburse up to 75% of your expenses, tend to have only a short list of reasons you are able to cancel for, and rarely cover pre-existing medical conditions. Youre always better off using a third-party insurer.
Whichever policy you decide on, its vital that you read the policy details carefully so you know exactly what you are covered for.
The insurers below are some I recommend that have specific cruise insurance policies and offer a decent amount of coverage for a lot of potential mishaps.
Travel GuardTravel Guard has specific cruise insurance policies, which makes it simpler than trying to find an add-on. If youre getting a quote online, theyll ask you to specify if youre taking a plane, a cruise, or both. They cover any emergency travel assistance, trip interruption, delay, or cancellation.
Medical expenses and emergency evacuation are covered, but the maximum amount varies between the essential, preferred, and deluxe plans: the essential plan includes a $150,000 limit on emergency evacuation, which might not be quite enough from some parts of the world, but you can get up to a million dollars of coverage on the deluxe plan.
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Safecruise: The Smartest Choice For Cruise Travel
While many travel insurance policies will provide the minimum coverage needed for cruise lines and countries, our proprietary plan SafeCruise offers handpicked benefits that not only satisfy all the travel requirements, but also give travelers peace of mind to set sail confidently. Not only does SafeCruise provide medical coverage, but it also offers coverage that will protect your financial investment of your vacation if you decide you have to cancel your cruise.
SafeCruise offers the following benefits:
What Mistakes Should You Avoid When Buying Insurance
Wright warns against trying to cheat the system when it comes to illness.
“It is really important that ALL pre-existing medical conditions are declared at the time of purchase as an omission could mean that the whole policy is invalid as the underwriter is not fully able to assess the risk,” he cautioned.
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If I Get Sick With Covid
It may. Some travel insurance plans do offer emergency medical benefits in the event a traveler gets ill during a trip and must visit a doctor or hospital.
InsureMyTrips new recommendation tool simplifies the search for travel insurance plans that may offer coverage for COVID-19 related issues. This new tool guides travelers towards plans best suited to guard against COVID-19-related travel concerns as part of the quote process.
Medical plans and coverage to consider include:
Travelers with specific questions about coverage should contact our Customer Care team at 800-487-4722 for assistance in finding the right coverage for their unique travel plans.
Is Cruise Insurance Worth It
Purchasing cruise insurance offers numerous benefits that offer peace of mind, and protection for your trip and health. In general, insurance premiums are relatively minor compared with what it would cost if you had a medical emergency or had to cancel your trip.
Although your credit card may offer some protection, the coverage limits and scope of insurance are generally far less than what a true cruise insurance policy provides. Before purchasing cruise insurance for your next trip, shop around to compare prices and coverage benefits to find the right policy for you. If you travel on a regular basis, consider purchasing an annual policy rather than a separate policy for each trip.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the authorâs opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
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Insurance For Medical Care
More and more insurance companies are covering COVID-19, whether through individual insurance products or their regular products.
If you already have a travel insurance contract, your insurance company may have added an endorsement to it to clarify the conditions specific to COVID-19. To find out if COVID-19 is covered by your contract, read your insurance policy carefully, including any endorsements or contact the insurance company.
To learn more about Ontario Blue Cross travel insurance related to COVID-19, please refer to our FAQ.