Seven Things to Know About Cruise Insurance

If taking a cruise is in your travel plans, purchasing cruise insurance should be, also. While many cruises go off without a hitch, travel insurance can help to provide coverage for unexpected cancellations, trip interruptions, travel delays, medical expenses, and more. Below, we’ll explore some essential factors you need to consider when buying cruise insurance.

1. Purchase cruise insurance as soon as you book your cruise.

Cruise-goers should purchase travel insurance as soon as the first non-refundable payment toward the cruise is made to help ensure there is coverage if something happens before you have the chance to set sail. If you are interested in the optional Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage, you must purchase insurance within 21 days of making your initial trip deposit. Please visit our CFAR page to learn more. Miss that 21-day window? You can buy travel insurance without the CFAR benefit up until the day before you leave for coverage while you travel.

2. Know what the insurance plan covers (and doesn’t).

What is covered or not covered depends on the plan you purchase. A comprehensive cruise insurance plan protects the financial investment you put into the cruise and helps cover any expenses incurred due to unexpected events that happen while you travel, such as adverse weather, mechanical breakdown, or illness.

Our most popular cruise insurance plan, Safe Travels Voyager, has a generous 30 covered reasons for trip cancellation, and some plans even offer coverage for bankruptcy of the travel supplier. But you should be aware that if you cancel your cruise due to fear of travel or if the cruise line cancels the sailing, you are only covered if you have Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) added to your plan.

The key here is reading through the plan and understanding what your plan covers. Trawick International Customer Service can help you understand which plan is best for you and answer any questions you may have.

3. Get a plan with Missed Connection coverage.

If your flight is delayed for three or more hours due to inclement weather and you literally miss the boat, Missed Connection coverage can help save the day and your investment. Missing the initial cruise departure means catching up with the ship, which can lead to additional expenses incurred as you make your way there. Trawick International plans provide coverage for those additional expenses, including transportation, reasonable accommodations, and meal expenses.

Additionally, Missed Connection coverage can reimburse you for non-refundable payments made on the unused portion of the cruise. Just be sure to save your receipts as you book and pay for your travel and travel-related expenses. You will need those if you have to file any claims.

4. Insure all prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses.

Many travelers don’t realize that all prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses can be insured. Cruise transfers, transportation to and from the airport, accommodations, airfare, cruise fare, and excursions are all examples of insurable travel expenses. If you paid for it ahead of time and it is non-refundable, you can and should insure it to ensure those amounts are protected in the event of a trip cancellation. Additionally, some coverages such as Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) or the pre-ex waiver, may require that the full trip cost be insured.

5. Optional cruise insurance benefits can be worth the extra expense.

Optional benefits such as Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) and additional Trip Delay benefits are worth looking into. CFAR offers up to 75% reimbursement if your trip is canceled for a reason not listed on the plan. Otherwise, you may be out of luck (and money!) if something happens to cause you to cancel the trip and the reason is not listed on the plan. Trip Delay provides benefits for additional expenses should there be a common carrier delay or if you become quarantined. It is part of most plans, but you may want to opt for a higher Trip Delay Max unique to Trawick Insurance: $4,000 or $7,000. It adds a nominal amount to the overall plan cost and allows for a higher reimbursement of expenses per person, per day.

6. Skip the cruise line insurance.

Cruise line insurance plans are typically more expensive and only provide coverage while on the cruise or for expenses purchased directly through the cruise line. A travel insurance plan bought from a reputable third-party insurance company like Trawick International covers the cruise itself, excursions taken during the cruise, plus any pre- and post-cruise arrangements, such as airfare and transfers. It can also cover events such as a traffic accident en route to the cruise departure, lost baggage, airline delays, and flight cancellations.

7. Cruise insurance costs depend on age, trip cost, and trip duration.

Cruise travel insurance cost is a percentage of your overall trip cost and considers factors such as the ages of those traveling, total cost of the trip, and duration of travel. Additionally, any upgraded or added benefits will of course add to the cost of the plan.

Trawick International is here to help you get the right insurance for your upcoming cruise. Whether you need trip cancellation or missed connection coverage, or you’re looking for something a little more comprehensive, we have exactly what you and all of your travel companions need for your next cruise. Get a no-commitment travel insurance quote today.

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Cruise Travel Insurance

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