USA
Cruise Travel Insurance
Cruise Travel Insurance
Cruise insurance is a specialized form of travel insurance designed to address the things that can go wrong when on a cruise. From medical emergencies to trip cancellations, cruise insurance provides coverage for a range of scenarios.
It is a form of travel insurance that is separate from normal travel insurance policies, although it can sometimes be bought as a policy extension
Typically, a cruise insurance policy will cover
- Trip cancellation and interruption: If you have to cancel or interrupt your cruise for a covered reason, such as illness or injury, your insurance will reimburse you for the prepaid costs of your trip.
- Medical expenses: If you get sick or injured on your cruise and require medical treatment, your insurance will cover the cost of your care. This includes both on-board and off-board medical expenses, including being restricted to your cabin if necessary.
- Evacuation: If you need to be evacuated from your cruise ship due to a medical emergency, your insurance will cover the cost of your transportation to a hospital or other medical facility.
- Baggage loss or damage: If your luggage is lost, damaged, or stolen, your insurance will reimburse you for your losses.
- Missed port departures: If you miss a port departure due to a covered reason, your insurance will cover the cost of your transportation to the next port.
- Cruise line bankruptcy: If your cruise line goes bankrupt, your insurance will reimburse you for the prepaid costs of your trip.
How much does Cruise Insurance Cost?
You can buy cruise insurance from a variety of sources, including cruise lines, travel agencies, and independent insurance providers.
Some important factors to consider when buying cruise insurance include the cost of the insurance, the coverage limits and exclusions, the reputation and financial stability of the insurance provider, and any additional benefits or features offered by the plan
The cost of cruise insurance can vary, but it generally ranges from 5% to 10% of your total trip cost.
Several factors can influence the price, including your age, the amount you’re spending on your trip, the length of your cruise, the number of people covered under your policy, and your destination and ports-of-call.
For example, the average price of basic coverage for a seven-day trip in February 2023 from the U.S. to Mexico was approximately $124, and the cost of basic coverage for a Disney Cruise Line vacation was about $177 /$200
A couple of more specific examples include :
- For a $3,000 trip, the cost of cruise insurance is estimated to be between $150 and $210, which is approximately 5-7% of the total trip cost.
- The average price of a basic coverage plan for a seven-day trip in February 2023 from the U.S. to Mexico was $124, and the average cost of basic coverage for five different cruise insurance add-ons for a similar trip was $111.20.
- The Travel Basic plan from Travelex Insurance Services cost $116 for a sample trip, which is just below the average for plans listed.
What determines cost of cruise travel insurance?
The cost of cruise travel insurance is influenced by several factors, including age, trip cost, cruise length, number of people covered, destination, and plan type. Older travellers are considered to be at higher risk for health problems, so the cost of travel insurance rises with age.
Cruise Travel Insurance Claims
- Contact the Insurance Company: Always call the insurance company before submitting a claim to understand the required documents, the correct steps to file a claim, and how to submit the claim.
- Gather Supporting Information: Collect all the necessary supporting documents, such as proof of trip cancellation, medical records, or any other relevant information required by the company.
- File the Claim: File the claim either online, through the insurance company’s website or app, or over the phone. It’s essential to provide all the required information and documentation to ensure a smooth process.
- Follow Up: After filing the claim, follow up with the insurance company to ensure that all the necessary information has been received and to address any additional requirements.
- Appeal if Necessary: If the claim is denied, you can file an appeal with the insurance company. In some cases, a significant percentage of appeals are honored.
- Contact Regulatory Bodies if Needed: If the appeal is not successful, contact the appropriate comsumer protection body in your home country.
What documents are needed to file a claim?.
The more the better !
Generally speaking :
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption:
- Copies of all bills, invoices, receipts, and applicable credit card/bank statements pertaining to claimed expenses
- Medical Emergencies:
- For illness or injury, provide the Attending Physician’s Statement Claim Form and Patient Authorization Claim Form.
- Baggage Delay/Loss:
- Documentation related to the loss, theft, or damage of baggage, such as receipts and a copy of the rental car agreement if applicable
- Trip Delay:
- Receipts for additional meal and accommodation expenses incurred during the delay
- Other:
- Proof of incident (e.g., medical receipt, police report) for non-medical trip cancellation or interruption.
The insurance policy should specify exactly what documents are required for any type of claim and they can normally be uploaded to the insurance company website as part of the claim submission, or sent through the normal postal system, along with a printed claims form. Remember to always keep copies.
Major Cruise Lines
Cruise lines are big business and many will make some type of travel insurance compulsory. Some will have their own in house insurance which travellers will have to buy, or show that they have their own equivalent policy in terms of coverage.
Major Cruise Lines include :
- Carnival Corporation & plc: The world’s largest cruise company, operating over 100 ships across 9 cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and more.
- Royal Caribbean Group: Operating over 40 ships under the brands Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and partly owning TUI Cruises, Pullmantur, and Hapag-Lloyd.
- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings: Operating around 30 ships under the brands Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas, and Oceania Cruises.
- MSC Cruises: A global cruise line with a fleet of modern ships operating various itineraries around the world.
- Princess Cruises: A well-known cruise line offering a wide range of itineraries and onboard activities.
- Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, and Disney Cruise Line are also major players in the cruise industry.
Here are a couple of examples of a cruise company’s own travel insurance plan
- Norwegian Cruise Line’s Booksafe Travel Protection Plan: This plan offers comprehensive coverage for trip cancellation, interruption, medical expenses, and more. It also includes a “Cancel for Any Reason” option, which allows you to cancel your cruise for any reason and receive a refund of up to 75% of your prepaid expenses.
Travel Insurance by Country
Travel insurance is pretty much a must, whatever country you are going to visit, but its cost and necessity does vary country by country.
For some countries it is a legal requirement, for others things like medical costs, as per USA, make it pretty crucial for most people.
Some countries are safer than others, and some parts of some countries are safer than others.
Insurance companies require people to follow any travel advice that their national government gives out about the state of a country, and how safe it is to travel there.
Governments of other countries than your own will also have travel advice for their citizens, which will be useful to follow.
Whilst travel insurance will usually cover most medical conditions, albeit at a cost, if you have a condition such as epilepsy it is worth remembering that some countries still have quite a cultural and social problem with people who suffer from it.
It is also worth researching the medical system of any country you are going to, especially if you are visiting any remote areas of that country.
Also check if your insurance company will pay any medical bills directly to the hospital, or if you are expected to pay them and claim the money back from the insurance company.
Below is a list of articles about travel insurance to different countries, including some general travel tips and information on safety, airlines, sports, and health systems etc.
US Govt Travel Advisory Update – Israel and Gaza
The United States Government has updated its travel advice about the region owing to the increasingly dangerous situation developing there.
The advisory notice is important for two reasons – It reflects the current thinking of the US government and its understanding of the risks associated with travelling to the region, and it could affect anyone’s travel insurance who is already there, or thinking about going there in the immediate future.
You can’t burn mud ……
Tens of thousands of revelers attending the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert have been asked to shelter in place and conserve food and water on Saturday after a rainstorm turned the site into mud – Globe and Mail
What is Burning Man ?
Burning Man Festival: A Unique Celebration of Art, Community, and Self-Expression
Every year, tens of thousands of people from all corners of the world gather in the Nevada desert to participate in one of the most distinctive and transformative events on the planet: the Burning Man Festival.
Founded in 1986 by Larry Harvey and a group of friends on Baker Beach in San Francisco, Burning Man has since evolved into a week-long celebration of art, self-expression, and radical self-reliance.
At its core, Burning Man is an experiment in temporary community living.
For one week each summer, a makeshift city called Black Rock City springs up in the arid expanse of the Black Rock Desert. This city is home to a diverse and vibrant community where the usual social norms are replaced by the Ten Principles of Burning Man, which include radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, and leaving no trace.
One of the festival’s most iconic symbols is the Man, a towering wooden figure that stands at the center of Black Rock City.
The climax of the festival occurs on the final Saturday night when the Man is set ablaze in a spectacular pyrotechnic display. This ritual symbolizes the release of the old and the embrace of the new, an idea that lies at the heart of Burning Man’s philosophy.
Art is a cornerstone of Burning Man, with the festival serving as a canvas for innovative and often colossal installations. These artworks are as diverse as the participants themselves, from massive sculptures to intricate interactive experiences.
The art is not just for aesthetic enjoyment; it’s meant to inspire reflection and engagement. Participants are encouraged to explore, interact, and contribute to the art, fostering a sense of creative collaboration.
Self-expression is another integral aspect of the Burning Man experience. The dress code is anything but conventional; attendees don extravagant costumes, body paint, and accessories that reflect their inner selves. This atmosphere of freedom allows individuals to step outside societal constraints and fully embrace their true selves.
In a world often dominated by consumerism and commodification, Burning Man stands out as a special oasis. Money is virtually useless within the festival grounds, and a gift economy prevails. Participants bring items or services to share without expecting anything in return. This culture of giving fosters a strong sense of community and connection among attendees.
Leave No Trace is an essential principle that emphasizes environmental responsibility.
Participants are expected to pack out everything they bring, leaving the desert as pristine as they found it. This commitment to sustainability extends to the festival’s infrastructure, which relies on solar power and encourages alternative transportation methods.
Despite its popularity, the festival remains elusive, with tickets often sold out quickly.
It’s a testament to the festival’s allure—a temporary escape from the ordinary, where self-expression, art, and community come together in a mesmerizing blend of creativity and freedom. For those fortunate enough to experience it, Burning Man is more than a festival; it’s a life-changing journey that challenges conventions and leaves an indelible mark on the soul.
What is Single Trip Travel Insurance?
Single Trip Travel Insurance
A single trip travel insurance policy is designed to provide insurance coverage for a one-off return journey trip to one or more overseas destinations. This policy will run for a specified time, with some insurers offering a maximum of 30/31 days, and others offering up to around 3 months.
The idea of a single trip normally implies a journey to a specific country, either for a holiday, possibly a wedding or even a short weekend break. It can also include trips to several different countries so long as they are all part of the same holiday.
As insurance companies issue this type of policy on a geographical basis, it is important to remember to take the widest possible range of geographical cover provided.
Types of Policy
A single trip travel insurance policy will provide a range of different benefits, although the extent of that coverage will vary with different insurance companies.
Also, most insurance companies will offer different plans within the context of a single trip policy, often labelling them with titles such as Standard, Premiere, Premier Plus, Platinum, Sapphire, Emerald, Gold, Diamond etc.
Most of these plans will offer the same type of cover but with differing financial limits and different levels of policy excesses or deductibles.
Many insurance companies will provide specimen policies and policy wordings on their website which can be downloaded as a free pdf.
Also, many countries have consumer laws allowing for what is known as a cooling-off period after a policy is taken out, normally 14/21 days. This gives people time to look through the policy, check if it is appropriate for their needs and if not cancel it and obtain a refund of premiums paid.
Single Trip Travel Insurance
Single trip cover provides travel insurance for a single holiday trip that can include more than one country.
If you embark on two or more trips annually, opting for an annual travel insurance plan may prove more cost-effective than purchasing two separate single trip policies.
However, if you embark on a holiday only once a year, single trip insurance may offer better value.
The choice of insurance policy depends on your destination, and you can normally select from the following options:
- European single trip travel insurance
- Worldwide single trip travel insurance that includes USA, Canada, Caribbean, and Mexico
- Worldwide single trip travel insurance that excludes the above countries, but includes the rest of the world.
What a single trip travel insurance policy normally covers
- Cost of medical treatment and repatriation: Coverage in the event of an accident or illness while you’re abroad, including provisions for air ambulance services and repatriation to your home country if necessary.
- Cancellation and Curtailment: Protection against financial losses if you need to cancel or cut short your trip for reasons specified in your policy. This can often be a contentious issue as to what is and is not covered.
- Flight Cancellations: The possibility to make a claim if your flight is cancelled or delayed for over 24 hours, or if you’re not rebooked on a new flight within 24 hours (refer to the policy for specific details).
- Stolen or Lost Baggage: Compensation for lost or damaged luggage, offering financial support when airlines fail to properly handle your belongings.
- Lost or Stolen Valuables and Personal Money: Coverage for lost or stolen cash and traveler’s cheques, with some policies having limits. Consider adding extra gadget insurance for specific valuable items.
- Personal Accident Insurance
- Some Legal Expenses
A single trip travel insurance policy can normally be upgraded to include areas such as
- Cruise Cover
- No Excess Policy
- Covid Cover
- Winter sports cover, skiing etc
- Adventure Holidays
- Sports and Activities Cover
Trip Duration
A single trip travel insurance policy will vary widely in terms of the duration of the trip or policy – this normally depends on the age of the person or people insured on the policy, and the reason for travel.
This type of policy is normally intended for what might be called normal holidays or travels, as opposed to people wanting travel insurance for extended stays in a country, backpacking etc where separate insurance policies are more appropriate.
Health Requirements
A single trip travel insurance will require the proposer to answer a number of medical screening questions to determine their eligibility to be accepted for the travel insurance policy.
This can sometimes seem a bit daunting. The intent is for the insurance company to assess the likelihood of medical problems arising when overseas, based on known facts declared before travel.
The insurance company is most interested in what are known as pre-existing conditions, which can pretty much be any medical illness or disease going back over a period of time.
Insurance companies can differ quite considerably in their attitude to pre-existing condition, in terms of what they are willing to cover and at what cost, so it is worth shopping around if this is applicable to you or anyone you are travelling with.
What is really important is that you are completely honest in answering all questions – failure to do so could well result in a claim being denied at a future date.
The medical screening questions are either normally done online or via telephone. It is also important to notify the insurance company if your health changes between taking out the policy and starting your travels.
Pregnancy
A single trip travel insurance policy will normally cover someone who is pregnant, but certain time limits normally apply and will be specified in the policy. It is also important to check with the airline what their policy is.
It is worth noting the travel insurance policy would exclude what is known as medical tourism, which in this case would mean someone flying to another country ie USA, specifically to give birth in order to gain citizenship.
Single Trip Travel Insurance Claims
In the event of you needing to make a claim there are a couple of things to be aware of. The policy will normally contain a 24 hour emergency line that you can ring in the event of a medical emergency and get help from.
The policy will have quite strict time and date requirements as to when the insurance company must be notified of either a hospital admission or claim under the policy.
It is worth checking with the insurance company if they will pay any hospital bills directly, or if they expect you to pay up front and then make a claim to be paid back for any costs.
In the event of making any claim, the insurance company will require a certain amount of documentation in order to verify the claim details, normally known as claims evidence. What documentation is required should be specified in the policy document.
Benefits
The single trip travel insurance policy will have what is referred to as a schedule or table of benefits. This will spell out in detail what financial compensation you are entitled to if a valid claim is made under the relevant section. Some sections may not apply to your policy and as such would not be valid.
Cancellation of Trip and Trip Disruption
This is often the most contentious area of disputes relating to travel insurance policies. Insurance companies are very specific as to what they will and won’t cover in the event of a trip needing to be cancelled or delayed, and the reasons for it.
The insurance policy will spell out these terms and conditions of cover in a specific section of the policy.
Personal Belongings
A single trip travel insurance policy will normally cover someone’s personal effects and their baggage against most types of loss or damage.
Items classed as valuables will normally be covered, but may need a different section. There is likely to be a single article limit, as well as a overall limit for valuable items. Some insurance companies deem items such as laptops and tablets as valuables.
You will be expected to take sensible precautions against loss of valuables – if not any claim may be declined. The example normally given is not leaving valuables such as a camera unattended in a cafe or visible in an unoccupied car.
Different Levels of Single Trip Travel Insurance
Most insurance companies offer different levels of cover for their travel insurance policies, which in effect are basic, average and premium, although they will use much nicer terms.
All will have some level of cover as described above, but the premium policy is likely to include perks such as access to a complimentary airport lounge in the event of a plane delay.
Documents
A single trip travel insurance policy will have a built in expectation that you have the correct travel documents you need in order to enter the country you are visiting.
- sign your passport and complete the emergency contacts page
- ensure that your passport meets the entry requirements for the country you are visiting (for example, it may need to be valid for a set period after your trip ends)
- get the correct visa for your destination
- take an extra form of photo ID with you, other than your passport
- if you are travelling with children check whether you need extra documentation
- if you plan to drive abroad check whether you need an International Driving Permit (IDP)
Policy Exclusions
All single trip travel insurance policies will have some exclusions, and it is worth being aware of them before travelling so as not to be caught unaware.
Review the coverage of your insurance policy in the following areas:
- Alcohol and Drugs: Most travel insurance policies exclude events occurring after excessive alcohol consumption or the use of recreational drugs or other substances.
- High-Risk Destinations: Check whether your travel insurance covers trips to destinations deemed high-risk by your national government. If they advise against all but essential travel or all travel to a specific country, your policy may not provide coverage. Review your policy details and the relevant country travel advice pages before booking your trip and purchasing insurance.
- Mental Health Conditions: Some policies may not cover treatment related to pre-existing mental health conditions. Refer to foreign travel advice for individuals with mental health issues for additional guidance.
- Age Restrictions: When purchasing a policy, verify if there are any age-related restrictions. If so, seek guidance on selecting the appropriate level of cover, obtaining the best deal, and making a travel insurance claim. Specialized advice is often available for travellers over 65 or those with pre-existing medical conditions.
- Adventure Sports: Standard policies typically do not include coverage for activities such as bungee jumping, jet skiing, winter sports, skydiving, quad biking, or moped rentals.
- Driving Overseas: If you plan to drive overseas, check the driving abroad guidelines. For rental cars, assess the coverage provided by the rental company. If using your own vehicle, review your motor insurance policy to understand the extent of coverage.
- Terrorist Acts: Most policies offer limited coverage for terrorist acts. At a minimum, ensure your policy covers emergency medical expenses and repatriation in the event of a terrorist attack. Some insurers offer add-ons for additional coverage in case of a terrorist attack in your destination, including cancellation cover if your trip is affected before departure.
- Other Incidents: Some policies provide limited coverage for claims related to natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes or tropical cyclones) or civil unrest. Additionally, coverage may be restricted for incidents (e.g., strikes or industrial action) that were publicly known when you booked your trip or purchased your travel insurance.