Travel insurance is something many Americans decide not to buy unless it is mandatory, but when going on a cruise, traveling without good insurance is a very bad and risky move.
In this article, we’ll run you through 5 reasons to buy travel insurance for your next cruise…
1. Insulate Yourself Against Medical Bills
Getting sick or injured while on a cruise – or any type of holiday for that matter – can be very expensive. And, as you won’t be covered by your domestic health insurance policy, this means you could end up having to pay a hefty bill to cover your medical expenses.
Purchasing a good travel insurance policy can protect you against this and reduces the risk of you having to pay several times the cost of your cruise in medical bills.
2. Protect Yourself Against Last-Minute Cancelations
Cancelations are an unfortunate reality of any form of travel – and purchasing non-amendable transport and accommodation can leave you out of pocket.
However, many travel insurance policies for cruises cover cancelations, so they can help you book other suitable options, or, alternatively, reimburse you your money.
3. Catch the Boat!
Many cruise-specific insurance policies cover the cost of arranging emergency transport to help make sure you catch the boat in the event of a disruption to your booked transport. This is a great benefit of purchasing travel insurance for cruises, especially if the cruise will be departing from a part of the US that is frequently hit by extreme weather.
4. Get Home Fast
Most cruises go to far-flung locations, so trying to rush back home in the middle of a cruise, in the event a family member falls sick for example, can be a logistical nightmare – and a very costly one at that.
Some travel insurance policies cover the cost of rushing you home and also provide support with quickly arranging alternative transportation.
5. Peace of Mind
Simply having cover in place for all of the above can give you peace of mind and allow you to unwind and enjoy your cruise.
The importance of this benefit cannot be overstated. After all, what’s the point of going on holiday if you’re constantly going to be worrying about getting sick, lost baggage and other potential mishaps?
Advice When Buying Insurance For Cruises
Travel insurance is something you should buy whenever you travel abroad, especially on a cruise. Make sure you purchase a policy that offers good cover for the entire duration of your trip – and be sure to extend the term of your cover if you need to extend your trip for any reason.
As with all other types of insurance, it’s important to read the fine print and seek clarification if there’s anything you are unsure of. This will allow you to understand exactly what kind of cover you’re purchasing and will help you avoid any nasty surprises when it comes to making a claim.
It’s also a good idea to shop around, as travel insurance can be quite costly – especially for lengthy journeys – so even just saving a few dollars per day on your policy can add up to a significant amount of money.
Finally, it’s generally a good idea to err on the side of buying more cover rather than less, as going on a cruise without sufficient cover isn’t that much better than going on holiday without an insurance policy at all!
A Quick Summary
- Travel insurance is something that many Americans decide not to buy unless it’s mandatory, but this is a risky move.
- Buying travel insurance for cruises can give you last-minute cancelation cover and help you return home due to an emergency.
- Some policies even cover the cost of arranging emergency transport to ensure you don’t miss the boat.
- All things considered, buying travel insurance when going on a cruise is a smart move, even if you don’t end up having to make a claim on your policy.