What it covers and why it’s worth it

Cruising is a great experience, but make sure you have trip insurance – Image courtesy of Britus / iStock via Getty Images

Sea and river cruises have gained popularity among all age groups over the past few years. And no wonder: it’s a pleasure to unpack all at once and watch the world float by from the comfort of your room on the best new cruise ships.

Because of the relaxing nature of a cruise vacation, many people may not think about purchasing travel insurance. But there are many compelling reasons to include cruise insurance in your cruise expenses.

Here are some expert tips to ensure smooth sailing.

What does cruise insurance cover?

It is important to review the travel insurance coverage advertised by a cruise company or independent travel insurance company to understand what it does and does not cover. Reading the fine print is crucial. Here’s what to look for.

Trip cancellation

Trip cancellation insurance is a pre-departure benefit that can offset the cost of a traveler’s trip if they need to cancel their trip for a covered reason. Besides the most common reasons travelers cancel their trip (i.e. a medical emergency), most plans offer a wide range of scenarios covered by the policy as well. Be sure to check what penalties, if any, will apply if you have to cancel your trip.

Cancellation for any reason (CFAR)

Cancellation for any reason separate from flight cancellation. This coverage protects the insurance company if it has to cancel the trip for any reason. Policies vary with each insurance company, so be sure to discuss the details with your agent before purchasing a signature on the dotted line.

Pre-existing conditions

It is important to check your travel insurance to see what cover may be available for a sudden recurrence of a pre-existing health condition, as it may be less than what is covered for a new injury or illness.

Health coverage

Depending on whether you are cruising nationally or internationally, it is important to talk to your designated insurance agent to determine the best plan to address your current health issues.

Lost and delayed baggage

Baggage delay coverage allows you to purchase essential items you need for your personal convenience while waiting for your bags to arrive at your destination. Most plans offer compensation for purchased clothing and essential items if your luggage is lost or stolen, but check in advance.

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What type of insurance do you need for a cruise?

According to Susan Morrow, senior vice president of InsureMyTrip, travel health insurance can be helpful on cruises.

For seniors, it’s important to know that Medicare does not cover health care services when the ship is more than six hours away from a U.S. port. Even if you’re young and in excellent health, travel health insurance covers a wide range of problems and accidents that can arise – especially while embracing the spirit of an opportunistic holiday. Will a polar bear drown in the frigid waters of Antarctica? certainly! Count it on me!

If your medical emergency is serious, you may need to be airlifted from the cruise ship to the nearest hospital. The cost of a medical evacuation alone can reach $100,000 or more. Travel health insurance can significantly reduce this cost.

Choose CFAR coverage

Morrow also recommends that cruisers purchase travel insurance with CFAR coverage. If you need to cancel a cruise for any reason, CFAR may reimburse you up to 50% to 75% of your prepaid, non-refundable costs.

Don’t assume your policy covers unexpected trip cancellations unless expressly specified in your contract. If you’re not sure what’s covered, talk to a representative before choosing coverage.

“There may be benefits within travel delay coverage, but this will only offset expenses up to the policy maximum, such as accommodation or food purchased during the delay,” says Megan Walsh, also of InsureMyTrip.

Does traveler’s insurance cover flight cancellations?

Last-minute flight cancellations are on the rise these days. On a recent cruise to Iceland, we were getting off the ship when we received a text alerting us that our flight home had been cancelled. Apparently some of the cabin crew had not reported for duty that morning.

We ended up rebooking a direct flight home – at our expense – because the only offer the airline had to the stranded passengers was an arduous 27-hour itinerary back to the US.

We had travelers insurance, but we discovered – after months of correspondence with the Insurance Commission after the accident – that insurance companies were not responsible for flights canceled due to crew non-attendance.

Other scenarios are covered by travel insurance, such as weather and mechanical issues, but not this particular situation. This has been an important and costly lesson.

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Who offers travel insurance for cruises?

There are dozens of cruise insurance companies, so you’ll have to do your homework to find the right company for your situation. To get the most value from any travel insurance plan, purchase it within 14 days of paying your trip deposit. The earlier you purchase cruise insurance, the faster you will be protected.

More cruising tips for smooth sailing

Arrive at your home port early and take only carry-on luggage to alleviate stressful situations – Photo courtesy of Joanne DiBona

In addition to purchasing cruise travel insurance, there are things you can do before embarking on your dream trip to ensure smooth sailing.

Arrive at your cruise port a day early

Early arrival to your cruise ship’s home port should definitely be on your itinerary. While it may mean using an extra day or two of vacation time, and the expense of an overnight stay in your cruise port, in this new world of frequent cruise delays and cancellations, it can make a big difference in whether or not you make it. Or not he “missed the boat.”

Cruise with carry-on baggage only

Most cruise lines offer free laundry facilities on every deck, or you can use sink and drying lines in the bathroom (one good reason to put clothespins on your cruise packing list), so it’s smart to pack light and take advantage of these amenities. It will save you time and hassle by not having to check bags.

If you must check bags, travelers insurance may be helpful in case your luggage never makes it to the ship.

We experienced this scenario when an aunt and niece lost their luggage on a cruise on the Seine during their trip from the Midwest to Paris. They were finally reunited with their belongings – after weeks at home.

Cruise insurance would have paid for replacement clothing, whether purchased on board or in coastal towns along the cruise route.