Cruise Travel Insurance: Is It Worth the Cost?

Table Of Content

• Best Travel Insurance Companies in April 2024
• Do I Need Cruise Travel Insurance?
• Best for pre-existing conditions
• Cobranded Cards
• Best Cruise Travel Insurance of April 2024
• Cruise insurance can cover many situations, but you need to shop around to find the best coverage.
• Best Cruise Travel Insurance for Seniors: Seven Corners
• Types of cruise travel insurance coverages

It also includes very good trip interruption, baggage and missed connection coverage. TravelSafe’s Classic plan provides the highest limits for missed connection and evacuation benefits among top-rated plans. It also has very good trip interruption and hurricane and weather coverage at a competitive price. Nationwide’s Cruise Luxury plan provides an array of extensive benefits at a decent price, including superior missed connection coverage and emergency and non-medical evacuation benefits.

Best Travel Insurance Companies in April 2024

While Berkshire Hathaway offers various travel insurance plans, WaveCare™ is specific to cruise protection. In addition to the coverage outlined in the chart below, this plan also includes $500 in fixed coverage if your cruise ship is disabled. IMG’s iTravelInsured Travel Lite, with options for winter, adventure, and extreme sports, can give you the coverage you need.

Do I Need Cruise Travel Insurance?

If any of your destinations are under a hurricane warning, you will have coverage for cancellation. Shopping around and comparing plans is by far the best way to save on cruise travel insurance. If you decide to get expanded coverage by buying a policy on your own, a travel insurance agent can help you find the coverage types you want for the cruise and price-shop the policy for you or you can search online. Based on quotes we obtained using the seven trip profiles outlined in our methodology, Trawick’s average trip cost is $208.41. Based on quotes we obtained using the seven trip profiles outlined in our methodology, AXA’s average trip cost is $265.50. Based on quotes we obtained using the seven trip profiles outlined in our methodology, Travelex’s average trip cost is $242.

Best for pre-existing conditions

Also, your own health insurance may not cover cruise travel or medical attention onboard a ship. Often, some personal insurance plans do not protect passengers once they have sailed more than six hours from any U.S. port. This may come as a surprise for those who thought they were protected, which is why it can be wise to purchase additional coverage for a cruise. You may have been offered travel insurance from travel suppliers such as cruise lines and airlines.

Cobranded Cards

Another important factor to consider is COVID-19 protection, as not all insurance plans include it. You will want to consider what happens if you get sick before the sailing or onboard since you may have to find accommodation if you are not able to travel for a period of time. This coverage will help pay for any expenses separate from the cruise trip itself, such as plane tickets, activities, and tours. If the cruise line makes a change in the port of call, you will not be reimbursed for airfare to get to the original port and new tickets to get to the updated port of call.

Best Cruise Travel Insurance of April 2024

Some vacationers must return to land by medical evacuation, whether by helicopter directly from the ship or by plane from a port. This service costs tens of thousands of dollars, and your regular health insurance generally won’t cover this. The cost of cruise insurance varies depending on several factors, including your age, destination, length of cruise, trip cost and the time left before your departure date. Different insurance providers will also have their own underwriting criteria, which leads to varying prices for a single trip. Cruise travel insurance policies often cover trip interruptions as well.

Baggage loss insurance covers your luggage if it is lost, damaged or stolen during your trip. You'll often find more affordable rates, comprehensive coverage and favorable terms utilizing third-party insurance companies. You'll have a wide choice of plans, so you can pick the one that works the best for your situation.

11 Best Travel Insurance Companies Of April 2024 – Forbes Advisor - Forbes

11 Best Travel Insurance Companies Of April 2024 – Forbes Advisor.

Posted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 21:23:00 GMT [source]

Best Cruise Travel Insurance for Seniors: Seven Corners

No matter which Travel Guard insurance plan you choose, you’ll have access to our specially trained representatives for 24/7 emergency travel assistance. Catch up on CNBC Select’s in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date. The Seven Corners Trip Protection Elite plan has generous coverage limits for evacuation and repatriation and accident and sickness.

Types of cruise travel insurance coverages

Regardless of your policy, AIG Travel Guard provides 24/7 customer assistance. The company has an AM Best rating of A, which means that it has an excellent ability to pay out claims and meet its financial obligations. The Travel Guard Essential plan doesn’t include travel inconvenience protection or CFAR, both of which the Preferred and Deluxe plans provide. The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs clearly states the importance of buying travel insurance. The tandem approach — buying both travel insurance and a separate medevac transport membership — is a good option, Hallman said.

The insured can select coverage in a variety of dollar amounts; half a million dollars in coverage can cost less than $50 per traveler. While airline accident coverage is typically a supplemental add-on, it might be included in the cost of comprehensive standard policies or offered as "bonus" coverage. This means you can't embark on a cruise with the intention of having dental work or minor surgery in a port of call followed by recovery on board the ship.

Between airlines, ships, and ports-of-call there are plenty of opportunities for luggage to be delayed, lost in transit or stolen. Baggage loss coverage may help recover the costs of replacing lost items, or baggage delay coverage may help reimburse for the necessities purchased while waiting for bags. Having baggage coverage can significantly decrease the stress of losing your belongings. World Nomads Travel Insurance has been a top choice for comprehensive travel insurance for many years now. Additionally, you shouldn’t expect your U.S.-based health insurance plan to cover you on your cruise, especially if you’re on an international cruise. And it’s exceptionally expensive if you need to be evacuated for a medical condition.

Also, if a cruise cancels or changes the itinerary before your trip, you will not have coverage for any transportation or pre-arranged activities unless you bought cancel for any reason coverage. If your flight is delayed and you miss the departure of the cruise ship, this insurance feature will reimburse you for lost cruising days and cover transportation to the next port of call. A Berkshire Hathaway WaveCare cruise-specific plan was $202, quite a bit more than average, but with the most medical evacuation coverage. Trawick has three options for annual cruise insurance, with each plan offering coverage for up to 30 days per trip. Our editorial team follows a comprehensive methodology for rating and reviewing travel insurance companies.

The Best Cruise Insurance Plans of April 2024 - MarketWatch

The Best Cruise Insurance Plans of April 2024.

Posted: Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

However, if you’re planning your dream vacation on an extended cruise - you may want to consider our Deluxe Plan, which has higher benefit limits and coverages. Note that the premiums and policy structures advertised for cruise insurance companies are subject to fluctuate in accordance with the company's policies. This lets you take advantage of the protections sooner and qualify for certain benefits such as pre-existing condition waivers. Trip cancellations are covered for 100% of the trip cost (up to a max of $150,000) and trip interruptions are covered for 150% of the trip cost (up to a max of $225,000). This plan covers baggage delays of more than 12 hours for up to $600 and covers lost, damaged or stolen bags or personal items for up to $300 per item ($2,500 maximum).

This will only be valid if you buy the CFAR add-on within 21 days of making the first deposit for your trip. To help you choose a suitable plan, here's a lowdown on the cruise travel insurance companies, complete with the packages they offer. For instance, standard travel insurers generally will not reimburse you for the cost of a cruise you cancel due to worries about an outbreak of an illness. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues a recommendation that you don't cruise due to an illness outbreak, as it did during the COVID-19 pandemic. Remember, too, that you can't purchase travel insurance and expect it to cover events that are already in motion.

For example, an extra $10 gets you upgraded medical expense and emergency evacuation coverage. Spend another $30 and you can add 50 percent Cancel for Any Reason coverage. Car rental collision coverage is available for just over $13 per day and the option to name someone outside your family as a family member for coverage purposes is under $5. Some companies offer an add-on that upgrades the amount of medical coverage and/or lowers your deductible. You agree to those things in your purchase contract with the cruise line. Also, in some cases, the cruise line may only return you to your original port of departure, which then may necessitate additional transportation from there to your home.

Travel insurance policy purchases have spiked since the COVID-19 pandemic. Most travel policies consider COVID-19 the same as any other illness, which means you may be entitled to use your insurance benefits if you’re hospitalized or cannot travel due to COVID-19. However, this also means that the fear of catching a new COVID strain will not entitle you to use your cruise insurance. Cruise travel insurance can be worth it to address your concerns about traveling and protect your investments. These policies offer numerous protections that will cover your expenses in case your trip is canceled, interrupted or delayed, or if you get sick during the trip.