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INSURANCE

Travel insurance is an extra expense but strongly recommended by most travel agents. In fact, some agents will have you sign a waiver if you DON'T want the insurance to protect themselves. In fact, I'm also telling you that I claim no responsibility. You need to check this area out yourself. I have put together a spreadsheet comparing plans. It's a PDF file you can download by clicking here - Travel Insurance Comparisons. But please read my disclaimer in the document.

There are basically two types of places to get insurance from - the cruise line itself or an independent company. These types of things you want covered may be:

• Trip cancellation or interruption (the money you would lose from non-refundable fares and expenses when you are prevented from taking or completing a trip). Remember, just changing your mind is not covered if you cancel the trip. You must have a covered reason.
• Trip delay or missed connection (for expenses that you incur to join the trip and/or return home)
• Medical expenses. The ship's doctor is very expensive. See if your personal medical insurance will cover this. The cruise insurance would cover anything your plan does not (i.e. copay or deductible).
• Emergencies during the cruise or enroute (evacuation from the ship) - Yes, I've even been on ruises where they had to evac someone. Once we were on a ship with a helicopter evaculation and another time the ship had to turn around and go back to port. It's VERY expensive. Your personal medical probably won't cover that cost.
• Lost or delayed baggage or damage to luggage
• Trip default (the cruise line goes broke)
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment (of course we don't like to think about that but cruise ships do have a morgue)

There are several companies that write this coverage. I personally have used Access America, Travel Guard, CSA and Universal Travel Protection (UTP). I have had small claims with Access America and Travel Guard and they were both handled promptly and efficiently. One was for medical and the other for damaged luggage. Check over the limits of each policy and see what fits your needs for the price.

Your agent can help you shop for insurance but keep in mind they might be biased as they'll get a commission. I use the Internet. Before you accept the cruise line's policy, compare it to the independents. Obviously it can't cover you for trip default if they go broke. But also see if it covers all the things you need and at a price that's competitive. It used to be that cruise line's coverage was very poor but most are changing.

All policies have a "pre-existing condition" clause that can be waived if you purchase the policy within 7 or 14 days of booking your cruise. So shop fast if that's an issue with you.

Some people choose not to take insurance at all. That's absolutely a personal choice. Only you can decide if you can financially suffer any of the possible losses that could occur. But remember it covers more than just having to cancel the cruise.

My Links page has hotlinks to the various insurance websites.

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