Cruises are known as some of the most laid-back, relaxing holidays that travellers can enjoy. That’s why most might not consider going on a cruise and travel insurance as two things that are necessarily inextricably linked. However, these trips to the ocean and various ports come with a variety of unique risks that make cruise travel insurance an utter essential for any traveller. This guide digs into the importance of finding the right insurance policy before you book a cruise online, making it clear just why doing so is so important.
Reasons you need cruise travel insurance
There are plenty of reasons that you need travel insurance for cruise holidays, generally defined by the uniqueness of your trip mostly taking place at sea. It’s important to have relevant cover before setting sail, otherwise you might find yourself up creek without a paddle (hopefully not literally).
Preparing for medical emergencies at sea
Cruise ship doctors are fully qualified physicians, able to offer a fair degree of medical care and attention. With this in mind, their services can be quite expensive, whereas emergency evacuations can cost up to tens of thousands of pounds. Also, standard health insurance might not cover medical expenses at sea or in foreign ports. Of course, no one wants to fall ill or injured when abroad. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared in case it happens.
Other cruise-specific contingencies
Travel insurance for cruises is also designed to cover various cruise-specific scenarios, many of which won’t be secured by typical travel insurance policies.
The kinds of specific coverage points to consider when seeking a policy include:
- Missed port departure coverage. This aspect of a policy can be vital in case you miss the ship’s initial departure due to travel delays. Insurance here will cover the travel and accommodation costs required for you to catch up with the ship.
- Cabin confinement cover. Being quarantined for illness on a ship might sound like a horror movie plot, but it isn’t outside the realm of possibility. Coverage will provide compensation in the case of this happening.
- Cruise interruption. There can be several reasons that you might have to leave a cruise before it’s run its course. Insurance will help you to cover the costs of returning home or potentially rejoining the cruise later.
These are all the kinds of scenarios you need to consider when it comes to booking specific cruise travel insurance.
Typical travel insurance points
The best travel insurance for cruises will also include cover for typical travel scenarios, such as:
- Trip cancellations and interruptions
- Travel delays
- Baggage and valuables losses
- Foreign port health insurance
Covering all of these bases is essential on any international trip, which is why they can’t be ignored when it comes to preparing for a cruise.
Finding the right policy
When it comes to finding the right policy, the approach should be similar to that which you might take when looking for insurance in any context. The easiest way to find the best policy is generally by using some sort of comparison site, like Just Travel Cover, which highlights the differences between policies and their prices. This puts things in a clear perspective, ensuring you can feel confident before you head out to see.
And remember, having insurance doesn’t absolve you of taking responsibility for yourself! Get insured but also kip your wits about you in terms of caring for your belongings and your health. All of these elements will support you having the best possible journey (or resolution to a bad one).
