Do I Need Cruise Insurance for My Trip?

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A cruise is a fantastic way to spend your vacation. With different destinations, excursions, and adventures it’s an opportunity to create lifelong memories. It’s also a significant investment and can take many hours, tons of effort, and loads of money to get the perfect cruise.

And after all that planning, what happens if you get sick right before departure? Or if your luggage is delayed and you find yourself without your clothes and personal items? Unplanned events like these can ruin your dream trip.

Most people don’t think about the bad things that could happen when planning a vacation. But when they do, you don’t want all that time and money to go to waste. To protect yourself from emergencies that could come up, travel insurance for a cruise is a great option. But is it right for you?

What is Travel Insurance for a Cruise?

Having car insurance or an insurance policy on your house is a no-brainer. But getting cruise insurance for your vacation is more common than you might think. More importantly, it can protect you from a curveball that could ruin it all.

A survey by the US Travel Insurance Association found that 70% of travelers taking a cruise bought insurance. And it’s for a good reason: The same study found that one out of every six people who purchased travel insurance have filed a claim.

Think about it. When you’re on a cruise, what happens if:

• Your miss a leg of your trip
• You need emergency medical treatment
• Your passport goes missing
• There’s a delay in getting your luggage

Just like any other insurance policy, travel insurance for a cruise protects you from certain financial risks and losses. It shields you from mishaps, so you can focus on enjoying your vacation and creating once-in-a-lifetime memories.

What Cruise Insurance Covers

When taking a vacation, travel insurance for your cruise is an especially good idea because of the many destinations and excursions you have when traveling by cruise ship.

For instance, it can reimburse you for the cost of the trip if you have to cancel unexpectedly. It can also help you plan for transportation or hotel stays if you suffer from an emergency while at sea.

Buying cruise insurance can seem silly if you’ve never done it before, but experienced travelers know it’s an essential part of their travel plans and budget.

Even though it would still put a damper on your cruise, planning for the unexpected emergency now will save you a lot of stress and chaos later. Here are a few ways travel insurance for a cruise can help you on your next vacation:

• Canceled trips – You can get reimbursed for non-refundable expenses if your trip is canceled, whether it’s caused by an airline strike or natural disaster (like a hurricane). If you and your travel partner got divorced or if one of you lost your job, you could be eligible for reimbursement, too.
• Cutting your vacation short – When the unthinkable happens and you have to cut your trip short, it could cost you thousands for transportation, hotels, and last-minute flights. With cruise insurance, you’re covered if you’re forced to head back home earlier than planned.
• Emergency treatment – Should you or a fellow traveler break their ankle, develop a kidney stone, or face some other medical emergency, cruise insurance can help. From emergency medical and dental treatment to expense reimbursement, you can recoup non-refundable travel costs.
• Missing the boat – With connecting flights and multi-leg journeys, missing the boat is a real possibility. If your connecting flight is canceled and you miss the cruise ship boarding call, travel insurance for a cruise can get your vacation back on track. Most travel insurance companies have a 24-hour hotline to help you make changes to your travel plans.
• Lost luggage – Losing your luggage in transit is a huge pain. Even though the biggest hassle is the time and energy it takes to replace everything, there can also be a huge expense. With cruise insurance, you should get some reimbursement expense for your loss. It won’t solve the problem, but it will take some of the sting out of your misplaced bags.

How Can I Get Travel Insurance?

Few things in life are as unpredictable as travel. For that reason, many cruise insurance companies offer both single trip and annual plans that come with different levels of protection. With so many options, make sure you read each one carefully to make sure it covers what matters most to you.

When it comes to price, what you pay typically depends on your family size, budget, and travel plans. If you don’t spend a lot of time traveling but still want to protect yourself against something going wrong, World Nomads Travel Insurance has great individual plans.

For those who travel more often, there are some nice annual plans you may wish to consider. One of our favorites is the Wander Frequent Traveler Program from Seven Corners.

Another way to protect yourself is through supplemental travel insurance that comes with your credit card. These are often best used in combination with a cruise insurance policy, helping to reimburse you for canceled trips, missed connections, and lost or delayed luggage. The critical piece to remember here is that it’s only available if you pay for the whole trip with that card. Compare some of the best travel credit cards here!

Should I Buy Cruise Insurance?

Let’s be honest: Most cruises go off without a hitch. But, just like in everyday life, you never know when something might happen that could derail your plans.

If your cruise isn’t expensive and your risk of needing insurance is low, you might be OK without cruise insurance. With that said, a simple illness or injury could mean racking up thousands in medical bills. Or, even more likely, you might face weather delays or other issues that could cause a delay or cancellation of your travel plans.

Cruise insurance can help with all of that. Not to mention, it provides some serious peace of mind for your trip. And, since it’s generally pretty inexpensive, I tend to think it’s a pretty good deal.

Thanks so much for reading. Until next time, happy traveling!

Do you purchase travel insurance when you take a cruise? Let us know why or why not in the comments below!