Cruise Travel Insurance

Cruise Travel Insurance advice from Insurance Choice

Why do I need Travel Insurance with my cruise?

As with any holiday, thought should be given to travel insurance. In many cases this is optional for the standard package or bespoke holiday, but not so with cruise holidays. Some cruise companies, such as P&O Cruises, make travel insurance mandatory and other big cruise companies 'strongly recommends' that travel insurance be taken out. This is not surprising when you consider the costs you might incur when you’re out at sea*:

• One night in a Spanish or Turkish hospital - £600
• One night in a Spanish or Turkish Intensive Care Unit will cost between £1,200 and £1,500
• One night in a USA Intensive Care Unit is in excess of £5,000
• An Angiogram in the USA is between £15,000 and £20,000
• Heart Bypass surgery in the USA is between £20,000 and £50,000
• Air Ambulance;
  • Spain £20,000
  • Canaries £25,000
  • USA £60,000 - £70,000
  • Mexico £75,000 - £100,000

What is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)?

The EHIC will give you access to state provided healthcare should it become necessary whilst visiting European countries (specifically those in the European Economic Area). The card is free of any charges and the treatment you receive will either be at a reduced cost or in some instances free.
You will still need travel insurance, however, as the card does not cover all healthcare costs, especially operations or repatriation back to the UK.
You can apply for the EHIC at: www.dh.gov.uk/travellers

What happens if I’m taken ill or have an accident?

With a good travel insurance policy, the insurance company will arrange either repatriation to the UK if you are fit to travel or you will be taken to the nearest qualified medical facility to receive treatment.

If you need to be repatriated you will want to know that you are in safe hands, so your insurance should also cover the expenses of a qualified medical attendant or other person to escort you home.

The repatriation will also cover any accompanying family and couple members when the insured has been hospitalised or has died.

What if I have to cancel my trip?

Cruise travel insurance should be taken out as soon as you book the trip, so that you are covered for cancellations. You can take out cruise travel insurance up to 365 days before the holiday start date. With some trips running into thousands of pounds you should get covered as soon as you can so that you could recover the cost of the holiday.

If you need to cancel your trip, contact your insurance company and they will assist you with your requirements.

What happens in the event of death?

Not a particular subject we like to consider but one that needs addressing anyway.

We sincerely hope this does not happen, but in the unfortunate event that it did while on a cruise, you will want to be assured that you or someone on your policy is looked after. Again, good insurance policies will arrange recovery of the body or ashes to your home address. It could also cover the cost of cremation or burial in the country where the death occurred.

A relative is also looked after with return travel and reasonable accommodation expenses.

Why should I take out insurance when there is a doctor on board ship?

All cruise ships have a doctor and other medical staff and facilities, but you will have to pay for these.

Examples:

• Initial consultation by a doctor - £40 to £200
• Over night stay including Intravenous, medication and nurse – around £1,000
• Wheelchair for two days – around £150

If you take out insurance you are more than likely able to claim these expenses back.

What happens to my insurance if I claim during the cruise?

If you do make a claim during the cruise, your cover will continue until the end of the trip and will finish when you arrive home. You would then need to contact your insurance company, because of the type of policy you hold, i.e. single trip, long stay or annual insurance.

So what sort of cover can I expect?

Good Cruise Travel Insurance policies should provide the following types of cover:

• Medical Expenses up to £10 million
• Cancellation Cover - the cost of a cruise can be from a few hundred pounds to cruises in excess of £25,000, so cancellation cover is vital.
• Some policies may have age limits, while other may vary depending on the length of the cruise.
• Cover for travel and luggage delay.
• Cover for hijacking, kidnapping and mugging
• Insolvency cover of the tour operator, airline or cruise company
• With volcano eruptions, tsunamis and earthquakes in the news recently, you need to ensure you are covered for these too.
• All pre-existing medical conditions should be disclosed to ensure you are covered for these and you don’t invalidate your policy by not declaring them.

Insurance Choice can offer:

1. Medical Expenses up to £10million
2. No limit on Cancellation Cover
3. All pre-existing medical conditions considered
4. No upper age limit
5. 365 days cover for up to 89 years old
6. 180 days cover for 90+ years old
7. Travel delay and luggage delay included
8. Hijacking, kidnapping and mugging covered
9. Tour Operator, Airline and Cruise company insolvency cover available
10. Option for cover for catastrophes – natural disasters (tsunami, earthquake, volcanic ash, etc)
11. Excess waiver may be applicable
12. Family Cruise Insurance
13. Luxury Cruise Insurance
14. World Cruise Insurance
15. Mediterranean Cruise Insurance

If you require cover for more than £5000, please call us on the number at the top of this page during office hours.

(*Source: 2011 Sunworld Plus underwritten by Axa Insurance)