WARWICK, R.I., Nov. 15, 2022 — InsureMyTrip.com researchers evaluated popular cruise lines and found while many offer basic travel insurance perks, few cruise lines offer robust trip cancellation insurance or expansive emergency medical care coverage.
The findings suggest cruisers should review travel insurance coverage advertised by their cruise line to understand what exactly it covers – and what it doesn’t.
“We recommend cruisers compare coverage with a travel insurance comparison website before choosing a plan offered through a cruise line,” says Meghan Walch, Director of Product for InsureMyTrip. “Cruisers will likely discover traditional travel insurance aka 3rd party travel insurance, available on InsureMyTrip, offers far more coverage options, often at a lower price.”
Cruise Line Travel Protection Drawbacks
- Trip Cancellation – Limited number of reasons for canceling a trip.
- Pre-existing conditions – Often not covered. Older travelers and those traveling with a condition could find themselves not covered if they need to cancel/interrupt or seek medical attention during the trip for the condition.
- Medical coverage – Typically lower than what we see on 3rd party travel insurance plans.
- Cancel for Any Reason – Typically offered through the cruise line as a type of waiver, and reimburses credits/voucher, not cash as a third-party plan would.
- Financial default – Not covered for the bankruptcy of a cruise line or common carrier.
- Full trip coverage – Most cruise plans will not cover the cost of the entire trip. So, those booking flights and accommodations separately from the cruise, would need separate insurance to cover those expenses.
- Inconvenience benefits – Often not included through cruise line protection.
Cruise Line Travel Protection vs. 3rd Party Travel Insurance
|
Coverage Type |
Cruise Line |
3rd Party Travel Insurance |
|
Cancel For |
No Cash, Credits Only |
Cash |
|
Trip |
Limited Covered Reasons |
Many Covered Reasons |
|
Emergency |
Low Limits |
High Limits |
|
Pre-Existing |
No |
Yes |
|
Trip Cost |
Only Cruise Insurable |
All Costs Insurable |
|
Financial |
No |
Yes |
|
Baggage |
Delay Must |
Few Hours |
Bottom line – your cruise line may offer some protection. However, it will likely not provide the same amount of coverage available from traditional travel insurance.
A comprehensive travel insurance plan purchased from InsureMyTrip can cover your prepaid, non-refundable trip cost, including flights and accommodations, in addition to providing robust key benefits including trip cancellation, emergency medical coverage, emergency medical evacuation, trip interruption, trip delay, baggage coverage, and 24/7 emergency assistance. Typically, these plans will run 4-8 percent of a total trip cost.
Travelers can find a breakdown of cruise line trip protection vs. 3rd party travel insurance on InsureMyTrip’s “Cruise Travel Insurance Hub”.
Media Contact:
Meghan Kayata
[email protected]
About InsureMyTrip
It’s simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. InsureMyTrip is the authority on travel insurance. We are committed to empowering travelers to make the best possible insurance decisions by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and expertise. InsureMyTrip is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.
SOURCE InsureMyTrip
