7 Things You Need To Know About Cruise Travel Insurance
By Cruising With Honey - 17:41
Travel Insurance
One of the most common questions I am asked is, "Do I need to travel insurance for my cruise holiday?"
The short answer is YES, and quite simply it provides peace of mind if anything unforeseen should happen while you’re at sea. I’m sure you’ve all heard the horror stories; you don’t want to be one of those people.
Stuff happens that’s out of our control, and no-one want to have their cruising fun, become a pain in the…well... hip pocket.
I know it can be confusing picking the right insurance company, trying to make sense of what’s covered and deciphering all that jargon, so I sat down with the very knowledgeable people at comparetravelinsurance.com.au who kindly explained to me the 7 Things You Need To Know about Cruise Travel Insurance so that I could share this important info with all of you.
1. Medicare myth
We live in the lucky country; Australians have this wonderful thing called Medicare. However, sometimes cruisers can make the assumption and believe that Medicare covers them while they’re at sea. WRONG. The reality is that Medicare and private health insurance funds do not cover medical costs when cruising domestically (in Australian waters) or internationally.
Falling ill or becoming injured on a ship can expose cruisers to major financial risks. Medical treatment and doctor’s fees are charged at private rates and can be extremely expansive. Hospital bills onboard can be as high as $5000 per day and emergency evacuation can soar into the tens of thousands!
A recent poll by Comparetravelinsurance.com.au found that at least 82% of Aussies are unsure if Medicare covers them while on a domestic cruise. The moment you step aboard a cruise ship, Medicare no longer covers you for any medical treatment. So, even if you’re going on that short 3-night cruise to nowhere or sailing up the Queensland coast, you need travel insurance.
2. Natural disasters
Natural disasters often come out of the blue and can disrupt your holiday plans. In the event that a natural disaster affects your ability to cruise, comprehensive travel insurance would cover your out-of-pocket and pre-paid expenses such as airfares, accommodation, cruise packages and shore tour bookings.
The majority of natural disasters would be covered, however this would depend on the level of cover you have purchased. A basic, medical only policy would not usually provide cover for cancellation and travel delays.
Take note that some insurers may exclude certain natural disasters (such as volcanic eruptions) unless you purchase additional cover.
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| Insure & Go’s Natural Disaster additional cover |
Travellers should also be aware that known, events aren’t covered once they have been broadcast in the media. You would have to have purchased travel insurance prior to news of a natural disaster in order to be covered. Once you’ve purchased airfares or your cruise, book your travel insurance immediately or as soon as you can.
3. Missed ports
Sometimes you miss out on a port (or several ports) when cruising, usually because of weather or mechanical issues. It’s the variable of a cruising holiday that can be very frustrating. But did you know that you might be able to claim compensation for a missed port through your travel insurance?
While not all insurers provide this benefit, you need to do your research. Some insurance companies will provide you with a benefit of $250 for each missed port stop. A written statement from the cruise company or relevant authority confirming the reason for the missed port is all that’s usually required.
However, if you’re having too much fun on land and miss the call to get back on board, you’d be responsible for any costs to get to the next port stop or back home. Negligence or not leaving enough time to get back onboard would not be covered by travel insurance.
4. Flight connections
One of the biggest fears cruisers face is not making it in time to board a cruise due to a missed flight connection. However, if this happens you may be able to make a claim, depending on the reason.
Should you miss your connecting flight due to bad weather, illness, injury or another cause beyond your control, travel insurance would most likely cover any costs to get you to your cruise. However, if the cause for your delay or missed connection was due to a fault of your airline (or your own), it would not be.
Out of pocket expenses due to delays caused by airlines, such staff shortages and mechanical issues are usually viewed as the airlines responsibility to reimburse the traveller.
Travellers should always allow plenty of time between connections as failing to do so (and consequently missing your cruise) would not usually be covered by travel insurance. The more time allowed for unforeseen delays, the better!
5. Accidents, illness, visiting the medical team aboard
The possibility of falling sick or becoming injured on your holidays is the number one reason to buy travel insurance cover. What if you slipped on deck and broke your leg or contracted a stomach virus? The cost of your treatment and care would be extremely expensive.
Always buy travel insurance!
Plus, should you require urgent medical care on land while at a port, your emergency transport costs would also be covered as well. All travel insurance companies have global emergency assistance teams available 24/7 to help you in your time of need.
With doctor’s fees on board starting at $90 for a consultation, it’s certainly worth considering taking cover. With a seven-day Pacific cruise policy starting as little as $35, the cover will more than pay for itself should you need it.
Retiree Frank Armstrong knows this all too well, after suffering a heart attack at sea, five days from port. Armstrong’s total bill, thankfully paid for by his insurer Zoomtravelinsurance.com.au, including his medical expenses, hospital stay, cruise cancellation and flight rescheduling amounted to a whopping $59,000.
Retiree Frank Armstrong knows this all too well, after suffering a heart attack at sea, five days from port. Armstrong’s total bill, thankfully paid for by his insurer Zoomtravelinsurance.com.au, including his medical expenses, hospital stay, cruise cancellation and flight rescheduling amounted to a whopping $59,000.
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| Frank & Leah Armstrong onboard Ovation of the Seas |
6. Medivac costs and repatriation
If you have an accident, become ill or in a worst case scenario, die while on a cruise, travel insurance would cover your emergency evacuation and repatriation costs, while also providing you with support and access to specialist medical teams around the world 24/7.
Evacuation, or transportation to the nearest medical facility can range anywhere between $10,000 – $20,000 in Australian waters, and up to $50,000 in international waters. Then there’s the cost of repatriation (returning a person home from their holiday after injury, illness, or in the worst case, death).
Should you break a leg on your trip, this benefit may involve an upgrade to business class on your flight to keep your leg up, or for more serious injuries it could involve a medivac or a nurse companion to fly with you. It’s not uncommon for a medivac to cost in excess of $300,000. These benefits are essential to anyone travelling on a cruise.
7. Pre-existing medical conditions
Travel insurance covers unknown, unforeseen medical conditions. However, many insurers allow you to declare your pre-existing medical conditions and pay an additional premium to have them covered.
While some conditions may be obvious to mention like heart conditions, others such as food allergies, recent surgeries or even mole removals may seem less so. It’s essential that your travel insurer has a complete understanding of your medical history so they are able to cover you for any unexpected illnesses or injuries.
Travellers who fail to declare their pre-existing conditions are at a high risk of having their claim payments reduced or denied. Full disclosure is necessary to ensure coverage, and failing to do so could result in an unpaid claim should you require medical assistance during your cruise.
So there you have it friends, a clear and straightforward explanation about travel insurance for cruisers.
I hope this info will help you in making the right decisions before cruising, and become a handy resource when planning your next adventure at sea!