How many risk No insurance when cruising

[Cindy]

Interesting discussion! We always get travel insurance, although the type that we get changes from trip to trip. I get a more expensive, more comprehensive policy if I'm flying to Europe than I get if I'm just driving down the street to Galveston to get on the ship. At any rate I would not cruise without it, because a medical emergency with an airlift could ruin me financially (or at least eat up my travel money![emoji12]).

 

It has been interesting to watch peoples' reactions during this hurricane. Here on Cruise Critic people seem to pretty much take the weather delays, Reroutings, etc. in stride and know/accept they will lose their money if they don't have insurance and can't make their ship. However, over on Facebook it's a train wreck. Everyone is just furious that big bad RCI won't refund their money or let them reschedule, and they are vowing never to cruise with Royal Caribbean again.

 

Part of me thinks that maybe RCI should have bent the rules in this case, but then a part of me is glad they didn't. If cruise lines are constantly bending the rules for people who don't have insurance then people will come to expect that as the norm and not an exception.

 

 

Cindy

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[CapeCodCruiser]

Almost all US health insurance insurance covers you "out of network". Of course the deductibles are higher and you will need to submit bills AFTER you have paid the out-of-network provider. You are covered.

 

Check again. Out of network does not necessarily mean anywhere in the world - most will NOT cover in a foreign country.

[Virtopia]

I've only gotten it on my first two cruises that were booked with a travel agent.

 

My last cruise was my most expensive and I only got flight insurance. It is something I'll consider for future cruises but I've been fortunate so far to not have needed it.

[MizDemeanor]

More often then not we do for medical issues as many have noted, and any extra baggage amounts we can get on a policy comparison. We read often about baggage loss and a single bag with contents can be the cost of a cruise fare...

[steveru621]

Check again. Out of network does not necessarily mean anywhere in the world - most will NOT cover in a foreign country.

 

Sorry I disagree, check your policy. I thought the same as you. The standard policies of many providers--including Aetna, Cigna, and Humana, to name a few--cover overseas emergencies. Yes you have to pay upfront, but it will be covered in almost all emergencies.

 

We have changed insurance companies three times at my company, all of them covered you in a foreign country as out of network.

[Trainman-2]

You can save money by not buying cruise insurance!

 

But, if you cancel your home, life, car, and health insurance you can easily save enough money for another cruise!

[LMaxwell]

No way.

[PoppyandNana]

I've only gotten it on my first two cruises that were booked with a travel agent.

 

My last cruise was my most expensive and I only got flight insurance. It is something I'll consider for future cruises but I've been fortunate so far to not have needed it.

 

Depending on where you're going flight cost would be what $2,000? Medical evacuation could cost upwards of $50,000. Sure you're insuring the right thing.

[justwanton]

Well my parents have always bought ins. When we went on a family vaca....in ? 2010?

on the first day of a 7 day my x was turning off the tv with the control in the upper bed missed the last rung....he broke his ankle. After 12 hours we went to the Dr. on ship.

and confirmed. Casted back part...first stop Hati....so no off there...2nd stop was Jamaica///We got an ship escort to hospital. It was scary and no great...an orthopaedist saw him and said surgery would need to take place. But NOT there when we get back. We had bcbs...for ins....in the end whatever they did not pay...the ins.did...this was great b/c is was a TON.... so glad mom got it...and have always sailed with it again. We though it was foolish...but in the end...Much better

[riclop]

It is not worth it to not get it because there is that 1 time.

[lassie in Ga]

It's one of those things if you have it you won't need it- but if you need it you don't have it...if that makes sense[emoji3]

 

 

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[ReneeFLL]

We have purchased trip and medical insurance on all of our cruises. Our first cruise I started having very bad pains to where I was doubled over and couldn't move. They ran all sorts of test. It turned out I was having gall bladder issues. Ended up having surgery shortly after we got home. I was lucky this happened on the last day of the cruise so I was able to enjoy the whole cruise.

 

Luckily DH knew that our regular insurance would not cover us so he bought it. Thank goodness also because they were running all sorts of test. They thought I was having a heart attack. One of the test they ran was for potassium. It showed that it was low. Finally I convinced them to run it again and it showed normal. Just to be sure they ran it a third time and it still showed normal.

 

I think they were freaking out about a heart attack because it had happened to someone else earlier in the trip. On the second day into the cruise a guy had a heart attack and was medevaced off the ship. This was a sea day so we were out in the middle of the ocean. The guy was having open heart surgery in Atlanta when I showed up in the infirmary. Needless to say I think they were running all sorts of test to prove or disprove I was having a heart attack.

 

Don't get me wrong because I think they did a very good job. I think they were being extra cautious because of the guy having open heart surgery. Maybe some of my symptoms are also symptoms of a heart attack?

 

We get ours thru either USAA or a third party company, but never with the cruise line. The cruise line insurance is usually more expensive.

Edited October 8, 2016 by ReneeFLL

[hollon]

I never got it b/c I figure we are young, etc. well, not so much anymore :) I got breast cancer a few wks before my cruise and I needed an emergency surgery not due to the breast cancer and my 11 yr old daughter had to have an emergency surgery - NOW, we buy insurance

[Beth 2001]

Since 9/11 we always buy travel insurance and it has paid off on several occasions:

 

Norwegian Jewel 11/09: My mom fell in the buffet and fractured her pelvis. She had to be medically evacuated from Belize. My brother-in-law accompanied her to hospital in her home city. Her flight from Belize to Tampa was $18,000 and we paid nothing. Her care was seamless from ship to shore to plane to the ambulance waiting on the ground which took her straight to her hospital of choice. The remainder of their cruise fare was also reimbursed.

 

Oasis of the Seas 8/10: Hurricane Irene hit our hometown so we disembarked only to find out that all flights home were canceled. This was Saturday; JetBlue said they couldn't get us home from Ft. Lauderdale until the following Friday. We found a flight out of Orlando on Wednesday so we rented a car and drove there. Insurance reimbursed us for the car, hotel and meals until we could get home.

 

Jewel of the Seas 3/12: Mom was scheduled to cruise with her sister but had a stroke 10 days before so she had to cancel. All cruise and airfare was covered by travel insurance.

 

Celebrity Reflection 3/15: Husband and I were scheduled to cruise but I had to have an emergency heart procedure two weeks before. Doctor said I couldn't travel so we had to cancel. All costs attributable to cancellation covered. BTW I was 47 at the time and had no prior indication of any issues.

 

Insurance was purchased from different companies through an online site that allowed me to Insure My Trip. In each case my claims were processed promptly and without question. Customer service was exceptional.

 

I would never cruise without travel and medical insurance. (And yes, I have actually been on many cruises where we didn't need to use our coverage - better safe than sorry!)

[PoppyandNana]

Since 9/11 we always buy travel insurance and it has paid off on several occasions:

 

Norwegian Jewel 11/09: My mom fell in the buffet and fractured her pelvis. She had to be medically evacuated from Belize. My brother-in-law accompanied her to hospital in her home city. Her flight from Belize to Tampa was $18,000 and we paid nothing. Her care was seamless from ship to shore to plane to the ambulance waiting on the ground which took her straight to her hospital of choice. The remainder of their cruise fare was also reimbursed.

 

Oasis of the Seas 8/10: Hurricane Irene hit our hometown so we disembarked only to find out that all flights home were canceled. This was Saturday; JetBlue said they couldn't get us home from Ft. Lauderdale until the following Friday. We found a flight out of Orlando on Wednesday so we rented a car and drove there. Insurance reimbursed us for the car, hotel and meals until we could get home.

 

Jewel of the Seas 3/12: Mom was scheduled to cruise with her sister but had a stroke 10 days before so she had to cancel. All cruise and airfare was covered by travel insurance.

 

Celebrity Reflection 3/15: Husband and I were scheduled to cruise but I had to have an emergency heart procedure two weeks before. Doctor said I couldn't travel so we had to cancel. All costs attributable to cancellation covered. BTW I was 47 at the time and had no prior indication of any issues.

 

Insurance was purchased from different companies through an online site that allowed me to Insure My Trip. In each case my claims were processed promptly and without question. Customer service was exceptional.

 

I would never cruise without travel and medical insurance. (And yes, I have actually been on many cruises where we didn't need to use our coverage - better safe than sorry!)

 

Remind me to never cruise with you. Glad everything worked out okay. For years I have been buying a full package until I realized my credit card provided 90% of travel coverage. The only area not covered was emergence evacuation. I was able to make a long item purchase of just med evac for $150.

[Tripper10]

We have never bought insurance in over 30 cruises.

[time4u2go]

We've never bought it.

[scopewest]

We always buy travel insurance, the same way we always fly in a day ahead. It's my vacation, I don't need any additional stress.

[sweetlove13]

I have never traveled without insurance & never would because I have multiple chronic illnesses. If I didn't then I might try to chance it & travel without insurance but unfortunately I can't

 

 

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[Elizabeth74]

I had to be taken off ship in Sweden for a medical emergency & did have insurance. what a blessing since I was there over a week with a large bill which was completely covered and return flights as well. Also had to cancel a trip when I fell and broke my shoulder which was covered entirely. Would not travel without it!

[14Terry]

We never leave home without travel insurance, a must have for us.

 

 

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[DebJ14]

We purchase 3rd party insurance at the time the deposit is paid. DH has pre-existing conditions and as long as he is medically fit to travel at the time the insurance is purchased, those pre-existing conditions are covered.

 

In the past we always purchased it because we had elderly parents and never knew when something bad would happen. We canceled a cruise when my Mom had a stroke right before we were due to depart and got 100% back.

 

Now, we are the elderly ones in the family and you just never know when a problem will arise.

 

We purchase Travel Safe because it is primary insurance, so no need to file a claim with the health insurer first (and be turned down) before filing with Travel Safe.

 

We also travel with several high limit credit cards, so if necessary we can prepay hospital bills or an air ambulance and then be reimbursed by insurance.

[JAF1]

....or has done the math and are OK with the risk.;)

 

Not if you are a national from the UK and travelling on US registered ships - then we would be absolutely foolhardy to risk not having comprehensive insurance.

[L454S]

18 cruises, no insurance, including several T/A's. I have private medical insurance. If I miss one now and get hung with the bill, I am still way ahead. The price of cancel for any reason insurance makes self insurance a very reasonable alternative.

 

There may come a time when health issues or some other factors come into play, but for now, this is my choice.

[Grandma Dazzles]

So many people who travel without insurance never indicate how they would pay for a medical evacuation. I can understand gambling and taking a loss on air fare, cruise fare; would not like to absorb the cost, but it wouldn't "break the bank." However, I can't imagine a medical evacuation, perhaps costing $20,000 plus is something anyone would chance. Accidents can happen, even to healthy people and even children.