Travel insurance

[jules57]

I see P&O state they require proof of insurance including Covid. I have insurance via my bank account which does appear to include Covid cover. I haven't been issued with a policy schedule as such and the policy wording forms part of a very large document which includes all account benefits. I have downloaded a copy and taken a screenshot of the page referencing the inclusion of Covid cover. Will that be sufficient? Do they physically check to see if you have a policy?

[david63]

9 minutes ago, jules57 said:

Do they physically check to see if you have a policy?

Never had one checked yet - but that is not to say that it will not happen.

[Bill Y]

22 minutes ago, jules57 said:

I see P&O state they require proof of insurance including Covid. I have insurance via my bank account which does appear to include Covid cover. I haven't been issued with a policy schedule as such and the policy wording forms part of a very large document which includes all account benefits. I have downloaded a copy and taken a screenshot of the page referencing the inclusion of Covid cover. Will that be sufficient? Do they physically check to see if you have a policy?

I was in the same position as you a month ago.

 

I asked my TA about P&O checking insurance docs at Southampton. They said that P&O had not made any changes regarding to the customer having to provide proof but they do not check everyone now, but they could always conduct a spot check. They probably said that to cover themselves, they also suggested that I took a screenshot that said that all their polices covered covid.

 

I phoned the insurance company and explained that P&O required proof of cover. They have now mailed me a "Confirmation of travel insurance" It does not mention my name or the policy it relates to but does confirm covid cover, and under cruise cover, repatriation costs. surprisingly it covers travelling even if the FCDO are advising against "all but essential" travel. not that I would wish to go to such a place,

 

Note P&O on embarkation did not ask about insurance cover or health.

Edited June 19, 2023 by Bill Y

[AlanCruise]

I have the Nationwide Bank account that gives insurance cover. You can get a confirmation letter from their online system.  But we did a P&O trip a few months ago and we were not asked for any insurance paperwork.

[Lee117five0]

Since a couple of comments have mentioned the fact that P&O don't check documents, I'd like to point out that they do do spot checks. They asked to see my proof of insurance and made sure to check it contained all of the relevant conditions. Only took about 2 minutes, but they did check. That was late October last year.

[FamilyCruiserUK]

Ww have had to put our insurance details on the online booking form for our cruise with a insurance contact number. When we put in our passport details. 

[jules57]

13 minutes ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

Ww have had to put our insurance details on the online booking form for our cruise with a insurance contact number. When we put in our passport details. 

Yes already done that. 

[jules57]

1 hour ago, Lee117five0 said:

Since a couple of comments have mentioned the fact that P&O don't check documents, I'd like to point out that they do do spot checks. They asked to see my proof of insurance and made sure to check it contained all of the relevant conditions. Only took about 2 minutes, but they did check. That was late October last year.

Interesting. Worse case scenario I take out separate cover if they're not happy with existing details. Obtained a quote just in case

[Bill Y]

3 hours ago, jules57 said:

Interesting. Worse case scenario I take out separate cover if they're not happy with existing details. Obtained a quote just in case

You have not mentioned when you are travelling, I know it’s unlikely but the worst case scenario if you arrive at Southampton and after a spot check they’re not happy they could deny boarding see, www.pocruises.com/travel-insurance. Why not speak to the insurer that provides the policy that is included with your bank account, then you know where you stand and if you need to purchase an extension or another policy. You do not have to have a policy with all the cruising bells and whistles, ie cover for missed ports or for being confined to cabin. My insurer was happy to mail out confirmation of the required cover see above #3, it took about a week.

[jules57]

7 minutes ago, Bill Y said:

You have not mentioned when you are travelling, I know it’s unlikely but the worst case scenario if you arrive at Southampton and after a spot check they’re not happy they could deny boarding see, www.pocruises.com/travel-insurance. Why not speak to the insurer that provides the policy that is included with your bank account, then you know where you stand and if you need to purchase an extension or another policy. You do not have to have a policy with all the cruising bells and whistles, ie cover for missed ports or for being confined to cabin. My insurer was happy to mail out confirmation of the required cover see above #3, it took about a week.

 

I'm travelling on Thursday to Malta and already have a quote lined up on my phone to accept if there's a problem 

[jules57]

Just to be on the safe side I've taken out a separate policy

[Megabear2]

19 hours ago, jules57 said:

I see P&O state they require proof of insurance including Covid. I have insurance via my bank account which does appear to include Covid cover. I haven't been issued with a policy schedule as such and the policy wording forms part of a very large document which includes all account benefits. I have downloaded a copy and taken a screenshot of the page referencing the inclusion of Covid cover. Will that be sufficient? Do they physically check to see if you have a policy?

May I ask which bank?  All UK High Street bank policies are underwritten by the top underwriters.  They all should cover the P&O requirements  although they don't state a cruise holiday they ARE covered.  However be aware they do not cover missed ports and in one or two cases cabin confinement costs.  The latter would apply if say you were ill with norovirus and confined to your room for 4 days.  The special cruise insurance pay out at a daily rate as set out in the policy while you aren't allowed out of your room.  

 

There is a special letter of comfort all the banks adopted for cruising.  Either chat online with the insurer or call through your bank line. Print it and also download it with your 2 page policy summary, it will be fine as the cruise lines know of these letters and won't question it if you are checked.

[jules57]

5 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

May I ask which bank?  All UK High Street bank policies are underwritten by the top underwriters.  They all should cover the P&O requirements  although they don't state a cruise holiday they ARE covered.  However be aware they do not cover missed ports and in one or two cases cabin confinement costs.  The latter would apply if say you were ill with norovirus and confined to your room for 4 days.  The special cruise insurance pay out at a daily rate as set out in the policy while you aren't allowed out of your room.  

 

There is a special letter of comfort all the banks adopted for cruising.  Either chat online with the insurer or call through your bank line. Print it and also download it with your 2 page policy summary, it will be fine as the cruise lines know of these letters and won't question it if you are checked.

Hi. It's Lloyds Platinum. Just to be on the safe side I've taken out a policy specifically for cruises at a cost of £20. A small price to pay for peace of mind. I have and will benefit from the Lloyds policy several times this year for land based holidays so feel I haven't lost out

[Megabear2]

1 minute ago, jules57 said:

Hi. It's Lloyds Platinum. Just to be on the safe side I've taken out a policy specifically for cruises at a cost of £20. A small price to pay for peace of mind. I have and will benefit from the Lloyds policy several times this year for land based holidays so feel I haven't lost out

Glad you are sorted. Just for your reference the Lloyds policy is perfectly acceptable and is underwritten by Allianz who are one of the very best insurers.  Your £20 policy is at least a cheap cost.  However please be aware if God forbid you need to claim on it they will insist on split the cost with Lloyds, it's something the companies are getting quite keen on.

 

If it is a specific cruise policy I assume your new one has quarantine, missed ports etc which believe it or not are not req6by the cruise line!

[jules57]

31 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Glad you are sorted. Just for your reference the Lloyds policy is perfectly acceptable and is underwritten by Allianz who are one of the very best insurers.  Your £20 policy is at least a cheap cost.  However please be aware if God forbid you need to claim on it they will insist on split the cost with Lloyds, it's something the companies are getting quite keen on.

 

If it is a specific cruise policy I assume your new one has quarantine, missed ports etc which believe it or not are not req6by the cruise line!

Yes my new policy has missed ports etc. Thanks for the info. As I only took the policy out last night i could cancel it. Thanks again 

[Megabear2]

8 minutes ago, jules57 said:

Yes my new policy has missed ports etc. Thanks for the info. As I only took the policy out last night i could cancel it. Thanks again 

Who is the policy with?  Also where are you sailing to, if it's Norway you might want the missed ports as there have been several.missed this season and also Guernsey and Marseilles have also had a couple of problems.

[jules57]

15 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Who is the policy with?  Also where are you sailing to, if it's Norway you might want the missed ports as there have been several.missed this season and also Guernsey and Marseilles have also had a couple of problems.

The policy is with ensure. My cruise starts and ends in Valetta and goes to Greece and Croatia. Decided to leave the policy in place and hope I have no need to claim on it anyway 

[Megabear2]

39 minutes ago, jules57 said:

The policy is with ensure. My cruise starts and ends in Valetta and goes to Greece and Croatia. Decided to leave the policy in place and hope I have no need to claim on it anyway 

Good idea.  It's very cheap at £20, certainly not seen one that cheap since the pandemic. 

[silversurf]

Applied for insurance on Caribbean cruise and been refused by 10 insurance companies. What can I do now, canI cancel my cruise?

[david63]

1 minute ago, silversurf said:

Applied for insurance on Caribbean cruise and been refused by 10 insurance companies. What can I do now, canI cancel my cruise?

Obviously you can cancel but P&O's standard terms will be effective - i.e. as a minimum you will loose your deposit.

 

Have you tried the Nationwide account?

 

 

[silversurf]

?

[Megabear2]

45 minutes ago, silversurf said:

Applied for insurance on Caribbean cruise and been refused by 10 insurance companies. What can I do now, canI cancel my cruise?

Is that age related, medical grounds, something else?  There are specialist companies but they aren't cheap.  More information would help.