Coverage of day of cruise flight issues?

[NinS]

If someone chooses to fly in the morning of a cruise and they encounter a flight delay that makes them miss the cruise's departure, will most cruise insurance cover the cost of the cruise and/or the cost of getting to the first port stop?

[InsureMyTrip]

This may fall under the Missed Connection benefit - which may offer coverage in some scenarios.  Typically, there would have to be a flight delay caused by weather that lasts a certain number of hours (in most cases 3 hours) causing the traveler to miss their cruise departure. Benefits (up to the policy limit) may cover additional transportation expenses to join the departed cruise and prepaid non-refundable expensed for the unused portion of the trip.

 

There may be some caveats to this coverage such as being required to have a certain amount of time between your connections.  If you are flying to your port on the same day that the cruise departs and have not left yourself much time between connections – coverage could be excluded.  It’s important to read the details of the policy when it comes to travel delay and missed connection coverage.

 

A couple things to keep in mind.  We’ve been hearing from seasoned cruisers that at a minimum, they fly in the day before the cruise departs.  Several have even said they fly in two days before just to be safe.  Also, know what your cruise line’s policy is to be able to catch up to the cruise at the next port.   Due to some maritime laws, there may be restrictions as to where ships can be boarded.