Cruise Insurance

[kapcruiser]

This will be my first time taking out travel insurance on our cruise. I need suggestions what company and why.

[hurricane0226]

we usually do carnival insurance, have never used it, but it is insurance, better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it, but there are other companies that provide insurance.

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, kapcruiser said:

This will be my first time taking out travel insurance on our cruise. I need suggestions what company and why.

Go to Squaremouth.com, put in your details and it will help you compare insurances

[pppiglet]

Or go to Insuremytrip.com for comparisons also. I've always used them for other vacations.  I usually just book through the cruise line at booking time for our cruises. 

[Mike45LC]

With flight computer glitches, I want protection.  I just use the cruise lines’.

[pe4all]

We usually use Travelguard.  Have had to make claims 2x and had no problem with either.  We never get Carnival insurance as 1. They do not cover pre-existing conditions, which we have, and 2.  They are more expensive for less coverage.

[sparks1093]

If you shop around you can easily find insurance that is less expensive than the cruise line's coverage with more robust coverage, especially for Medevac coverage. We purchase our plans through insuremytrip.com.

[audcc77]

I looked into an annual policy. All I want is the ability to fly back home if I need to.  
 

I had an annual policy last year which was $410 but I was way over insured.  It provided $250k emergency transport.  

 

This year, I am getting an annual policy for $138.  It provides $100k for emergency transport.  Maybe it’s cheaper because mine are casino cruises.  
 

Both thru Allianz.  Tony on la lido loca uses this. 
 

When I sailed occasionally, I used Travel Guard.  That was about $150 for 1 trip. But they were excellent to deal with when I made a claim for 4 people on a 7 day cruise.  Received about $4000k. 
 

I’ve used Carnivals $50 insurance too, when I get free cruises and supposedly that will get you emergency transportation back to US. However I have read that you pay everything up front and then seek reimbursement.

[sparks1093]

20 minutes ago, audcc77 said:

However I have read that you pay everything up front and then seek reimbursement.

That is typical of most insurance coverage, unless the policy specifies differently.

[Drazil65]

We have used insuremytrip.com for years for comprehensive insurance for 3 people.  Very reasonable policies from all different companies, I usually plug in our travel info (if we drive to port I include the drive days also just in case car issues or accidents that could possibly prevent us from arriving). Make a list of what is important to you and compare the policies that have those items included to make your choice.  I have looked at CCL insurance and did not feel it met the needs of my family but you can certainly take a look at it and compare.

 

I look for things like primary medical coverage, will the policy pay for hospital advances (many islands and small countries require a substantial payment just to be admitted as they obviously cannot track down medical payments from other countries without a lot of trouble if at all) and medical evacuation (in case of surgery or just needing to get back to home or USA for medical treatments).  You can also get things like cancel for any reason (conditions attached make sure you read the requirements) or cancel for work related issues etc. These are just a few things on my list but you will need to make your own of course. 

 

Once you purchase your first policy  you will become much more comfortable in the future choosing exactly what you need and the process will be much quicker.  It is just part of our cruise costs and like any other insurance you do not really think about it until you need it.  

[pe4all]

56 minutes ago, Drazil65 said:

 

 

I look for things like primary medical coverage, will the policy pay for hospital advances (many islands and small countries require a substantial payment just to be admitted as they obviously cannot track down medical payments from other countries without a lot of trouble if at all) and medical evacuation (in case of surgery or just needing to get back to home or USA for medical treatments).

This is very true.  We were on CCL Dream years ago, and dd then 16 became ill onboard.  We were off-loaded in Belize for diagnosis and treatment. (Carnival shore agent was fantastic in helping).  The private hospital CCL used wanted credit card payment up front.  When I called Travelguard they asked me if we needed payment- they would have covered it if we didn't have credit cards to pay.  We said our credit card was good (we always notify them for travel out of the country before each cruise) and TG opened a case right then and there for us.  They also called me each of the 3 days we were in the hospital, and made sure we could get back to the U.S. when dd was cleared to travel.

Edited July 25 by pe4all

[Host Kat]

19 hours ago, kapcruiser said:

This will be my first time taking out travel insurance on our cruise. I need suggestions what company and why.

 

Hello @kapcruiser

 

Your thread has been moved to the Cruise/Travel Insurance forum where it will be on topic. Browse through the thread titles in this forum looking for threads of interest. You may find your fellow Cruise Critic members have already posted questions and received answers that may be of interest to you regarding cruise travel insurance.

 

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Hope this will be helpful!

 

Happy sails,

 

Host Kat

 

[jclinard]

Don't use Travel Guard.  They won't pay.

 

Only take recommendations from people who have attempted to collect on a policy.  Do not take recommendations from people who only know how fast the company deposited the premiums.

[GeezerCouple]

I would STRONGLY suggest that you use a travel insurance agent, or preferably a broker who works with several insurers.  Each company and policy can be different, and especially to someone not familiar with travel insurance, reading the policy summaries online may very well not be helpful in critical ways.

TALKING with a licensed professional... at least they can point out the pros and cons of different policies.  CALL them!  Ask questions.  Let them ask you questions to help them help you find the best fit policy for your specific needs.

 

We learned about www.TripInsuranceStore.com from CruiseCritics a bit over 10 years ago, and THANK GOODNESS.  On our first insured trip, we had a large claim.

We got coverage through TIS with Travel Insured, and we received a nice fat check in less than 2 weeks from when we submitted all of the documentation.

[Note; You WILL need receipts, so keep them.  Ask for them if not offered, etc.]

 

Also, make sure the agent/broker will help with the claim should that be needed.

 

We've since had several more claims, including a couple more large ones and those were paid promptly as well.

 

GC