Travel insurance through RCCL or on my own!

[jstpshe]

I usually buy insurance through Travel Guard but I'm just wondering if I should go ahead and get it through the cruiseline.

 

I'm worried that if my luggage gets lost when I go to Alaska that RC might taken care of it quicker than another insurance company would getting it to the ship for me.

 

What are the pros and cons of getting travel insurance through RCCL vs Travel Guard? :) :) Thanks a bunch!

[trishalee]

We have used Travelguard in the past, but DH is 81 now and it is just too expensive. We bought RCI because it is based totally on the cost of the cruise, and doesn't consider age at all. I really do wonder exactly what it will and will not cover. Anyone know of drawbacks to their insurance?:)

[Ruggermags06]

I don't believe the RCI insurance covers your flight, particularly if you booked your flight on your own (but I think I read that even if you use cruise-air it still doesn't cover airfare). I could be wrong, but I believe that is what I have read.

[AFT_LOVER]

is who is cruiseline Insurance. So for half the price you can buy STA Travel. It is also Berkley Care but so much cheaper. They do not cover bad weather, but they do get you to the next port to board the ship & credit for day or days lost.

 

I have a copy of the policy, so click on my VCard to email me for it. Their medical is good not age related either.

[cruisenfever]

We just made final payment on our upcoming cruise in April. Normally we take our RCI insurance, but our TA did some checking and we are back with CSA Travel Protection because it was about $65 dollars cheaper than RCI. Just read over all 26 pages of the policy and we are covered if our trip is interrupted due to inclement weather or common carrier breakdown, among other things. Guess it pays to read the fine print.

[cb at sea]

The only real downside to buying the cruiseline's insurance would be if RCI went out of business suddenly!!! (It did happen with an airline--shut it's doors in the middle of our trip--what chaos!!!)

I don't see RCI folding, but you never know!

[iamtrustworthy]

We have used Travelguard in the past, but DH is 81 now and it is just too expensive. We bought RCI because it is based totally on the cost of the cruise, and doesn't consider age at all. I really do wonder exactly what it will and will not cover. Anyone know of drawbacks to their insurance?:)

 

Hi trishalee,

 

I like Travelguard and I do a lot of business with them, but I prefer to use Travelguard on trips where someone is driving to their destination versus flying farther from home.

 

That's because of this "Quibble": (you can find this in their Certificate of Coverage)

Trip Interruption claims are paid like this: You get the greater of the cost of a one-way ticket or the unused prepaid, non-refundable trip cost.

 

This differs from many other trip insurance plans because those plans will reimburse you both the cost of a one-way ticket and the unused prepaid, non-refundable trip cost.

 

To Travelguard's credit they have very good trip cancellation coverage for bad weather, so sometimes it's a trade-off when someone wants this. Thankfully, Travelguard isn't my only trip insurance provider. :)

 

Here's for the OP:

You should shop elsewhere for travel / trip insurance. You'll get better plans for a lot less money. Go to www.google.com and search for "trip insurance". You'll find some good comparison sites that offer reputable companies.

 

I hope this helps.

[Diane F]

Just took out StaTravel insurance for our APril Cruise.The price was much cheaper than others and coverage looks good.

[tinker]

Hi trishalee,

 

I like Travelguard and I do a lot of business with them, but I prefer to use Travelguard on trips where someone is driving to their destination versus flying farther from home.

 

That's because of this "Quibble": (you can find this in their Certificate of Coverage)

Trip Interruption claims are paid like this: You get the greater of the cost of a one-way ticket or the unused prepaid, non-refundable trip cost.

 

This differs from many other trip insurance plans because those plans will reimburse you both the cost of a one-way ticket and the unused prepaid, non-refundable trip cost.

 

To Travelguard's credit they have very good trip cancellation coverage for bad weather, so sometimes it's a trade-off when someone wants this. Thankfully, Travelguard isn't my only trip insurance provider. :)

 

Here's for the OP:

You should shop elsewhere for travel / trip insurance. You'll get better plans for a lot less money. Go to www.google.com and search for "trip insurance". You'll find some good comparison sites that offer reputable companies.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Steve:

 

What is TravelGuards coverage for bad weather and how is it superior to other policies?

 

We have never purchased Travel Guard to date but as a family who has used the trip insurance 4 out of our last 5 vacations, both for medical reimbursement and for refunds for 2 trips cancelled due to illness), we have found Travelex to be the fastest to reimburse us and CSA to be the slowest.

 

Take it from us and buy insurance!!

[jstpshe]

Why You Should Buy Insurance Before Your Next Cruise

By Heidi Sarna

March 7, 2007

It's not difficult to imagine all of the things that could go wrong on a cruise. Terrorist attacks, hurricanes, political upheaval, war, broken down ships, new ships not finished on time, cruise lines going out of business, or a sudden illness are just some of the snafus that could get in the way of you and the cruise of your dreams. Or maybe it's as simple as a flat tire on the way to the airport that causes you to miss your flight to the ship. Who knows?

 

On the other hand, how many times to things actually go wrong? Hardly ever.

 

It's that "what if" obsession that drives some of us to buy a piece of paper indemnifying us against the unknown. But is travel insurance really necessary?

 

"Insurance was sure a big help to those who bought it for cruises during the 2004 and 2005 hurricane season, but for 2006 it was a waste of money because there weren't any hurricanes," says Cruise Week editor Mike Driscoll.

 

In today's hyper-sensitive, CNN-will-find-out world, cruise lines have been making extraordinary efforts to appease disappointed passengers when something happens that effects the whole ship, whether they bought insurance or not. Typically, a line will reschedule a canceled cruise because of mechanical problems or a major itinerary change, for example, and offer passengers big discounts on future cruises. After all, they don't want the bad press they'd get if they cheated hundreds or thousands of people. Still, keep in mind that there are no set rules on how a line will compensate you, over and above a refund, in the event of a cancellation.

 

Now, if you personally need to cancel your own cruise for some reason, most lines give you every cent back if you cancel at least two to three months before your departure date, although details vary from line to line. If you cancel closer to departure, you'll usually get a partial refund up until about 15 to 30 days before the cruise. If you cancel the whole thing just a few days beforehand, you'll be out the entire cost of the trip.

 

"You buy insurance if you're concerned about medical issues or work commitments possibly preventing you from taking a cruise at the last minute," adds Driscoll. "If you're just worried about missing a flight and not getting to the ship on time, go a day early and spend your money on a hotel and nice dinner instead," he says.

 

If you're anxious about potential medical problems occurring during your trip, then travel insurance may be vital to you. Except for the very smallest ships, most cruise ships have an infirmary staffed by a doctor and a nurse or two; but in the event of a dire illness, the ship's medical staff can only do so much. Therefore, you may want a policy that covers emergency medical evacuation and, if your regular insurance doesn't cover it, the potential cost of major medical treatment while away from home.

 

There are policies sold through the cruise lines (with details varying from line to line) and others sold independently. Both sources have pros and cons.

 

A good travel agent can tell you about policies sold through the cruise lines and ones sold independently of the lines. No matter which you choose, it's absolutely crucial to read the fine print because terms vary from policy to policy.

 

Both kinds typically reimburse you in some way when your trip is affected by unexpected events (such as canceled flights, plane crashes, dockworkers' strikes, or the illness or death of a loved one, as late as the day before or day of departure) but not by "acts of God," such as hurricanes and earthquakes (the exception being if your home is made uninhabitable, putting you in no mood to continue with your cruise plans). Both also typically cover cancellation of the cruise for medical reasons (yours or a family member's); medical emergencies during the cruise, including evacuation from the ship; lost or damaged luggage; and a cruise missed due to airline delays (though some only cover delays over 3 hours). Neither kind of policy will reimburse you if your travel agent goes bankrupt, so using a travel agency you're very familiar with or who has been recommended to you is the safest precaution you can take. (And, of course, always use a credit card, never a check. If a corrupt travel agent cashes it, or a decent one just goes out of business, then you could get screwed.) Most cancellation policies also do not cover cancellations due to work requirements.

 

Ins and Outs of Third-Party Coverage

 

Even though travel agents get a commission for selling both cruise line policies and independent policies, most agents and industry insiders believe that non-cruise line policies are the best bet because some, such as Access America (tel. 866/807-3982; http://www.accessamerica.com), will issue insurance to those with preexisting medical conditions if the condition is stable when purchasing the insurance (a doctor would have to verify this if you ever made a claim) and if you purchase the policy within 14 days of your initial deposit on the cruise. Reputable insurers like Access America and Travel Guard International (tel. 800/826-4919; http://www.travelguard.com) offer supplier-default coverage that kicks in if a cruise line goes bankrupt, which a handful did between 2000 and 2003. Both of these companies' websites maintain lists of the lines they cover (or no longer cover), which is helpful in figuring out which lines may be considered financially shaky. Further, a well-connected, respectable travel agent should see the writing on the wall months before a cruise line fails -- commissions will slow or stop being paid, phone calls won't be returned, and industry trade publications will report on any problems. "Personally, I recommend a third-party insurer such as Travel Insured or Travel Guard as they provide greater benefits and value than the cruise lines' protection," says Sherry L. Kennedy, owner of Vacation Shoppe in Satellite Beach, FL. The less customer-service-driven cruise sellers may not stop pushing a troubled cruise line, however, and may continue selling these lines up to the very last minute.

 

According to the Fair Credit Billing Act, if you paid by credit card (and again, you should always pay with a credit card), you'll generally get your money back if you dispute the charge within 60 days of the date the charge first appears. Also, while many lines post a multimillion-dollar bond with the Federal Maritime Commission, creating a fund from which they can reimburse creditors should they fail financially, it's no guarantee you'll get all or any of your money back. Technically, the bond covers cruise payments for all passengers embarking from U.S. ports, but because the line would have banks or other vendors to pay off first, you'd likely get only pennies on the dollar, if that. Still, it's better that a cruise line have a bond than not -- and if you learn that a line is having trouble making bond payments, it may be a sign of serious financial woes.

 

The Ups and Downs of Cruise Line Coverage

 

Cruise lines offer their own policies, many of them administered by New York-based BerkelyCare (tel. 800/797-4514). If you opt for this type of policy out of sheer convenience (the cost is added right onto your cruise fare), keep in mind they do not cover you in the event of a cruise line bankruptcy (though using a credit card can save you here; see above) or for cancellation of your cruise due to preexisting medical conditions, which is usually defined as an unstable condition existing within 60 days of your buying the insurance. Some lines' policies will issue a cruise credit for the penalty amount if a medical claim is deemed preexisting, and issue you cash if you cancel for a covered reason. Generally, the cancellation penalty imposed by the cruise line would be 100% of the cruise fare, for example, if you cancel a few days before the cruise (assuming you've paid in full), or it could be just $300 if you cancel right after making the initial deposit months before departure. Be sure the coverage offered is truly an insurance policy. In some cases, the coverage is really a cancellation waiver that provides a credit for a future cruise under limited conditions.

 

Sounds like the third-party policies win hands down, right? Well, to make it just a little more complicated, a handful of cruise line policies are actually better in some areas than outside policies. For example, Princess Cruises has an insurance policy that allows you to cancel for all the reasons that an outside policy would (illness, injury) and get cash reimbursement, or they will let you cancel for any reason whatsoever (from fear of flying to a bad hair day) up until the day of departure and have 75% to 90% of the normal penalty for canceling your cruise applied toward a future trip. Norwegian, Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean offer similar "any reason" policies, which provide a cruise credit for up to 75%. For an extra $100 above their standard insurance fee (or $250 if purchased alone), high-end Silversea allows you to cancel cruises for any reason 1 to 14 days before sailing and get a credit for 100% of the penalty amount (including airfare, if booked through Silversea), applicable toward any cruise within the following 12 months. Many other lines offer similar cancellation plans. The cruise lines using the BerkelyCare policies also reimburse passengers for days missed on a cruise -- say, if you missed your flight and had to join up with the cruise two days later -- covering hotel costs during the missed days and transportation to the ship (though typically only to a max of $500). Keep in mind, cruise line policies do change, so before purchasing insurance be sure you understand exactly what you're getting.

 

Talk with fellow Frommer's cruisers on our Cruise Message Boards.

[stl82]

Thanks to jstpshe for posting the article.

 

I just purchased TravelGuard insurance. As to inclument weather, the policy states: "If a trip is cancele or interupted due to any of the following unforeseen circumstances: .... © Inclement weather causing delay or cancellation of travel;" That's it. No exclusions.

 

TravelGuard also offers a higher amount of emergency evacuation costs, which is important was a person gets a little older.

 

David

[jstpshe]

That's my DH name. You're welcome! CJ :) :)

[TRadle]

We changed to Access America this time because it had better coverage and was less expensive than Travel Guard, which is what we had been purchasing for all of our trips. Our TA advised us that she has clients that have had problems with claims and customer service with the Travel Guard policies.

We never had any problems with them, but the other insurance a much better price.

[careywv]

Is there a need for the travel insurance? My hubby and I are pretty healthy, and we don't plan on cancelling our trip for anything. :)

 

Just wondering if it's worth the $$. We bought travel insurance last year for a land trip and we didn't even use it. We are just wondering if that money could be used for another shore excursions.

[jstpshe]

My DH and I are very healthy too but we needed it b/c we were stuck at sea extra days, did'nt get our flight on day we were suppose to b/c of a hurricane. When we got back we had to stay at airport all day for a flight out in late evening and the travel insurance reimbursed us all we spent when it came to eating all that day and of course it would've reimbursed us for a motel, etc if we had to stay any nights but we got lucky and got a flight saame day we disembarked ship. Insurance is not all about whether you're healthy or not. You never know when something might happen. Be prepared! Just a thought!

CJ :) :)

[Italy52]

Has anyone ever used iTravelInsured, it is the one that an online TA was going to give us free.

[My2Kitties]

We always just took RCCL insurance but this time we started looking into the others due to me having Lupus...it was very confusing...

My big question is: will RCCL pay out immediately while onboard? Or do you have to file a claim like the others?

We were recommended to CSA or Access America...

We have another month or so to decide...the only problem I noticed is that Access America says you must take the insurance at time of booking to be eligible for pre-existing condition coverage.

Not sure yet whether Lupus is consider pre-existing on the policies.

[willysgrandma]

Is there a need for the travel insurance? My hubby and I are pretty healthy, and we don't plan on cancelling our trip for anything. :)

 

Just wondering if it's worth the $$. We bought travel insurance last year for a land trip and we didn't even use it. We are just wondering if that money could be used for another shore excursions.

 

 

If you fall down the gangway and break your leg, it doesn't matter how healthy you were before you left - you will have some hefty medical bills on the islands. If your own insurance doesn't cover you, travel insurance will.

 

And if something happens and you have to be evacuated while on the cruise, you will face HUGE bills.

 

And if you have a car accident on the way to the airport, you would be covered, too.

 

Do you have elderly parents? If something happens to them while you are on the cruise or before you go, many policies cover that, too if they should get very ill and you can't travel.

 

Insurance isn't simply based on how healthy you are, you are taking a gamble that nothing bad will happen before or during your cruise.

 

If you read the boards, you will see plenty of examples of people who thanked their lucky stars they had insurance - I can recall recently on another board a woman who's husband was in a car accident shortl before the cruise and had surgery for a broken ankle - their dr. recommended that they not go on a cruise.

 

If you can afford to lose the cruise money if something like that happens, then you may not need insurance. But if you can't, you should buy it. You are gambling that nothing bad will happen by not buying it.

 

Too many people don't and then come here complaining about the cruise line when they can't go and they can't get a refund.

[willysgrandma]

BTW - one of the differences in booking through RCCL vs. an outside company is that RCCL will give you cruise credits towards another cruise if you don't go for a non-covered reason.

 

From the website:

 

In addition, should you or your traveling companion need to cancel for "any other reason", you may be eligible for CRUISE CREDITS - up to 75% of the non-refundable, prepaid cruise vacation cost.

 

 

That is the only advantage with buying RCCL's insurance vs. an outside insurance company.

[SeafordCruiser]

We have ALWAYS purchased insurance.

Unfortunately we had to cancel our last cruise forMarch31 cause I nneded a surgical procedure done. Berkely has NOT paid us yet. They are looking into my whole medical history which is ridiculous. I would of rather been in the Caribbean than in the hospital I would NEVER buy insurance through RCI again. However, if they deny me (and I'm hopeful they wont) I will ask about cruise credits....

[mitaxi]

How far ahead do you buy ins if you do not buy it thru RCCL ??