Wondering how to get travel insurance for a cruise? It’s simple – answer a few questions, get a quote, read your policy, decide if the coverage is for you, and buy. And many plans offer a “free-look” period for you to determine if you want to keep the coverage.
Buying cruise insurance can be accomplished in five steps:
1. Answer a few questions
2. Get a quote
3. Choose your plan
4. Review the coverage and read your policy
5. Buy coverage
If you have second thoughts, many plans let you cancel coverage without obligation for a time after you buy the policy.
Let’s look at the process step by step:
The price you pay for cruise insurance generally depends on:
When you start the online quote process, the first factors determining the price of cruise insurance will be your age and trip cost.
Then you’ll be asked about your destination, arrival and departure dates, and the number of people cruising with you.
Answer these questions truthfully; if you don’t and have a claim, it might not be paid.
You’ll also be asked one other thing: the date of your initial trip deposit.
This date determines whether you get bonus coverages, such as:
Usually you need to buy cruise insurance within two weeks of your initial trip deposit to qualify for these important coverages.
Once a travel insurance company has the information it needs, it can give you a cruise insurance quote.
The quote may be preliminary, and your final cost may be supplied later, after you answer some additional questions.
Quotes are almost always non-binding, and have an expiration date, so if you don’t like what you’re offered, you’re under no obligation to buy.
Depending on where you are – online at an insurance company’s website or an aggregator’s site, or with a cruise professional – your quote may show one plan or a dozen plans.
If you’re confronted with a lot of plans and don’t know how to choose:
Is it for emergency medical coverage, or cruise cancellation or interruption coverage? Choose the plan that provides the best coverage for your concerns or your family needs.
Remember to check whether medical coverage is primary or secondary. If it’s secondary, your health insurance will cover first – even if you’re on Medicare; cruise insurance kicks in after that. (Important note: Medicare does not provide coverage outside the U.S.) Pricing also varies for primary versus secondary medical coverage.
Focus on:
All other things being equal, go with the A++-rated company over the A-rated company.
If you’re buying coverage within 14 days of making your initial trip deposit, you may qualify for bonus coverages. If you’re going to insure your cruise anyway, why not buy early?
Not all companies price the same coverage the same way. If you’re on a site that compares plans from different companies, you may be surprised at the price differences. Understand what you’re buying and the coverages your plan offers. Call if you don’t.
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Now, re-examine your quote. One or two plans may stand out.
If you’re online, you should be able to drill deeper into those plans, and/or look at the policy.
Even if you’re not an insurance expert, reading your policy makes sense. Here are some common things to look for:
In particular:
Most plans won’t let you buy once a storm is named. Also, cancellation might not be covered if a storm obliterated your destination six months ago, and your plan only covers storms that occurred within the last 30 days.
Many plans will let you cancel your trip if there’s been a recent terrorist event at a port-of-call within a period of time prior to your arrival, but what about fear of terrorism? Fear of travel is typically not covered.
Like fear of terrorism, fear of contracting a disease is not typically a covered reason for cancelling a trip, unless you have CFAR. Read your policy or call the cruise insurance provider to make sure.
What isn’t covered? Among the things to look for on the exclusions list:
Taking a cruise for the purpose of getting medical care usually isn’t covered.
Most plans don’t include fear of travel or “just because” as a covered reason for cancellation. That’s why some plans include Cancel For Any Reason.
Read this closely. Pay special attention to the “look-back” provision that states how far back in the past the plan looks to see if your condition was present.
Luggage LimitsIt’s not just the total luggage coverage. How much will the plan pay on a daily limit for items needed or how much for one item – and how are electronics treated? Often the most expensive item you take on a cruise is a computer or camera.
If everything looks good, it’s time to buy.
Be sure to check out optional coverages – like increased medical or evacuation limits – before you buy. Sometimes you can’t add these once you’ve bought your plan.
Read your insurance documents once you receive them. Make sure everything makes sense – everyone’s covered and the documents are for the plan you bought.
If something’s wrong, call the insurance company immediately.
Many plans allow you a “free look” – a trial period where you can examine your plan and ensure it meets your needs.
If during the free-look period you find something in your plan you don’t like, contact the insurance company (or have your cruise professional do it for you).
If you’re not satisfied, you can cancel your plan, and as long as it’s within the free-look period you can get a full refund.
Cruise insurance is an easy, smart way to protect your cruise investment. And it starts here, with a simple, no-obligation quote.
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The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travel Insurance is underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company; NAIC #22276.
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