We are cruising Western Caribbean 1/29/06 on Explorer of the Seas and would like to purchase travelers insurance. From personal experience which insurance company would you recommend????
Thanks!
Emerald Coast

emerald coast,
So glad you are investigating your trip protection options. No one should cruise without it. Tom researched this issue and has wirtten an informative article for Cruise Reviews. Based on his research he recommends Travel Insured as his top choice and runner-up Travel Guard. Traveling as much as I do, I must agree with Tom's evaluation of Travel Insured - they provide some of the most comprehensive coverage at the most affordable price - they are who I use.
Nancy

We decided to purchase travel insurance after reading Tom's informative, eye-opening article. Does Tom work for Travel Insured?
Emerald Coast

NO - He does not.

emerald coast,

You can compare several policies at Insure My Trip

These include Travel Insured and Travel Guard.

I must also suggest that you make sure of the decleratins according to you state of residence......

What does this type of insurance actually protect you from?

Here is an excerpt from the article that details the inclusions. I hope this helps.

Tom

Medical Evacuation: I was once on the QE2 Eastbound when a gentleman had a heart attack a couple of days out from Boston. He was not covered by insurance, but the ship’s doctor had no recourse but to call for an emergency evacuation in order to limit the cruise line’s liability in a wrongful death lawsuit. If the gentleman died and they had not made every effort to save him, virtually every attorney would hold the cruise line responsible for the client's death. His wife pleaded for the doctor to just let him stay in the infirmary, but the doctor had no choice. The seas were running about 40 feet and the QE2 changed its course to head to within helicopter range of Newfoundland. After three hours or so in heavy seas, a helicopter arrived to pick the guy off the top deck of the ship. Because of the movement of the ship in the heavy seas, the helicopter was unable to pick the fellow up and called for a single winged aircraft to act as a spotter plane so that the helicopter could get into the proper position. It took almost an hour after the second aircraft arrived, but they successfully rescued the gentleman from the deck of the ship. It was estimated that the cost of the rescue was in the range of $40,000. Of course the gentleman and his wife were responsible for the expense, not to mention the rest of the medical expenses once he was delivered to the hospital in Newfoundland.

If you are at any risk whatsoever, you should make sure that you are covered by medical evacuation insurance to resolve such a tragedy. If you are traveling internationally, I would strongly suggest medical evacuation insurance in the amount of $50,000. To travel without this is absolutely foolish. I have seen medical evacuations on virtually every cruise I have taken (and that’s a lot.)

Trip Cancellation: My favorite story about trip cancellation is when Tom and Mary Milano read a review I wrote on the Sea Princess where a fellow was held in the ship’s infirmary for two days until arriving in Puerto Vallarta and was then put off the ship pending a doctor’s statement of health. He missed the ship and was subsequently evacuated to San Diego for treatment for a mild heart attack. Fortunately, he had travel insurance and was fully covered for trip interruption, medical and medical evacuation. I wrote of the importance of insurance and how everyone should buy it if they have any risk whatsoever. Tom read the article and then called his travel agent to purchase travel insurance for his next cruise that he had just booked. Lo and behold, Tom suffered an injury shortly before the cruise and was able to recapture his investment in the cruise from his insurance company.

You should be entirely covered for cancellation of your trip.

Bankruptcy Protection: In this day and age, you should be covered should the vendor (s) providing transportation or services for your trip go bankrupt or otherwise fail to perform. As sad as it is, this is a very real scenario in today’s world and one does not have to go very far to find examples of folks that have lost tens of thousands of dollars when their tour company or cruise line went belly up.
Emergency Medical Expense: Ok, say something does happen and your medical evacuation is covered, how about the hospital costs once you get to the hospital?

Trip Delay and/or Missed Connection: On almost every group I escort, someone is either delayed in his or her departure, or misconnects on his or her way to the ship. Having the additional cost covered to correct the situation adds options that can resolve the problem quickly.

Assistance and Support: If you do have a problem, what kind of support and assistance does the insurance company offer? Will they actually help you by lending a personalized service to resolve your problems? This is a HUGE benefit when traveling internationally.

Lost, stolen or delayed Luggage: The inconvenience of having your luggage lost by the airlines is irritating, but the carrier’s liability in these instances is not enough to recover your actual loss. Look for additional coverage in case your baggage is lost or stolen. Also, if you luggage is delayed arriving at your destination, what kind of relief is there for you to acquire items necessary to survive?

Other Miscellaneous Benefits: Most policies have death and dismemberment benefits, dental benefits and other benefits that may be important to you, however the above list represents the bulk of necessary inclusions you should look for.

Tom,

That is a truly great article and something that every traveler should read. I never go on a cruise or vacation without first buying an insurance policy. To me it is simple - why risk thousands of dollars for the sake of saving a couple hundred, which is often the price we pay for the insurance. I personally know three people who booked cruises but failed to get insurance - and then circumstances caused them to miss their cruises. And of course, they lost the total costs for their cruises.

Count me among those who never books a cruise without travel insurance. The main reason is trip interruption. We even took out insurance for a two-night cruise to nowhere that left from a nearby port. what if one of us had to be evacuated? What if something happened to our parents, who are, frankly, getting on in years.

That's another thing -- we make sure to take out the insurance within the window that would waive the pre-existing condition clause. It varies by contract, but is typically around 7 days from the time of booking.

Lisa, we also take out insurance on most trips. I think you'll find many insurance companies now give you 10-14 days to purchase the insurance and still be able to waive the pre-existing condition clause. And the 10-14 days are from the date of the first deposit on the trip, which could be different from the time of booking.

Sandy

Thanks, Sandy. I had meant to type "initial deposit" but "booking" came to mind, instead, probably because I'm looking to book right now...

I tend to do all three simulaneously -- book, pay initial deposit, and take out insurance. That's just me, as I don't like to leave anything hanging.

quote:

I had meant to type "initial deposit" but "booking" came to mind, instead, probably because I'm looking to book right now...

Where are you thinking about going? We just booked NCL Hawaii with friends for the end of the year. We've done American Hawaii twice but I think it's time to go back!

Sandy

Congratulations on the booking, Sandy! Sounds great, and even better with friends.

I'm currently looking at a few options for February 2007 and summer 2007. Our vacation weeks are dictated by the school calendar, so we usually have to plan far ahead. We're thinking of Radiance of the Seas for February -- that's the one we're getting close to booking -- and something in Europe for the summer.

And, insurance premium will be paid along with the deposit.

We want to book for the second week (RRCL or Princess) in July 2006 which is soon! But, if we book and I need to move the week ahead will I be charged? What do you recommend? If I have to change I will know by April/May? I hate to wait to long and then totally lose out? Either way I will get insurance, especially after reading the abovee article, great information! Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by Nat:
We want to book for the second week (RRCL or Princess) in July 2006 which is soon! But, if we book and I need to move the week ahead will I be charged? What do you recommend? If I have to change I will know by April/May? I hate to wait to long and then totally lose out? Either way I will get insurance, especially after reading the above article, great information! Thanks!

does the medical evacuation ins also cover your medical wxpenses if you get sick on the ship? Or if you are evacuated and treated elsewhere if you do not have other medical insurance?

I'm also curious about what the insurance covers on the ship. Our last Costa cruise, we did get the insurance - through Costa themselves. I booked directly through Costa as well. I figured we were covered.

On the beach in the Dominican Republic (Costa's own island/beach) I broke my toe and a couple of bones in my foot. Stupid accident, kicked the bottom of a beach chair buried in the sand. I went to the doctor on the beach for something to wrap the darn thing up - we were doing the sugar cane excursion shortly. The doctor insisted it was just a bruise. He had nothing for me, and told me I could see him on the ship if I needed anything further. Fine. I hobbled through the tour. They did bring a wheelchair to the dock for me so that I could make it up to the starting point of the tour.

On the ship, I tried to see the doctor. No good. I was told I had to pay. They didn't care that I had insurance, through the cruise line. I asked for some tape and gauze to wrap it up at least so I could walk. (I've broken this toe a few times, I know the routine.) They gave it to me - and demanded payment for it!

On our way home (we had driven to the ship) we had to stop at a hospital. Foot and leg had swollen to a ridiculous size. A few Xrays later we knew it was the toe and the bones nearby.

OK, it was a real injury. I survived. Foot is fine now. My point is that while on the cruise the doctor would do nothing except give me some bandages that I had to pay for. The insurance said medical - but it didn't cover it. Why?

Most travel insurance covers expenses - including medical ones - on a reimbursement basis, not upfront. It's standard procedure to charge you (on your shipboard account) for medical treatment onboard. You would have needed to submit a claim to your travel insurance company (and possibly also to your medical insurance company) for reimbursement after your cruise.

I'm glad that all ended up well after your injury (healthwise, at least)! Sounds like a nasty break.

Prior to leaving for Egypt to do a Nile cruise (1986), I took out insurance on my new (and expensive, at the time) camera equipment thru my homeowners for very few dollars. It covered any loss including dropping it into the Nile.