Features of Travel Protection

Do I Really Need Travel Insurance?

 

 

There is really no good reason not to purchase travel insurance. Can you afford to lose your deposit or your entire cruise fare in the event of an emergency or unforeseen event? Some people think that travel insurance is only valuable for elderly travelers or those with serious medical conditions that might impact their cruise. That can be a costly misconception.

Here are just a few things that could happen to you:

• A medical or family emergency could prevent you from being able to take your cruise.
• Your home could be severely damaged by fire or flood within a few days of your scheduled departure causing you to miss your cruise, or this could happen while you are at sea.
• Jury duty or a court appearance could interrupt your cruise.
• You could be involved in accident on the way to the airport.
• The cruise line could experience a problem (such as going into bankruptcy) which would cause you to miss your trip and potentially lose your cruise fare.
• An airline scheduling or flight problem could occur causing you to miss all or a portion of your cruise.
• You could experience a medical emergency while on your cruise that could result in costly medical care or even costly evacuation from the ship via helicopter or boat. In most cases, it is better to buy travel insurance from an independent company through your travel agent as opposed to the insurance offered by the cruise line. The independent insurance companies provide more coverage and are generally less expensive. Be aware, coverage and rates may vary by state. Ask your travel agent for a quote for your particular cruise and your state of residence.  Sending in a private med evac plane to pick you up can be tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• You might have an accident in a foreign port or country.  While your medical / health insurance might provide some reimbursement for your treatment, it will usually be at your plan rates if they even cover it.  You might find quality medical care in a foreign land far more than your local network provider rates. 
• Baggage protection against loss or late delivery.
• Trip delay reimbursements.