Insurance

Cruise Lines insist that you have travel insurance in place before taking your cruise and will request details of that insurance if you do not purchase it through them. Travel insurance will give you peace of mind and should cover you up to the limit of your policy for:

• Cruise cancellation or curtailment - most cruise lines require a deposit on booking and full payment 60 days before departure. Cancellation policies vary but can cost you your deposit if 60 days before departure, 45% if 40+ days before, 75% if 16+ days before, 90%, 5+ days before and 100% if less than 5 days before.
• delayed, cancelled or missed flights
• lost or delayed baggage
• lost or stolen personal belongings
• emergency medical evacuation - airlifts can cost £0,000s
• emergency medical and dental expenses - you will be required to pay for treatment onboard your ship and in most countries that you will visit. Remember to take your E111 for treatment in the EEC
• emergency legal assistance.

You can purchase travel insurance through your travel agent, the cruise line, or directly with a travel insurance company or you may already have an annual travel insurance policy. Travel Insurance is notorious for policies with so many exclusions that it is difficult to see what you can claim for; so please carefully check the details of any policy before you buy to ensure you have the coverage you need. In particular make sure you have a detailed explanation of all exclusions, excesses and limitations and check and look out for:

• companies that do not cover pre-existing medical conditions - most of the policies offered by the cruise lines exclude cover for pre-existing medical conditions. Some policies have a list of conditions that they will cover, so it is worth spending some time on this if you have an existing problem.
• that you are covered for cancellation right up to departure and curtailment thereafter.
• the definition of immediate family members for trip cancellation or interruption due to death, illness or injury to yourself, your traveling companions and your immediate family members.
• the procedure and required documentation for making a claim.