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Yes, it might be wasted money, but if for any reason you need travel insurance, it will be the smartest money you will spend. |
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You should definitely ask your travel agent about whether or not you need to get trip insurance. One family we know missed the departure of their ship because Amtrak was 8 hours late getting to the port. Unfortunately, there was nothing our disappointed friends could do. Amtrak doesn’t guarantee arrival times and cruise lines usually don’t refund bookings unless you have insurance with them. |
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Consider how much money and fun you can afford to sacrifice if you have to cancel your travel plans. Yes, it might be wasted money, but if for any reason you need travel insurance, it will be the smartest money you will spend. Of course, if circumstances cause you to have to miss your cruise, NOTHING is going to make up for the disappointment. But, you will find yourself getting over the disappointment a lot faster if you can at least get your money back, or be reimbursed for the inconvenience. |
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Travel insurance policies can be used for Cruises, Tours, Flights, House Rentals and a world of other trip types. Most offer Trip Cancellation, Baggage, Medical, Dental, Emergency Evacuation, 24 Hour Traveler Assistance, Baggage Delay, Travel Delay, and Accidental Death Coverages. Some policies also have options for Collision/Damage coverage for rented cars. |
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If you are going to get trip insurance, we recommend that you use a 3rd party that is not affiliated with a cruise line. Go with someone that does this as their primary business. The whole process of having to file a claim is disappointing enough, and it can be absolutely maddening if you have to deal with crappy customer service during the process. From our experience, the cruise lines are seriously lacking in the service mentality when it comes to insurance claims. It's almost like they treat it as a necessary evil. YUCK! Don't take that chance. There are plenty of reputable online companies that specialize in trip insurance, and they specialize in getting your claims settled as well. |
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A useful website for doing research about travel insurance is www.insuremytrip.com. This site doesn’t actually provide you with the insurance, it is a comparison site that allows you to look at the coverages provided by several different carriers. |
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Travel Medical Insurance |
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If you have any kind of medical condition, you may want to consider circumstances in which it is a good idea to provide some kind of medical coverage. Cruise ships have varying degrees of medical services mostly depending on the age of the ships average passenger. For example, Holland America, which caters to an older, higher paying crowd, typically provide a wider range of medical services than Carnival, which caters to a younger (healthier?) demographic. If you know you're a candidate for a particular medical service, make sure the ship you are sailing on can handle it. |
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If you do require some kind of treatment, the medical services you receive on board ships must be paid for when you settle your account since the ships don’t file any insurance papers for you. It will be up to you to get reimbursed and many insurance policies don’t cover services provided outside the US. So, find out before you go if your insurance will pay for such treatments, and what kind of documentation you need to file a claim. You may want to inquire into medical travel insurance, especially if you are traveling with a condition that elevates the risk (such as older travelers, pregnancy, or some other pre-existing condition). Get very clear information about the documentation you need, because once you leave the ship, or the port where the treatment is delivered, there is virtually no chance you will ever get medical records sent to you without hiring an attorney. |
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Unless you've made previous arrangements, be prepared to pay for your treatments when you settle your account. By all means, find out what a particular treatment will cost before you agree to it. I once stubbed my toe REALLY BAD and went to the infirmary to get it looked at. The visit and x-rays cost $210, not a lot by US standards, but a big dent in my travel budget. In a much more dramatic case, one of our cruise buddies suffered a minor stroke while onboard, a condition for which he was being treated at home. But, he didn't make any arrangements for treatments on board. His treatment, which required him to stay in the ship's hospital for two days, cost him about $2,000. YIKES! |
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For the greatest majority of cruisers, you're going to be just fine without this type of insurance, but do your homework before hand and make an infomred decisions |
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WHAT ABOUT AUTO INSURANCE? |
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No, it's not a crazy question. You should ask the same question about your car insurance that you ask about your medical insurance, especially if you plan to rent any kind of vehicle while on shore, even a little motor scooter. You may find that you don’t need any additional coverage, which can save you a lot if you decide to rent a car or scooter. Keep in mind, however, many rental companies require you to make good on any damages when you return the vehicle, so if you are using your personal insurance you will have to pay for the damages and get reimbursed. That little fact is one of the major incentives the rental companies use to sell you the insurance. Unfortunately, even though they are blood-suckers for trying to manipulate you, it is often less hassle to go ahead and buy the local insurance. But, get a professional opinion from your agent. |
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Articles we've written about
Cruising In The Caribbean |
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Ten Mistakes When Taking A Cruise - It’s a shame to lay out
$250 - $2,500 on a dreamy
cruise vacation only to encounter unnecessary mishaps and
inconveniences. So, in an effort
to minimize the likelihood of a
bump in the road to your perfect
vacation, here are some common
potholes that can tarnish your
experience.
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Eleven Expert Cruising Tips - Some useful,relevant tips and
ideas, and other neat stuff you
can use to make their cruising
experience better.
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Hooked On Cruising (And I Like It!) - It's official! I have a
condition, a disorder by some
people's assessment. It's called
"Caribbean Obsession Disorder",
and there really is such a thing.
Imagine that!
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