The Importance of Travel Insurance for Cruise Travel

It’s no surprise that cruising is a popular travel choice among Canadians. Multiple destinations in one trip, first-class meals, endless activities, and live shows at your fingertips – what’s not to love? 

If taking a cruise is your ideal way to travel, there are many factors to consider before boarding the ship. Whether that be missed connecting flights, getting sick at sea, or injuring yourself on the cruise, comprehensive insurance for cruise travel is a must. Read on to learn about what to look for in travel insurance for cruising. 

The importance of insurance for cruise travel

We know that travel insurance is essential when travelling anywhere outside of your home province, but some would argue that it’s even more important to ensure you have it before you set sail on your cruise vacation. Having travel insurance coverage allows you to relax and enjoy your holiday, knowing you’re protected if you or a family member gets sick or injured, or you miss a connection to your destination.   

To make sure you have a policy that will protect you on your cruise, your insurance should cover: 

• You or a family member getting sick or injured on your way to the ship, onboard or during one of your excursions  
• A delayed flight or missed connection due to extreme weather 
• Lost baggage, with coverage to buy some essentials for while you’re away 
• A family member getting sick or dying, causing you to return home from your trip early 

Types of travel insurance for cruising

There are a few plans that offer comprehensive cruise insurance coverage. Here’s a quick breakdown to find out which one is right for you! 

Emergency Medical Insurance

During your cruise, if you find yourself in need of medical assistance, most cruise ships do have resident doctors to treat minor medical issues. However, for more serious emergencies, you’ll have to wait until your next stop to disembark for treatment at the closest hospital or medical facility on land.  

Although your provincial healthcare won’t cover most of these medical costs, Emergency Medical Insurance might. In addition to hospital and doctors’ fees, TuGo’s Emergency Medical insurance covers prescriptions and medical supplies like crutches and emergency transportation, out of pocket expenses, and even the cost of childcare in the event you are hospitalized. If you get sick in the middle of the ocean, your insurance provider may also arrange for you to be air evacuated to a proper medical facility. 

Remember! TuGo’s travel insurance covers travellers regardless of age, provided they’re not travelling against a doctor’s advice, and they haven’t been diagnosed with a terminal condition.

Family & Friends Travel Insurance

A cruise is always better with more people! So, whether you’re travelling with friends, family, or a mixture of both, an affordable insurance option that protects the whole group in one convenient plan is our Family & Friends plan.

If you and one other adult (59 or under) intend to travel with up to 6 dependent children, a Family & Friends plan will help you save the most on your policy.

Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption Insurance

Whether you miss a connecting flight, need to cancel your trip, or unexpectedly get sick before your trip, travel insurance can protect you if those unexpected mishaps arise.

If you need to cancel your trip before you’re scheduled to leave, or your trip is interrupted while you’re on vacation, then a Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption policy can cover non-refundable costs like airfares, hotels, or your cruise if the reason is due to one of the covered risks of the policy. If you miss your ship due to a delay or schedule change of your flight for example, you could be reimbursed for your flight, a one-way economy airfare, transportation costs to catch up with a tour, or a one-way economy airfare to your next destination.

All Inclusive Holiday Package

If you’re looking for all types of coverage, but are concerned about affordability, an All Inclusive Holiday Package could be the right option for you. For travellers under 59, this economical package bundles Emergency Medical Insurance, Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, and Baggage Insurance—all into one handy policy!

Regardless of which plan you choose, before you set sail, make sure you’re well protected with comprehensive travel insurance coverage before you leave for your trip.

Still unsure whether cruise travel is for you? Here are 3 Cruise Tips for People (Who Think They) Hate Cruising.

Happy cruising,
Linnea

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in November 2017 and has been updated for freshness and/or accuracy.