YES! You NEED Travel Insurance for a Cruise - My Top Tips and General Advice

[@kendavis7248]

I've discovered travel insurance is not so breezy since the heart attack and triple bypass in March. Some insurers won't cover anything related to that, but cover everything else. One or two will. Having fun shopping around and reading plenty of those PDSs.. This topic is always relevant Adrian, and appreciated. Thank you!

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

It's fraught with loopholes and pitfalls, a total minefield but definitely a necessity.

[@markeaston7353]

Yep Adrian, you nailed it. Even though our annual policies have more than doubled in cost since the pandemic we would never consider traveling without it. And yes, the PDS is everything. It really needs to be understood. A grey area which came to light recently was evident of a woman who I understand was insured with one of the major insurance companies. Apparently the woman had had a drink or two, as most of us do, and had an accident that required medical evacuation. It was said that because she had been drinking, even though she was only drinking moderately and was certainly not inebriated, the insurer declined to honour the policy. Now I stress all of this is subject to fact checking but the question must be asked of the industry, are we covered if we have an issue even though we have had a drink or two. Definitely a grey area but perhaps a hidden sleeper, or dare I say, nightmare.

[@robd2096]

Thanks for the vid Adrian. I returned to cruising last April and, like you, always take out travel insurance. This time while seeking quotes I found it not only more expensive but also the exclusions were much greater. Some insurers did not cover cruising at all even though I have used them in the past. There are new and comprehensive exclusions with nearly all insurers regarding shore activities which weren't there pre-covid. You've just got to shop around (which isn't difficult getting on-line quotes). The amount you pay as a premium seems to have little to do with the cover you get. Many are just a blatant ripoff!

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

So true, and definitely worth investing some time in shopping around.

[@arokh72]

Well said Adrian. I'm glad you covered, if briefly, domestic cruising as well. It only takes something minor to see the ships Dr and the cost with that. If you need a medivac for any reason, even from say Moreton Island to Brisbane, that's 10s of thousands of dollars, a bill most people cannot afford. Most travel insurance will cover medivac, and even repatriation back home. We may only be doing a 4 day Moreton Island cruise, but we paid the $300 for travel insurance, which also included my partner's pre existing medical issues. The insurance company we chose also covers if we are confined to quarters due to Covid.

[@sarahmcivor1500]

Did you know p&o gives you back credit for for next crusie everyday you are in you room for covid!

[@arokh72]

@@sarahmcivor1500 I'd rather $100/day cash back in my pocket, than some arbitrary future cruise credit for a future cruise I may not take.

[@Accioly72]

@arokh72 Do you mind disclosing which insurance company you went for? Much appreciated if you could. I am also swimming my way through this vast and troubled sea of PDS, premiums, excess and so on! 😁 It's all so tiring! he he! Cheers

[@arokh72]

@@Accioly72 I went with QANTAS travel insurance.

[@paulasquires8256]

Great information to ponder…I always take out travel insurance.

[@ColetteNicoll]

Thanks Adrian, I always buy travel insurance for my cruises. I've seen far too many people air-lifted off, picked up by an emergency craft from a nearby port, or even had a ship turned back from a Trans Tasman crossing! I don't do any high-risk activities and with RATs still in place, I think it's only wise to go Zero excess , now

[@sarahmcivor1500]

We have had to claim twice miss port and we got a 24hrs gastro bug hlaf way through our 12 night crusies and we claimed for being stuck in our cabin both got money back for also make sure you get paper from the dr or captain as it makes claming a breeze other wise it take for ever if you dont as you have to contact the ship to get detail ect ...

[@derekmohi9432]

P&O Australia has emailed that all passengers traveling to New Caledonia that the government require all passengers have a hard copy of your travel insurance policy on arrival into noumea.......

[@jasonhutch9393]

Thanks Adrian. I would take the high excess. Have never claimed .

[@jihuff1]

Thanks for all the information, and I'm so sorry that all of you have had to go through this experience!

[@maggiemitchell4359]

Awesome tips again,thank you : )

[@leoniemercer7748]

I never travel without it.

[@geoffreystone1598]

I just was paid out by my Visa card travel insurance . $18,000. But it was unforeseen report from a cardiologist 3 days out from the cruise. Pre existing medical conditions can be assessed by having a pre cruise review costing $75.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Thanks for watching and sharing your experience. It sounds like the insurance definitely did the job for you!

[@sarahmcivor1500]

Ha, just a question not related but do you know why splendor will be in Singapore next year from July to start of September next year this mean we want really have any carnival ships in Australia next winter????

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Splendor will sail to Singapore from Sydney on July 21st 2024 and be there for about a month for (I believe) her scheduled dry dock. Then she'll depart Singapore on August 24th and make her way back to Sydney where she arrives on September 9th.

[@bradmoon9574]

Great information. I find that the PDS explains what is covered and exclusions it is not until you put a claim in that you find out how much paper work is involved. I had an issue with cancelled flight to a cruise and had to find and produce the cruise line cancellation policy documents and then the airline policy documents the email cancelling flights were not sufficient. I know next time to keep all documents.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Very good tip! Documents are so important if a claim is required later.

[@noeleenottaviano3364]

Would not travel without it. Just did a yearly policy with ahm for both of us with medical.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Hidden sleeper/nightmare sounds about right. I think someone with the resources to battle that out in court would surely be able to establish that by selling travel insurance in the first place, insurers have to assume that the insured party will be enjoying a cocktail or two from time to time. Far from over-consumption, I would hate to think that someone has a claim denied because they enjoyed wine with dinner. Insurance companies are scrupulous and we need to be even more so.

[@asplumb]

I was thinking of sending you a message asking you to do a travel insurance vlog. Thanks for the advice.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Great minds! Thanks for watching.

[@binds321]

Yes you need it

[@leeandjancruise]

If anyone has claimed against their travel insurance and the claim was dealt with quickly and efficiently then please let us all know as it would seem claim handlers at the moment in the U.K. are incompetent, drag the claims out over months and don't answer the phone or reply to emails. Before buying travel insurance always read the reviews for the company claim handlers not the brokers, you will be shocked.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Great advice to read reviews.

[@ianm6204]

You really have to read through the Policy carefully. We had a Cruise booked and a few days before we were about to depart my Mother passed away. We obviously had to cancel the Cruise and notified our insurance company who we had been using for many years and recommended to everyone although we had never may any sort of claim. After reviewing our claim they notified us that page 33 section blah blah blah states they do not cover you and “Will not pay” if your Parent is aged over 85 years of age when they die. I don’t know if this is standard across the board with insurers but I will never use 1Cover again. Buyer beware.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Sorry for your loss - and thanks for sharing your experience and highlighting the need to really read/understand the PDS.

[@ianm6204]

@@TheCruiseandTravelGuy We found out the day after we caught up with you in the Alchemy Bar on the Luminosa Thank you for your thoughts.

[@rgruenhaus]

Did you mention what a PDS is?

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

From the video: “You should always make your own enquiries with travel insurers before making a purchasing decision and as I’ll mention again later, read through the Product Disclosure Statement thoroughly to see what is and isn’t covered.”

[@blacksorrento4719]

We actually had a debate on this at the dinner table on our last cruise. We all had pre existing conditions, and we were all around the same age. Prices vary, and yes you are right about the excess. Like you, we all said we wouldn’t travel without it, and yes these days in my experience you actually have to show that your travel insurance fully covers you for Covid. As a result the price of such insurance has gone up. As one chap mentioned it will soon cost as much for insurance as it does for the trip! Loyalty to one insurance company doesn’t seem to get you any discount, shop around MAKE SURE YOU READ THE PDS. Wise words Adrian. 👍

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Totally! We need to educate ourselves about the inclusions, exclusions and hidden pitfalls. It's a bit of a minefield unfortunately, but also a necessity. Definitely interesting dinner discussion haha.

[@64relle]

It’s amazing how many people ask the question ! I agree the importance! 😊

[@travelwithdebandnick]

really interesting information, thank you :) our first two cruises we didnt have any type of insurance but that is risky i know. we have 4 more cruises booked between dec and april 2025, and the 2025 one is to the islands, we have 4 port stops (really looking forward to that, we have never been international before). so after watching this i now know that we have to organise insurance for at least that cruise.... i saw that virgib voyages offer there own travel insurance for 79dollars each, so was considering that for our dec cruise, what do you think about getting it through the cruiseline?

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Thanks for watching. It sounds like good value, but make sure you read through the PDS to fully understand what is included/excluded 😁

[@PutThatInYaPipe]

P&O are currently having their EOFY Sale and there is a cruise I want to book for next year with a friend but unfortunately they are against getting Vaccinated, so not sure if it's worth booking it and just hoping they drop the Vax Mandates by next year

[@avadeberry3100]

I have about 4 cruises booked with unvaxxed people starting Dec 23… see if the deposit it refundable. Hopefully they will drop them by Sep and we can make final payment.

[@PutThatInYaPipe]

@avadeberry3100 P&O have messed me around with refunds and cancelations in the past, but I wish you luck

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

fingers crossed 🤞🏼 will keep everyone posted about any changes to vaccination requirements

[@chuckarock2001]

Thanks Adrian. I was only talking about this to my brother this morning. 🤓⛴️