Trip insurance?

Do you buy it? I'm specifically looking at it for a cruise. It's $60/pp. Dh doesnt think it's necessary but I'm on the fence about it. Any insight?

Re: Trip insurance?

For a cruise, definitely. I wouldn't get it from the cruiseline though. I get it from insuremytrip.com. DH & I were insured for our cruise last year for $60 total and there were so many to choose from.

So many things can happen such as luggage going overboard when being loaded onto the ship, an injury either onboard or in a port/on an excursion, etc.

Also if you are flying to the port, it should cover any issues with the flight such as lost luggage, missed flight, etc.

ETA: If you've already booked your cruise and it's been over 2 weeks from booking or you've already paid for your trip in full, it limits the insurance you can get.

Message edited 2/11/2011 7:34:51 PM.

Re: Trip insurance?

Next week I have to pay the final payment. Insurance would be through travel agent for above price. Leaving from manhattan so no flying involved. I never purchased insurance before and never ran into a prob but with an almost 90 yr old grandmother around with a bad heart I'm gettin a little nervous for this trip in partiular KWIM

I'll check out the website listed.ty

Re: Trip insurance?

I didn't use to spend the extra money, but I always do now. Last year I had a trip to Italy planned and due to medical problems I had to cancel, thankfully I purchased the trip insurance.

Re: Trip insurance?

Re: Trip insurance?

We always get it for cruises. We just buy the cruiseline insurance, it's easiest to get and as long as the limits are high enough for what you are comfortable with.

When we goto the Galapagos we are going to go with insuremytrip so we can get higher medivac coverage - but for caribbean/bermuda/new england I think cruise line insurance is OK as it's a short ride 'back to civilization'.

DH got bit by a bug during our last cruise and he needed to see the doctor. It was 400 dollars out of pocket to see the doctor for 3 minutes and for 5 days of antibiotics. We got back from vacation, submitted a claim and between our primary insurance and cruise insurance we got all of our money back.

Re: Trip insurance?

Re: Trip insurance?

I don't usually purchase trip insurance. Only time i did; was when we booked our November Freedom of the seas cruise almost 11 months in advance. We added the insurance at the last minute thinking we may run into weather problems with the cruise being @ the end of the hurricane season. Didn't want to take any chances.

Re: Trip insurance?

I always buy trip insurance. I think it's worth it with all the natural disasters that happen.

Re: Trip insurance?

We always do for cruises!

Re: Trip insurance?

We buy it too. I used it when PG and was put on bed rest. MIL used it when she got bronchitis.

Re: Trip insurance?

Well a couple of questions. When did you book the trip? You need the read it closely. Most of them will no include preexisting conditions IF it isn't bought within 10-14 days of booking the trip.

So it really depends on what you want it for.

I have bought it before AND USED it. It is a gamble. I think for cruises it is a good idea. Are you going in the winter? If so it is probably worth it. It can be VERY expensive to catch up with the cruise if you have an issue and need to leave or you miss the ship.

About 9 years ago I was supposed to take a family cruise with my parents and grandparents (they were taking me for a break from law school). It was a new years cruise. We usually leave the day before but this time I couldn't go early and my father couldn't get off early either. We had a 6 am flight out. The taxi picked us up at 330 am - it was barely snowing. By the time we got to the airport there was at least 1-2 inches of snow.

We were told the flight WOULD be leaving. They deiced it 2 times - and by 730 NO planes had left the airport and JFK closed leaving us stranded in NY.

Since the 1st 2 days were at sea - and then they couldn't get us to the ship until day 4 b.c there were no flights to the island the ship would be at day 3 we would have had to miss 4 out of a 7 day cruise.

Then while we were stuck at the airport. A man placed his bag right behind my mothers feet while she was speaking with security about letting my grandparents sit in the gate area - and he walked away. My mother fell over his bag and broke her wrist.

Needless to say by the time we got home the snow was knee deep.

B.c we had the insurance we were able to rebook for the spring. Without it we would have either lose our money OR had to pay a lot of money OOP to catch up to the ship.

I have had friends who have gotten pneumonia and missed their cruises, grandparents who passed away etc. A cruise is very different from a regular hotel which you can cancel or who will most likely work with you.

Just make sure you read the conditions if you are buying it past that 10-14 booking date. Have you checked out insuremytrip.com - you can compare a lot of different companies and plans there as well.

Also see if they have one with cancel for any reason.