When you book a trip with CruiseNReview, one of the first things we are going to offer you after you purchase your trip and put down a deposit, is trip insurance.
I feel like 50 percent of the time, our clients think it's just an upsell for commission, but its far from it.
Audrey and I never take a trip internationally that we don't use trip insurance. Even before we became travel agents and writers, we purchased third-party trip insurance from Allianz. We did this for two reasons: Peace of mind and financial protection.
It can be a bit pricey, but not nearly as costly as having an emergency abroad and not having supplemental coverage and support to get you out of a jam. In this blog, I'm going to break down some frequently asked questions and make a case for why you should always purchase trip insurance when traveling.
Life Happens, but Most Travel Companies Won't Give You a Sympathy Refund
You just never know when illness, tragedy, or logistical challenges will arise. This is often a common reason people are afraid of traveling far from home. Should you encounter an issue that delays your trip, interrupts your trip, or leads to the cancellation of your trip, if you are close to departure, the likelihood you will recoup the majority or any of your financial investment is slim. Enter: Trip insurance.
Let's give you an example: The night before your trip, a loved one falls unexpectedly ill. You can't possibly take your Caribbean cruise because you need to be there for them. You call the cruise line and unfortunately, policy states that because you are so close to departure, a refund is not going to be issued. You are going to lose the vast majority of what you paid for your cruise.
Then, you move onto the airline tickets you bought. They offer you a portion of your costs back as a very restricted flight credit. Same goes for your pre-cruise hotel.
Before you know it, you have lost thousands of dollars, the inability to rebook your vacation financially, and to top it off, you are dealing with a sick loved one.
I know that sounds dramatic but it happens all the time. Once again, enter trip insurance. Even though the companies you booked through won't give you your money back, trip insurance likely will get the majority of your financial investment back in some form or another.
Depending on the policy you chose, you'll likely receive 100% reimbursement on your trip either as money back or trip credits for future travel up to 100% of your trip cost. On most policies, family illness is often a covered reason. Your travel advisor can help you pick the right policy to meet your needs.
Sometimes vendors will be nice and give you a sympathy card refund, but don't count on it. The only way to protect your financial investment is trip insurance.
Peace of Mind on Vacation
The above mentioned scenario adds stress to would-be travelers, sometimes acting as a deterrent.
CruiseNReview is big on getting into #TheVacationMindset when you travel. This means releasing your worries and fears and becoming the best version of yourself on your adventures.
This is impossible to do if you are worried about logistical challenges and emergencies. Trip insurance will give you the peace of mind that should something happen, you have the means and support to change your plans on a dime with minimal financial risk. Need to fly home suddenly because of a family emergency? With the right plan, your flights and even some additional travel costs could be covered.
You can relax knowing you have a plan B should something unexpected pop up.
Most Travel Insurance Comes with Concierge Support
A good travel insurance plan should come with some kind of 24/7 support. At CruiseNReview, we offer support to you during your entire trip. However, there are some logistical challenges that might call for additional assistance, especially if you are abroad. Support from a third-pary trip insurance company is exactly what you need to help you get out of a potential sticky situation. This can be invaluable when dealing with an emergency in a place you aren't familiar with.
Medical Costs are High When They Happen Abroad
You can't control when a medical emergency might arise. Should something happen when you are on a trip, the costs of emergency treatment and transportation can add up in a hurry.
Carrying a trip insurance policy that covers out of pocket medical costs as well as medical transportation (air evac, etc.) is a must if you are going out of the country. It adds peace of mind and can add significant financial protection. There are horror stories of uninsured travelers ending up with hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical and transportation bills from medical emergencies abroad. Don't believe me, google the cost of an emergency helicopter ride.
NOTE: Your health insurance likely won't cover any medical treatment or needs outside of the United States or on cruise ships.
Air Travel Is Unreliable, And They Don't Care Where You Have To Be
That sounds like a harsh criticism of airlines, but it's true. If your flight gets cancelled and you have to be on a cruise ship that departs soon, they don't really care. So what happens if your flights get all messed up and you miss part (or all) of your trip? If you have trip insurance, this is covered.
Good travel insurance plans will cover plenty of airline related issues including comping you back for nights of your trip missed, unexpected hotel stays, reuniting with the cruise ship at a port down the line, and even lost baggage costs.
If you are flying, carry trip insurance.
When Should I Buy Trip Insurance?
Simple: As soon as possible after purchasing your trip.
The sooner you buy your policy after purchasing your vacation package, the more protected you are. This is especially true if you have pre-existing conditions and want coverage for that.
Once you have an issue that puts your trip in jeopardy, it's too late for that issue to be covered in most instances. Buying your policy near or at the time of booking is the best way to maximize your coverage.
Should I Buy Insurance Through Cruise Lines/Airlines/Hotels or Independently?
We always recommend carrying a third-party policy. Why? Because insurance purchased through an airline/cruise line/hotel is often pretty limited to that specific piece of the trip only. It doesn't factor in extraneous costs outside of your package booked.
For example: Cruise line policies offer some supplemental coverage on extraneous pieces of your trip, but it likely won't account for pre/post-cruise hotel stays and airline tickets booked outside of their company. This is where a majority of your extraneous expenses will lie.
Booking with a third-party travel insurance company ensures you get a policy that fits your specific needs and covers the entirety of your vacation plans.
How Much Does Trip Insurance Cost?
It varies greatly depending on a variety of factors. The major cost points are:
Age of Travelers
Destinations
Cost of Trip
Trip insurance on a $2500 cruise for a young couple for four days is going to be pretty cheap. A two-week, $15,000 European vacation for a 70 year old couple is going to get pretty pricey.
Remember though, the more expensive your trip, the more coverage you need. Hence, the extra cost of your policy. It's just like car or home insurance in this instance.
I Travel A Lot, Can I Buy An Annual Policy?
Of course. That being said, annual travel policies are expensive and it takes a ton of long, frequent travel for an annual policy to be worth while. Our advice is to let us offer you several options and pricing so we can see which plan fits best for you.
How Do I Book Travel Insurance?
CruiseNReview can do it for you! We are partners with Allianz Travel, a reputable and long-standing trip insurance provider. Our team will discuss your needs and concerns and find a policy that fits what you are looking for to provide protection and piece of mind.
Your trip doesn't have to be booked with CruiseNReview to purchase trip insurance from us.
To get started with your quote, call or text Audrey at (870) 604-5929 or e-mail us at info@cruisenreview.com.
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