Does credit card insurance cover cruising?
These cards often provide coverage for lost baggage, flight delays and problems with accommodations. If that's all the coverage you need for an upcoming trip, then the protection offered via a credit card will likely be enough. However, there are also scenarios when it might not be enough.
One of the main reasons to buy cruise insurance is for medical emergencies. Note that, once you're on a cruise ship or visiting a destination outside the United States, your own U.S. health insurance plan will not apply.
Trip interruption or cancellation: These coverages protect you if your travels are interrupted or canceled for a covered reason, such as an illness or severe weather. Trip delays: Trip delay insurance protects you if your flight is delayed for a covered reason and you must pay for meals or lodging.
Standard travel insurance is generally meant for a land-based holiday and as such, won't cover many of the elements of a cruise holiday. A cruise holiday requires more specialist cover, for example if there was a need to be medically evacuated at sea.
| Covered Reasons for Trip Cancellation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mental, Nervous, or Psychological Condition | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bankruptcy/Default | ✔ | — |
| Traffic Accident en Route to Departure | ✔ | ✔ |
| Destination Evacuation | ✔ | — |
The benefit of insuring your credit card balance is that if job loss, total disability, or loss of life occurs, your finances may be protected to a greater degree. Credit card balance protection insurance can help you make payments on your credit card if you, for example, lose your job.
Usually, the decision is made to disembark the patient at a location where the relevant medical facilities are available. If the necessary facilities are not available at this location or if the patient wants to get back home, an air ambulance is usually needed for medical evacuation or for medical repatriation.
It's the best time to buy cruise insurance – as soon as you make your initial trip deposit, while it's still fresh in your mind.
| Company | Recommended Plan | Average Cost* |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide Travel Insurance GET QUOTE | Luxury Cruise | $407 |
| Generali Global Assistance GET QUOTE | Premium | $298 |
| AXA Assistance USA GET QUOTE | Platinum | $483 |
| Seven Corners Travel Insurance GET QUOTE | Trip Protection Choice | $388 |
Important: While travel insurance policies may be more comprehensive than credit card protections, it has limitations. They typically won't cover non-essential medical expenses, high-risk sports or activities, or pre-existing conditions — at least without paying for add-on coverage.
Does your credit card cover trip cancellation?
The coverage provided by your credit card will depend on the date of cancellation/interruption of your trip and the expenses incurred as a result of this trip. For trip cancellation insurance, you could: be reimbursed for the non-refundable portion of your travel expenses (up to a certain limit).
Reasonably foreseeable events. Known storms, epidemics, acts of war. Travel restrictions imposed by government authorities. Pre-existing conditions, unless the Premium plan is bought within the window for coverage.
| CRUISE INSURANCE COMPANY | BEST TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR CRUISES | OUR RATING |
|---|---|---|
| WorldTrips | Atlas Journey Premier | 4.5 stars |
| TravelSafe | Classic | 4.5 stars |
| AXA Assistance USA | Platinum | 4.0 stars |
| Travel Insured | Worldwide Trip Protector | 4.0 stars |
Cruise insurance can cost from 5% to 10% of your total trip cost, though that amount can be influenced by: Your age. How much you're spending on your trip. The length of your cruise.
Original Medicare (Parts A & B) may cover medically necessary health care services on a cruise ship, if the ship you're on when you receive the care is in a U.S. port or no more than 6 hours away from one when you get the services. That means the ship can be in the water, but must be within six hours of a U.S. port.
Claims due to known, foreseeable, or expected events, epidemics, government prohibitions, warnings, or travel advisories or fear of travel are generally not covered (coverage can vary by state.)
| FOR 5 NIGHTS OR LONGER CRUISES (including Holiday sailings and Cruisetours) IF CANCELLATION IS MADE | CANCELLATION CHARGE |
|---|---|
| 89 to 75 days | 25% of total price |
| 74 to 61 days | 50% of total price |
| 60 to 31 days | 75% of total price |
Trip cancellation insurance provides prepaid, nonrefundable reimbursem*nt for trip expenses if you must cancel a trip due to an unforeseen circ*mstance such as illness, injury, or the death of the traveler or a loved one.
Credit card purchase protection works like insurance for eligible products against theft or accidental damage. It is available for a limited time, generally 90–120 days. The program enables you to get a purchased item repaired, replaced, or reimbursed at no cost.
Given that federal law limits credit card fraud liability and that most credit cards offer a “Zero Liability” policy, credit card loss protection insurance doesn't offer any additional benefits. Not only is it unnecessary, it's also a waste of money. Why pay extra for something that's already been provided for you?
Do credit cards have better protection?
Credit cards offer better consumer protections against fraud compared with debit cards linked to a bank account.
| LOCATION WHERE INJURED | COST OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION TO THE U.S. |
|---|---|
| Caribbean | $15,000 to $25,000 |
| Europe | $65,000 to $90,000 |
| Mexico | $15,000 to $25,000 |
| Middle East | $165,000 to $225,000 |
A charge for medical services will be billed to the guest's Sail & Sign® Account and a receipt will be provided for the guest to submit to their medical insurance provider upon return for possible reimbursem*nt.
The ship either will return to the home port early to arrive before the storm or stay out at sea for extra days to wait for the storm to pass. In rare cases when a home port closes due to a storm, ships have been known to sail to an alternative port to drop off passengers.
You absolutely can buy travel insurance after booking your trip. However, it's always best to purchase insurance as early in the process as possible. If you procrastinate, you may miss out on certain benefits.
