Captured Travel With so many Australians taking their first cruise this summer season, InsureandGo highlights three benefits of choosing a cruise-specific travel insurance policy.
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Keep on schedule
Missing a bus or train can be an inconvenience, but missing a cruise departure can be a nightmare for holiday-goers. People often don’t realise that they can be covered in the unfortunate event of delayed flights due to poor weather conditions, a car breakdown or even a mechanical accident on their way to a cruise causing them to miss their departure. In the event this happens, the right travel insurance policy can cover accommodation and travel expenses if you do end up missing your port departure due to circumstances like this.
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Cabin fever
There’s nothing worse than not enjoying a holiday because you’re sick. For cruise holidays specifically, travel insurance can provide cover if you are confined to your cabin for medical reasons by a medical officer. For example, InsureandGo will pay cruise insurance policy-holders up to $75 for every 24 hours you are confined.
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Onboard medical emergencies can happen
Whether you’ve hit the dancefloor too hard or simply have a pre-existing medical condition that flares up, onboard medical emergencies can be a part of cruising. Be sure to look into different insurance policies to see what you are covered for, particularly if you know you have a pre-existing condition. And if you do have a pre-existing condition (even if it seems minor), ensure you declare it so that you may have the option to get cover for it.
Australia continues to be one of the fastest growing cruising markets globally, with new data from online travel insurance provider InsureandGo reporting a staggering 36 percent increase in cruise policies sold between the months of November and February, compared to the rest of the year.
Mr Jonathan Etkind, Commercial Manager of InsureandGo said “The summer season and school holidays go hand-in-hand with cruises and it does seem to be becoming one of Australia’s favourite holidays.”
“But there are certain risks associated with a cruising holiday that may not be covered by a typical basic travel insurance policy, such as cabin confinement or a missed cruise departure, which first-time cruise-goers may not be aware of,” Etkind added.
InsureandGo was the first online travel insurance company in Australia to develop a specialised policy to provide cover for almost any cruise. The cruise policy covers Australians in the event of missed ports, trips cut short due to medical emergencies or baggage cover before boarding (this applies to people travelling from a different city in Australia for up to 72 hours before the cruise departs).
