Should you buy annual travel insurance plans?

Table Of Content

• I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. These were my 8 favorite amenities on the world's largest cruise ship.
• Pre-existing Medical Conditions
• Why you need travel insurance for a cruise
• Alert: our top-rated cash back card now has 0% intro APR until 2025
• Should you buy travel insurance through a cruise line? Maybe not, experts say

While your health insurance covers that at home, when you're out of the country you're likely out of network and the out-of-pocket costs can be outrageous. While cruise insurance does cover health issues on a cruise ship, it is far more likely to be of use beyond a slip and fall. You can purchase Royal Caribbean Travel Protection at the time of booking your cruise online, over the phone, or through your travel agent. If you have already booked your cruise, you can add the plan by calling Royal Caribbean or your travel agent. The Royal Caribbean, a prominent cruise line, offers an extensive array of itineraries and activities for all kinds of travelers. With such a plethora of options, it’s essential to secure your holiday against unexpected events.

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. These were my 8 favorite amenities on the world's largest cruise ship.

The Plan includes a Cancellation Penalty Waiver that waives your cruise ticket contract’s non-refundable cancellation provision and provides a cash refund for the unused part of your prepaid cruise vacation. If you're traveling multiple times within a short period of time, it may be more economical to buy a more comprehensive travel insurance policy instead of separate policies for each trip. These policies didn't include optional add-ons, such as Cancel for Any Reason coverage or coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. The problem is that for issues that do come up, the expenses can be large and unknown. For instance, there is no price list of having to be evacuated medically from a cruise ship. As a general rule of thumb, traditional cruise insurance offered by a third-party will run about 5%-7.5% of your trip cost.

Pre-existing Medical Conditions

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Your travel agent may even offer an insurance policy that they recommend using (and can assist you in the event you make a claim). However, it’s crucial to remember that trip interruption coverage might have certain limitations and exclusions, so you must carefully review your policy before purchasing. For instance, some policies may not cover interruptions resulting from pre-existing medical conditions or specific types of natural disasters. If you get sick or injured during your vacation, get the care you need with a vacation protection plan.

Why you need travel insurance for a cruise

In response to ongoing tensions in Haiti, marked by armed attacks on citizens, Royal Caribbean has extended the suspension of all visits to the private resort of Labadee through May 2024. The proactive measure was announced in a statement to cruise line passengers. Royal Caribbean extends its suspension of all sailings to Labadee through May 2024, following initial cancellations that began in mid-March. The Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program has your bags covered up to $1,500 if they're lost, stolen or damaged and up to $500 for covered replacement items if they're delayed.

Insurance Review

Royal Caribbean sent out an email to travel agents warning them of the change. Matt started Royal Caribbean Blog in 2010 as a place to share his passion for all things Royal Caribbean with readers. He oversees all the writers at Royal Caribbean Blog, and writes a great deal of content on a daily basis.

As of this date, June sailings to Labadee aboard Adventure of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, and Liberty of the Seas remain on course. Whatever comes up, wherever you are, whenever you need it; we're always here to help. We’ve negotiated special rates and passed the savings on to you for the lowest prices around. You'll get the lowest priced fare, or we'll credit you back 110% of the difference to spend onboard. One of the biggest issues for Canadians wanting to cruise is the federal government’s advisory against cruise travel and its impact on insurance. According to a 2021 report from Cruise Lines International Association, an industry trade association, 82% of cruisers will cruise again.

Should you buy travel insurance through a cruise line? Maybe not, experts say

However, the vast majority of cruise passengers will never use their insurance. One thing to note is that you can’t purchase after you already have an event that will lead to a loss. For example, say you get hurt in an accident that means you won’t be able to go on your vacation. You can’t purchase insurance and then try to be reimbursed for your trip.

Credit cards

Additionally, the insurance policy will not reimburse you for inclement weather or cancelled ports of call. Travelers can also compare options via sites such as InsureMyTrip or Squaremouth. Many insurance providers also have customer service agents travelers speak with, Morrow added. "There's so many more factors that go into the calculation of the cost, that a lot of times you can pay less and get more coverage," she said. Maurice Smith, a luxury travel adviser and founder of the travel agency Eugene Toriko, echoed that and said third-party policies generally have higher limits for health coverage. The most popular addendum is known as “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage.

What’s the Royal Caribbean vacation protection plan?

Emergency Evacuation – Nearly every plan will have some sort of emergency evacuation coverage. This is coverage to get the person to the most appropriate medical treatment (often as defined by the insurance company). So if you break your leg while on an excursion in Mexico and have to be transported to a larger city for the correct care, then your expenses are covered.

Overall, the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program has minimal coverage. In our opinion, this medical coverage is generally not enough for someone who is travelling internationally. To understand it another way, this would be like insuring your car to the state minimum required limits. It’s enough to get you on the road, but will it be enough if you need to use it? Royal Caribbean only offers one comprehensive policy, and it’s a simple “check yes or no” situation as you’re selecting your additional options on their website before checking out. Yes, you can add Royal Caribbean Travel Protection to your booking after you have made your initial deposit, as long as it is before the final payment due date.

Select premium credit cards offer travel insurance perks–provided you book the trip with that credit card. However, you should weigh the benefits offered through your credit card versus a traditional travel insurance plan before relying on your credit card’s insurance. One difference worth noting about an annual travel insurance plan versus purchasing individual travel insurance policies is the coverage amounts. Instead of purchasing travel insurance for each individual trip, though, you might want to purchase an annual travel insurance plan. Let’s take a look at what these plans offer and how they can be an excellent value if you travel several times throughout the year. There are lots of places to buy cruise travel insurance and plenty of providers, including your cruise line.

The details of the coverage can be found on the cruise line and insurance providers' websites, he said. If you do decide to purchase, we highly suggest that you shop around for prices and also read your plan carefully (comparing two or three of the most well-known providers). Every policy is slightly different; there is no set requirement of what is covered. That said, you’ll find most cruise insurance covers the same basic things. Here are the major items that you’ll want to make sure your policy covers. Most cruise lines and travel insurance companies allow you to purchase a policy within 24 hours of your cruise departure.

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The Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program also does not cover any travel arrangements booked outside Royal Caribbean. The least expensive Cancel For Any Reason plan with adequate coverage on our quote from Cruise Insurance 101 is the John Hancock Silver (CFAR 75%). At first glance, I had snubbed the dining and lounge area as a rip-off of a generic airport coffee shop.

If you have already added travel insurance to your booking, you will not be required to pay the difference in pricing. He bought a new policy through a separate provider, which came in handy when his flight to Miami was delayed and he had to rebook with another airline, reimbursing him for part of the original fare. "It was just not the way you want to start a cruise vacation," Perrey, 45, told USA TODAY. A few months before the trip, he got a refund from Celebrity Cruises after the insurance he'd purchased for him and his wife, Lindsey, through the line had been canceled by mistake.