Why Travel Insurance is Essential for Short Cruises
Experienced travelers understand the importance of having travel insurance for long cruise voyages or overseas adventures. However, there is often confusion regarding the necessity of insurance for short three-day cruise breaks.
According to experts, the answer is clear – even on a three-day cruise out of Australia, passengers should have insurance. In this article, we will explore why insurance is crucial, recommended providers, and real-life horror stories of what can go wrong without insurance.
Tim Bennett, an insurance expert at Finder, emphasizes that as soon as you step on a ship, your Medicare cover is no longer valid. Therefore, having specific cruise cover is essential.
“You’re not covered by Medicare on a cruise, even if you’re traveling in Australian waters. It’s crucial to make sure you get cover,” says Bennett.
Cruise cover goes beyond standard insurance and provides coverage for medical evacuation, cruise delays and cancellations, missed port departures, pre-existing conditions, on-board dental expenses, cabin confinement, and even the cancellation of onshore activities such as tours.
How much can an accident set you back?
Simple scans alone can cost hundreds of dollars, and the cost of an evacuation can reach into the thousands, warns Bennett.
Adrian Taylor, Executive General Manager at Compare the Market and travel insurance expert, cautions that depending on the location of your ship, a quick accident could result in medical costs ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Sharon Summerhayes, a cruise agent and expert from Deluxe Travel & Cruise, shares her own experience of having a $5000 medical bill on a cruise ship. She highlights that many clients have faced enormous bills from a ship’s medical center. Other reasons to get coverage include cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances, luggage loss or damage, and cabin confinement due to illness.
Which providers do the experts recommend?
Michelle Levins, director of My Cruise Concierge, recommends reliable providers such as Go Insurance, NIB, and Covermore. She advises clients to read the policy documents to understand the coverage and exclusions.
Summerhayes also recommends the same three providers for cruise cover. Finder has its list of top travel insurance picks, including Southern Cross International Comprehensive – Single Trip for value, Medibank International Comprehensive Travel Insurance for COVID coverage, World2cover International Top Cover Travel Insurance for families, and InsureandGo Gold Domestic for domestic travel.
Taylor suggests ensuring that your provider offers strong cruise cover and advises comparing different cruise insurance policies. It is crucial to declare all ports of call as destinations in your policy to ensure coverage for onshore trips and activities.
Before making a purchase, Taylor emphasizes the importance of reading through the product disclosure statements to understand the limits, sub-limits, and exclusions of the policy.
About the Author
“As a passionate traveler and game enthusiast, I understand the importance of protecting yourself during short cruises. With years of experience in the industry, I have witnessed numerous cases where travelers faced unexpected medical expenses and other mishaps without insurance. Don’t let your dream vacation turn into a nightmare – make sure you have the right coverage before setting sail.”
George Barham, an accomplished journalist and avid gambling enthusiast, serves as the esteemed Editor-in-Chief at fly-to-australia.com, Australia’s leading source for comprehensive gambling news and insights. With an unwavering passion for both the written word and the ever-evolving world of betting and gaming, George brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the helm of our editorial team.
