cargo13

There are 2 buckets for getting travel insurance

1. cruise cancellation coverages:

If you are far out from booking, spent alot $$ that you could not handle losing, or have the risk of cancelling--family issues, work concerns, etc. then get trip cancellation. NCL will offer you a cruise credit on a future cruise but wont give refund. Go directly with a travel insurance company.

You have to purchase close /at time of booking your cruise.

2. IN TRIP coverages:

These start on your listed departure date --covers interruptions /missed flights from weather, delays, AND medical/dental, medivac.. These can never be underestimated versus what could unexpectedly happen.

We found affordable plans on http://www.csatravelprotection.com/plan-details

which was recommended by BBB and reviews.com

CSA has lots of pre cruise services you can take advantage of but their 24 hr doctor hotline saved us when NCL's ship nurse needed direction. CSA arranged for the medivac from Bermuda. Then CSA paid our claim. Good customer service.

Well that is primarily what I am looking at. Last March I tripped over my own two feet and broke my ankle in my friends front yard walking to my car. So if an accident like that can happen here it can happen anywhere.

I thought I had my mind made up on a plan from "Travel Safe" but while I was waiting on comments from my fellow Cruise Critic members input I did a google search on reviews for Travel Safe and they are getting bashed big time. Back to the drawing board I guess?

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There are 2 main types of coverages to research for needs:

1. Cruise cancellation

Price will vary depending on cruise price and how far from departure you are.

If there is risk of you not going in this time period /cancelling and losing your deposit/full payment is impactful to your finances--get the CFAR.

2. IN TRIP coverages

This coverages are once you depart--interruption, medical/dental, delays, lost baggage. They are requisite for any traveler bec 1 incident could cost you $10,000s.

If you shop on the comparison sites for coverages & price comparisons, but book directly with the insurance provider because if you have a claim you will be dealing with the provider directly--better service. CSA comes up on insuremytrip with solid coverages and low pricing. http://www.csatravelprotection.com has simple plans and explanations. We have used CSA and they paid our claim.

Your TA should be able to answer your questions and is compensated to help.

1. Refundable tickets

If hotel or car or air are refundable, then insurance wont cover unless there are added fees to claim. Insurance would act as the secondary.

If insurance covers 80% of your non refundable cruise, then yes you cannot claim the remaining 20%.

Travel insurance is calculated off the trip cost that you are insuring. Direct travel insurance will likely be cheaper than HAL's insurance. If you want a price comparison or advice for your questions, try CSA 800-874-2442. CSA has insured all of our cruises.

2. Air

If you bought HAL's air, you should see air in your booking confirmation OR go online http://www.hollandamerica.com and retrieve your reservation--regardless if your TA booked it.

If your TA booked air directly (not w/ HAL), then TA needs to forward you the air booking confirmation.

Glad this ended well for you but we had a similar situation towards our end of cruise (Royal Caribbean Grandeur) and relied on 3rd party travel travel insurance which the ship's nurse liaised with their emergency line to make a determination of evacuation or not. http://www.csatravelprotection.com/support/emergency-assistance

In addition to the round the clock advice of a doctor, it could have cost us $10000s out of pocket. Its worth the peace of mind. Otherwise, you are on your own like your situation.

I would not recommend Princess' insurance for the stated reason above that it covers only the cruise but also cruise line insurance is usually more expensive and has lower coverages but moreover the conflict of interest of insuring their own cruise.

Use the shopper websites mentioned to find the coverages and price that is best for your group but buy directly from the travel provider because in the case of a claim you will be dealing directly with the provider--a shopper comparison site is not going to service your claim.

We found that CSA had the best pre existing conditions options (for your sister w/ diabetes) and most flexible time for buying. Read this https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/diabetes-travel-insurance-guide/

When is your final payment with Princess? the http://www.csatravelprotection.com website has some plans listed but we called CSA after reading the Diabetes Council article and CSA has reps that can advise you. Good customer service.

Try http://www.csatravelprotection.com

We found CSA on insuremytrip and validated them with BBB but bought direct in case we have a claim we will be working directly with the insurance provider/CSA. CSA is affordable for the same coverages---cruise cancellation and IN trip coverages (medical/dental, medivac, interruption, delays, baggage loss).

Depending on if you dont want both cancellation and in trip coverages, call and ask their advice.

1. Sometimes cruise line insurance is the only affordable option for the very elderly or if you are buying insurance right before departure. These are the benefits of cruise line insurance, otherwise, there is a conflict of interest and if there is a claim, the cruise line wont help.

2. Direct travel insurance is typical less cost and better coverages but the travel insurance companies have various plans. This article helped for a similar situation re: traveling with our parents with pre existing medical issues: http://www.thediabetescouncil.com/diabetes-travel-insurance-guide/

After consulting with their #1 recommended CSA, we found they were best for the pre existing coverages and most affordable. http://www.csatravelprotection.com is not a great website so we called directly and got their professional advice. We also verified CSA on BBB--its A+.

We had no claim but several years ago we had a claim and Allianz refused to pay for pre existing.

Given your cruise is so far out, I would buy the trip cancellation coverages just in case something causes you to have to cancel.

But if its the IN TRIP coverages that are most important--medical, evacuation, trip interruptions, etc. anything that can occur once you depart your house....we found CSA TRAVEL PROTECTION does have a post departure plan but you have to call to speak with a sales agent. Its not on http://www.csatravelprotection.com

But I dont think the cost is radically different so we went for the comprehensive plan. Here is info on CSA: http://www.toptenreviews.com/services/insurance/best-travel-insurance/

http://www.thediabetescouncil.com/diabetes-travel-insurance-guide/

We found this travel insurance guide helpful to explain WHEN to buy and what to buy re: PRE EXISTING CONDITIONS. Ignore that its diabetes related. We took their #1 recommendation of CSA Travel Insurance and CSA customer service was good to walk us thru the coverages and advise plan to purchase. Way more than our TA could.

1. Trip cancellation coverage

Usually river cruises book out way in advance, so if your VRC is not in the immediate time frame (and VRC is expensive) you will want to protect the investment $$ with trip cancellation coverages. The CFAR (Cancel for any reason) coverages are move expensive.

If with a 3rd party insurer, YOu need to buy these close to the purchase of your VRC. VRC may sell you insurance right up to departure (like the mass market cruise lines) and offer a credit for another VRC.

If you are close to departure and know you are going no matter, then trip cancellation coverages, cancel for any reason, etc is probably not necessary.

2. IN TRIP

These coverages ---medical, evacuation, delays, interruption) -- you need.

The in trip coverages are usually bundled with cancellation, unforatunately. But we did find that CSA Travel Protection will sell you just the IN TRIP/post departure coverages if you call CSA and speak with an agent. This CSA plan is much more affordable.

For some reason its not on their http://www.csatravelprotection.com website??

Buy:

YOu can use the comparison sites to compare coverages & costs but buy direct because if you have a claim, you will be dealing w/ the travel provider directly.

For pre-existing conditions, here is an article that outlines the best provider as CSA Travel Protector

http://www.thediabetescouncil.com/diabetes-travel-insurance-guide/

CSA has more plan types if you call, then on http://www.csatravelprotection.com website.

What a great year of cruising you have ahead!

This is a job for a travel agent. There is a website of rated travel agents http://www.vacation.com

You can select 1 with family cruise expertise.

We are not based on Kansas City but ironically have used a travel agent in Kansas City at Cruise Holidays of Kansas City.

The cruise line insurance is always more expensive and there is a conflict of interest with claims for in trip coverages. Granted, the cruise line will insure your trip cancellation or give credit to another cruise right up to last minute.

1. Trip cancellations

Include only the non refundable shore excursions in your trip cost when calculating your insurance cost. The Cancel For Any Reason coverages will add expense to the insurance coverage, particularly if you are booking the cruise far from departure.

2. In trip coverages--medical, evacuation, interruption, do not take for granted. We are healthy and have US health insurance but an accident can happen/did and caused us $1000s of evacuation from Europe unexpected. CSA Travel Insurance facilitated the entire evacuation, paid our claim promptly, and had follow up service. CSA's plans vary: http://www.csatravelprotection.com/plan-details

We were recommended to CSA by friends who have pre existing health issues and apparently has the most flexible policy.

We have used Mondial a long time ago on a world cruise too.

Discover Bermuda is worth it.

Make sure you ahve travel insurance if you are diving. My hubby was on a more difficult dive and got severely cut. We visited the hospital in Hamilton for care. http://www.csatravelprotection.com was great with our case and paid our claim quickly.

Hopefully they advised you that insurance for trip cancellation coverages needs to be booked at/close to time of flight or cruise purchase. If you want added coverages for medical, we found CSA has the most flexible pre existing conditions policy.

Happy travels@!

Based on your situation:

1. CFAR --cancel for any reason coverages. these are usually a bit more expensive and will cover ~75% of your cruise cost. Here is a comparison: http://www.csatravelprotection.com/plan-details

2. When you can buy: alot of the travel insurance companies require that you buy at initial deposit for trip cancellation coverages. The cruise line will probably sell you cover right up to departure.

CSA Travel Protection seems to be the most liberal on letting you purchase up to final deposit. This article outlines:

http://www.thediabetescouncil.com/diabetes-travel-insurance-guide/

3. Cruise line insurance is generally more expensive. There is conflict of interest on insuring their cruise and if you have a claims situation...

This article was very informative re:

1. pre existing conditions

2. when you need to buy travel insurance

http://www.thediabetescouncil.com/diabetes-travel-insurance-guide/

The most flexible is CSA Travel Insurance. http://www.csatraelprotection.com

Go direct to the insurance provider and not the cruise line because there is a conflict of interest with the cruise line interpreting a claim. Direct with the provider is typically less expensive as well.

I found this article that explains WHEN travel insurance can be purchased and PRE EXISTING CONDITIONS coverages across travel insurance providers. The most liberal seems to be CSA TRAVEL PROTECTION which is the company we usually buy from anyway.

http://www.thediabetescouncil.com/diabetes-travel-insurance-guide/

Disadvantages of going with the cruise line is conflict of interest if a claim were necessary. And cruise line insurance is usually more expensive.

75% of your trip investment is the normal on cancel for any reason. Here is a website that compares the coverages & costs of travel insurance:

http://travel-insurance-review.toptenreviews.com/

We dont buy with the cruise line because its usually more expensive that buying direct from the travel insurance company. We have bought #1 rated CSA and found their claims payout to be fast.

They have different policies: http://www.csatravelprotection.com/plan-details

CSA's pre existing condition policies are liberal.

Check with Australian travel insurance providers for a CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason) policy. CFAR usually covers a % (~75%) of your trip costs being recovered via a claim if you need to cancel for any reason. You will pay more for a CFAR coverage but it could be worth it depending on the cost of your cruise.

This is an article that is long but helped us understand when to buy travel insurance. You can see that CSA has the most flexible on timing of buying a travel insurance policy

http://www.thediabetescouncil.com/diabetes-travel-insurance-guide/

Timing:

http://www.thediabetescouncil.com/diabetes-travel-insurance-guide/

I recently saw this article that gives a good overview of travel insurance providers for pre existing conditions and timing of purchase. CSA TRAVEL PROTECTION is the most lax on timing of purchase with pre existing conditions, except I think most cruise lines will allow for purchase until final payment but the cruise lines are often more expensive. http://www.csatravelprotection.com/plan-details

Where to buy:

1. do not buy from cruise line because there is a conflict of interest if you have a claim

2. do not buy from the travel agent or aggregator website because they wont help in the case of a claim

3. buy direct for the travel insurance provider because you will be filing claim with them directly. Here is a comparison of providers: http://travel-insurance-review.toptenreviews.com/

Yes, you can insure your portion of the cruise with CSA TRAVEL PROTECTION but you have to have a good relationship with your family member to share cost info : )

1. For cancellation coverages, you will have to know the cruise/trip cost amount that your family member paid on your behalf. In the case of a claim, you will have to show proof of their payment for reimbursement.

If you have other trip costs--air, hotel, car--if not refundable, include those costs.

2. For the in trip coverages (medical, evacuation, lost baggage, etc), they will be included in the policy regardless of trip costs.

We had this scenario last year with FIL but we coordinated purchase of CSA when he bought the cruise so you should call CSA if your timing is different to be sure. 800-874-2442 or check their website http://www.csatravelprotection.com

Pre existing (diabetes) guide for travel insurance. Lots of information here for any pre-existing condition.

http://www.thediabetescouncil.com/diabetes-travel-insurance-guide/

CSA TRAVEL PROTECTION has a Tele-Doctor service that connects you to a specific doctor for your need via phone. That doctor will facilitate local treatment and can pre pay the expenses for you. We used it in France for a respiratory infection that required hospitalization. CSA has a sister company that is dedicated to travel assistance so has 24/7 doctor on call who speaks English.

To get the medical only coverages, you can call CSA and ask for IN TRIP coverages only--they will drop the trip cancellation. I think you can also use http://www.csatravelprotection.com and input $0 trip cost.

1 (800) 874-2442 for CSA Travel Protection. They will quote you an annual policy via phone.

But CSA's single trip policy for your cruise is very affordable. It depends on what level of coverages you want. CSA's policies have identity theft protection for 180 days from departure so if your ATM is skimmed or your email is hacked on public wi fi, they remediate for 6 months. Its a great benefit that we had to use unfortunately.