Itstherealsailingbuff

Thank you CDNPolar. I phoned my Princess TA yesterday and asked to have the Princess insurance added onto my cruise total. My minimum deposit is down and the balance is due June 2025. I will print off their policy now and read all of the fine print until I understand and I will be asking questions. My TA gave me examples of insurance from Princess, so that was good to know. Of course, I will definitely understand the health care terms of it. I expect that the family member I am travelling with, also a first time cruiser, will do the same. We are both adults! Yes, for a first cruise, I thought that departing from an American port and disembarking to a Canadian port would be better just in case there were any medical issues and a Canadian hospital is to be needed. Hopefully not! I will also buy insurance from CAA or similar, to cover me from Canada to the U.S, Port as we will be touring the port city before we leave. Seems like a waste for a couple of days of touring, but insurance is there for protection, right? It's in my nature to care more about what could happen to my family member than to myself and they have a pre-existing condition which does not prevent them from travelling, but in the world of travel, my family member is inexperienced. I have travelled solo and with a partner to the US several times throughout the years AND when we didn't need a passport to take a flight from Canada. (Those were the days!) Preparation and knowledge is very important now and I thank you again very much for everything you have taken the time to write.

Geezercouple, thanks for your response. Yes, since writing, I have contacted my TA and purchased insurance, which I should have done the day I booked but everything is fine now. My questions were all answered and I knew what to ask thanks to this site. Unfortunately, like I had said, I think friends who mean well, should be honest and say up-front that they don't know anything about the subject. Innocent mistake on her part and I mine for not knowing better. Lessons learned all around. Oh yes, a first cruise is a special cruise!

Thank you CDNPolar for taking the time to reply. Yes, CAN meant Canadian. Okay, let me clarify a bit. Where things get complicated on phones and emails for myself is not knowing the questions to ask and what to be aware of when discussing insurance. I have many friends who are experienced travelers. They all have husbands who have insurance through work or their husbands make all of the arrangements. In fact, one good friend who cruises frequently with Princess had encouraged me to take the leap and book a cruise. "You'll love it," she says. What should have been my first clue not to listen to her advice was that she knows little about insurance. I recently discovered that her husband does EVERYTHING for her. I mean that's a good thing in many ways except she should not try to give me advice about a topic she knows nothing about. Long story, she just fractured her ankle and they can't cancel their cruise which is in 2 weeks and the cruise is for 25 days. They would lose "thousands" if they had to cancel so they are still going. I really didn't understand what she was talking about because they have cruised for many years. Lesson learned. Wish I had known about the "Cancel for Any Reason" timeline of 72 hours. I booked a 10 day cruise a few months ago with the minimum deposit, thinking I have lots of time to get cruise insurance. Anyway, this same friend discouraged me from taking the Princess Insurance because I am not an American. The person who is accompanying me took the Princess Cruise insurance. We are in separate cabins, so we have solo pricing for our inside cabin which suits us fine. My biggest concern from different readings of experiences by others was "travelling in international waters", "cruise insurance" and having enough insurance for Medivac (helicopter evacuation) which nobody ever wants, right? So here I am, trying to navigate this big trip on my own and I don't ask for sympathy but only helpful and kind replies and once I know what to ask, and point me in the right direction, then I am good to go. Again, thank you very much for everything you have written. It makes much more sense of 'the world of insurance'!

I have booked my first Princess cruise, which is my very first cruise. I leave in a year. Still trying to navigate CAN. Travel/ cruise ship insurance is mind-boggling. American insurance is totally different. I just reached retirement age this year. I declined princess insurance. Flight to Boston to embark, train from Quebec back to Ontario. I have no idea where to start or where to buy or who to ask, but surely I will figure it out soon. Options: Bank, direct insurance company, Costco, CAA, credit card?? Reading the posts here is helping and I am saving questions to ask. I struggle with insurance phone reps. who really sometimes don’t give the right answers. 🇨🇦