Insurance for cruise?

[BeachGal2u]

Hi,

 

I want to buy my tickets but want to know should I just buy NCL insurance(quoted $29 a person for 7days) or is there a better one with more coverage I should be looking at. Or should I just forego the insurance? I am only responsible for my tax/port fees since this is a casino cruise.

 

First time cruiser so all new to me. Thanks for your help

[pisenor]

That $29 figure, I assume that is a per day rate? Have a look at insuremytrip dot com. They offer good rates and better coverage than what NCL offers (IMO).

[BeachGal2u]

That $29 figure, I assume that is a per day rate? Have a look at insuremytrip dot com. They offer good rates and better coverage than what NCL offers (IMO).

 

No that is per person total $29

[cruzsnooze]

I personally wouldn't insure a free cruise.

[gooch47]

I would, but only for the medical coverage aspect.

[BeachGal2u]

I personally wouldn't insure a free cruise.

 

may I ask why?(not exactly free since I have to pay almost 700) thanks just trying to gather information. My friend who is going happens to agree with you but I am on the fence.

[sugarnyc]

I would buy insurance for all travel-whether "free" or not. Have a medical issue or have to fly back home for a family emergency- the small price of insurance will take care of that and give you peace of mind!! You hear of people having to be air lifted off the ship- that is major $$$!

 

Do your research. Usually independent insurance covers more for about the same price.

[pisenor]

$29 for the entire cruise...that is a good rate. If you are planning on purchasing travel insurance that is a good rate, I think. I usually don't buy insurance as I pay for all aspects of my vacations with a cc. The card I have actually has great coverage....provided that EVERYTHING is paid for with the card. So I make sure I use my cc all purchases for the cruise so the cc provider doesn't have that out at least. But I agree with cruzsnooze, I probably wouldn't bother with insurance for a free cruise.

[FireEater]

$29 is an EXCELLENT rate IF it covers what you need, should you need it.

 

I think I am paying low $100's for a 7 day next year.

[rvsullivan]

If your certain it's $29 for 7 days, I would jump on it. I've never come close to paying that little!

[garycarla]

Hi,

 

I want to buy my tickets but want to know should I just buy NCL insurance(quoted $29 a person for 7days) or is there a better one with more coverage I should be looking at. Or should I just forego the insurance? I am only responsible for my tax/port fees since this is a casino cruise.

 

First time cruiser so all new to me. Thanks for your help

 

BEFORE you decide where to buy, you have to decide what it is your want to insure (gamble) on.

 

Cruise

Missed Cruise

Lost Bags

Medical Coverage

Medical Evac

Trip Interuption

 

Lots of item. Decide what is important and then buy what works for you.

[GeezerCouple]

Do you need to fly to the port?

 

If so, you might want insurance for the airfare, and also in case there is a delay.

 

Check if your regular health insurance covers you on a cruise and for any ports you might visit.

 

We use TripInsuranceStore.com

but we always PHONE them directly to discuss the specific needs for each trip.

 

NOTE: We did have to cancel our first "major" trip on very short notice, and I can now report that once we filed the paperwork with the insurer (TravelInsured) - our first priority was to deal with the serious medical situation - we received a check for the full amount without any nonsense about it.

 

(IF that medical situation had occurred just a few days later, once we started our travels, the costs would probably have skyrocketed in several ways.)

 

GeezerCouple

[garycarla]

If your certain it's $29 for 7 days, I would jump on it. I've never come close to paying that little!

 

That is probably only trip interruption... not major medical.

 

Sadly, when many folks think to buy insurance they are thinking about missing the ship, or not being able to do. Probably the least good reasons to be buying insurance.

[spidybabe]

Have gotten many "free" cruises thru CAS and certificates from land based casinos, and we have always taken the NCL insurance. Never checked out other insurances, but will next time. But we would never go without.

Safe sailing

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[AweighToSea]

$29 for the entire cruise...that is a good rate. If you are planning on purchasing travel insurance that is a good rate, I think. I usually don't buy insurance as I pay for all aspects of my vacations with a cc. The card I have actually has great coverage....provided that EVERYTHING is paid for with the card. So I make sure I use my cc all purchases for the cruise so the cc provider doesn't have that out at least. But I agree with cruzsnooze, I probably wouldn't bother with insurance for a free cruise.

Does your CC cover medical?

That is my only real concern. Anything else I'd self insure. If I am prepared to spend the money for a vacation then I am already out of pocket that money. If I miss the trip I am out of pocket the same $$ only I'd miss miss out on the trip. Medical though can break the bank.

[Hikini]

This is just me, but I would never go without having good travel insurance. If you are out in the middle of nowhere and have to be medi-vac'd, either by helicopter or Coast Guard equivalent boat, you will certainly wish you had the insurance….

 

Enjoy your travels and buy the insurance - and hope that you don't ever have to use it! :)

[garycarla]

...my only real concern. Anything else I'd self insure. If I am prepared to spend the money for a vacation then I am already out of pocket that money. If I miss the trip I am out of pocket the same $$ only I'd miss miss out on the trip. Medical though can break the bank.

 

Some very good advice. Sadly people spend good money for the wrong thing all too often.

[emcelh]

If your certain it's $29 for 7 days, I would jump on it. I've never come close to paying that little!

 

Since the cost of insurance is determined by the cost of the cruise that's probably correct.

[cruzsnooze]

may I ask why?(not exactly free since I have to pay almost 700) thanks just trying to gather information. My friend who is going happens to agree with you but I am on the fence.

I never insure unless it's over $10,000 for my trip and there is a lot of air travel. Anything less then that I'll absorb if I miss the ship. Since we travel so much it would cost more to insure each trip then to absorb the cost. If you were to get airlifted by the coast guard there is no charge. If it's far away you will have to pay. So few people get airlifted it's a gamble with astronomical odds in my favor I won't need it. If you die on a ship they have a morgue and you get brought back to your embarkation port. If i loose a suitcase it's not that expensive to replace the contents compared to what I would have paid for insurance on my trips. Everyone has a different level for risk and mine is higher then those who insure everything. As an example, I have 7 cruises this year and at approx $300 - $500 per cruise times 7 that would have cost me several thousand dollars. Over several years that is so much money I could just pay for most misfortunes out of pocket. But I did take insurance for my trip next year because it ran over ten thousand and it had multiple flight to get to China and 3 within China so there's a greater possibility of a mishap. I'll be in a communist country and don't speak the language for 14 days. You are looking for a closer cruises and no real investment.

So essentially the major reason people need a claim is missing the ship , especially when air is involved. So you would have a whopping $29 claim? That's not even what you'd pay for dinner at a decent restaurant.

Edited June 16, 2014 by cruzsnooze

[TravelJoe]

Some very good advice. Sadly people spend good money for the wrong thing all too often.

 

+1

 

We're all pretty healthy in our group with decent medical insurance, but if something does happen, we know we would have to pay "out of network" rates that can get pricey.

 

I purchased it only for the medical evacuation piece. If something should happen while on the trip, I've read if you're not allowed or able to travel on common carriers, the cost of a private plane home can run into big bucks. So if you do get any sort of insurance, make sure there's Medical Evacuation coverage, and it's a good amount.

 

OP -- Other posts already cite sources, and if you search the forum on the topic, you'll find many more references.

[ncklhaus]

I would always get the insurance. Not only for cancellation reasons, or if you need to be airlifted, but for medical treatment on the ship. My Aunt was just on a cruise (not NCL) and got sick and wound up spending 1/2 her cruise in the medical center. They do not accept any medical insurance except travel insurance, which she did not have. She had to pay $1500 cash up front and would be billed for the rest. If she had the insurance, she would not have had to pay anything at all.

[gooch47]

Unless things have changed, Princess, at least, makes you pay up front even if you have their insurance. It is a secondary policy. Your primary insurance must first pay what it will and you make the claim for the remainder. If the primary declines, you also use your travel insurance.

 

Thankfully I've never had to use our NCL insurance for anything.

Edited June 16, 2014 by gooch47

[garycarla]

Many of the "potential" expenses have to be paid first, and then a claim filed.

 

And this brings up another issue that alway amazes me. SOME folks will always buy insurance, but do not travel with credit cards.

 

Credit cards are the cheapest insurance I know of to help you get through some rough times and they are FREE. Being stuck in an airport somewhere, or strange city/country without funds to deal with something is crazy. But - plenty of people do it.