when to buy cruise insurance?

[L T C]

Just booked a cruise for Feb 05 on AOS. I was wondering when is the best time to purchase cruise insurance? Should I wait until before final payment, or do it now? Thanks in advance for your help. I've been lurking on CC for the last couple months. My first cruise was on VOS in Feb of this year. I am so hooked now!!!! This site and all of you have been WONDERFUL. Booked the next cruise on CQ (thanks to all of your advice) and saved 738 dollars off RCCL's price.

Lisa

[MVPinBoynton]

If you want to cover pre-existing conditions, you need to do it within, I believe, 10 days from the date you book the cruise. Otherwise you can wait till after you make your final payment. The benefit of waiting is that if for some reason you have to cancel the cruise, you don't lose your money on the insurance.

Mike


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[hdawson]

With most travel insurance companies you need to purchase the insurance within 14 days of your initial cruise deposit in order to get the waiver of the preexisting conditions clause. I belived the preexisting conditions clause also applies to family members not traveling that may get sick or die requiring you to end your cruise early and rush home.

[alexkrn46]

I have found RCCL own policy the best - you can cancell for any reason at any time and get a 75% credit

[ShawninFL]

I almost always buy cruise insurance. The only time I don't is on a 3 or 4 day cruise to the Bahamas or Mexico. I always buy from an insurer rather than through the cruise line...mainly because the cruiseline insurance doesn't cover default. In other words, if the cruise line goes bankrupt and shuts down operations. In doing my research for my most recent cruise, I have noticed that the premiums had jumped substantially from only a year ago. Some of the things to consider in whether to buy the policy when you book the cruise vs. upon final payment is, do you or any covered relative have any pre-existing conditions or is it possible a travel provider will go bankrupt (cruiseline or airline). In order to cover a pre-existing condition, bankruptcy, and sometime even terrorism, you must purchase the policy between 7 and 21 days from the date of intial deposit. If you do not purchase during this timeframe, the policy will not provide these protections. One other thing I noticed regarding the pre-existing condition waiver is that you not only have to purchase within the specified number of days from deposit, but you also have to insure the total cost of the trip. Many of the policy rates change per $500.00 of coverage. In other words if your total trip cost is $1010.00 you will usually pay more than if the total was $999.00. Many people in this situation will only cover their trip up to the $999.00 in order to save on the policy premium. But if you do this, then the pre-existing condition waiver is voided even if you purchased within the specified number of days from deposit. I highly recommend purchasing travel insurance as you never know what may happen, but as to when you should purchase it, you must consider the facts pertaining to your family and how much you are willing to risk. I hope this helped.

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[tamtot]

OK, let's talk about this. My final payment for my July cruise is due Tuesday. I obviously messed up by not getting Cruise insurance upon my original booking. Having said that, am I better off to just get the RCCL Insurance, which will credit me if we cancel for ANY reason, or should I try to go with CSA or something. Our loved ones do NOT have pre-existing life-threatening illnesses, but anything could happen. Just not sure which route to take!
Thanks for your help,
Tammy

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[hdawson]

I'm not sure the RCI 75% credit for a future cruise is legally defined as insurance. I much prefer insurance that pays fully for my loss.

[pieshops]

the longer you wait the more expensive and restrictive it will be.

With that being said, if you go to [url="http://www.insuremytrip.com"]www.insuremytrip.com[/url] you can see some comparisons with a few companies.

We bought insurance last year 3 weeks before sailing, and it was about 400 dollars for 3 of us for a 1 week cruise.

The dollar figure you pay will be based on cost of trip, where you are going, the deductable you choose and the tpe of insurance you choose.

good luck

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[evanskl4]

Does anyone know insurance companies that cover terrorism? That's the only reason I am considering getting insurance for my fall med cruise.

Kelly

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