Should I bother with travel insurance for a weeklong cruise?

Seeking Help
1

I’m generally healthy, but I’m wondering if travel insurance is really worth it for just a short trip. What do you all think?

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I’m generally healthy, but I’m wondering if travel insurance is really worth it for just a short trip. What do you all think?

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3

Not all travel insurance is the same. Some just cover trip cancellations, like if you can’t go for a covered reason. Others include medical coverage, which is way more useful if something happens during the trip.

I usually recommend Allianz to my clients because it’s reliable worldwide. Once, I had a client who needed an airlift back to the US from the Bahamas. Allianz covered everything, and they didn’t have to pay a dime.

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@Finn
That’s a good example. People don’t think anything bad will happen until it does.

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Daryn said:
@Finn
That’s a good example. People don’t think anything bad will happen until it does.

Exactly. I know agents who make clients sign waivers if they decline insurance. I don’t do that, but I always make sure they understand the risks.

6

You never know what could happen. If someone bumps into you and you break a leg, the costs can be huge. I’m healthy, but I still get insurance for peace of mind.

7

It’s really cheap and can save you from massive evacuation costs if something goes wrong.

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We booked a small trip recently and figured we could eat the cost if something came up. But a cruise and airfare? That’s a lot of money to risk.

9

I have health coverage that works internationally, so I skip travel insurance for short trips. But if I’m heading to remote places, I make sure I’m covered for emergencies.

10

Yeah, and don’t forget evacuation insurance.

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Even with worldwide coverage, I always get insurance that includes evacuation. You never know when you might need to be airlifted or treated after an accident.

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Check your credit card benefits. You might already have some coverage.

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Medical bills abroad can be a nightmare, and evacuation is crazy expensive. I’ve had to use Allianz before—it takes some back and forth, but they cover you in the end. Credit cards usually don’t cover medical care.

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I like using this site to compare travel insurance plans. They break everything down simply, and the customer service is great.

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Some plans now offer prepaid medical if you get admitted overseas. I first heard about it when a friend had to pay $10,000 upfront after an accident. Their insurance covered it, luckily.

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I can handle losing a few thousand on a trip, but medical bills abroad? No way. I book with Chase Sapphire for trip coverage and use GeoBlue for medical.

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Totally worth it and super affordable.

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Leif said:
Totally worth it and super affordable.

Where do you find cheap plans? Mine always seem to cost 5-7% of the trip price.

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Remy said:

Leif said:
Totally worth it and super affordable.

Where do you find cheap plans? Mine always seem to cost 5-7% of the trip price.

Here are some tips:

  1. Only insure the non-refundable parts of your trip, like the cruise fare. Refundable stuff like port fees or hotels shouldn’t be included.
  2. Think carefully about cancellation options. Do you need cancel-for-any-reason coverage, or will standard reasons work?
  3. Look at what extras you really need—baggage coverage, car rental insurance, or medical coverage.

It might seem pricey if everything goes smoothly, but it’s a lifesaver when things go wrong.