Save 10% on insurance created for cruise passengers
NewsBy Lachlan Colquhoun
The vast majority of cruise holidays deliver the idyllic and trouble free experience passengers sign up for, but there are occasions when things don’t turn out as planned.
In February this year, for example, passengers packing bags for their cruise holidays in the South Pacific had no idea that Tropical Cyclone Winston was on its way.
The vast majority of cruise holidays deliver the idyllic and trouble free experience passengers sign up for, but there are occasions when things don’t turn out as planned.
In February this year, for example, passengers packing bags for their cruise holidays in the South Pacific had no idea that Tropical Cyclone Winston was on its way.
As the cyclone lashed the region, devastating several cruise destinations, P&O Cruises diverted to Tonga and cancelled a call to Vanuatu’s Mystery Island.
Cunard skipped a planned stop in Apia, while Royal Caribbean was forced to change the itineraries of both Voyager and Legend of the Seas.
It’s not only the weather which can disrupt a cruise holiday. In May the Adonia Fathom experienced a ten hour power outage in its home port of Miami, causing the cancellation of a stop in the port of Cienfuegos.
To mitigate against this type of risk, travellers are familiar with travel insurance and the majority of cruise passengers would have taken it out prior to their journeys.
P&O, for example, recommends that travellers purchase international-level travel insurance even if they are only cruising to Australian coastal ports, as the cruise is “outside the scope of Australian Medicare.”
The increased popularity of cruise holidays has seen the development of specialised cruise insurance which addresses issues particular to cruise, from weather to mechanical breakdown to industrial action.
“Travellers might not know that they can find a tailored product to meet their specific needs so communication and education is key,” says David Mayo, a spokesperson for InsureandGo, which offers tailored cruise insurance.
InsureandGo offers three tiers of cruise insurance, Bare Essential, Silver and Gold.
Silver and Gold coverage include coverage for missed ports, delays due to weather or industrial action, disruptions to pre-paid shore excursions and confinement to cabins.
If a traveller is confined to their cabin by a ship’s medical officer for health reasons, for example, the insurance policy will pay out $75 for each 24 hours, up to a maximum of $2500.
All InsureandGo Cruise policies include unlimited coverage for medical repatriation.
InsureandGo offers cruise insurance for the following geographical categories: Domestic, Asia, New Zealand and Pacific, Worldwide Excluding America and Worldwide including America.
A combination of cover for domestic ports with either Asian or Pacific ports is also offered.
Premiums vary across the regions, but do not vary according to the age or size of the ship.
“Any type of travel to the Americas is typically the most expensive to cover due to the disparity of medical costs in different parts of the USA,” says David Mayo.
“Cruises are increasing significantly in popularity, and we believe by buying a tailored policy for cruises with InsureandGo, you can cruise with additional peace-of-mind.”
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited, ABN 49 000 525 637, issues InsureandGo Travel Insurance (the insurance). Please read the combined product disclosure statement and financial services guide available at www.insureandgo.com.au/policy-wordings.html to decide if the insurance is right for you.
* The product information contained on this website is a brief summary only. For full details of the benefits, terms and conditions and exclusions that may apply, please refer to the relevant Combined Product Disclosure Statement and Policy Wording and Financial Services Guide (PDS) and consider the PDS in light of your personal circumstances, prior to making any decision to acquire the product.
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Mention promocode: Cruise10.
