Cruise Travel Insurance

What is the difference between cruise insurance and general travel insurance?
General travel insurance is mostly designed for those planning to relax on a land-based holiday, by the pool, on the beach, or with a little sightseeing, for example. A cruise holiday has very different elements, requiring a more specialist cover. It’s unlikely that a standard holiday insurance policy would provide cover in the unfortunate event of having to be medically evacuated by helicopter or launch whilst at sea. This, for instance, is the type of scenario that specialist cruise insurance would take into account, giving you reassurance that you’re suitably covered throughout your trip should the unexpected occur.

I’ve got insurance with my bank, is that adequate?
While a bank policy might seem like the easiest option, it isn’t always the best. Bank policies are often given away free and usually offer limited or standard cover. These generic policies don’t take into account any pre-existing medical conditions or the extra requirements to insure a longer duration sailing such as a World Cruise. Dedicated cruise insurance is tailored to accommodate these kind of circumstances.

Why do I have to declare all pre-existing medical conditions?
The worst-case scenario would be that the insurer doesn’t have all the medical facts to-hand if emergency medical treatment is required. Even the most basic medical treatment can be very expensive abroad so it’s really important that you reduce the risk of not being fully covered by ensuring that you have advised your insurer about any and all pre-existing medical conditions you have.

What if I don’t declare all pre-existing medical conditions?
Emergency medical treatment could be refused if an individual cannot prove they have the correct insurance for existing medical conditions. Those who fail to declare all pre-existing medical conditions could find that their claim may be invalidated. It’s worth keeping in mind that not all pre-existing medical conditions result in paying a higher premium. Some policies have a list of accepted medical conditions that are covered without you paying extra. In other cases, depending on the medical condition, the additional cost is insignificant compared to the potentially high costs of overseas emergency treatment.

What if I have to cancel my cruise holiday - will I get my money back?
If you have to cancel your cruise holiday for any reason, cancellation charges apply. Depending on when you cancel, the charges range from loss of non refundable deposit to 100% of the holiday cost. If you are canceling due to a medical reason and you have declared the medical condition, your insurer should refund any financial loss less the relevant policy excess.

What if I have to cancel my cruise and I am not insured?
If you are not insured for your cancellation, the cancellation charges that apply cannot be waivered for any reason so if you cannot afford the financial loss of cancellation, you must ensure you obtain suitable insurance as soon after you book as possible. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines are unable to make any exceptions to cancellation charges.

Do all insurance policies cover a holiday at sea?
Travel insurance policies cover many different things such as lost or damaged luggage and cancellation, but not all policies will cover repatriation from a ship at sea. If you become seriously unwell whilst the vessel is at sea, it may be necessary for you to be airlifted to a hospital. If your insurance policy does not cover repatriation at sea, you could face a very large bill for the air lift costs which you must pay. We can’t stress enough how important it is that you check that your insurance policy will cover you for repatriation at sea. If your policy doesn’t make this clear, call your insurer to check.

*Can you afford not to be properly insured for you Fred. Olsen cruise holiday?
A helicopter evacuation at sea can cost between £20,000 to £65,000 and medical charges in overseas hospitals can easily escalate to tens of thousands of pounds. Many overseas hospitals require a pre-authorisation amount to be taken on a payment card in advance of any medical treatment - as an example, in the United States of America this is generally £5,000. If your insurer will not cover you for these costs, you or your family have to pay. We cannot stress highly enough to check that you have declared all your pre-existing medical conditions and your insurer has confirmed that these conditions are covered by your policy, and your policy is suitable for your holiday at sea.