Do Know Whats Covered
Is a job loss covered? How about a death in the family? Be sure to read the terms and conditions of the policy, particularly the schedule of benefits and coverage details, which serve as a summary.
For example, is a COVID-19 related issue covered? The answer depends on when you bought your policy, since pandemics and epidemics are often specifically excluded. So if you bought the policy after your insurance company declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic, you may not be covered for COVID-19-related reasons. There are also several companies now including COVID-19 related illnesses as covered reasons but fear of traveling doesnt qualify. Bottom line: Know what is covered and what isnt.
» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance
Cruise Lines Have Harsh Cancellation Penalties
Cruise companies usually have the most harsh cancellation penalties of all travel suppliers. Hotels would let you cancel up until the day before, and airlines would charge a fee to change your tickets. Cruise lines would have a penalty schedule that put you on the hook for the full expense weeks before departure.
One bright side of the Covid pandemic has been the relaxing of some of these hard policies. To get travelers spending money again, travel suppliers have reduced or eliminated many of these penalties.
Even with these new policies the best you can hope for in the event of a cancellation is a voucher with the cruise line. The downside is they expire. This puts you under pressure to book another trip with the same cruise line in that time frame.
What Coverage Is Time
Cancel For Any Reason coverage is an optional coverage with some plans. Every company that sells CFAR requires you to purchase within their time frame. If you try to purchase after this time period, you will not be able to.
Pre-existing condition coverage is time-sensitive. This does not cost extra, but many companies will cover this if you purchase at the right time.
You May Like: Vacation And Sick Time Tracking Spreadsheet Google Sheets
What Is Not Covered By Travel Insurance
Travel insurance covers sudden and unforeseen events such getting sick, a death in the family, a hurricane, theft, a house fire, and more. Therefore, if you already know you will need to file a claim you cannot purchase travel insurance to cover it. The list of exclusions also includes losses as a result of war, professional sports, some hazardous activities, drug/alcohol abuse, etc. Learn more in our in-depth discussion on what travel insurance covers.
Should You Buy Carnivals Vacation Protection
While Carnivals plan is better than nothing, our opinion is that cruise passengers are better off with traditional travel insurance, which offers better benefits and coverage for about the same price.
For example, we looked up travel insurance from AIG Travel Guard. Getting a quote for two hypothetical people aged 65 years who spent $3,000 on their cruise, we were quoted $223 for their silver plan. That same trip would cost about $240 through Carnivals plan.
While Carnival offers a 75% credit under their any reason cancellation policy, most traditional travel insurance doesnt have this sort of benefit. However it is something that can be added on.
Apart from that, independent insurance can offer much better coverage. For example, it can cover pre-existing medical conditions and is more lenient on what constitutes a covered expense. It also typically has much higher payouts. Its common to see $25,000 in emergency medical coverage instead of $10,000. You can also find many plans with $500,000 in emergency evacuation coverage compared to the $30,000 offered with Carnivals plan.
For third-party travel insurance, we suggest using a site likeInsureMyTrip.com. This site can search several different insurers at once so you can compare multiple quotes, see how much your cruise insurance might cost, and everything that it covers. Get a free quote here.
Recommended Reading: Ocean City Vacation Rentals Oceanfront
Reasons Why Your Baggage Wont Be Protected
The baggage protection cover also has specific exclusions that you should be keen of, such as:
Protection Throughout Your Trip
Travel DelaysThis covers extra expenses caused by travel delays. For example, a few extra nights in a hotel, meals, or personal items.
Baggage Loss, Theft, or DamageThis covers your baggage not only on your flight, but on your entire trip. It will reimburse you for personal items and luggage if your bags are lost, stolen, or damaged during your trip.
Baggage DelayIf your baggage is delayed in reaching your destination, you might need extra cloths or personal items. This coverage reimburses you for these expenses.
Recommended Reading: Jersey Shore Family Vacation Season 4 Episode 15
What Expenses Can I Insure
Travel insurance covers your pre-paid, non-refundable trip expenses. This includes airfare to your port of departure, hotel at the port of departure, the cruise fare, shore excursions, organized tours, or event tickets. It is important to spend a few minutes to gather all of your trip costs to make sure you dont miss anything. If the expense is not included in your insured trip cost, you will not be covered.
Baggage Loss Or Baggage Delay
Between airlines, ships, and ports-of-call there are plenty of opportunities for luggage to be delayed, lost in transit or stolen. Baggage loss coverage may help recover the costs of replacing lost items, or baggage delay coverage may help reimburse for the necessities purchased while waiting for bags. Having baggage can significantly decrease the stress of losing your belongings.
Don’t Miss: Best Adventure Vacations South America
Cancellation Fee Waiver Program
This section of the plan deals with refunding what youve paid for the cruise. When you purchase the plan, you are refunded 100% of the value of the unused portion of your cruise, if you or your traveling companion experience any of the following, which causes you to cancel:
As you can see, these are pretty specific reasons to cancel your cruise. We can think of many reasons that could come up that could cause you to miss a cruise, but appear not be eligible for the 100% refund. For example:
- The birth of a grandchild, niece or nephew.
- Cancelling because of another obligation that comes up, such as work or a wedding.
- Being late to the port and arriving after the ship has departed
- Your flight is delayed due to a computer malfunction.
Faqs About Carnivals Vacation Package
Cruise insurance can be tricky to figure out, thats why weve decided to cover some of the most common questions here regarding Carnivals policy here.
What happens if I get sick and cant go on my cruise?This is exactly what the cruise insurance was made for. If you, your traveling partner, or immediate family gets sick and cant make your cruise, then Carnivals policy will reimburse you 100% of what you paid.
Am I covered if I am on an excursion and get hurt?Yes. Should you have an accident, you are reimbursed up to $10,000 in medical expenses. Keep in mind that your regular health insurance should be used first, before payment from the Carnival Vacation Protection plan.
Can I get my money back if I cancel a cruise without insurance?In some cases yes. If you decide to cancel a cruise well in advance, you may be eligible for a refund of what youve paid, even if you dont have cruise insurance. See the schedule earlier in this article for what sort of refund you are eligible for.
Notice: We are not insurance professionals. Whats mentioned above is our interpretation based on reading the policy. There could be errors or misunderstandings. If you have specific questions, refer to the Carnival website or call the program administrator at 1-800-331-2796.
Also Check: Economics Of Vacation Rental Property
You Are Far From Hospitals If Theres An Emergency
Cruise ships have medical care on board, but it is not a fully equipped and staffed hospital. If you have a serious issue onboard you want the proper medical care. Serious conditions include a stroke, heart attack, or appendicitis. Off the ship, you are likely in foreign locations where you would want proper medical care.
Carnival Travel Insurance Quotes
When budgeting for a vacation, its best to set aside an amount approximately 4 to 8 percent of the total cost of travel. However, its important to keep in mind that this range is based on the average vacation and may vary depending on several factors, including the travelers age and health condition, the date, length, and method of travel, and the destination.
Its best to contact Carnival directly to receive an accurate quote.
Don’t Miss: Historic Key West Vacation Rentals Coupon Code
Travel Insurance For Cruises Can Protect Your Investment In The Event Of Last
Think your cruise line will understand when you have to cancel your trip because of a family emergency? Probably not. They count on having their cabins filled when the ship leaves the dock, so most cruise lines are reluctant to give refunds.
Take Royal Caribbean, which is par for the course. For cruises up to four nights, you need to cancel 75 days or more prior to cruising. For cruises of five nights or longer, that window increases to 90 days. And if you cancel a cruise of any length within 30 days of your departure, your refund is the same: $0. .2
Cruise lines will try to sell you their own waiver, but if you read the fine print youll see they only offer refunds when you cancel your trip for a limited list of covered reasons. And if you must cancel for another reason, cruise lines plans generally offer credits worth 75 percent of the trip cost.
Dont lose your travel investment. Protect yourself with a travel insurance plan, one that allows you to cancel your trip for a wide range of covered reasons.
Cruise Line Insurance Plan Comparison
When it comes to providing cruise insurance, Allianz Global Assistance is not the only boat in the harbor.
Many cruise lines also offer travel insurance plans.
That said, we like how we stack up against our friends in the cruise industry.
But opinions are like lifejackets during a cruise ship muster drill everyone has one. So, lets stick to the facts by comparing cruise insurance plans features, head to head. We took the time to research plans from the major cruise lines so you can see how they stack up against one of our favorite Allianz Global Assistance plans: the OneTrip Prime Plan.
Also Check: Vacation Rentals Pacific City Oregon Coast
For Travel Arrangements The 24/7 Cover Does The Following:
- It takes care of last minute flight arrangements.
- It manages hotel reservations for you.
- It tracks lost, stolen or delayed baggage.
- It makes rental car reservations.
- It coordinates travel for your visitors to come and be with you in the hospital in case of sickness or injury.
- It takes care of your childrens travel arrangement in case of your sickness or death.
- It assists you to locate the nearest embassy.
- It assists you to perform cash transfers and also assists you with bail bonds.
The 24/7 assistance package helps you with pre-cruise information such as destination guides, currency exchange, health, safety and weather advisories.
This package also offers you assistance with lost passports and travel documents, email communication, phone messaging communication to your family and friends, and emergency relay messages. It assists you with language translation and interpretation services as well.
In the medical front, it assists you with medical transportation, manages medical cases, locates and dispatches doctors or specialists, and it also provides you with worldwide medical information, replacement of eyewear, prescription drugs, and dental appliances.
In the emergency front, they offer emergency medical, dental, legal, family travel arrangement assistance.
Requesting A Carnival Refund By Email
An alternative approach to getting through to Carnival is by sending them an email. Heres how:
Similarly to phone calls, emails can take an eternity to be reviewed and replied to. Its not an ideal situation, which is why your best bet is to take a short-cut and request your refund with DoNotPay easy-peasy.
Don’t Miss: Del Mar Beach Club Vacation Rentals
What Is Carnival Vacation Protection
Carnival Cruise Line partnered with Transamerica casualty insurance company and came up with an insurance cover called Carnival Vacation Protection plan. Whichs main aim is to protect you, a traveling companion and a family member together with your belongings and your financial investment when vacationing with them.
Reasons You Need Cruise Insurance
For many travelers who choose to go on cruises, the experience is far and away smooth sailing.1
But when something goes awry on a cruise vacation, from missing bags to missing your port of call, things can go south quickly. Consequently, travel insurance is as essential to pack as your favorite bathing suit and smartphone charger.
Otherwise, here are some of the reasons and scenarios that make purchasing travel insurance such an important step for getting prepared for your big cruise vacation.
You May Like: Evolve Vacation Rental Sevierville Tn
Considering Travel Insurance Even If Not Required
Even if your cruise line doesnt require travel insurance, should you consider buying a policy?
As ships are starting to ease back into sailing again, you still may be a bit worried about booking a cruise. Thats where a travel insurance policy helps.
Travel insurance can help to alleviate some of the financial burdens if you must cancel, says Walch.
Comprehensive travel insurance policies can also help with additional expenses to catch up with the boat in the event weather delays your flights for a set number of hours and you miss your cruise departure.
Travel medical coverage is certainly a reason to buy travel insurance even if your cruise doesnt require it.Lisa Conway, chief underwriting officer for battleface, a travel insurance company, says to always ensure that the travel medical expenses amount covers what is required by the cruise line.
In addition, the travel landscape is shifting and some destinations may require insurance. Some destinations might require you to show proof of travel insurance upon entry, says Conway.
In the case of battleface, we cover $500,000 per insured, and for emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains benefits, up to $500,000, in the event the you, or your traveling companion, requires medical treatment, quarantine, or emergency evacuation due to Covid-related sickness while on the trip, she says.
Also Check: Best Website To Book Vacation Packages
A Look At Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival cruise is a cruise vacation company headquartered in Miami, USA. It has a vacation protection plan which it offers to its clients at a cost, in addition, to purchase of a cruise vacation. This vacation protection plan consists of three packages including Trip Cancellation waiver program, Travel insurance program and Worldwide emergency assistance program
You May Like: Free Hawaii Vacation Timeshare Presentation
Best Cruise Insurance For Families
This is the best cruise insurance for parents traveling with children. Families will have extra concerns to consider, and this plan covers families better at a good price. Again, all recommendations are from reputable companies that specialize in travel insurance.
What makes this the best plan for families? This plan covers hurricane warnings, while many plans dont. It covers school year extension for cancellations, for something like extra school to make up for snow days. It has missed connection coverage to help you catch up to your ship. It has the option for Cancel For Any Reason coverage, which has become very popular since Covid. Finally, the pricing is very good when traveling with children under 18.
- Includes itinerary change coverage
- Very good Missed Connection coverage $2,500/person after 3 hour delay
- Great for: The best overall pick is also great for senior travelers. The pricing is competitive in this higher premium bracket, plus it covers pre-existing conditions
Example quote $938 : For the above plan, the example trip includes 2 travelers on a 14-day cruise with airfare, with a total trip cost of $9,000).
Heres Everything Else Donotpay Can Do
Once you request a Carnival cruise refund with DoNotPay, dont forget to check out other useful DoNotPay features.
If you like traveling and staying in affordable accommodation, check out this article to learn all about the Airbnb refund policy. DoNotPay can also help you if your trip was canceled due to coronavirus and you need to get a refund or compensation from companies.
Our robot lawyer automatizes pesky legal issues you can experience regularly, meaning you spend minimum time and effort in dealing with them.
To give you an example, DoNotPay can assist you with:
Read Also: Vacation Rental Check Out Instructions
Cruise Travel Insurance Faqs
Before we wrap up our yearly review of the best cruise insurance companies and plans, we want to answer some frequently asked questions we get on this subject. If you still have questions after reading through these FAQs, dont hesitate to reach out were passionate about helping you get coverage that fits your needs and budget!