InsureMyTrip Blog

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Last night, the ill-fated Carnival Triumph finally docked in Mobile, Alabama after passengers had endured four days of discomfort following a fire that knocked out much of the ship’s power and left it bobbing listlessly in the water, requiring the vessel to be towed to port by tugboats in order to get passengers evacuated.  The deteriorating conditions aboard the ship have dominated travel headlines, and its ultimately safe (if odorous) arrival at port was greeted with a collective sigh of relief from most of the general public — to say nothing, of course, of the travelers aboard the Triumph and their loved ones at home.

By now, it’s been widely reported that Carnival Cruise Lines has made efforts to patch things up with the understandably shaken passengers of the Triumph.  The cruise line’s arrangements to charter buses and planes, book blocks of hotel rooms, and secure ways for all of the Triumph’s travelers to get home safely and quickly have been the subject of much scrutiny.  As is the case with almost any travel nightmare of this magnitude and visibility, no matter what the cruise line ultimately does or does not do for its passengers will invite opinions on all sides.  Debate is certain to rage — and is already, in fact, smoldering — as to whether or not cruise vouchers and refunds and passage home is really “enough.”

The trouble is, as consumer advocate Clark Howard aptly pointed out this morning, Carnival is not actually obligated to do anything to assist these unfortunate passengers.  Contracts of carriage aboard cruise ships don’t usually include any kind of language that barely hints at the cruise line bearing responsibility for passengers’ happiness, comfort, or transportation needs should something on board go awry.  To question, therefore, whether Carnival’s efforts in this case are “enough” for passengers is interesting, but it’s only an academic exercise.  By offering the assistance they have, the cruise line has already gone well beyond what it’s contractually obligated to do.  (Moral and ethical obligation may be another story, but that will ultimately be tried in the court of public opinion.)

Like it or not, if Carnival had chosen not to extend these offers of assistance, there wouldn’t be any legal need for them to do so — though there would, presumably, have been a resulting public relations snafu the likes of which no company aiming to stay in business would ever want to experience.  In the event that the cruise line had not taken care of its passengers’ immediate needs, what recourse would they have had?

Travel insurance may have provided solutions for many of the Triumph’s passengers in that circumstance.  A comprehensive travel insurance plan — one purchased from a third party, not from the cruise line — would very likely have covered most, if not all, of the difficulties experienced aboard the ship.  Among the possibilities:

• Damaged belongings.  If conditions aboard the ship — whether fire or flood — led to property damage, the baggage coverage included in a travel insurance package policy could have helped with replacing the affected items.
• Medical care.  If a passenger fell ill or was injured on board, the medical coverage on their travel insurance policy might have helped to cover the costs of their treatment, if those costs were not already covered by their primary health insurance carrier.
• Rebooking.  The Triumph’s passengers all ended up having to get home through alternate arrangements, not using the means they had originally planned.  A reputable travel insurance company would not only have assistance available to make the necessary arrangements for transportation and, if necessary, lodgings, but would also potentially reimburse those costs.
• Reimbursement for pre-paid expenses.  If any passengers had made arrangements for further travel beyond the scheduled return of their cruise, and had lost the opportunity to fulfill those plans, travel insurance could help them to recover any pre-paid, nonrefundable expenses.

It’s easy to assume that a cruise line, or any other travel supplier for that matter, will always do the right thing for its passengers.  We’d like to believe that they will.  However, situations like the one aboard the Carnival Triumph certainly give us a moment of pause as we consider what might have happened.  The only way to be sure you’re protected in whatever way possible against the financial toll of a travel disaster is to equip yourself with an appropriate travel insurance policy from the moment you book your trip.

Image from Wikimedia Commons

When you’re traveling with a significant other, things can get a bit complicated.  Besides the issue of who took up too much space in whose carry-on, and the ever-present armrest dilemma, there are more joint considerations you might need to take into account when booking your trip and buying your travel insurance.  Of course, since travel insurance is all about taking care of one another, it’s not only worth your while to do just a little extra homework to buy the right policy — it’s practically a romantic gesture in and of itself.

The considerations for already-married couples are fewer than for unmarried partners; as with other insurance and financial transactions, being legally wed means that buying travel insurance for you and your spouse will probably be no more complicated than buying solo travel insurance.  However, married travelers in particular — and especially those with children at home — may want to look into travel insurance policies that include Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.  Since AD&D works similarly to life insurance, paying out benefits to whomever you’ve designated in the unfortunate case of a tragic accident while you’re traveling, it’s a smart (if depressing) way to show your love.

For those who are unmarried but traveling as a couple, it’s important to understand a few legal complexities before you buy your travel insurance policy.  If you live together and can be considered domestic partners, you’ll likely be able to purchase a travel insurance policy together; however, if you have to file a claim, you might have to provide proof of your partnership to the insurance company.  Usually something simple like documentation of a joint bank account or shared lease will suffice.  However, if you’ve just moved in together, you may not be considered partners in the eyes of your insurance company — ask before you purchase whether the company expects you to have shared a home for a specified length of time.  (Many policies will specify 6 months to a year, but it can vary.)

If you’re not living together at all, you may not legally be able to share a travel insurance policy.  While living in the same household is a preference, not a requirement, for most insurance companies, if you live across state lines from one another, variations in state insurance laws may prevent you from insuring together.  It’s best to ask before making any assumptions.  Of course, the other downside to insuring together if you don’t live together is that any documents related to your travel insurance — including claims paperwork — will only be sent to one of you.  The person listed as “primary” on the policy will therefore get to be in charge of all the papers, and if things get messy — either during your travels, or in your relationship — that may not be an ideal solution.  You can, of course, still get travel insurance for yourselves; to avoid any complex issues, consider purchasing separate policies, but deciding together which coverage to buy.  That way, you’ll be secure in the knowledge that should anything happen on your trip, you both have the same benefits available to you through your insurance company, but you’ll also get to be involved in your own claims process and handle the paperwork yourselves.

Traveling with a significant other should be a relaxing and memorable experience.  With a good travel insurance policy that properly protects both of you, it can be virtually worry-free.  While travel insurance may not seem as romantic as roses or champagne or a long walk on a secluded beach, it’s a true gesture of caring to take the time to fully protect you and your loved one.

Image by RVongher, used under Creative Commons license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

This weekend marked the 1-year anniversary of the Costa Concordia tragedy.  It’s obviously an understatement to say that looking back on the events of last January 13 is a somber exercise; our thoughts and best wishes continue to turn to the families of those lost aboard the cruise ship on that night.  However, in moving forward from tragedy, there’s often something of value to be gained in reflection and education.  One of our responsibilities, as providers of travel insurance resources, is to use events that capture the public’s attention as a starting point to gather and share information that may be helpful to others.   Sadly, as disasters can and do happen, we sometimes have to focus on providing information about the benefits of having a travel insurance policy if something goes desperately wrong during your trip.

Last January, the passengers who survived the Costa Concordia disaster found themselves in need of many things: Food, shelter, dry clothing, medical care, and transportation.  With a trip cut so abruptly and violently short, hundreds were left scrambling to care for themselves and to find a way to get home.  While the cruise line, appropriately, offered a great deal of assistance to these passengers, as did the people of Giglio, Italy, many of the passengers affected also received aid from their travel insurance providers.  In the case of an emergency, having a comprehensive travel insurance policy generally means that you have access to 24/7 assistance.  The services provided by the assistance line will encompass a broad range of capabilities, including making the arrangements for your transportation home.  Travel insurance can also help you with reimbursement for any additional costs, whether for fares, lodgings, or food and basic necessities to replace anything you may have lost in the event of a serious travel disaster.  Many of the insurance companies whose products are featured on the InsureMyTrip website offered these services, and more, to their clients stranded by the Costa Concordia tragedy.  Those who were fortunate enough to have travel insurance after the ship’s sinking had, in essence, a direct resource that allowed them to quickly make necessary arrangements for their comfort and safety, avoiding some of the chaos and confusion that naturally follows in the wake of a disaster.

As we’re all too aware, there were some passengers aboard the Concordia who tragically did not survive the events of last January 13^th.  As uncomfortable as it may be to think about insurance when discussing loss of life, travel insurance also has an important role to play in providing peace of mind even in the worst of circumstances.  Many travel insurance plans offer a service known as Repatriation of Remains, which arranges for the transportation of a traveler’s body back to his or her family after a tragedy abroad.  Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage, available through most travel insurance providers, is another important benefit that can offer some relief in the wake of a disaster such as the Costa Concordia.  It pays a specified sum of money to the beneficiaries of the policy upon the death of a traveler, similar to the way a life insurance policy may work to provide financial benefits.

While none of the travel insurance benefits we’ve discussed here could ever erase the grim realities of a disaster such as the Costa Concordia, they can provide some very tangible and much needed assistance, comfort, and peace of mind should you find yourself caught up in an unexpected emergency while traveling.  As unpleasant as it can be to think about the possibility of such a tragedy disrupting your own trip, taking a few moments to consider the ways in which travel insurance could be of assistance to you could be one of the most important trip-planning exercises you do.