InsureMyTrip Blog

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.

If, like many other travelers at this time of year, you’re thinking about booking a cruise vacation, then it’s also a good time for you to review travel insurance and the benefits it can offer to you during your trip.  Cruising comes with a unique set of challenges that could potentially interfere with your carefully laid plans; fortunately, the right travel insurance policy will offer specific coverages that can help you get things back on track, financially and otherwise.

Unless you’re one of those lucky travelers who lives quite close to a port of call where you can just hop on your ship and start relaxing immediately, cruising is unique because it generally requires a fair bit of traveling before you really get to start your trip.  Whether by plane or some other mode of transportation, anyone taking a cruise will need to get to the ship on time, or else risk being left behind — and missing out totally on what was supposed to be a wonderful experience. Beyond taking basic precautions, such as making sure to arrive in your cruise’s departure city no later than the day before you’re scheduled to board the ship, what can you do to avoid (literally) missing the boat?  Travel insurance can’t stop your flights from being delayed or cancelled, and it can’t guarantee that you’ll be there to embark on time.  What it can do is help you recover quickly from the disappointment and stress of a missed cruise departure, so you can move forward with your plans as much as possible.

The benefits of travel insurance in the case of a missed cruise connection actually start to become evident before you even reach the dock and realize that your ship is gone.  If you’re delayed because of a late or cancelled flight, for example, most comprehensive travel insurance policies would offer you an array of benefits to help you with the associated costs — and headaches.  While specific benefits and terms vary by policy, in most cases, a flight delay of more than 5 or 6 hours would entitle you to seek reimbursement for any food, lodgings, or reasonable incidental expenses you may have incurred while waiting for the plane to take off.  Also, your travel insurance provider likely has a 24-7 assistance hotline, which you could call at any point in time to ask for assistance in getting seats on a different flight, researching other transportation options, or even finding lodgings for an overnight stay near the airport  if necessary.

If your transportation doesn’t get you to the cruise as scheduled, and the ship sails without you, your travel insurance provider may then be able to assist you in making the arrangements necessary to pick up the cruise at the next feasible port of call, so you don’t have to miss out on the entire experience.  You might also be able to file a claim for any additional expenses incurred as a result of making last-minute arrangements to meet the ship at another port.  Also, if you had pre-paid for any particular experience as part of your vacation — for example, a snorkeling adventure with a local guide at one of the ports of call — and had to miss it due to the unexpected change in your itinerary, you may be able to recoup those expenses, depending on the terms of your individual policy.

Coverage for a missed connection resulting from travel delay is just one of the many travel insurance benefits that are worth exploring if you’re booking a cruise vacation.  If you’d like more information about purchasing insurance for an upcoming cruise, or any other travel experience, make sure to speak with one of our licensed Customer Care experts at 800-487-4722.

Ed. Note: We’re pleased to welcome back to the InsureMyTrip blog a great friend of ours, travel writer and icon Johnny Jet!  This week, Johnny is sharing his thoughts on cruising, a very popular travel choice among InsureMyTrip’s clients.  Next week, stay tuned for Johnny’s post about navigating the sometimes stressful experience of holiday travel.

Image courtesy of John DiScala, JohnnyJet.com

In 2008 I went on my first cruise (Celebrity Solstice) in almost 10 years. The previous two I barely remember since they were both weekend bachelor party trips. I wasn’t sure how I would like cruising because I don’t like being confined to one place, which is likely why I travel every week. My cruise fears were probably similar to yours (if you have them). The idea of being trapped on a rocking ship in close quarters for days on end with people you don’t know, sitting at the same table and eating a never-ending stream of sub-par buffet food is just not appealing.

On top of that, there’s the fear of being seasick beyond control and not being able to feed our internet addictions without paying an unseemly amount of money. Well, that used to be enough to keep my feet on the ground or in the air. But after my last ten cruises I’ve become hooked. Seriously.

What do I love about cruising? First of all, it’s the best value out there. Not only is your lodging included but so is all the food (including room service), non-alcoholic drinks and entertainment. There’s so much to do (and not to do, if you prefer) and you get to see a number of destinations without schlepping your bags all over the place. You pack and unpack just once.

It’s no secret that my favorite cruise line is Seabourn. They have six small ships with just 104 or 225 suites, depending on the ship, and they are consistently ranked among the world’s top by travel publications such as Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler.

Why Seabourn is So Great
Seabourn’s big appeal is that they only have capacity for 220 passengers or 450, depending on what ship you are on. The three newer ships, part of their Odyssey Class, are the ones with 225 suites. Seabourn is known for their five-star service, their unique itineraries visiting must-see cities and hidden gems where most larger ships cannot go, spacious cabins – many with verandas -, gourmet dining experiences as fine as the best restaurants anywhere in the world, open bars throughout the ship and fine wines poured with lunch and dinner.

Past Seabourn Cruises

I’ve now been on five of Seabourn ships. Most of the cruises were all on their brand spanking new, and as-plush-as-you-can-get ships. My past itineraries were: 7-day Istanbul, Turkey to Athens, Greece; 12-day Baltic and St. Petersburg, Russia; and a 3-night Rome, Italy to Monaco (a preview cruise with my dad). I also spent a night on their ship, Sojourn in the middle of the Thames River after its christening party. Just this past summer my fiancée Natalie and I took one of Seabourn’s older ships, Spirit. Spirit wasn’t as nice as their new ships but we still enjoyed it immensely as there were just 220 people and we spent 10 days cruising the Adriatic.

If you do cruise follow these five tips and you will have a great time.

Cruise Tips

1. My number one cruise tip is if you’re traveling from out of town, it’s always a good idea to fly in to your departure city at least a day before your ship sails, just in case there are flight delays, cancellations or anything else that might hold you up.
2. Remember to put the bag tags that the cruise line sends in advance onto the bags you are checking, and always carry onboard all your valuables/medicines…. I always thought you had to check your bags, but if you are a light packer (like me) there’s no need to. Just carry them on and off the ship so you don’t have to worry or wait.
3. I’ve now been on over a dozen cruises and I’ve only been seasick twice and they weren’t that bad since I just felt queasy and had to skip dinner. And I’m not some seafarer person either. I’m usually prone to seasickness, but I actually was able to trick my mind into finding the rough water soothing instead of a nuisance while I was in bed (that’s when its always been the worst). While cruising on Crown Princess I met with one of the ship’s doctors and he said the only medicine that really works is Promethazine Teoclate. It’s by prescription and they carry a ton of it on board (I’m sure the other cruise lines do too). Unfortunately, he said all those other gadgets like patches and wristbands are really just gimmicks. A doctor on Seabourn recommended Stugeron pills (15 tablets for $8.10), it’s available for purchase on the ship and no prescription is necessary. Note: Each restaurant on Seabourn has dried ginger at the entranceway, as this is supposed to be a great remedy.
4. Try and pace yourself at the buffet. Don’t over eat otherwise you will feel sick. When I cruise on large ships I won’t take the elevator except on arrival and departure with my suitcase. Instead I take the stairs—even when it’s 15 flights up. It’s a good way to counter all the food. I also try and hit the ship’s gym every other day.
5. Book shore excursions as early as possible since the popular ones fill up quick. If you are too late then see if there are any independent tour operators offering a similar excursion (many times cheaper) and sign up with them. Just note that if your guide’s car breaks down or you get stuck in traffic and you didn’t book it through the cruise line the ship won’t wait for you and you will be responsible to find your way to the next port.

Hopefully, my past cruises will help you decide to try one out if you are new to cruising. If you aren’t then hopefully some of the tips will help make your next cruise go a lot smoother.

 John E. DiScala (a.k.a. Johnny Jet) travels around 150,000 miles and visits over 20 countries each year. He and his website JohnnyJet.com have been featured over 2,000 times in major publications, including USA Today, Time, Fortune and The New York Times, and he has appeared on ABC, CBS, CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, FOX News Channel and PBS.  JohnnyJet.com has been named “one of the top best money-saving web sites for travel” by Budget Travel Magazine, while  the L.A. Times calls it “one of the top 10 essential travel resources on the internet.” Outside Magazine touted Johnny for having one of the world’s best “dream jobs”. He writes for Frommers.com, The Huffington Post, LAX Magazine and has written for USAToday and ABC News.  Sign up today for Johnny Jet’s free weekly travel newsletter at JohnnyJet.com.

Facebook: /Johnny.Jet

Twitter: @JohnnyJet