Cruise holidays – get the right cover or your holiday could sink before you even step off the dock

January is one of the busiest times of the year for cruise holidays. However, it’s important to get the correct cover, otherwise travellers may find they can’t even get on the ship, let alone sail off into the sunshine. Rebecca Kingsley, brand manager of consumer awareness initiative, Travel Insurance Explained details how to make the most from your holiday.

 Make sure you have the correct insurance cover

Before you even leave the dock, most cruise operators require that you have purchased either a specialist cruise policy or a cruise extension due to the unique circumstances of being out at sea. If a passenger falls ill and is unable to be treated onboard, the cruise will have to be re-directed to the nearest port or request an air ambulance to take them to the nearest hospital. This means you may be taken to a country that is not on your itinerary, particularly if you are travelling in the Mediterranean; Africa may be closer than mainland Europe. This could leave you in a vulnerable situation and could be burdened with expensive medical bills if you do not have the right travel insurance cover. Ensuring you have the right geographical location and cover for existing medical conditions are a priority when taking out travel insurance for a cruise.

 Don’t bring anything too valuable with you

Sitting at the Captain’s Table is one of the highlights of any cruise so people want to look their best. However, carrying all your favourite jewellery onto the cruise may not be the best option as theft is a common occurrence. All travel insurance policies will offer cover for personal possessions, however be wary of single article limits. For example, your personal possession cover may be up to £2,000 but the total you can claim for valuables may be £500. If you are planning to take your jewellery with you, it is worth checking to see if you cover these under your home insurance. While on-board the cruise, make sure you keep all valuables locked away in a safe – those left lying around unattended will not be covered if they are lost or stolen.

 Be extremely aware of boat leaving times

Cruises often stop off along the way at various cities and towns to allow passengers to go sight-seeing and enjoy shopping trips. But remember cruises are on tight schedules and could leave without a passenger if they are late back to the boat. If you miss the ship, you would be expected to make your own way back home or try to re-board the cruise at another location. Specialist cruise policies and extensions do offer ‘missed port’ cover and would reimburse you a set amount towards the cost of catching up with the cruise further along its route – provided the reason you missed the ship was something you could not have foreseen or avoided.

 On-board doctors and pharmacies are private clinics – and expensive

Cruises are expensive and travellers often believe that the on-board medical facilities are included or free to passengers. Sadly this is not the case. When on-board a cruise, doctors will be private practitioners and this could mean that the cost of medical investigation, treatment and prescriptions are fairly high. Make sure your policy covers any reimbursements for medications or medical bills you might incur on the cruise.

Declare all medical conditions to your insurer

Medical care abroad is expensive, and without the correct travel insurance cover you could be left to pay the bill yourself – as well as any repatriation/air ambulance costs. Ensuring you have declared any existing medical conditions is essential as failure to declare them is likely to invalidate a claim related to that condition. It is also worth noting, most cruise companies will not allow you to board your cruise if your existing medical conditions have been excluded from the policy.