Cruise Lines impose strict penalties for cancellations within specified time periods prior to a cruise.  Most Cruise Lines offer their passengers some form of Travel Insurance designed to protect your cruise investment in the event of certain unexpected situations that would cause you to have to cancel your vacation..

About Travel Insurance

1. In general, Travel Insurance will allow you to get a refund on the money you paid for a cruise in the event that you need to cancel the cruise due to certain situations.

2. Situations that are typically covered by Travel Insurance include a covered injury, illness or death affecting you, your immediate family, or your traveling companion.  A physician's certificate will be required.

3. If you would have to cancel your cruise for any other reason, you would not be covered under the Travel Insurance and would not be reimbursed.

4. Most policies also provide coverage for lost baggage, emergency medical expense during your vacation, and emergency evacuation expenses to transport you to a medical facility or return home.

How Much Does It Cost?

The cost of Travel Insurance is based on the length of your cruise and varies from one Cruise Line to another.  As a guideline, you can expect to pay the following:

	$40 per person for a 3-day cruise
	$60 per person for a 5-day cruise
	$100 per person for a 7-day cruise
	$150 per person for a cruise of 10 days or more

What If I Don't Buy Travel Insurance?

Most Cruise Lines impose penalties for canceling a cruise within 60-75 days of the departure date.  A few cruise lines penalize for cancellations a far as 90-120 days in advance of your cruise.  If you don't have Travel Insurance and have to cancel your cruise, you will lose all, or a portion of, the money you paid for the cruise. 

Should I Buy Travel Insurance or Not?

The decision on whether or not to purchase Travel Insurance is a personal one that you must make based on your own situation.  Consider these variables, then decide for yourself.

	How much have you invested in your cruise versus the cost of the insurance?
	What is your risk of personal or family medical emergencies?
	Do you have homeowner's insurance that would provide coverage for lost luggage:
	Do you have medical insurance that would cover medical expenses while on vacation?

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