Cruise holidays are popular with Australian travellers for good reason: they offer you an all-inclusive onboard experience, allow you to explore multiple destinations with ease, and provide you with beautiful endless ocean views.
However, like any type of holiday, things can – and do – go wrong on a cruise trip.
To help protect yourself and your cruise holiday experience, it’s important to consider purchasing travel insurance with Cruise Cover. Because when your cruise is covered, you can set sail with extra peace of mind…
How cruise travel insurance cover can help you
1. If you need to cancel your cruise
No one plans to cancel a long-awaited cruise holiday, but occasionally the unexpected happens and derails even the best laid plans. If an unpredictable illness or injury – or unforeseen event outside of your control – means you need to cancel your cruise, cruise travel insurance cover can help you recover any prepaid, non-refundable costs.
At Cover-More, travellers can choose the level of Amendment or Cancellation Costs cover they want to include in their policy based on the cost of their holiday. This helps protect them financially if they can’t join or remain on their cruise holiday because it is unexpectedly disrupted – both before they’ve left home and while they’re travelling.
Cruise cover story:
One of our Cover-More travellers unexpectedly suffered a urinary tract infection (UTI) ahead of their cruise holiday. Despite seeking medical help and taking medication to reduce their pain and heal the infection, the traveller’s doctor said they were not well enough to travel as planned. The traveller had to cancel their trip but because they protected their trip, we covered their cruise travel insurance claim cost of ~$21,500.
2. If you want to travel with extra confidence during COVID-19
There’s no denying it: COVID-19 is still affecting global travel. Despite this, Australians are eager to explore the world again – and that includes indulging in cruise holidays. If you’re worried about COVID-19 affecting your cruise holiday, it’s important to find travel insurance cover not only with general COVID-19 benefits, but COVID-19 cruise benefits, too.
At Cover-More, when travellers buy Cruise Cover, some cruise-related COVID-19 benefits are included. This includes cover for onboard medical cover and ship-to-shore medical cover should travellers become ill with COVID-19.
3. If you need medical support on board the cruise ship
Illness and accidents can happen anywhere – including on board a cruise ship. Cruise travel insurance cover with medical benefits can help ensure you not only receive the care you need when you need it, but also help ensure you’re not left with hefty medical bills.
At Cover-More, our Onboard Medical and Dental Cover helps support travellers with Cruise Cover included in their policy if they become ill or are injured on a cruise ship. We also provide access to our 24/7 emergency assistance team, who can help ensure cruise travellers get the help they need at any time.
Cruise cover story:
One Cover-More traveller cut their leg on the bottom of the bed in their cabin and had also experienced severe pain in their stomach while on a cruise holiday. The onboard medics tendered to their leg wound, checked their vital signs, and provided expert care after diagnosing the traveller with abdominal and pelvic pain. The claim was cost covered by Cover-More, and the amount paid out, you ask? Over $1,400.
Tip: Don’t forget to pack over-the-counter medications for common cruise health issues, such as motion or sea sickness, the common cold and flu, and gastro.
4. If you’re confined to your cabin because of illness
How do you like to spend your time on a cruise holiday? If sitting outside on the deck taking in the beautiful ocean views with fresh air running through your hair immediately comes to mind, it’s likely you’ll be sorely disappointed if you’re confined to your cabin during your cruise.
If you’re confined to your cabin on a cruise holiday because of illness, it’s smart to contact your travel insurer to understand if they can help provide financial support.
At Cover-More, if our travellers with Cruise Cover are confined to their cabin because of illness* under the direction of an onboard medical practitioner, we provide cover of up to $100 per day (up to a maximum of $1,500), provided the period of confinement is at least 24 hours.
5. If your luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged
Cruise holidays are a great choice for travellers who like to explore different places while still “staying put”. Once you’re on board and unpacked, you can sit back while the cruise ship takes you to new locations.
Despite staying in the same cabin for the duration of your cruise holiday, your luggage can still get lost, be stolen, or end up getting damaged. With cruise travel insurance cover, you can prevent luggage-related incidents spoiling your time on the seas.
Cruise cover story:
One Cover-More traveller noticed their bracelet was missing from their wrist while on a cruise. After searching for the bracelet in their room and places they’d recently visited with no result, they spoke to cruise staff and completed a loss, damage, or theft report. Cover-More reimbursed this traveller $1,100 for their proven loss.
Tip: Don’t assume you’ll be covered for stolen luggage if you leave your belongings – such as sunglasses, phones, and watches – on a poolside deck chair while you cool off in the pool. Most travel insurance policies don’t cover stolen items if they’re left unattended, so either keep them locked safely in your room, or make sure someone stays with them.
Looking to buy cruise travel insurance cover?
If you’re planning a cruise holiday and want to avoid unexpected incidents ruining your trip, consider Cover-More travel insurance. As a Cover-More traveller with Cruise Cover included in your policy, we’ll provide you with important cover to help protect your holiday – whether you’re on board the ship or exploring on land. Get a quote now!
This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with Cover-More.
*The Cabin Confinement benefit of Cover-More’s Cruise Cover does not include cover for cabin confinement claims arising from or caused by COVID-19 (whether or not you are diagnosed with COVID-19.)
Limits, sub-limits, conditions, and exclusions apply. For full details on exactly what’s covered by Cover-More travel insurance benefits, please read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) document. The information contained in this article is indicative and for illustrative purposes only to help provide information regarding likely coverage under the relevant terms and conditions of a policy. The information relates to Cover-More Australia’s Direct travel insurance policies (available via covermore.com.au and 1300 72 88 22) sold on or after 20 April 2022, is correct at the time of writing on 22 July 2022, and may change at any time. Please check covermore.com.au for confirmation on current coverage. Insurance is administered by Cover-More Insurance Services Pty Ltd (ABN 95 003 114 145, AFSL 241713) on behalf of the product issuer, Zurich Australian Insurance Limited (ABN 13 000 296 640, AFSL 232507). Any advice is general advice only. Please consider your financial situation, needs and objectives, and read the Combined FSG/PDS before deciding to buy this insurance. Visit covermore.com.au for a copy of the Target Market Determination for our products.
