048: Travel Insurance

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and subscribe free to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher Radio and TuneIn Radio   Always travel with insurance You should always have travel insurance when going on a cruise. Some cruise lines may ask the name of your insurance company and their emergency helpline number before issuing your tickets. But even if they do not you should take out insurance as costs associated with problems you may encounter can be significant. Take out insurance to cover cancellation of your cruise. Deposits and fares are usually not refundable and so if you have to cancel you can find that you are out of pocket. If you or a member of your party falls ill while cruising the medical costs on board or in foreign ports could be hefty. If you have to be evacuated from the ship or repatriated home along with the people traveling with you the financial outlay could be significant. It is also advisable to have coverage for lost or theft of baggage and valuable items like cameras, laptops, smartphones and tablets. When taking out insurance ensure your agent or company knows that you are going on a cruise, which part of the world you are visiting and how long the cruise is for to ensure you get the most appropriate coverage.