The Benefits of Travel Insurance for Your Cruise During Wave Season

With the holidays right around the corner, ‘tis the season to be looking for good deals. Wave Season is the timeframe between January and March when cruise lines offer discounts, which means significant consumer deals and increased sales opportunities for travel professionals.

CSA Travel Protection, dedicated for 25 years to providing full-service travel insurance solutions, today shares why cruisers should consider travel insurance, when they should buy and what they should be trying to protect.

The type of travel insurance policy cruisers should purchase depends largely on the cruise type. According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), river cruises have become increasingly popular over the last few years.

The price point for river cruises can be higher than most deep water cruises, so cruisers should look for a policy that covers them should they need to cancel or postpone. Deep-water cruisers are not as interested in protecting the overall trip cost but rather travel (hotel or airfare) leading up to the cruise and needing medical attention or emergency medical evacuation, especially when traveling internationally.

Cruisers are booking their trips as far as 18 months to a year in advance, CLIA reports. Oftentimes they are paying a deposit to secure their space. CSA advises cruisers that they should buy travel insurance as soon as they have booked their trip. If something unforeseen happens such as a terrorist or weather event during the waiting period before they leave, then they are more likely to be covered. CSA offers competitive travel insurance plans with a variety of coverages to help protect you during your cruise, including trip cancellation, medical and dental, emergency assistance and transportation and missed connection.

“If travelers are concerned about unexpected events and interested in protecting their trip investment, then that’s when travel insurance can play an important role,” said Bob Chambers, vice president of operations at CSA Travel Protection. “They need to be sure that they understand what policies are right for them.”

Knowing the benefits of travel insurance specific to the type of cruise and when to buy a policy is important. Additionally, researching and preparing ahead of a cruise proves useful. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides tips for cruisers including recommended vaccines, illness prevention and tips on travel and evacuation insurance.

Whether travelers book cruises through travel agents or online, they should remember to consider travel insurance from a reputable provider such as CSA Travel Protection during the booking process. Armed with this knowledge and a travel insurance policy, cruisers can sail off into the sunset feeling confident that they’ve protected their investment.

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