Cruise Travel Insurance
Cruise Travel Insurance is an optional product offered by some cruiseliners that gives flexibility to the guest to cancel the cruise any time prior to the sailing and get either a refund or a cruise credit if the cruise is cancelled for a covered reason. If a guest opted for the cruise insurance, it had to be purchased at the time of making the final payment for the cruise (usually 60 days before departure).
In light of the outbreak of Covid-19, it would be imperative to opt for Cruise Travel Insurance so that guests can ‘Cruise with Confidence’. Cruise liners are currently offering a flexible cancellation policy as late as 48 hours prior to the cruise but this is for a limited period due to the current uncertainty. Once things return to the ‘new normal’, an important component to ‘Cruise with Confidence’ will be to take a cruise travel insurance cover.
Here are some cruise travel insurance products offered by leading cruiseliners:
Royal Caribbean, Azamara & Celebrity Cruises
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Assist Card: |
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Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International offers its guests cruise insurance in the form of an ASSIST CARD. This assist card gives flexibility to the guest to cancel the cruise any time prior to the sailing. The ASSIST CARD is optional and can be purchased at the time of making the final payment for the cruise (not later). The details of the ASSIST CARD are given below: |
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Assist Card will provide the following protection services: |
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INSURANCE: Protection against loss of cruise fare due to cancellations any time prior to sailing, as well as interruption of the cruise voyage itself, by insurance, if cancelled for a covered reason.
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ASSURANCE: Protection against loss of cruise fare due to cancellations any time prior to sailing, as well as interruption of the cruise voyage itself, by future cruise credits, if cancelled for a non-covered reason.
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ASSISTANCE: Cashless Medical Services Onboard, covering luggage tracking, replacement of lost travel documents, concierge services, legal assistance, help with flight and/or hotel reservations all with 24/7 assistance
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Assist Card Terms: |
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If there are multiple people travelling on a given booking, Assist Card must be purchased for all guests
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The Assist Card plan cost maybe paid any time prior to final payment and trip cancellation protection takes effect only upon full receipt of the plan cost payment
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Guests who purchase Assist Card after the final payment date are not eligible to receive the “Any Reason” cancellation coverage. Assist Card can be purchased up to 3 days prior to the sail date.
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Assist Card is optional, albeit strongly recommended. Click here for full plan description detailing the terms, conditions and exclusions
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Assist Card Pricing: |
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For cruise coverage up to USD 3000 per person, the applicable premium amount is USD 8.00 per person per day for guest up to 74 years of age and USD 12.00 per person per day for guests 75 years up to 90 years of age. |
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Click here for instructions and services of the Assist Card |
Norwegian Cruise Line
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Assist Card: |
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Norwegian Cruise Line also has a tie up with ASSIST Card for travel protection for NCL and its other brands. The Assist Card provides cover for unforeseen events that can occur including losing baggage, needing medical care, delays, and cancellations. The average cost for taking ASSIST CARD works out to around USD 18 per person per day. |
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Assist Card provides Trip Cancellation covers only for Medical Reasons of Self/Spouse or Immediate Family Members (Parents/Children) and force majeure which includes the following: |
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Not able to take the trip due to legal reasons like ‘person traveling has to attain the Court Hearing or any legal notice /summons
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Trip Cancellations due to Natural calamities
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Please Note: |
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Assist Card does not cover visa rejections and claims are settled by reimbursement directly to guests
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No Cruise Credit is offered
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Assist Card should be booked by client as soon as he/she confirms the cabin on NCL (the day he/she makes the final payment to NCL)
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Norwegian Cruise Line is not an authorized representative of ASSIST CARD travel protection services and does not provide any advice, opinion or recommendation regarding any travel protection policy, arrange travel protection or legally and contractually bind any person for or on behalf of ASSIST CARD. The Assist Card is a 3rd party insurance and needs to be booked directly by the guest. For more details of Assist Card please click here |
Princess Cruises
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Cancellation Fee Waiver Program (CFW): |
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Princess Cruise has a Cancellation Fee Waiver Program (popularly known as CFW). The program offers a cancellation fee waiver as well as baggage protection in a single package. This program is not trip interruption insurance and only covers cancellation fees and passenger’s baggage while on the cruise, cruise tour or Cruise Plus. The price of CFW is 10% of the Cruise Fare & 10% of the Port Charges. |
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CFW details: |
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The plan protects the booking against cancellation penalties up to 3 working days prior to the sailing. Thereafter, cancellation fees are as per the normal schedule (i.e. 100%); there is no protection from cancellation fees within 3 working days prior to the commencement of the sail date, cruise tour or cruise plus, whichever is earliest.
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The CFW program must be bought & paid for along with deposit payment and cannot be added at a later date.
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This program is not available for bookings made within final payment period and for bookings made under restricted, Instant Purchase (Non-refundable) fares. The CFW amount once paid is non-refundable under any circumstances.
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No name change is allowed after CFW is purchased & deposit is received along with the same.
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Holland America Line
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Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP): |
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Cancel your vacation plans, for any reason, and receive a refund with a Holland America Line Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP). Get a refund of up to 80% of your total cruise vacation with the Standard Plan. Cancellation Protection starts at $79 per person. |
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HAL’s Standard Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP Standard Plan) will allow you, for any reason, to provide written cancellation up to 24 hours prior to the start of your scheduled travel (sea, land and/or air) arrangements made by Holland America Line and receive a refund equal to 80% of the eligible amounts paid to Holland America Line. CPP Standard is available to all guests, regardless of residency. |
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In addition, Holland America Line (HAL) automatically assumes an additional $500 (USD) of liability for lost, damaged or delayed baggage of guests who purchase the CPP Standard Plan still subject, however, to the limitations in their baggage policies. For example, HAL does not cover losses while baggage is in the custody of airlines. |
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The CPP Standard Plan is not insurance – this is an optional purchase offered by and administered by Holland America Line. It may be added to your reservation to provide you with trip cancellation protection for up to 24 hours prior to the start of your scheduled travel. It provides no rights other than those explained above. For example, it does not protect double-triple-quad occupancy rates should one or more members of your party cancel, nor does it cover expenses for unused services due to trip interruption. |
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The CPP Standard Plan is available for purchase prior to the date on which cancellation fees begin to accrue. Payment is due at time of purchase. The cost of CPP Standard is non-refundable. The per person, per cruise cost is listed with the cruise fares. |
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Click here for more details on Holland America’s CPP plan |