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We just booked an Amsterdam to Budapest Viking River Cruise for Spring 2016. Travel Insurance for the trip (2 people) is $1800. Yipes! Is it worth it? Are there cheaper providers of Travel insurance? The cancellation policy is 100% loss of money if cancelled 60 days before the trip so that's why we are considering it.
Yes, it's worth it. Not so much for the trip cancellation - but for the medical expense coverage in case you get sick over there. Even more so if you need emergency evacuation. (I don't know of any US based health insurers that cover medical expense out of the country. Medicare does not. Life threatening emergencies may have some coverage, but only to the point of getting you stabilized.)
Remember that you MUST MUST MUST purchase your insurance within 14 days of booking to eliminate pre existing conditions. Read the small print before you buy anything - some policies eliminate pre existing conditions entirely.
We've balked at the high price of insurance on our last two cruises and simply skipped it. One more cruise without insurance and we'll pay for the cruise.
We ran into some folks aboard our last cruise that were buying full trip insurance for half our quoted rate. I'll see if I can locate the address, but, it is available. Otherwise, the rate is ridiculous.
We've never paid more that $450.00 for full coverage insurance. We had to use it once and got a full refund of $8000.00 minus the $450.00 insurance cost. Our travel agent arranged for it through an independent insurance co.
We've balked at the high price of insurance on our last two cruises and simply skipped it. One more cruise without insurance and we'll pay for the cruise.
We ran into some folks aboard our last cruise that were buying full trip insurance for half our quoted rate. I'll see if I can locate the address, but, it is available. Otherwise, the rate is ridiculous.
travel insurance premiums are based on the total cost of the trip and your age. So comparing costs between two people is impossible, unless they have booked exactly the same trip and are exactly the same age.
I Usually don't buy travel insurance in case I have to cancel the trip. I wouldn't be taking the trip unless I can absorb the cost of cancelling it. I buy insurance to cover any unexpected medical expenses while I am out of the country. I buy insurance to cover the cost of medical evacuation from out of the country if needed. That is the real value of travel insurance.
and I never buy it through a cruise company. Always use an independent company either through the travel agent or purchase it from an independent company on your own.
Needless to say travel insurance is also based on the individual's medical condition, and also there are differences in excess fees and payouts.
Only you can do a price comparison, but I have just booked annual multi travel insurance for worldwide travel, including the USA and the Caribbean (which puts the premium up).
Given my non too serious medical inclusions it came to around $150 for me and my wife, both in our late fifties.
You might also want to check out insuremytrip.com They have lots of different choices and an easy way to compare.
Whatever you do, don't leave home without it!
This certainly is true, but to the OP, check to make sure what is covered if you use on line insurance. Often the price is much loser, but the coverage isn't as good. The thing you want to be sure is covered is transportaion back to America in case of a medical emergancy. It does sound awfully high and yet, I would never cruise without insurance. It is money you hope you have wasted cause you don't want to use it, but if you don't have insurance and something happens you will be left with enough bills to wipe some families out. I know someone who did not take insurance and did have to fly back to the states. The cost $35,000.
Needless to say travel insurance is also based on the individual's medical condition, and also there are differences in excess fees and payouts.
Only you can do a price comparison, but I have just booked annual multi travel insurance for worldwide travel, including the USA and the Caribbean (which puts the premium up).
Given my non too serious medical inclusions it came to around $150 for me and my wife, both in our late fifties.
UK might be a little different. In the USA, when booking insurance for a cruise the cast is based pretty much on the cost of the cruise, more than anything. Most companies do not even ask about pre existing conditions if booked at the same time of the cruise or within a few weeks. The reason the Op was quoted such a high price (which I feel is way too high) is based on the cost of the cruise itself. There was a time, here when pre existing conditions did make a difference, but not so much anymore as long as, like I said, you book insurance as soon as you book your cruise. Age does enter into the cost. As JKgourmet said, most of us buy insurance to cover emergancies when on the cruise, not for cancellation purposes. And no, do not take the cruise line insurance.
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