This Review: Cruise, Tour & Travel Insurance.

2. Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Insurance

3. Travel Insurance why buy? Why not!

Find out if it's right for you.

4. Top Ten Questions To Ask Before You Purchase Travel Insurance

5. Travel Insurance: Glossary of Terms

6. Consumer Alerts:Must reads before making a purchase

7. Travel Insurance Articles: Stories that may be of interest

8. What's New in Travel Insurance Coverage?

9. Travel Insurance Tips

Travel Insurance plans offer travelers numerous coverage options. Whether it's a two-day cruise to the Bahamas or a month-long cruise through the Mediterranean, we have a cruise insurance plan to fit your travel needs. To find out which option is best for you, click here.

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Travel Insurance Q&A
Q. How can my travel insurance plan cover my vacation investment in the event of a hurricane or other unforeseen severe weather?
A. Typically, Third-party travel insurance plans, provide you with insurance coverage for your travel investment if unforeseen weather conditions cause a delay or cancellation of your trip. If the weather forces you to cancel your trip for a covered reason, we will reimburse your nonrefundable expenses, up to the amount of coverage you purchase. If bad weather delays your trip for a covered reason, we will reimburse you for reasonable, additional accommodations and traveling expenses until travel is possible.

Resources:

   Travel Guard Insurance

   Access America

   Insure My Trip

1. Will the policy cover loss due to default or bankruptcy of travel suppliers?

2. Does the policy cover travel delay due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances?

3. Will the policy cover cancellation charges and expenses due to injury or sickness of your traveling companion though he/she is not your family member?

4. Will the policy cover cancellation charges and expenses due to injury or sickness of a member of your immediate family though he/she is not traveling with you?

5. Will the policy cover cancellation due to outbreak of strike, riot or civil disturbance at your destination or places en-route?

6. Does the policy cover loss or injuries due to war, acts of terrorism, hijacking and natural disasters?

7. Will the policy cover cancellation due to any natural disaster happen to the insured person's residence before or during your journey which requires your presence on the premises?

8. Will the policy cover breakage or damage to fragile articles or documents in your luggage?

9. Will the policy cover loss of travel documents, and/or travel tickets and additional travel & accommodation expenses incurred to replace them?

10. Can I cancel my policy if I am not satisfied?

Important Information — Please read the entire "certificate" carefully before making any insurance purchase to determine rights and duties, as well as what is and is not covered. Various provisions in this certificate restrict coverage.

All information presented at this web site is based on information material provided travel agents and is subject to change without notice. The information on this web page is not a recommendation to purchase travel insurance. That decision is up to you. You are strictly responsible for knowing what works best for you. So, do your homework and due diligence before making any purchase.

1. All prospects for purchase of travel insurance should fully understand the coverages, monetary limits and restrictions that apply to travel insurance before making any decision to purchase. For details of what is covered please read the entire "certificate" carefully before making any insurance purchase.

2. You do not have to book a cruise to purchase this insurance.  Travel arrangements such as hotel, resort, flights, and tour packages may be covered. For details of what is covered please read the entire "certificate" carefully before making any insurance purchase.

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Purchase Travel Insurance

There are hundreds of circumstances that could cause you to cancel your trip, return home early or force you to seek emergency medical treatment while traveling.

To demonstrate the importance of purchasing travel insurance, and emergency travel services, here are 10 common examples of what could go wrong.

1. It's 10 p.m. and you and your immediate family arrive at the airport for a connecting flight, only to find that your flight has been cancelled. Who can assist you with finding new flights to get everyone home?
2. Your bag was lost with your insulin inside. You need help to locate your bag as soon as possible and have your emergency prescription filled. Who do you call?
3. Your first visit to Europe, and your passport and wallet are stolen. Where do you turn for emergency cash, and how will you get your passport replaced?
4. You're involved in an accident and adequate medical treatment is not available. Who will help arrange and pay for a medical evacuation?
5. If your sister-in-law becomes seriously ill and you must cancel your trip, what happens to your non-refundable deposits or pre-payments?
6. You arrive in Jamaica and your luggage doesn't. If it's lost, who will help you find it? If it's delayed, who will pay for your necessities? If it's stolen, who will pay to replace it?
7. Your cruise line, airline or tour operator goes bankrupt. Who will pay for your non-refundable expenses? Who will help get you to your destination?
8. You're walking down a street in Rio and twist your ankle. Who can help you find an English-speaking physician?
9. Three weeks before your scheduled arrival, a terrorist incident occurs in the city to which you are planning to visit. Who will pay if you want to cancel your trip?
10. You are at a beach resort in North Carolina, and you are forced to evacuate due to an approaching hurricane. Who will help you evacuate and who will reimburse your lost vacation investment?

Here is an informative excerpted article by Alfred Borcover of the Chicago Tribune about why you should consider trip insurance. The complete article was published in the Orlando Sentinel.
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Choosing cruise insurance

Do you need cruise insurance? You betcha!

Travel Insurance Glossary of Terms

Please note: Coverage can vary by plan. Specific use of language, legalese and descriptions can vary by plan.

Please contact your insurance provider and ask to read their plan's "Description of Coverage" for details, eligibility and limits. Not all companies cover all items listed here.  Not all companies have the same descriptions as shown here.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment
An accident that takes place on a trip that results in death or loss of body parts

Adventure Sports Coverage
Coverage for activities considered to be higher risk, like snow boarding or skydiving.

Provides trip interruption, medical evacuation and medical expense benefits for losses caused by many adventure sports activities typically excluded in most travel insurance plans. These activities include mountaineering up to 4,500 meters, aviation, hang gliding, skydiving, parachuting, bungee jumping, snow skiing or snowboarding, spelunking, water skiing and jet skiing.

Baggage Delay
Having your baggage redirected to a different location or it arrives late to your destination

Typically an insurer will reimburse the insured, up to the Maximum Limit shown on the Schedule of Benefits for the cost of necessary personal effects purchased by the insured during the Trip, if the insured’s baggage is delayed or misdirected for more than 12 hours from the time the insured arrives at the Destination (other than the insured’s return destination) provided the insured is a ticketed passenger on a Common Carrier and the delay or misdirection is verified by the Common Carrier.

Baggage & Personal Effects Loss
Loss, theft, or damage that occurs to your luggage and travel documents while on your trip

Typically an insurer will reimburse up to the Maximum Limit shown on the Schedule of Benefits for loss, theft, or damage to the Insured’s Baggage and travel documents during the Insured’s Trip. The Insurer will also pay for loss due to unauthorized use of the Insured’s credit cards, if the Insured has complied with all credit card conditions imposed by the credit card companies.

Cancel For Any Reason Coverage
Coverage for not being able to take your trip for any reason not otherwise covered in a travel insurance plan

If the Insured is prevented from taking the Trip for any reason not otherwise covered by the Policy, typically an insurer will reimburse the Insured for up to 75% of the prepaid, forfeited, non-refundable payments or deposits for the insured Trip arrangement(s) up to the Maximum Limit shown on the Schedule of Benefits, provided the following conditions are met:
a. the Insured purchases the Cancel for Any Reason benefit within 15 days of the date the Insured's initial Trip payment or deposit is paid and the cost of any subsequent arrangement(s) added to the same Trip are insured within 15 days of the date of payment or deposit for any subsequent Trip arrangement(s); and
b. this insurance coverage is purchased for the full cost of all prepaid Trip arrangements that are subject to cancellation penalties and/or restrictions; and
c. the Insured cancels the insured Trip not less than 48 hours prior to the departure date.

Trip Cancellation/Interruption Due To Work Reasons
Coverage due to unexpected work obligations that come up and prevent you from traveling

Typically an insurer who offers Trip Cancellation/Interruption Due To Work Reasons coverage will be extended for these additional unforeseen circumstances if the insured or a traveling companion:
a. Is required to work during his/her scheduled Trip. He/she must provide proof of requirement to work, such as a notarized statement signed by an officer of his/her employer;
b. Is directly involved in a merger, acquisition, government required product recall, or bankruptcy proceedings and must be currently employed by the company that is involved in said event;
c. Company is deemed to be unsuitable for business due to burglary, or Natural Disaster and the Insured or Traveling Companion is directly involved as a Key Employee of the disaster recovery team.

Children at No Additional Costs
Children under the age of 17 and related to the primary insured are covered at no additional cost.

"Immediate Family Member" means the Insured’s or Traveling Companion’s spouse or Domestic Partner, child, spouse’s child, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, brother, sister, mother, father, grandparents, grandchild, step-brother, step-sister, step-parents, parents-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, legal guardian, caregiver, legal ward, or Domestic Partner of any of the above.

Claim
A request for payment in accordance with an insurance policy

Claim Procedures: Notice of Claim:

The Insured must call the Insurance Company as soon as reasonably possible, and be prepared with what coverage the loss was under (i.e., Medical Expenses), the name of the company that arranged the Trip (i.e., tour operator, cruise line, or charter operator), the Trip dates, and the amount that the Insured paid. Typically, the company will fill in the claim form will need to be filled outand forward it to the Insured for his or her review and signature.

Coverage Period
The length of time that you are traveling and your travel insurance plan can cover you

Persons eligible for insurance under the policy are any traveler(s) who purchases his/her insurance through or from a properly licensed agent/agency located in the U.S., who enrolls for coverage and pays the plan cost, providing he/she has not already departed on his/her Trip.

Effective Date
The Trip Cancellation Benefit is effective at 12:01 a.m. Standard Time on the date you purchase and pay for the plan and all over coverages begin on the date you begin your trip.

Effective Date: Trip Cancellation Benefit will be effective 12:01 a.m. Standard Time on the date after becoming enrolled and plan cost is paid. All other coverages will begin on the later of: a.the date and time the Insured starts his/her Trip, or b.the scheduled departure date shown on the Enrollment form.

Medical Expense Coverage
An unexpected medical emergency that may occur while traveling and requires visiting a doctor or a hospital

Typically, the Insurer will reimburse the Reasonable and Customary Charges for Medically Necessary Covered Expenses incurred by the Insured due to an Injury or Sickness within one year from the date of Injury or Sickness provided initial treatment was received during the Trip up to the Maximum Limit shown in the Schedule of Benefits.

Emergency Dental Coverage
Coverage for an unexpected dental emergency that may occur while traveling that requires visiting a dentist or a hospital

Means charges incurred for the following service, supplies or treatments:
1.Emergency dental treatment received during a Trip limited to a maximum of $500

Emergency Medical Transportation
A medically necessary transportation or evacuation to a medical facility

Typically, the Insurer will pay up to the Maximum Limit shown on the Schedule of Benefits for Covered Emergency Evacuation Expenses incurred if the Insured suffers an Injury or emergency Sickness that warrants his or her emergency evacuation while on a Trip provided a Physician has ordered the emergency evacuation and has certified that the severity of the Insured’s Injury or emergency Sickness warrants such evacuation.

Financial Default
A tour operator or cruise or airline going out of business with or without filing bankruptcy

"Financial Default" means the total cessation of operations due to insolvency, with or without the filing of a bankruptcy petition by a tour operator, cruise line, or airline provided the Financial Default occurs more than 14 days following an Insured's effective date for the Trip Cancellation Benefits. There is no coverage for the Financial Default of any person, organization, agency, or firm from whom you purchased travel arrangements supplied by others.

Flight Accident Coverage
Coverage for an accidental loss that occurs while traveling by air

The Insurer will pay for the Insured’s covered accidental loss of life, hand, foot, or sight which occurred: 1.while he or she was riding as a passenger on or boarding or alighting from a Scheduled Air Carrier, and 2.within 365 days of the accident.

Inclement weather
Severe weather that delays or cancels your insured travels

"Inclement Weather" means any severe weather condition which delays the scheduled arrival or departure of a Common Carrier. With respect to an Insured who is traveling via private/non-commercial automobile transportation, any severe weather condition which prevents an Insured from reaching the Destination.

Medical Evacuation
Being transported to an adequate medical facility or back home when medically necessary

Medical Evacuation — Arrangements for any and all means necessary to transport the Insured back home when medically necessary.

Pre-Existing Condition
Any injury or illness you have and sought medical treatment for within 60 days before your travel insurance policy becomes effective

Typically, the Insurer will not pay for any loss or expense incurred as the result of an Injury, Sickness or other condition of you, traveling companion, business partner or Immediate Family Member which, within the 60 day period immediately preceding and including your coverage effective date: first manifested itself or had symptoms which would have prompted a reasonable person to seek diagnosis, care or treatment; or for which care or treatment was given or recommended by a Physician; or required the taking of prescription drugs or medicines, unless the condition for which the drugs or medicines are taken remains controlled without any change in the prescription drugs or medicines.

The Insurer may waive this exclusion if the Insured meets the following conditions:
1.You purchase the program within 15 days of making the initial Trip payment;
2.The amount of Trip
Cancellation coverage purchased at that time equals the full cost of all pre-paid non-refundable trip arrangements. The cost of any subsequent arrangement(s) added to the same Trip must be insured within 15 days of the date of payment or deposit for any subsequent Trip arrangement(s). Failure to do so may affect the pre-existing medical condition waiver coverage;
3.You must be medically able to travel when plan cost is paid; and
4.Applies to the first $50,000 of Trip cost per person

Primary Residence
The residence at which you mainly live, the Insured’s primary city and location of residence

Renters Collision
Coverage for if your rental car is damaged due to collision or vandalism

Typically, coverage does not apply in countries or states where the sale of this insurance is prohibited by law. If the Insured rents a car from a licensed auto rental company while on his/her Trip, and the car is damaged due to collision, vandalism, windstorm, fire, hail or flood, while in his/her possession, the Insurer will pay the lesser of this benefit up to the Maximum Limit shown on the Schedule of Benefits subject to a $250 deductible:
a.the cost of repairs and rental charges imposed by the rental company while the car is being repaired; or
b.the Actual Cash Value of the car. Coverage is provided to the Insured and Traveling Companion, providing the Insured and Traveling Companion are licensed drivers, and are listed on the rental agreement. This coverage is primary to other forms of insurance or indemnity.

Terrorism
Any act of violence that results in loss of life or major damage from a person acting in a way to overthrow a government or gain control of it

"Terrorist Incident" means an act of violence, other than civil disorder or riot (that is not an act of war, declared or undeclared) that results in loss of life or major damage to property, by any person acting on behalf of or in connection with any organization which is generally recognized as having the intent to overthrow or influence the control of any government.

Trip Cancellation
Having to cancel your trip due to illness, death, or injury

Typically, the Insurer will reimburse the Insured, as described below, if a Trip is canceled or interrupted for the Insured due to any of the following Unforeseen circumstances:
a.Sickness, Injury, or death of an Insured, Immediate Family Member, Traveling Companion, or Business Partner. Injury or Sickness must be so disabling as to reasonably cause a Trip to be canceled or interrupted;
b.Inclement Weather causing delay or cancellation of travel;
c.Strike resulting in complete cessation of travel services at the point of departure or Destination. A Strike is foreseeable on the date labor union members vote to approve a Strike and is not covered under the policy;
d.the Insured’s principal residence or Destination being made Uninhabitable by fire, flood, or similar Natural Disaster, vandalism, or burglary;
e.the Insured or a Traveling Companion being subpoenaed, required to serve on a jury, hijacked, or quarantined;
f.a Terrorist Incident in a City listed on the Insured’s itinerary within 30 days of the Insured’s scheduled arrival. "City" means an incorporated municipality having defined borders and does not include the high seas, uninhabited areas, or airspace;
g.Financial Default of an airline, cruise line, or tour operator resulting in the complete cessation of services. Financial Default occurring on or before the Insured’s coverage effective date or less than fourteen days after the Insured’s coverage effective date will not be covered. This coverage applies only if insurance was purchased within fifteen calendar days of Initial Trip payment. (Day one is the date the initial Trip payment is received.);
h.the Insured or Traveling Companion being called into active military service or having leave revoked or being reassigned;
i.Termination of employment or layoff affecting the Insured or his/her Traveling Companion; must have been with the same employer for at least five continuous years;
j.the Insured or a Traveling Companion being the victim of a Felonious Assault within 10 days prior to his/her departure date; or
k.being involved in or delayed due to a traffic accident en route to departure.

Trip Cost
The total prepaid and non-refundable expenses already submitted toward the trip regardless of who booked the arrangements. This does not include estimated or anticipated costs that have not yet been paid.

Trip Delay
Coverage for airline delay, weather conditions or lost travel documents that result in being delayed more than 5 hours

Typically, the Insurer will reimburse up to $200 a day to the Maximum Limit shown on the Schedule of Benefits if the Insured’s Trip is delayed for more than 5 hours for Reasonable Additional Expenses until travel becomes possible. Incurred expenses must be accompanied by receipts. This benefit is payable for only one delay per Insured, per Trip. Trip Delay must be caused by reasons listed under Trip Cancellation & Interruption, in addition to:
a.carrier-caused delay;
b.lost or stolen passports, travel documents, or money;
c.quarantine; or
d.Natural Disaster that causes a complete cessation of travel services at the point of departure or Destination.
The Insured Must: Contact the Insurer as soon as he/she knows his/her Trip is going to be delayed more than 5 hours. Failure to do so may affect coverage.

Deposit Date
The first day that any money was paid for any part of your covered travel arrangements. This includes any monies paid to a travel agent, tour operator, or arrangements purchased directly by the traveler. The date of payment or deposit for any subsequent Trip arrangement(s).

Trip Interruption
Weather, strikes, illness, death, or injury that interrupts your travels

Trip Interruption Benefits: The Insurer will reimburse the Insured for the following up to the Maximum Limit shown on the Schedule of Benefits for Trips that have been interrupted due to the unforeseen events shown at the beginning of this section.
a. forfeited, non-refundable, unused prepaid payments, made prior to your departure date; and
b. additional non airline transportation expenses incurred by the Insured, either
i.to the Return Destination; or
ii.from the place that the Insured left the Trip to the place that the Insured may rejoin the Trip; or
c. Additional transportation expenses incurred by the Insured to reach the original Trip Destination if the Insured is delayed, and leaves after the departure date. However, the benefit payable under (b) and (c) above will not exceed the cost of economy airfare (or first class if the Insured’s original tickets were first class) by the most direct route, less any refunds paid or payable;
d.the Insured’s additional cost as a result of a change in the per-person occupancy rate for prepaid travel arrangements if a Traveling Companion’s Trip is interrupted, and the Insured’s Trip is continued.

Trip Interruption / Return Air Only
Coverage for additional airline expenses you incur while trying to return home

Trip Interruption – Return Air Only: The Insurer will reimburse the Insured for the additional airline transportation expenses incurred by the Insured to reach the Return Destination if the Insured's Trip must be interrupted due to one of the unforeseen events shown at the beginning of this section, up to the Maximum Limit shown on the Schedule of Benefits. The Insured must: Contact the Insurer as soon as he/she knows the Trip is going to be cancelled or interrupted. Failure to do so may affect coverage.

Medical Coverage Upgrade
Additional coverage amounts and services that can be added to some of our most popular insurance plans.