Cruise ship insurance : Hi, we are... - British Heart Fou...

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Cruise ship insurance

ScoobyDoo71 profile image
19 Replies

Hi, we are thinking of booking a cruise around Norway from U.K. for a week. Reading up on things it suggests getting cruise insurance. Wondering if anyone has any cruise insurance recommendations and also how you found being on a cruise ?

What sort of level of cover is recommended?

Thank you

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ScoobyDoo71 profile image
ScoobyDoo71
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19 Replies
P0rtnahapp1e profile image
P0rtnahapp1e

Our cruise to Norway last month was fabulous, and insurance was mandatory. I got mine through Staysure and they were very reasonable considering that cruise insurance is usually very high. I was pleasantly surprised.

ScoobyDoo71 profile image
ScoobyDoo71 in reply to P0rtnahapp1e

Thank you I will give them a ring. Could I ask which company you travelled with ? We were looking at Iona ship with P&O I’ve never been on a cruise before and I’m excited and terrified in equal measure. But a holiday is very much needed and I would love to see the scenery and have a proper break.

in reply to ScoobyDoo71

You never know how good an insurance company is until you need to make a claim.....my twin brother was taken seriously ill whilst abroad, he had to be flown home on a chartered aircraft with medical support, there was an ambulance on the tarmac at the UK airport waiting for him.....all organised and paid for by Staysure, they were incredible.P&O offer great cruises for the price you pay, Iona is a beautiful ship.

The Fjords are spectacular.

I awoke early one morning cruising into Geirangerfjord, I popped my dressing gown and slippers on and went out onto our balcony to see where we were......within seconds I had tears rolling down my face, the scenery was that spectacular it just took my breath away, it was just that amazing.....and I'm an ex boxer and someone who played as Rugby Union prop forward for years!

Just go, you won't regret it.

ScoobyDoo71 profile image
ScoobyDoo71 in reply to

Thank you so much that really has helped put my mind at ease. It’s been the worst couple of years as I know it will have been for everyone and I am really hoping that a break with no driving and fresh clean air will be the best medicine. Through covid I’ve had 3 different job moves in the NHS as I was advised I had to shield so not on front line but so much stress bouncing in and out one minute shielding then next moment seeing patients acutely unwell in the community then omicron hit. In the middle of everything my was mum diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in Feb last year nursed her at home til she died in October. Then clearing and selling house and another new job role.

Things at long last starting to settle but I feel that all the stress over last 2 years has hit me like a ton of bricks. So when my friend said they had done this cruise and it was lovely I thought let’s give it a try.

ScoobyDoo71 profile image
ScoobyDoo71 in reply to

Sorry John meant to say most importantly I hope your brother is ok after what sounds like a really dreadful time and thank goodness he had such excellent care.

in reply to ScoobyDoo71

Sadly he gained his Angel Wings about 18 months later.He had a VAD fitted at The Freeman in Newcastle but he passed away whilst on the heart transplant waiting list.

Bee2cards profile image
Bee2cards in reply to

So sorry to hear this 😞

ScoobyDoo71 profile image
ScoobyDoo71 in reply to

I’m so sorry to hear that John.

Essie20 profile image
Essie20 in reply to ScoobyDoo71

Iona is the one we are going on in August 6th x

Heather1957 profile image
Heather1957 in reply to ScoobyDoo71

I am lucky in that I have kept paying my group insurance from work which I can keep paying into until I am 70!I am going on a 25 night cruise with a friend in September to New England and Canada, no flying, in and out of Southampton.

I have also booked a solo cruise for September 2023 on Iona going to the Norwegian Fjords, I have probably overpaid but am already looking forward to it.

Villagelife profile image
Villagelife in reply to ScoobyDoo71

I Went with Ambassador cruise ship. They had to airlift a passenger off via helicopter. It seemed well organised to do this and it all went well despite there not being a landing pad on the ship. You should definitely give cruising a go.

Cruiser25 profile image
Cruiser25

Hi ScoobyDoo71,I returned last Sat from the same Iona Norway cruise. We lost Geiranger, but P&O substituted Hellesylt, a small village but with a beautiful waterfall all the same. As JohnH100 says, the Fjords are just stunning, whatever the weather. Make sure you are not travelling against medical advice, I got the ok from my Cardiologist and my GP. We obtained our travel insurance through payingtoomuch.com, with full cruise cover, COVID, & multi million £ medical. With my HA, stents + couple of other minor issues, my wife's 'C' cover + couple of other things, we paid mid 3 hundred £'s for the two of us for the whole year.

All I can say is if you or anyone else is able to then go, go & GO!

(I'll need to update my username now I guess!)

Chappychap profile image
Chappychap

I've cruised with Cunard, which is owned by the same company as P&O, therefore I suspect the same rules will apply. In which case P&O will be very strict about your insurance cover, you will need to have a far higher repatriation allowance than most insurance companies (including Staysure) offer as standard. Furthermore, your insurance cover will be checked before boarding and if it doesn't meet the required standard you won't be allowed on the ship. It may sound fussy, but the costs of being medivaced off a ship are potentially ruinous, so it's in everyone's interest to get this right.

Don't let this put you off, if P&O are like Cunard then they will provide a list of recommended insurance providers when you book, you may have to phone them to amend the terms of cover but that's easily done. And the costs aren't that different to what is offered in the open market, I now take out annual world wide insurance cover via a Cunard approved company, so I know I'm covered for both cruises and normal flight holidays.

Personally I think cruising is a wonderful holiday, my wife and I love the dancing and the dressing up for formal nights, plus you're spared the stress of airports, transfers and flights. Norway in the summer months is a spectacular destination, the fjords are absolutely majestic seen from a cruise ship, and after a wonderful evening of dancing and dining to then walk outside on deck late at night and watch the sun set is magical!

Have fun!

Essie20 profile image
Essie20

Hi , we have done loads of cruises in the past and they are brilliant . I had a cardiac arrest in November which frightened the life out of me but have booked a Norway cruise in August which I am apprehensive about but need a holiday . We haven't done the insurance yet so not sure about it . Hope you get sorted x

ScoobyDoo71 profile image
ScoobyDoo71 in reply to Essie20

Thanks Essie20, that must have been a really stressful time for you, not surprising that you could do with a holiday. Hope things settled and you enjoy your holiday. Good luck with the insurance am going to try and get a quote tomorrow 🤞

Qualipop profile image
Qualipop

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH I am so jealous. Sory I can't help about insurance but my lifetime dream is to travel on the Hurtigruten. I'm learning Norwegian and have had the Norwegian national dog for 59 years. You are living my dream.

Row5 profile image
Row5

I have also used Staysure travel insurance, listed all my medical problems and my husbands . I have taken worldwide cover as we are cruising Denmark, Norway and early next year we are cruising in the Caribbean. I thought the price was good for cruise cover.

lmg25 profile image
lmg25

Hi please make sure you do have cover. I was on a transatlantic cruise in April when I decided to have a heart attack. The captain had to divert the ship so I could be medivaced to Madeira where I had 3 stents fitted. Before they made any arrangements for my evacuation they had to check and get approval from the insurance company (Aviva) that they would pickup the cost. Thank god they approved as due to the distance from Madeira it had to be a military helicopter, accompanied by a military aeroplane so I would hate to guess at the cost of that operation. Also the cost of repatriation where a doctor had to fly to Madeira and accompany me home. I would also recommend you get UK Global Health Insurance Card that replaced the EHIC card as I was asked for this. I'm hoping to travel again in the autumn and have received a quote from Aviva. It is more expensive than some other quotes I've had but knowing that I can trust they will support me makes it worth it. Anyway take care and enjoy your cruise.

Villagelife profile image
Villagelife

I've just come back from a cruise round the British Isles it was excellent, I've booked another to Norway in August. I used Staysure.

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