Did anyone watch Rip off Britain this morning?
I thought I knew about travel insurance having travelled the world since the 1960's, but I didn't know that a normal- whatever that is - Travel Insurance Policy does not cover cruising!
Just thought I'd mention it in case any of you cruisers are looking for insurance.
I have insurance yearly cover and cruise its no problem and made a claim last year it was ok. I did not see the programme though.
I just thought it might be worth mentioning ...I would never go on a cruise......but I must admit I have never examined my annual policy over the years to see if it mentions anything about cruises!
When you fill in the form for annual insurance it asks if anyone on the insurance is going on a cruise. I understand that this puts the premium up as you could have to be airlifted off the ship in a medical emergency. I was due to go on a cruise when my RD first struck and this is what the insurer told me when agreeing I was covered. As it was I didn’t fancy being airlifted and, as I got steadily worse, actually cancelled the trip a few days before I was due to go.
I guess as I have had annual travel insurance through the same broker for so long I forgot being asked that question! But as cruising would be the holiday from hell for me I guess my failing memory isn't too much of a problem!
Sorry you had to miss your cruise.....Hope you are feeling better theses days.
Yes thanks - disease well controlled atm.🤞
The insurance company we always use, states about cruising. It costs more if something happens at sea to get you off the ship. Even before I had RA every policy I've ever had asks if it's a cruise.
I only posted the info as on the programme a couple had come up against this problem & had a big fight on their hands to get their quite substantial claim accepted....they had no idea cruising wasn't included on their policy.
It also mentioned that if you insure trip by trip you should put your insurance in place as soon as you book your holiday in case you need to cancel....sounds obvious but apparently a lot of people wait until the week before their holiday before they buy travel insurance!
That’s interesting - I cruise regularly and have continuous travel insurance in place through my M&S credit card. I have twice had to claim: once for treatment for flu while on board, and once for cancellation due to an injury. I always also notify them when I’m going to be on holiday as I will be using my card and have always specified that it’s a cruise, and the countries I will be visiting. There’s never been any suggestion that I’m not covered, but I will now be checking my policy documents closely!
That is interesting.....does the M&S card have an age limit? I had a very polite "discussion" with a young lady in my bank who insisted that if I paid £12 per month for a Premium Account it would include world wide travel insurance...but by coincidence I had read in a consumer magazine this was only for under 65's (which I am not!)
I explained that as I paid less than £144 pa for my annual travel insurance it wouldn't really benefit me......she still didn't get it until I told her to look at my DOB!
I do hope there aren't any Senior Citizens out there relying on any sort of insurance which they find out too late is not right for them because of their age.
I’m pretty sure it’s 80, however the Premium Club card that I have doesn’t seem to be available for new customers now, so not able to find any current info online. Travel insurance is such a minefield if you’re not in the first flush of youth or have pre-existing conditions!
Quite unintentionally through laziness I have stayed with the same broker for about 15 years & I recommended him to friends of a similar age & their quotes were horrendous....so I phoned him & said why do I get my travel insurance for £X, but you are quoting £XXX to my friends, & he said I had been insured for a continuous period with no claims so the insurance company take that into account when renewing my policy.
I am renewing mine shortly.....just hope I don't get a nasty surprise!!!
Another thing: even if you are not airlifted from the cruise boat they will put you ashore at the next stop and you will have sort out your own medical care and find your own way home. This is why cruising insurance is extra.
I’m getting worried now!
Good point Scottishlad......that really emphasises the importance of getting the right travel insurance for any trip....cruising or not!
I have annual travel insurance and both cruise and do another long haul hol. as well as short trips a year, Never had an issue with RA but Pernicous Anemia puts my premimun up to £200 a year. I don't care about that and they do get people home it happened to my friends husband on a cruise two years ago. All covered so it may just depend on what your policy is for and who with like car insurance you can go third party or full comp.
I so agree I reckon if you can't afford the insurance premium you can't afford the holiday!
I would not sleep easily in my island paradise if I thought a medical emergency was not covered!
Mind you if I don't flee the UK PDQ...I think I will suffer frost bite!
me too, AC.... can't wait to get away for more sunshine
Some policies cover cruises , some don’t. When we’ve been on a cruise I’ve always taken out a separate policy to make sure we are covered- mainly due to the fact that a friends husband was helicoptered off a ship a couple of years ago ( ships doctor wasn’t happy to treat him and he wanted Him hospitalised) the bill for that and a few days hospital care plus a few extras was just under £50,000!
I always said the same but we’ve done a few of the TUI cruises where it’s all inclusive and u don’t have to dress up! They are really good value and not at all snobby, just a like a nice hotel that moves around! Go on - give it a try!!! X
It’s not the social scene that bothers me it’s all that bloomin’ water!
Which is ridiculous because I spent 25 years flying across oceans every week ... and that’s a lot of water to fly over! But I couldn’t see it!
I don’t like the idea of being corralled with hundreds of people I don’t know & not being able to get away from them!
Maybe I’m getting anti social in my dotage?
Actually you never usully seethe same person unless you agree to meet in a bar. We've only gone on Celebrity which is good, food nice and service great. My advice give it a go but don't buy the excersions as a rip off unless its Russia when its best to go with the line or speak Russian. i love cruising and the safety of having a doctor on board is great and easy to access. Go on your worth it !!! xxx
Oh....I don’t think so........with my years of travelling for work when I used to join friends on holiday it was always assumed ‘oh you can do X,Y, Z cos you’ve been here before’.
Apart from saying I didn’t wanna be tour leader & upsetting everyone, I ended up organising their holiday ....usually doing the driving overseas because they didn’t like to drive “on the wrong side of the road”...... so I just called a halt. And when I travel now it’s usually to visit friends abroad ....I rent an apartment near their house - I usually go for a month... and nobody wants a houseguest for a month ! I enjoy my sightseeing on my own and enjoy their company in the evenings.suits us all.
Lone women travellers (even at my age) attract all sorts - from swingers to DOM. & thought of being stuck on a ship and not be able to escape ......Yoiks...... No thank you! Of course if I found a sugar daddy I might change my mind!
I well remember in Cape Town playing hide and seek in a shopping mall trying to get away from a lady who had never travelled on her own, and thought I would be her individual tour guide.....I didn’t want to offend her, but I also didn’t want to
spend every waking hour with her !
I’m not being cruel it’s just self-preservation.
I have just had my new fridge freezer delivered ......sitting at the kitchen table looking at it lovingly - but I can’t turn it on for another two hours until the freezing fluid has settled ... they say little things please little minds !!! Just to complete my afternoon Jo Konta has just got through to the next round at Wimbledon.
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A question (and a rant) from a newbie
Travel with RA - Insurance 
Off we go - Baltic cruise!
