Do you know about specialist cruise travel insurance

Do you love cruising or have you never been tempted? Well, according to the Passenger Shipping Association (PSA), cruising is more popular than ever.  A record 1.7 million people will take a cruise this year;  one in every nine package holidays is now a cruise; and 10 new ships will be launched. So cruising is definitely big business.

National Cruise Week, now in its fourth year, takes place this week. It’s a time to celebrate everything to do with cruising, and highlight the variety in the style of cruising and the destinations. Make sure you check out what your local travel agents have to offer, especially if they are accredited to the Association of Cruise Experts,  as there could be  special offers available.

We think one of the main reasons people opt for a cruise is because it gives you a chance to experience lots of different destinations in one holiday. However, once you are planning your cruise, and saving up to pay for it, it is important to make sure that you have travel insurance, just in case of any problems..So we have put these tips together that should help you…

Cruise Lovers Guide to Cruise Travel Insurance

• Make sure that you book your travel insurance in advance. Your cruise provider may offer you their own travel insurance provider, but it is always worth shopping around. Never go on your cruise without travel insurance because being injured or falling ill abroad and having to get back to the UK could work out very expensive otherwise. Factor in the price of  travel insurance when planning your trip.
• Look for specialist cruise travel insurance, like AllClear Cruise. That way you can be covered for the specific requirements of a cruise -  things like missed ports because of bad weather, or confinement to your stateroom because of illness.
• Make sure that you are covered for any existing medical conditions –  otherwise treatment on board ship could work out very expensive.
• Make sure your cruise travel insurance covers you for on board activities and excursions. There is plenty that you could be doing from golf lessons to ballroom dancing. For some of the more extreme activities, you may want to check your cover
• Cruises can often be a high value holiday, particularly if you are going on a luxury cruise or a longer cruise than the standard two week break. For example, you could be lucky enough to be going on a 3 month round the world cruise! It is important then that you check the value of the cancellation cover of your travel insurance policy, as it may be less than the cost of your cruise. Therefore, as you will have saved up, and planned this holiday for a long time, you may want to consider additional cancellation cover  in case the worst should happen and you need to cancel your cruise
• If you decide to go on a cruise on a last minute deal, remember that you still need specialist cruise travel insurance

Hope these tips help. If you have any questions about cruise travel insurance, just let us know….

According to a BBC report, the right has been suspended by the High Court. In November 2009, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the damage sustained by air passengers in cases of long delay is comparable with that of cancellation, unless the delay is caused by “extraordinary circumstances” beyond the control of the airline. However, the High Court has referred the matter back to the ECJ for a further hearing and has put a stay on new rulings in the UK, until the ECJ has time to reconsider.

This new judgment from the ECJ could be delayed until the first half of 2012 so that leaves a while to wait for a decision.

Oh dear! Now we all know how annoying it is when you are at an airport and your flight is delayed. All you want is to get to your holiday destination  (or get home) and start relaxing. It is especially problematic when you have a short break and then a large proportion of your holiday might be lost. So what can you do about this?

Well unfortunately, not much. We all know that some airlines seem to be worst offenders for delays than others, so you might want to be a bit choosy with the flights you book. Alternatively, you could always consider a cruise as a least if there are any delays (although this is unlikely) you are still enjoying your holiday at the same time!

One other big consideration should be your travel insurance. If you opt for a comprehensive travel insurance, then you can still claim for travel delays. For example, AllClear offer up to £100 benefit if you experience delays (depending on the length of delay). This is the case if your trip is delayed by industrial action (provided industrial action wasn’t expected when the policy was taken out); adverse weather or technical fault.

So what do you need to do if the worst should happen and you are delayed? Well first of all stay calm, and try and not let the delays spoil your holiday! And then secondly make sure you obtain written confirmation from the airline stating the period of delay and the reason for it.

If you have any other questions about travel delay, or claiming for it, please do ask them below and we will try to help…

According to this article in the Daily Telegraph, Britain’s cruise holiday industry, which is worth £2 billion a year, has received a major boost.  Cruise operators have experienced a  surge in bookings by up to 50% in some cases, following recent  flight cancellations and airport closures. The prediction is that cruise holidays will continue to increase as travellers choose to avoid air travel this year.

More people are avoiding fly travel and going cruising instead

 Latest figures from the Passenger Shipping Association forecast that, despite the recent recession, 1.65 million Britons will book a cruise this year – more than ever before – representing a 7% increase on last year. A large proportion of these people are expected to be the newly-named “Vavs” – Volcanic Ash Victims -  air travellers whose travel plans were been disrupted by Iceland’s eruptions.

One cruise line currently experiencing “unprecedented demand” is Cruise and Maritime Voyages, based in Dartford, Kent, that sails from eight British ports including Tilbury. Britain’s largest online cruise specialist, wwww.cruise.co.uk, reported “a significant increase” in cruise bookings since the BA strikes and volcanic eruptions began. MSC Cruises, one of the world’s fastest-growing cruise lines with a fleet of 10 ships, also reported an increase in bookings for cruises leaving UK ports, attributing this current trend to “passengers showing a lack of confidence in flying”.

Cruises including the Mediterranean, the Norwegian Fjords and the Baltic, are especially popular. The good thing is that people can visit all of these destinations, by leaving main UK ports, such as Southampton, Dover, Portsmouth, Newcastle and Liverpool, without ever needing to set foot in an airport. There are 19 cruise lines sailing direct from British ports this summer.

So given the fact that cruising is set to increase more than ever before. The question is have you ever cruised before? Or do you fit the bill for a typical cruiser if you decide to try something different this year? As a matter of fact, we would agree with this article, that there is no such thing as a typical cruiser. Back in the 1960′s and 70′s, when cruising was in its infancy, the majority of cruisers were more mature, had plenty of money and plenty of time. Now cruises have evolved and there are a variety of ships to suit different people and ages.

On a typical 7-night Caribbean cruise, you are likely to find the majority of the passengers in the 35-55 age range, but a good rule of thumb is that the longer the cruise, the older the average age will be.

So cruising is definitely a specialised type of holiday, but it is also growing in popularity. You tend to plan for it a long time in advance, choosing your destination and the ship that will best suit you with care. So imagine if the worst should happen, and you need to cancel your cruise or cut your trip short. Make sure then that you have dedicated cruise insurance  that covers your special trip.

 Here are some of the most interesting reveals, that we can’t imagine the marketing brochures telling you….

1. Your carefully chosen intinerary may be changed due to engine probems or weather restrictions

In December 2009, engine problems caused the Regent’s Seven Seas Voyager to skip a scheduled port stop in Antigua, and instead head straight to San Juan for the engine to be repaired.  “Engine and weather-related problems are very common,” according to Ross Klein, editor of CruiseJunkie.com and author of “Paradise Lost at Sea: Rethinking Cruise Vacations.” Those problems have become less frequent, however weather-related cancellations have become more common. This could be because of the more extremes of weather that we now often seem to experience, even in the Mediterranean, but that is a whole other blog!

Some home truths about cruising...

Unfortunately, as a cruise passenger, you don’t have much recompense with the cruise company directly if you miss a destination. This is because almost all tickets allow cruise lines to change itineraries at their discretion. If the ship skips a port for a weather-related reason, the cruise don’t  have to offer passengers a refund – and they rarely do, according to Neil Gorfain, chief executive of the Cruise Outlet, a cruise-only travel agency. Plus, you may just end up on the ship longer, which could result in you spending more money on the extras like the spa – so you lose out twice really!

The only ways you will likely get a refund is if the entire cruise is canceled because of the weather (would think so too!). Also, generally if a ship misses a scheduled stop because of a mechanical problem, the cruise line will issue some kind of onboard credit or refund.

So it is definitely worth remembering that there may be changes to your trip itinerary, and it may not be a good idea to choose a whole cruise with only one destination that you really want to see – as you know that would be the one that you miss. You should also think about specialist cruise insurance which takes into account some of these unique problems – for example, with AllClear Cruise you could claim up to £500 if scheduled port visits are cancelled due to timetable restrictions or adverse weather. Admittedly, this is not the same as actually going on that dream trip to the pyramids, but it is a sweetener none the less!

2. This ship is a health hazard – it’s just crawling with viruses.

Cruise ships are an ideal breeding ground for germs: thousands of people in close proximity, eating food made in the same kitchen, inhabiting enclosed spaces that just a few days before housed someone else. In December 2002, the Norovirus made waves in the media after a series of outbreaks on Holland America, Disney and Carnival lines, in which hundreds of passengers were infected. The problem has not disappeared. Fifteen cruise ship outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness (an outbreak is defined as at least 3% of passengers being diagnosed) were recorded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2009. The best way to stay healthy is to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water.

But what do you do if the worse should happen?  You may be confined to your cabin which, given the size of the standard cabins, would be pretty awful. Obviously, try not to let it ruin the rest of your holiday once you are better. And again, if you get specialist cruise insurance, then you have the option of cover for this ‘stateroom confinement’  of £100 per day.

3. We can take care of your plane reservations, but it would be cheaper if you booked yourself

 However, the statement above is not as simple as it seems – When cruise lines book the customers’ airfare, they include a guarantee that if there is a flight delay, they’ll hold the ship or fly you to the next port. But you pay a premium for this security.

 So it is up to you really whether you would rather save some money, or whether you would prefer the security…

4. Think everything’s included? Think again

In 2009, Carnival brought in 76% of its cruise-related revenue through fares. That means the other 24% is from on-board spending. You get most food, entertainment and coffee, but you have to pay up for alcohol, merchandise, spa services and pictures. “All of these things are optional, but it’s hard not to spend money on a cruise because you are a captive audience,” says Oivind Mathisen, editor of Cruise Industry News.

A cruise still normally works out good value, as a lot of the main spending is included, but just bear in mind when costing your holiday that you will need some spending money too

5. Cruise-own insurance? Maybe try looking elsewhere?

An insurance policy from a ship is often more  expensive and less inclusive than other options – for example, check whether you are covered when you step off the ship for excursions. It might be worth considering a specialist cruise insurance provider like AllClear Cruise, which includes special options related to your cruise, and can also cover you for any existing medical conditions.

So there are some pitfalls that you might want to consider book your first cruise, or even book your next cruise if you are a veteran cruiser, but hopefully they haven’t put you off – just some things to think about (as if you don’t have enough already!) and ensure you  have the amazing cruise that you deserve!