Cruising? Make Sure You're Protected

If you're a travel buff, you may know that it's officially "wave season." A moniker that refers to the time of the year—usually January through March—where cruise lines offer great discounts and incentives, wave season is prime time for booking a cruise.

But no matter how great of a deal you may get, a cruise becomes an extremely expensive proposition when a problem arises. Prone to snafus surrounding missed connections, bad weather and on-board medical issues, a cruise vacation warrants the right type of insurance to protect you in case of these or any number of issues.

According to the pros at TravelInsurance.com, when searching for travel insurance, it's critical to look into cruise-specific insurance. While cruise insurance and your standard travel insurance policies may seem similar, they differ in several key ways. Cruise travel insurance policies often offer more customized and comprehensive coverage options designed to cover events and situations that are specific to cruises. This coverage may include missed port departures, cabin confinement due to illness, and trip cancellations due to inclement weather or other reasons.

While the exact type of insurance offered can vary depending on the cruise line and the insurance company you use, here are some ways travel insurance can protect cruise ship vacationers:

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: This coverage offers reimbursement for non-refundable expenses if you must cancel or interrupt your trip due to a covered reason, such as illness or a death in the family.
Medical and dental insurance: This coverage can provide reimbursement for emergency medical and dental expenses incurred during your trip.
Baggage and personal effects insurance: This coverage can provide reimbursement for lost, damaged or stolen baggage and personal items during your trip.
Emergency evacuation and repatriation insurance: This coverage can cover the cost of medical transportation if you need to be evacuated due to an emergency or medical situation.

Whether it's your first or your tenth cruise, travel insurance can help you focus on the fun and enjoyment of your vacation, rather than what might go wrong.