As cruises begin to set sail again, travel industry experts have been speculating about the future of cruise travel in a post-pandemic world. Despite all the covid-safety measures cruise lines are taking, many travelers are still a bit anxious about stepping on board. If you’re one of these wary travelers, travel insurance can help.
The Future of Cruise Travel
While cruise ships are starting to set sail, they’re doing so under strict safety measures and capacity restrictions. But has this dampened travelers’ zeal for cruise travel? It doesn’t seem so. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) expects that 2 out of 3 cruisers are willing to cruise within the year. What’s more, 58% of international travelers who have never been on a cruise say they expect to take a cruise in the next few years. These are promising signs for the future of cruise travel.
Due to the nature of cruise travel, with international passengers dwelling in close quarters while visiting multiple countries, safety protocols and precautions will likely remain in place until all variants of Covid are contained globally. Travel insurance offers cruisers medical services that basic cruise line-provided insurance does not.
Cruise Insurance With Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage
Trip insurance increases traveler confidence and comfortability. And the more confident and comfortable a traveler is with the idea of going on a cruise, the more likely they are to book the trip. Emergency Medical Evacuation insurance, a key benefit of travel insurance, goes a long way to boost traveler security. The medical services available on board a cruise ship are limited. While Covid-safety measures have made certain medical procedures like temperature taking and covid testing commonplace, the ships aren’t equipped to handle major medical events. If you suffer an injury while on an excursion or fall ill aboard the ship, Emergency Medical Evacuation ensures that travelers get the medical attention they need. It covers costs related to transporting the insured to the nearest medical facility. Without travel insurance, the cost of airlifting alone could set a cruise-goer back tens of thousands of dollars.
The Importance of CFAR/IFAR Insurance
One of the lessons learned during the pandemic was that travelers need to protect their trip investments. As many trips were canceled, delayed and interrupted, travelers saw how quickly travel plans can be derailed. As we move toward post-pandemic travel, that lesson isn’t easily forgotten. Basic trip insurance may offer reimbursement for some prepaid travel expenses if your trip is canceled for specific covered reasons like natural disasters. But only Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance allows cruisers to cancel their trips for literally any reason and still recoup prepaid travel expenses. Similarly, if travelers need to cut their trip short, Interruption For Any Reason (IFAR) gives them the freedom to do just that, while ensuring that they’re reimbursed for their prepaid expenses.
While the future of cruise travel has many uncertainties travel insurance provides cruisers with peace of mind, knowing they have a measure of physical and financial protection. This can only motivate them even more to finally book their dream cruises.
