Covering cruise costs
Cruise 'wave season', the most popular time for travellers to purchase cruise packages, has begun, and US-based travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth has warned travellers of an unexpected expense associated with cruise packages – medical bills on cruise ships.
According to Squaremouth, travellers planning a cruise pre-pay for excursions and onboard packages but may not be aware of the expense of medical bills, which it says can represent a significant expense.
“We’ve seen medical conditions like an upper respiratory infection cost thousands of dollars to be diagnosed and treated on a cruise ship,” said Squaremouth claims expert Brandi Morse. “Cruise ships charge a lot for medical care, but travellers don’t always have the option to avoid them.”
Morse also said that in addition to treatment onboard, some conditions require a medical evacuation, which from a cruise ship typically costs between US$50,000 and $100,000, but can exceed $100,000 for travellers cruising to remote locations.
Squaremouth’s advice is for travellers to prepare themselves for potential expenses by purchasing a travel insurance policy, especially if their primary health insurance does not provide coverage outside of the US.
The recommendation is for travellers to purchase a policy with at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage and $250,000 in medical evacuation coverage. According to Squaremouth, depending on the traveller’s age, these policies can be less than $50 for a seven-night cruise.