TRAVEL INSURANCE & HURRICANES
The period from June to November is commonly referred to as "Hurricane Season" as several named tropical storms and hurricanes have historically occurred during this time.
Cruise ships are not only SAFE but can also provide advantages over land-based resorts in instances of extreme weather!
Today's cruise ships feature the most technologically advanced weather forecasting systems and equipment available, allowing officers and company officials to forecast weather-related disturbances in advance. Today's cruise ships are completely mobile and able to alter, cancel, shorten or extend ship itineraries to keep guests safe in instances of threatening weather.
Ships are able to work around port closures caused by severe weather conditions. In the event that ports of embarkation and debarkation are closed, cruise lines can use nearby alternative ports. In these cases, cruise lines coordinate provisioning of the ship as well as transporting guests to and from the original port.
Cruise lines notify guests of all itinerary changes right up until the ships' sailing date. Travelers should monitor cruise-line web sites for itinerary changes prior to finalizing travel arrangements.
While cruise companies are in the business of selling vacations, the safety and security of guests and crew-members is their primary concern. In all circumstances cruise lines take extraordinary efforts to provide a safe and fulfilling vacation experience.
While today's cruise guests purchase air transportaion in a variety of ways, travelers who purchase the cruise-line air transportation receive premium protection and service in comparison with travelers who purchase air separately. Cruise-line air departments invariably stand by guests, working on their behalf to make all arrangements, efficiently reschedule flights and route guests to their ship in instances of travel disruptions caused by extraordinary weather.
The purchase of travel insurance, always an important element of any cruise vacation, assumes additional significance in instances of severe weather. Airline flight delays, which are covered in policies available from several providers, are most often the critical factor when guests experience problems reaching their ship. Guests can purchase insurance to cover these situations and related expenses.
In the rare instance a cruise is cancelled due to weather-related circumstances, cruise lines, on a company-by-company basis, traditionally offer various solutions that extend to guests the opportunity to enjoy a future cruise vacation within a reasonable time period and with the guest's convenience in mind.
Do you need cruise insurance? YES
It's certainly tempting not to. Unfortunately some people fall ill and are taken off the ship in port or even evacuated at sea by helicopter.
How many times have you returned from a trip safe and sound and kicked yourself for spending extra dollars to insure against something that never happened? (More than a few) But it only takes once, and it doesn't have to be much of a mishap to lose your sizable cruise investment. An attack of appendicitis, a sick family member, or a missed connection on the way to the ship.
In our opinion, all cruise vacationers should buy travel insurance, however, it is up to each Person to decide for themselves.
Reading the fine print
Although your health insurance should follow you on trips within the United States, many U.S. health insurance carriers do not cover medical expenses overseas. Some may cover emergency care, but often will require patients to pay foreign providers out-of-pocket and reconcile claims with you later. Medical expenses that arise overseas from pre-existing conditions often are not covered.
Find out if the carrier will pay directly to a foreign provider, if the company will pay to evacuate you to a higher standard of care or back home and if the company will be able to provide assistance in locating doctors abroad and coordinating care.
If you're concerned about the level of overseas coverage your primary health insurance provider offers, supplemental medical coverage is a good way to cover all the bases.
It's VERY expensive if you're overseas and you become ill or have an accident and you need to be medically evacuated. The can cost can be overwhelming
Knowing that you're covered and have peace of mind can make for a better vacation.
Anchors Aweigh Vacations-Cruise Planners | 
