Plain sailing: cruise lovers could pay five times less by timing when they buy their insurance

According to new data from Go.Compare travel insurance, the cheapest time to buy a travel insurance policy with cruise cover is almost 10 months (298 days) before you want the policy to start. 

The new research shows that, if you buy cruise cover 10 months before you board the ship, it will cost an average of £18.16*, compared with if you buy a policy on the day that your cruise begins, which would cost £115.83 on average – representing a 537% increase. 

Ceri McMillan, Go.Compare’s travel insurance spokesperson, commented on the findings: “A standard travel insurance policy will provide cover for many eventualities, such as having to cancel your trip, medical expenses or to help replace lost or stolen possessions. But if you’re going on a cruise, there are other risks that won’t be included in a standard travel policy. So, if you are setting sail this summer, it’s essential that you look at additional cruise cover to make sure you have the right protection in place if you do need to make a claim – and organising your insurance in advance will not only give you peace of mind, it could save you money too, according to our data.”

A travel insurance policy with cruise cover will provide payouts for things such as cabin confinement cover, where the ship’s doctor tells you to stay in your cabin if you fall ill, or if you need an airlift to a hospital. Cruise cover can also reimburse you for costs for alternative travel and accommodation if your ship departs without you because you’ve been delayed by a traffic accident. It could also cover the costs of unused excursions or missed ports if an illness or accident means you can’t attend the activity.

Earlier this year, Go.Compare also reviewed travel insurance quote data and found that, of those who were buying a policy for a forthcoming trip, 28 per cent bought it on the day of travel.**  A further 19 per cent had taken out a policy during the week leading up to their trip while another 24 per cent booked it within the month of departure. Just a quarter (24 per cent) of people had taken out their policy within six months of travel.

Ceri continued: “This new data shows that, if you are planning a cruise, being prepared really does pay when it comes to insurance cover. We were surprised at how much of a difference it could make to the cost of a policy – a 537% increase is huge and can make a significant difference to the price you pay for a policy, compared with waiting until the day you set sail.”

“You can obviously buy travel insurance right up until the point you leave home for your trip, but purchasing your insurance earlier could save you money, as well as ensure you are covered for cancellation, which is one of the main reasons people claim on a travel insurance policy. In those instances, booking insurance right after you started paying for your trip could save you considerable money and stress.”

For more information about purchasing travel insurance with cruise cover, you can visit: https://www.gocompare.com/travel-insurance/cruise-travel-insurance/.

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