An excellent argument FOR purchasing the trip insurance...

[albiats]

You can buy Travel Insurance from some of the insurance companies themselves as close as up to 24 hours before you embark on a trip. The biggest difference from buying it when you book the trip is that you will not be covered for any pre-existing conditions. I'm not sure if you have to buy coverage for all aspects of your trip that involves a 'common carrier' or not, like the airfare, but I would suppose it works that way.

In most cases, the travel insurance covers not only the cost of medical treatment and transportation while you are onboard, but it usually covers trip cancellation or trip interruption in the event that a close family relative suffers a medical emergency before or during your cruise. The term 'close relative' usually means a parent, a child, a sibling, etc. but it would depend on the definition that the company provides for you.

When I travel, I'm concerned about the realtives not with me as well as my DW and I. I have a Mother that is 81 years old and two young grand children, as well as the usual concerns.

I've never used it, but I always feel better prepared with the additional insurance and I won't consider going on a cruise without it. I even purchased it for the $99 cruise we have booked that is coming up in the fall, and I recommend it for everyone.

 

[Kick it up a notch!]

Maybe it's just me but I would think that the doctor should burden the responsibility of the cost. How can you assure someone they can go on a cruise where there would be no access to emergency medicine and they develop a life threatening situation hours later????

I am not a doctor, but I know from seeing enough doctors that they are usually very cautious and would tell someone not to do a cruise if they didn't think it was a good idea. Maybe the person who got the advice from the doctor really didn't hear the actual advice because they didn't have the trip insurance.

Without the details one will never know, but either the doctor made a mistake or the patient did and the cruise line should not b held responsible for someone elses error.