Cruise insurance when does it have to be purchased??

[enzy65]

We have always used the DCL insurance and purchase when booking the cruise, yes I know it’s more expensive but it’s one less thing I want to deal with.
My DD and her husband are going with us next time on the treasure, they did not want to spend the money for the DCL plan, they would look into that later. Does it have to be purchased before PIF date?? I have no clue about this, and I have a feeling my adult children have forgotten this and may not purchase. I just need to know before I have a chat with them about this.

 

[Dug720]

To have pre-existing conditions covered, it needs to be within 14 days of booking.

To cover hurricanes, it needs to be bought before the storm has a name.

 

[lanejudy]

DCL coverage only needs to be added by PIF date.

Third party coverage can be bought any time but know that some coverages may not be available (particularly pre-existing condition waiver and CFAR usually need to be purchased within 14 days of deposit).

 

[enzy65]

Thanks, that’s what I needed to know!!

 

[Mommb]

Insurance booked through DCL is not actually purchased until you make your final payment, even if you include it in your original booking. This makes sense, because it covers only cruise-related non-refundable expenses, and everything is fully refundable until final payment.

Insurance booked on your own can be purchased up to right before the cruise. As mentioned above, most policies won’t cover pre-existing conditions unless they are purchased within a short time of the initial cruise payment, and they also won’t cover known perils such as named tropical storms.

The main risk of waiting to buy insurance after making final payment is that something could happen that could require cancelling the cruise (such as sudden medical crisis, major accident, loss of job or inability to get vacation time) that would be covered by insurance if you had it. A medical issue that arises between final payment and purchasing insurance and requires treatment during the cruise could be considered a pre-existing condition and not be covered by insurance. The chances of this for healthy youngish people are rare, but it can happen.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

We only buy catastrophic insurance so it doesn’t matter when we do- our credit card covers the actual cruise and our auto coverage covers the drive to the port (we live within 2 hrs) so it’s just the “evacuation/life altering” we need coverage

 

[emmabelle]

so is there a point when an insurance company sees a medical condition as stable? I bought cruise insurance for our end of August cruise when I made our final payment last month. My husband had a stroke a year ago but has been stable with no changes to medication and we have a letter from his doctor from last September clearing him for travel. I thought because the policy has a 60 day look back that he would be covered.

I didn't realize I needed to buy insurance when I made our first deposit. I actually have 4 cruises booked for 2024 and 2025 that I made deposits on a while ago.

 

[Mommb]

so is there a point when an insurance company sees a medical condition as stable? I bought cruise insurance for our end of August cruise when I made our final payment last month. My husband had a stroke a year ago but has been stable with no changes to medication and we have a letter from his doctor from last September clearing him for travel. I thought because the policy has a 60 day look back that he would be covered.

I didn't realize I needed to buy insurance when I made our first deposit. I actually have 4 cruises booked for 2024 and 2025 that I made deposits on a while ago.

The rules for "pre-existing conditions" vary by insurance company and policy. You would need to read through the policy or call the company to be sure of what is considered stable.

If there is a 60 day look back period and your husband didn't have any changes to medication or new diagnoses in the past 2 months before you bought the policy, that may mean his condition doesn't count as pre-existing, but it really depends on how your policy is worded.

 

[emmabelle]

@Mommb - thank you

Just hoping I don’t need it for anything