Every year the travel industry looks forward to wave season─the timeframe from January through March when cruise lines are offering some of their most widely advertised discounts and sales events. As you work to maintain your wave season booking momentum this winter and beyond, don’t forget to make key travel protection considerations for your cruise clients.
Health and Safety
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cruise ship travel poses potential health hazards and staying informed and prepared for those dangers can help travelers fully enjoy their vacations. Cruisers might encounter viral illnesses or seasickness, and respiratory illnesses are reportedly common aboard cruise ships. Chronic conditions could also unexpectedly worsen as a result of cruise-related stressors such as changes in diet or climate variations.
Travel insurance can offer a unique global solution if your client’s health insurance provider doesn’t extend coverage outside of the United States. Note that Medicare, in particular, may not provide coverage internationally. If an insured experiences a sickness or injury on their trip they can utilize their travel insurance plan to seek reimbursement for otherwise potentially burdensome medical expenses.
Many travel protection plans can also help prepare your clients in the event of a medical emergency. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, medical evacuations by air ambulance can cost $50,000-$100,000 and must be paid in advance by travelers who don’t have insurance. Offering a travel protection plan that includes Emergency Assistance Services and Emergency Medical Transportation could help them feel more comfortable with their booking. Such protection plans provide travelers with access to a 24/7 international emergency hotline and coverage for emergency medical evacuations.
The Cruise Connection
Cruises differ from self-directed travel in terms of itinerary. If a self-directed traveler encounters a flight delay at the start of their vacation, they could suffer inconvenience and financial loss but they won’t, quite literally, be missing their boat. Delays due to inclement weather or other unforeseen events can result in amplified problems for cruisers, such as forfeited prepaid trip arrangements, additional transportation expenses, and the necessary purchase of clothing or other personal items while delayed. Many travel protection plans include coverages that can reimburse for such expenses. Review a plan’s Description of Coverage or Policy for a complete schedule of benefits and full details on coverages like Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Missed Connection, and Baggage Delay.
A carefully planned trip should be carefree. Travel insurance can ease otherwise unpleasant conversations with unlucky cruise clients and protection plans from CSA Travel Protection frequently include the above mentioned services and coverages. Call our award winning Customer Service Department to learn more about your agency’s plan offerings or contact your dedicated Account Manager to set up a sales training.
Travel insurance plans are administered by Customized Services Administrators, Inc., CA Lic. No. 821931, located in San Diego, CA and doing business as Generali Global Assistance and Insurance Services. Plans are available to residents of the U.S. but may not be available in all jurisdictions. Benefits and services are described on a general basis; certain conditions and exclusions apply. Travel Retailers may not be licensed to sell insurance, in all states, and are not authorized to answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of this insurance and cannot evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance. This plan provides insurance coverage for your trip that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. The purchase of this plan is not required in order to purchase any other travel product or service offered to you by your travel retailers. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker. This notice provides general information on Generali Global Assistance’s products and services only. The information contained herein is not part of an insurance policy and may not be used to modify any insurance policy that might be issued. In the event the actual policy forms are inconsistent with any information provided herein, the language of the policy forms shall govern.
Travel insurance plans are underwritten by: Generali U.S. Branch, New York, NY; NAIC # 11231. Generali US Branch operates under the following names: Generali Assicurazioni Generali S.P.A. (U.S. Branch) in California, Assicurazioni Generali – U.S. Branch in Colorado, Generali U.S. Branch DBA The General Insurance Company of Trieste & Venice in Oregon, and The General Insurance Company of Trieste and Venice – U.S. Branch in Virginia. Generali US Branch is admitted or licensed to do business in all states and the District of Columbia.
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