Can Travel Insurance Help if a Cruise is Cancelled?
The engine room on the Carnival Triumph caught fire Sunday just off Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, leaving more than 4,000 passengers and crew members aboard the ship without power and running water.
All passengers will receive a full refund for the cruise as well as reimbursement of all shipboard purchases according to Carnival. However, the next two voyages on the Carnival Triumph have been cancelled, leaving future cruisers at the mercy of the cruise line for refunds or cruise credits.
While the cruise line may be able to make up for cruise costs, they may not be able to make up for losses from airfare and hotels that many travelers book as part of their vacation. Because travel insurance policies are designed to cover travelers from door to door, the trip cancellation benefit can cover them to cancel their trip as long as the covered reason is listed in the policy.
Trip cancellation covers 100% reimbursement of nonrefundable expenses, and some policies will even cover cancellation if a cruise line or other common carrier cancels travel arrangements due to mechanical breakdown. Other covered reasons that may apply to cruise-goers include inclement weather or organized labor strike coverage.
Travelers should check their specific policy details to see if coverage applies.