Any number of things can go wrong while you’re on a cruise, and in fact many things can go wrong even before you leave. Travel insurance can cover both types of problems.

If you have problems before your cruise begins, you may have to cancel your vacation, and if you’ve invested a lot of money in your trip, this can be very unfortunate. While you may be able to recoup some of your costs if you have to cancel your trip, odds are you’ll still end up losing a lot of money (because of cancellation fees, for one). However, with the right kind of insurance package, you can protect yourself against this type of misfortune.

It might seem really unlikely that you’ll have to cancel your trip, but tons of things can go wrong that might force you to do this. First, you or a loved one might have a medical problem, and if it is at all serious, there is a good chance you’ll have to cancel your cruise. Second, extreme weather might flare up prior to your cruise (consider a hurricane in the Caribbean, one of the most common places to take a cruise), causing your entire trip to be ruined. The cruise line might offer some sort of refund if this were to occur, but this is far from a guarantee. A decent travel insurance plan would definitely have you covered. Third, the cruise line you book your vacation with may dissolve because of financial problems (like a bankruptcy), and in this case, you almost certainly won’t be getting your money back unless you have some sort of travel insurance. The point is that a host of uncontrollable problems might derail your trip, and without any coverage, you could be stuck paying a lot of money for a cruise you’ll never enjoy.

What could go wrong while you’re on the cruise? Again, a ton of things. Perhaps the most obvious problem a traveler may experience is illness or injury, and unless your regular health insurance covers you while traveling, you could end up paying exorbitant fees for medical attention. (For more on this topic, check out our article on travel medical insurance.) Another problem that may befall a traveler is an interruption mid-cruise, like if the ship has a mechanical problem that causes the rest of your voyage to be canceled. Of course, the cruise line would reimburse you for the ruined cruise, but the unexpected out-of-pocket expenses you’ll almost certainly incur while figuring out a way to get home will likely not be covered. Also, with travel insurance, you might have an easier time getting home – you’ll be dealing with your insurance provider while most other passengers are dealing with a cruise’s customer service department in crisis mode.

How much will this insurance cost? It depends on a few different factors – most notably, the cost of your cruise fare and your age (for medical reasons) – but you should be able to find a solid plan that covers a wide range of potential problems (we’ve only touched on a few things that may go wrong during your vacation) for somewhere in the range of $100 to $200, with the majority (at least as far as we’ve seen) on the lower end of this scale. Sure, it’s a bit of an investment, but your cruise will cost a lot more, and it is for exactly this reason that travel insurance makes sense.

The short answer, and one that is only partially hyperbolic, is everywhere. With few exceptions, cruises sail all over the globe, although, of course, significant portions of the globe are cut off from cruises because of their inland location – no cruises to the heart of mainland China. Sorry! This obvious limitation aside, let’s look at the main destinations of cruise vacations.

Perhaps the most familiar cruise destination is the Caribbean. When people think of cruising, the Caribbean always seems to come to mind. Tons of cruise vacations center around trips to the Caribbean, where passengers spend their days off the ship laying on the beach, snorkeling, and doing other such tropical activities. Those who cruise to the Caribbean may also consider a trip to Central and/or South America. On such voyages, cruise ships often sail right through the Panama Canal, allowing passengers to check out, while lounging on the deck, the enormous man-made waterway that passes through large stretches of jungle.

Another common cruise destination is Alaska. (In a previous article, we wrote about why people take cruises to Alaska.) Cruises to Alaska appeal to travelers who are lovers of the northern landscape, and cruise lines offer the appropriate activities, like hikes inland to admire some of the 100,000 glaciers that are in the state. People who would enjoy an Alaskan cruise might also like to cruise to Canada, which is also a relatively popular cruise destination.

A more distant cruise destination, at least for those leaving from the U.S., is Europe, a location to which all the major cruise lines sail. European cruises can focus on a number of different locations, including the British Isles and Northern Europe, as well as several areas around the Mediterranean.

An even more distant cruise destination (again, from the perspective of those departing from the U.S.) is Asia and the South Pacific, and since these areas are far from the common ports of the U.S., trips to this part of the globe tend to be rather long (and therefore expensive). Trips to this part of the world may visit countries in Asia (e.g., Japan) and some of the many islands in the South Pacific, and they also travel to Australia and New Zealand regularly.

The locations described above constitute the major destinations of cruise vacations. However, there are cruises that go to other parts of the world, like Africa and the Middle East, so if you’re really interested in taking a cruise to this part of the world, rest assured that it’s possible. Again, the bottom line is that cruise lines sail their fleets all over the world, so you can likely plan a cruise vacation to the area of the world that you are most inclined to visit.

(1) Cruises will fit virtually any schedule. Unless you only get a few hours off from work per year, you can probably find time to go on a cruise. Cruises can last anywhere from a few days (e.g., a quick trip to the Caribbean from a port in Florida) to multiple months (e.g., the world tours offered by some of the major cruise lines), meaning that even if you have an extended weekend of free time, you can probably fit in a quick cruise. Moreover, cruises operate all year, including over the holidays (indeed, there are specific cruise packages for Christmas cruises, New Year’s Eve cruises, etc.), so if you get time off during the holiday season, you could also consider taking a cruise during this time of year.

(2) Cruises allow you to see many parts of the world in a short period of time. By their very nature, cruises are moving vacations. They take you from port to port – that’s what they’re all about. Among other things, this means that cruises afford you the opportunity to explore many different places, often a few countries, in just a week’s time. What’s more, you’ll be exploring the world in comfort, checking out foreign lands, but also having a nice cabin to go back to at night.

(3) Although we mentioned that cost may prevent one from going on a cruise, it is equally true that cruises can be extremely economical. Just check out this article in which we hunt for the cheapest cruise possible. (Teaser: we were able to find cruises that cost under $200!) To be sure, many cruises are very expensive, but there are also tons of extremely good deals on cruises. Check out this article on how to find a cheap cruise if you want more information on this front.

(4) Water covers the majority of the world – don’t you think you should explore it at least once in your traveling career? Most vacations involve visiting land, and this makes sense, considering humans are terrestrial beings. However, the sea is worthy of at least one vacation, and a cruise gives you a perfect way to check out the open sea in a safe, comfortable way. Of course, cruises also involve visits to ports, so you’ll get to visit some location on land, just like a regular vacation, but you’ll also be able to experience the ocean in all its vast glory.

(5) There are tons of fun and entertaining things to do on board a cruise, ranging from physical activities to fine dining. Normally, the traveling segment of a vacation is the undesirable part, but with a cruise, the time spent sailing to different destinations is all part of the fun. Passing through security is replaced with a trip to the on-board movie theater, and time spent in customs can be time spent sipping a cocktail on deck.

There are many more reasons to take a cruise, but hopefully these five will have already convinced you of the desirability of cruising.

Let us begin by pointing out that there is a difference between general travel insurance and travel medical insurance. The former takes a variety of forms and can cover any number of unforeseen obstacles you may encounter during your travels, like losing your luggage. General travel insurance may also cover not only problems you encounter while traveling, but also the complete dissolution of your trip, like if you need to cancel a vacation that you have already invested a lot in because of a last-minute emergency. Travel medical insurance, one the other hand, is exclusively concerned with possible medical expenses you may incur as you travel. Both are important to consider before leaving on a journey, but in the present article we are concerned only with travel insurance as it relates to your medical needs. (It should be noted, however, that some travel insurance packages include medical insurance, so if you are thinking about getting travel insurance for your trip, it’s worth considering plans that include medical insurance.)

Travel medical insurance is about one thing: coverage. So, the first thing you need to figure out is if your existing medial insurance (should you have it) provides any coverage for you while you are traveling. This is something that needs to be directly discussed with the insurance company because it can get complicated. For example, perhaps your insurance covers accidents that happen while you are on the cruise ship, but won’t cover medical services provided in a foreign country at port. (Not being insurance agents, we don’t know how plausible of a policy this is, but it indicates the type of questions you need to ask your insurance provider before you leave.) Coverage might also extend only to certain countries, and different rules with respect to payment might apply in different countries as well; for example, some countries may require up-front payment for services, meaning you would have to apply for reimbursement later.

After you have spoken with your insurance company and determined your level of coverage, it is time to decide if you need travel insurance, and if you do, you must determine what kind of coverage is most suited to your particular needs. There are minimal plans that don’t cost very much a month (some significantly less than a dollar a day), but, as one might expect, these have high deductibles and low coverage. There are also plans on the other end of the spectrum that have low deductibles and offer coverage of basically everything conceivable. Such plans can be well over $100 a month. Most people opt for a middle-of-the-road plan that offers reasonable coverage and requires modest deductibles. Whatever plan you arrive at, you should at least make sure you are covered against a medical crisis that would ruin you financially were you not covered by insurance.

You might think that travel medical insurance is for the overly cautious, and that it is a waste of money to prepare for something that is unlikely to happen. Of course, to say this would be to exactly misunderstand what insurance is all about: you purchase it with the hope of never using it, possessing it for the sole reason that something might happen that is unlikely to happen. How likely is it that you’ll need to be evacuated from a cruise ship by an emergency medical helicopter? Not very likely, but it can cost you up to $50,000 (or more) if this were to occur. It’s a classic cost-benefit analysis, and like many such analyses, it points toward prudent caution. And besides the catastrophic, there are any number of ailments that might befall you when traveling – certainly as many (and probably more) than when you are simply at home – so travel medical insurance is not for the timid, but for the wise.

Before beginning any vacation, you must pack, and obviously cruise vacations require the same. However, unlike most other vacations, cruise vacations can take you through several different climates, so your wardrobe should be correspondingly varied. A Caribbean cruise, for example, will require items like shorts, t-shirts, sandals, and bathing suites, but it is also good to bring pants and a sweater or light jacket for activities at night, as well as for stretches of the cruise that aren’t as warm as a Caribbean beach. It is equally important to remember to bring the appropriate clothing for dining, which can be a formal affair on a cruise ship. If the cruise vacation you select includes such a formal night of dining, men will need to pack a dark suit and tie (you can also rent a tuxedo if you feel like going all out), and women will need a cocktail dress or gown. Semi-formal dining requires less stringent attire: men can wear a button-down shirt with a sport coat, and women a dress or pantsuit. The bottom line is that a cruise vacation may require many different types of clothes, and it is important to keep this in mind as you pack.

Clothes are not the only thing that you’ll need to pack, though. Other important items you’ll want to make sure to bring are the appropriate travel documents and any medications that you have to take. With regard to the former, U.S. citizens traveling outside the country will need to bring a passport, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document (this requirement does not apply to trips to U.S. territories, however). Non-U.S. citizens will need to contact the appropriate consulates or embassies to figure out what documentation they will need to travel to different countries. As a precautionary measure, it is good to check the entry requirements of any countries you may visit, just to make sure you have all the proper documentation.

With respect to medication, make sure to bring any prescriptions you have in their original container (commonly-used, over-the-counter medication, on the other hand, can be purchased from the doctor’s office on the ship). It is a good idea to keep this medication on you, as you might not always have access to your checked baggage. It is worth noting that almost all cruise ships have fully equipped and staffed medical facilities on-board, so while you need to take some measures related to healthcare before cruising, it’s not as if serious medical issues can’t be handled on-board.

Yet another preparatory measure that ought to be taken before leaving is to make sure that the cruise ship can accommodate any dietary restrictions you may have. It is common for cruise ships to offer low-fat and vegetarian meals, among other diet-oriented meals, but you should always check this out before booking a cruise.

By taking these precautions, and making adequate preparations, before leaving your house for your cruise vacation, as well as consulting with the cruise line to make sure you have taken any other necessary preparatory measures, you will be all ready to go, and to enjoy a worry-free cruise vacation.

American Safari’s fleet consists of Safari Spirit, Safari Quest, and Safari Explorer. Safari Spirit was built in 1981 and renovated in 2005. It is 105 feet long and accommodates 12 guests in six staterooms. Rooms feature TV/DVD; Tempur-Pedic memory foam mattresses; king, queen, or twin beds; and full private bath with heated tile floors. The ship has an on-deck hot tub and fitness equipment, a salon for lounging or watching a movie, and a well-stocked bar featuring fine wines, bottled microbrews, and premium liquors. Although elegant, the environment is also casual. Safari Quest and Safari Explorer have the same features, except Quest accommodates 22 guests and Explorer accommodates 40 guests.

American Safari Cruises travel during the day to Alaska, Columbia & Snake Rivers, Hawaii, and Mexico’s Sea of Cortes. Cruises are either 8 days/7 nights or 15 days/14 nights. The following is a sample itinerary for the Mexico’s Sea of Cortes Cruise: Aquarium of the World.

8 Days/7 Nights — Roundtrip La Paz, Baja California, Sur

Daily Itinerary
Day 1Arrive in La Paz, boarding
Day 2 Isla Partida and Beach Activities
Day 3 Whale Watching
Day 4 The Nature of the Sea of Cortes Exploration
Day 5 Bahia Agua Verde Mule Ride
Day 6 Isla Coyote (Isla San Jose)
Day 7 Los Islotes
Day 8 Disembark La Paz

Journey Highlights

-Extensive exploration of the World Heritage Site biosphere reserve
-Nights spent at anchor in remote bays and coves
-From-the-yacht kayaking, snorkeling and small-boat excursions
-Included trail ride into the mountains with a local ranchero
-Underwater camera to view sea life

African Safari Cruises Prices and Contact

Each of the yacht charters and cruises are offered at one inclusive price, so all premium wines, microbrews and liquors, exclusive shore excursions, on-yacht meals, activities, taxes, port charges, transfers, and lectures are included.

Rates for a Single Stateroom or Commander Stateroom range from $4,995-$5,695 and from $3,995-$4,995 for a Mariner Stateroom. A Captain Staterooms costs $5,795-$6,595. Full charters are $99,995-$119,995.

American Safari Cruises is headquartered in Seattle, Washington at 3826 18th Avenue West, 98119.

Information/Reservations:
Office Hours: M-F 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
(Pacific Standard Time)
(888) 862-8881

Toll Free: (888) 862-8881
Fax: (206) 283-9322
Business: (206) 284-0300

Email: sales(at)AmericanSafariCruises.com; info(at)AmericanSafariCruises.com; webmaster(at)AmericanSafariCruises.com; PR@AmericanSafariCruises.com

Alaska is a year round vacation destination with a variety of expedition voyages available all year—even during the colder winter months. Although winter is one of the most scenic times of year to visit Alaska, the shoulder seasons, May and September (also the end of August), are the most popular times to visit.

During the month of May, the climate is warm and the days are long. Wildlife is abundant and flowers are in full bloom. Around the end of August through September, Alaska has the best fall colors in the world with blazing yellow and red trees by Labor Day, with tall mountains with fresh snow on their peaks as a backdrop. Animals begin to feed in the lower elevations, so opportunities to snap a picture increase during this time. In September, in the Interior of Alaska, it also gets dark enough to see the Northern Lights.

If you are interested in an exciting adventure, the opportunity to document the adventure through photography, and learn about photography, you should consider Aperture Academy’s 7-Day Photography Cruise to Alaska. The cruise, which takes place aboard Holland America’s luxury liner Oosterdam, departs from Seattle on August 21, 2011 and returns August 28, 2011.

Presented in collaboration with Canon and Holland America Line, the Aperture Academy photography cruise will feature:

• Presentations by award-winning photographers
• Excursion workshops
• Photoshop classes
• Canon print classes
• Printing labs run by Canon
• Personalized instruction from “from a team of highly experienced photographers, teaching you what YOU want to learn.”

According to the official Aperture Academy website, guests will have a front row seat to the “beautiful Alaskan landscape (rugged mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and lush forests) and amazing Alaskan wildlife (grizzly bear, eagles, whales, otters and more).

The cruise will sail from Seattle to:

• Glacier Bay (Day 3)
• Juneau (Day 4)
• Sitka (Say 5)
• Ketchikan (Day 6)
• Canada-Victoria, B.C. (Day 7)

Each day, whether at sea or exploring Alaska, guests will have unlimited opportunities to photograph the landscape and wildlife, learn, and socialize. The following information is just one example of what to expect. Please note that the information below is from the official Aperture Academy website.

Day 3
The fun begins as we enter Glacier Bay…it will be all hands (holding cameras) on deck for this workshop. We’ll glide through the glacier-heavy waters, and instructors will work with you to achieve the best results while photographing the majestic blue chunks of ice as they float in the bay and fall from the glacier into the sea. The rest of your day will be free to explore the ship, relax, or partake in the Photoshop classes available on the boat with our Adobe certified instructors. Whether your version of raw is from the camera or in the form of sushi on the ship, the day is full of opportunity and fun for you aboard the Oosterdam.

That evening will be geared towards photography adventure as the award winning team of instructors from the Aperture Academy give slide-show talks and entertaining presentations about some of their favorite expeditions behind the lens. Whether it’s spending a week with grizzlies in the wilds of Alaska, braving 30 ft. swells in the seas surrounding Antarctica, or backpacking for 2-months in Iceland, our instructors have been all over the planet and experienced some of the best it has to offer. Sit back, relax, and let them entertain and educate you.

When you are ready to book your cruise, visit the Aperture Academy website at www.apertureacademy.com to get started. On the website, you can also review more details about Aperture Academy, the photography cruise package, the itinerary, and how the pricing works.

Aperture Academy Contact
Aperture Academy
1875 S. Bascom
Suite 600
Campbell, CA 95008
Phone: 408-369-8585
E-mail: info[at]apertureacademy.com

Voyages last anywhere from 5-13 days, with special voyages such as the
8-day Climate Voyage. This voyage was created specifically for individuals that are interested in learning about global warming and its effects on polar ice caps.
In addition to The Arctic-Spitsbergen, Hurtigruten features voyages to Norway, Antarctica, The Falklands, Malvinas and South Georgia, Greenland, and Western Europe.

Hurtigruten’s ships are nothing short of spectacular in the world of expedition cruises. The fleet consists of fourteen ships. Eleven operate on the Norwegian Coastal Voyage route at any one time. The fleet includes:

MV Polar Star
MS Fram
MS Lofoten
MS Kong Harald
MS Nordlys
MS Nordkapp
MS Nordnorge
MS Richard With
MS Polarlys
MS Nordstjernen
MS Midnatsol
MS Trollfjord
MS Vesterålen

Arctic-Spitsbergen voyages typically take place aboard MS Fram. The 11,647-ton MS Fram was built in 2007. It is 114 feet long and it accommodates 318 passengers. Named after the famous Norwegian Explorer Fridtjof Nansen, MS Fram’s interior “has been inspired by Greenland and the Arctic region.” It features a glass-enclosed observation lounge, and leisure facilities including a sauna, two heated outdoor Jacuzzis, and a gym.

If you would like to book an Arctic-Spitsbergen cruise aboard MS Fram, prices start at $2,747 per person, depending on the time of year and accommodations. You may contact a cruise travel specialist to book a cruise or visit the official Hurtigruten website at
http://www.hurtigruten.us. You may also try any of the discount booking search engines below for cruise deals.

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com
Cruise411.com
Cruise.com

Hurtigruten Contact Information

Address
8411 W. Oakland Park Blvd. Suite 201
Sunrise, FL 33351
Phone: 800-323-7436
Fax: 888-524-2145
Toll Free: 800-323-7436

Website:
http://www.hurtigruten.us
Email: USbooking@hurtigruten.com

Family Expeditions take place aboard National Geographic Endeavour. Endeavour has 56 cabins that accommodate 96 guests. The ship features a spa, sauna, fitness center, library, gift shop, a lounge and bar, swimming pool, laundry, and Internet access. Guests also have access to a wellness specialist and there is a full-time doctor onboard.

The Galapagos Family Odyssey is a 10-day adventure that features the following itinerary:

Day 1 — U.S./Guayaquil, Ecuador: Depart for Guayaquil and upon arrival, transfer to hotel.

Day 2 — Guayaquil/Galápagos: Fly to the Galápagos Islands and board the expedition ship. During lunch, sail to North Seymour Island for an introduction to the diverse wildlife of the islands. Afternoon, walk along the sandy shoreline looking for land iguanas, sea lions, and rare birds.

Days 3 through 7 — Exploring Galápagos

Day 9 — Galápagos/Guayaquil

After breakfast, disembark the ship and fly to Guayaquil. The evening is at your leisure.

Day 10 — Guayaquil/U.S

During the family expedition, families will explore Isla Bartolome, North Seymour Islet, Isla Santiagio, Genovesa Island, Isla Santa Cruz, Isla Isabela, Isla Fernandina, Isla Floreana, Sombrero Chino Islet, Rabida Island, San Cristobal Island, and Isla Espanola. An expedition team consisting of naturalists and regional specialists will “share their knowledge and insights into wildlife, landscapes, and local culture.”

Please note that family expeditions also take place aboard National Geographic Islander. Costs are slightly higher for Islander. Expedition costs are as follows:

Category 1: $5,320
Category 1: $5,980
Category 1: $6,590
Category 1: $6,990
Category 1: $8,450

To book a family expedition cruise aboard National Geographic Endeavour or Islander, visit the official National Geographic Expeditions website at www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com.

Source: National Geographic Expeditions, www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com

This award-winning adventure cruise company features multi-day sailing cruises throughout British Columbia, Alaska’s Inside Passage, and Haida Gwaii. Sailing cruises take place aboard the 92-foot schooner Maple Leaf, which offers accommodations for around 10 guests. According to eWaterways, “Maple Leaf’s main is open and airy by day, and the sleeping areas offer large comfortable beds (bunks) with fluffy duvets, pillows and throws and brass reading lamps. They are surrounded with walls on two-and-a-half sides and thick, heavy curtains on the other one-and-a-half sides.”

Maple Leaf has three bathrooms, with showers, a dining lounge/library, an above-deck wheelhouse, and ample deck space. Because of the intimate setting, remote destinations and rugged conditions, these cruises are best suited for outgoing, healthy individuals that are capable of climbing in and out of a sailing ship. In some cases, there are no docks. These cruise are also best for individuals that are “enthusiastic about participating, amenable to the vagaries of weather, and friendly enough to get along in the relatively close quarters of a sailing yacht.”

Guests can choose from a number of cruise tours such as Alaska Adventure Sailing Cruises from Sitka, AK to Prince Rupert, BC; Galapagos Island Cruise Tours; Great Bear Rainforest Sailing Cruises, Gulf Islands, BC; National Park; Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands Tours; Vancouver Island’s Wild Side Sailing Cruise; Whales and Totems of the Great Bear Rainforest; Painting Holidays by Sail in British Columbia, Canada; Craft Beer Tour (Tall Sails and Ales), and Family Adventure Vacations. Prices range from $2,150-$5,975, depending on destination, type of cruise (adventure, theme, etc.), and season.

Sample Itinerary – Gulf Islands BC by mapleleafadventures.com

Day 1: Orientation, cruising. Seabird island visit, wildlife watching, porpoises. Anchorage Saturna Island.

Day 2: Morning hike on Saturna Island, forest ecology learning. Cruising, beachcombing a remote island, sea lion haul out.

Day 3: Village visit, sailing in Georgia Strait or one of many channels in the area, walk to visit Canada’s largest arbutus and Garry Oak meadow.

Day 4: Intertidal life, First Nations shell middens, wildflower meadows, remote island anchorage. Optional kayak.

Day 5: Sailing, island anchorage, evening kayaking.

Day 6: Cruising to Sidney.

If you are interested in booking a maple Leaf Adventure cruise, there are several ways to go about it. You can contact the company directly toll-free at 1-888-599-5323 or Outside US & Canada: +1-250-386-7245 (250-FUN-SAIL). You can request information via email at info@mapleleafadventures.com or mapleleaf@mapleleafadventures.com. You can also visit the official Maple Leaf Adventures website at www.mapleleafadventures.com to request a brochure or submit an online form detailing your questions or booking information.

Maple Leaf Adventures Address and Contact

Maple Leaf Adventures offices are located in downtown Victoria, above the famous Murchie’s Tea and Coffee merchants.

Mailing address:
PO Box 8845, Stn. Central
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3Z1
Canada

Courier address is:
#209 – 1110 Government Street
Victoria, B.C. V8W 1Y2
Canada