Travel insurance con - cruises

money54

Has anyone taken out travel insurance with HolidaySafe thinking they were covered for cruises? Unless you take out a well hidden optional extra, you weren't covered. If you went on a cruise and didn't claim, you might be entitled to your money back as you weren't insured. If you did try to claim, please let me know what happened!

Caz3121

money54 wrote: »

Has anyone taken out travel insurance with HolidaySafe thinking they were covered for cruises? Unless you take out a well hidden optional extra, you weren't covered. If you went on a cruise and didn't claim, you might be entitled to your money back as you weren't insured. If you did try to claim, please let me know what happened!

Many travel insurance companies do not include cruises as standard.
not sure I would agree that it is well hidden, tables for both Single Trip and Multi-trip show Cruise Cover as "Optional"
Cruise is also first on the list of "Extensions" available
I have not heard of anyone getting a refund of a policy after the 14 day cancellation term that they purchased and subsequently found was not suitable
You are correct that you were would not be insured but that is down to not selection the correct policy options

daveyjp

If a company designs a website as complicated as that for such an important purchase its a sign for me to avoid them.

ThinkingOutLoud_2

Don't confuse a special add on of extra cover for you cruise (for things that other holidays don't "have") with a total exclusion of cover for all the other coverages.

So if you don't want to add cover for say adverse weather, missed shore excursions ... that does not mean you don't have any cover at all, usually.

Did you read what the cruise extension actually covers that was usually excluded?

money54

It was pretty well hidden! Why would I pay money not to be insured if I had seen anything that said that cruises aren't covered without the "cruise options". The options were for change of itinerary, inability to use excursion vouchers and for confinement to cabin, none of which were for medical cover.

BNU_2

I've recently booked my first cruise and would be grateful for cruise insurance recommendations please. 3 nights either side on land too. Would I cover the whole 16 days with the same policy?

ThinkingOutLoud_2

money54 wrote: »

It was pretty well hidden! Why would I pay money not to be insured if I had seen anything that said that cruises aren't covered without the "cruise options". The options were for change of itinerary, inability to use excursion vouchers and for confinement to cabin, none of which were for medical cover.

So you are right they exclude cover for cruising unless you buy the extension. Unusual,although not unique.

The point is made on the single trip home page list of what you get or don't - not exactly hidden?
"Cover for Cruising during your policy by adding our Cruise Extension (please note you will only be covered for cruising if you purchase this extension)."

It is also made repeated in the full policy wording (P4 and P12 with a warning symbol).

However it is NOT mentioned at all as a significant or unusual exclusion in the Policy Summary downloadable from the Key Facts link. This seems remiss to me as the majority of the market does not take their approach.

They oddly have a section called Policy Summary where none of the pdf links I tried work.

You might argue that the links don't work and their Policy Summary makes no mention of the cruise exclusion (which it highlights so repeatedly in the wording) - with the threat of an Ombudsman complaint you might see them refund your premium before fixing their document issues.

money54

Thanks for thinking out loud! That's interesting that you think HolidaySafe differ from other companies in the way in which they present the cruise cover. They have clearly recognised this in part as they have offered a partial settlement of the claim, which is completely unacceptable and I am gathering evidence to present to the Onbudsman. The email they sent when I took out the policy made no mention that cruises were not covered, nor (as you point out) did the summary of cover, nor did the introductory letter and only in the 34 page document were cruise options referred to but on page 4 were explained as cabin confinement, change of itinerary and inability to use pre-paid on shore excursion vouchers, none of which we needed (all I was looking for was medical cover) so didn't look further. I am so upset as why would I try to pay money not to be insured. HolidayUnSafe Insurance is what I'd call them. Thanks again. Adrian

ThinkingOutLoud_2

money54 wrote: »

Thanks for thinking out loud! That's interesting that you think HolidaySafe differ from other companies in the way in which they present the cruise cover. They have clearly recognised this in part as they have offered a partial settlement of the claim...

So it is definite that many do not exclude medical cover on a cruise unless you take the cruise option. Not all offer an extension and those that do - it usually covers the specific cancellation/trip disruption things specific to a trip like cabin confinement, missed port departure or excursions.

On what basis have the offered partial payment - as an attempt to reduce the amount settled OR as an ex gratia gesture of goodwill?

money54

It's the latter with a take it or sue us approach.