Do I need travel insurance or Voyage Protection for my Virgin Voyage?
As a general rule, we recommend all of our clients protect their trips with some sort of travel insurance.
But do you need to purchase Virgin’s “Voyage Protection?” And what if you have travel insurance provided by your credit card?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer — it all depends on your risk tolerance. Aside from the basics of trip delay, lost baggage, and medical protection, we wanted to highlight some important points to consider:
Sometimes cruises get canceled. Your airfare/hotel is not refunded.
It is not unheard of for cruise lines to cancel sailings unexpectedly. While uncommon, it happens. Your cruise fare will be refunded or credited (often with a bonus) but that does not cover your lost airfare and hotels.
We have had clients in the past opt to not protect their trip, receive a cancellation email, and find themselves out a lot of money in flights and hotels. A simple and cheap policy could have saved thousands.
Ship happens… sometimes before you even sail.
Everyone thinks of travel insurance as protection against lost bags or “what if I come down with malaria in the middle of the ocean?”
But sometimes life happens… emergencies happen… cancellations need to happen… before you leave your home.
While Virgin has a relatively flexible cancellation/re-booking policy compared to some other cruise lines, there are still instances where you could find yourself without a paddle, depending on when you cancel and why.
And again, you need to consider your flight and hotel cancellation policies.
Tropical cruises mean tropical weather.
Mother Nature can be unpredictable. Between hurricane season in the Caribbean or an icy snowstorm cancelling your flight to paradise, weather can affect your trip at any time of year.
Your credit card’s insurance might not be enough.
It is so important that you do your research and understand what is and is not covered by your credit card’s travel insurance before relying on it as your sole protection. Credit card travel insurance often does not cover things like preexisting medical conditions, evacuation, or adventure activities. If zip-lining or skydiving is on your agenda, you’ll want to be sure you’re covered. See our guide: Is my credit card travel insurance enough?
Some options to consider:
Virgin’s “Voyage Protection”
Voyage Protection covers all travel components booked through Virgin Voyages including voyage fare, air, and hotel. It can be purchased at any time before the final payment is made on a booking. Read the VV Voyage Protection FAQ’s here.
Aggregator sites like travelinsurance.com
Aggregator sites like travelinsurance.com can be a great tool in comparing plans side-by-side. Sort of like an Expedia for insurance. Be sure to check the reviews and coverage specific to you.
Our friend Faye
Many of our clients use Fora partner Faye Travel Insurance. Faye offers easy, affordable options for trips of all types. They are highly-rated and headache-free. Quotes and claims alike are quick and easy. Start your quote here.
The Bottom Line
Don’t risk it. Travel insurance is a small price to pay for a big peace of mind. No matter which route you choose, make sure you understand your coverage. Happy sailing!
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