PORT NEWS
should you make a claim. Their policies balance a fair premium with excellent cover and low excesses. Peace of mind: this is comprehensive
cover for travellers who do care what happens to them and do not want to trust to luck. From their UK base, sister company Specialty Assist handles many thousands of cases for travellers who became ill or had an accident abroad. Having looked at this in some detail, as
cruise travellers it’s difficult to shop for what we need. For instance, how can we evaluate that what we are buying actually is right for us? How can we make real comparisons? What is it we should be looking for?
ate Huet, managing director of International Travel and Healthcare, has some valid pointers. She explained: “Ensure that, before you buy a cruise insurance policy, you read the Policy Summary. You MUST be provided with this when you get your quote. It is a shortened version of the full policy wording and will quickly provide you with the basic information you need to make an informed purchase. “I would suggest that anyone who has an annual travel policy which ‘comes with’ another financial services product – for example, a household insurance policy, a bank account or a credit card – looks very carefully at the wording because these are ‘broad brush’ policies. Expect to find no cover at all for pre-existing medical conditions, for example. “Also expect to find fairly low levels of
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cover for cancellation and curtailment and check there is sufficient cover value to pay for everything you have booked and are committed to, should you need to cancel.
Cruises are often high value purchases and the average cancellation amount in a travel policy is frequently as low as £3,000. “Do not assume your insurance will actually cover everything that could happen and be aware that what you pay is a good indication of what sort of cover will be in place. For instance, cheap policies may not cover the airline you are booked to fly on, or the hotel you stay in at the beginning or end of your cruise, if they go bust – the inclusion of Dynamic Packaging Cover means you are covered for flights and accommodation as well as your cruise. “And be very sure if you have any medical issues (including waiting for a test result) that you declare these and ensure they are endorsed onto your policy. Taking the risk of not declaring all pre-existing medical conditions is not worthwhile – the most it will ever cost in Additional Premium is much less than a ride in an ambulance, never mind the actual hospital charges!” As a specialist travel insurance provider, onestop4: cruise insurance recognised 18 months ago the changes that were happening and the difficulties that would-be cruise travellers were facing. They told us: “It was a real challenge to meet the needs of mature cruise travelers, who were simply not able to continue cruising because of their age or health concerns. We were also amazed to find high-value cruises were not being adequately protected and cruise travellers were taking risks just to get on board for a few weeks’ of relaxation.” Thankfully, OneStop4 can now offer
many travellers who would love to cruise the opportunity to do so, with adequate protection AND peace of mind. For more details, call 01689 892 227 or visit
www.onestop4.co.uk.
MALTA’S ROYAL WELCOME Malta’s historic Port of VALLETTA welcomed Queen Elizabeth for the first time last month with an 8-gun salute as she sailed into the Grand Harbour. A 15-piece band greeted the liner with a number of lively tunes, including both British and Maltese compositions. The customary plaque exchange
ceremony with the Captain took place on board with John Portelli, CEO of port operators VISET, and Michela Mifsud, daughter of MBL Directors Ivan and Maria Mifsud, Cunard’s port agents since 1945. Prior to the ship’s departure, passengers were treated to an Inguardia re-enactment, showing island events during the Knights of St John period, courtesy of the Malta Tourism Authority. More info: visit online at:
www.vallettawaterfront.com.
COPENHAGEN CHEER
Danish capital COPENHAGEN has received international acclaim at the conclusion of the 2010 cruise season, with news of a significant increase in both ship calls and visitors in 2011. First, the city has just been recog- nised in the prestigious annual World Travel Awards in London, winning both ‘Europe’s Leading Cruise Destination’ and ‘Europe’s Leading Cruise Port’ categories. Next year, Copenhagen already has 50 more calls booked than this year’s cruise season, which brought in 304 ships. Ole Andersen for the Cruise Copenhagen Network in- sisted: “We will endeavour to ensure it is not the last time Copenhagen is rewarded for its efforts on behalf of cruise ships and their passengers.”
LERWICK’S RECORD
The port of LERWICK finished its cruise season in style – with the visit of the largest ship ever to visit the Shetland Islands. The 108,806-ton Grand Princess
onestop4:cruise insurance
rounded off a record-breaking five months which saw the highest number of passengers yet at around 30,000 and cruise vessels topping the one million tonne mark in a season for the first time. A total of 48 ships visited Lerwick in 2010, with passenger numbers up from 24,146 in 2009.
Winter 2010 / 2011 I WORLD OF CRUISING
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