While many cruise passengers buy trip insurance in case of emergencies, that insurance doesn’t always offer the protection they need. For instance, some cruise ship companies may not be liable for injuries suffered during offshore excursions that are not affiliated with the cruise. This is one of the major reasons why you should buy travel insurance from a third party and not from the tour operator itself.

Compare the cost of the trip versus the cost of the policy. If you just bought a $200 airline ticket, is that worth covering? If you paid for it with a credit card and the airline ceases to operate before your flight, you’re already covered under federal credit laws by your own credit card company, since you bought or contracted for a service that you didn’t get.

Look for a policy with a travel insurer that is not only independent from your tour operator but also licensed by your state. Many cruise lines and tour operators offer insurance, often at lower premiums than those charged by outside insurers. But if the cruise line or tour company goes out of business, there may not be money to cover your claim.

If flight or cruise delays make you want to cancel, you may be out of luck. Read the fine print; with some policies, more than half of your vacation has also to be delayed before you can cancel and be covered.

And last but not least, remember full disclosure. If you have a preexisting medical condition and don’t list it on your policy application, your entire claim could be denied, even if your medical condition wasn’t factor in the cancellation.

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