Oh. PH8, I misunderstood. I get you now.
About woullebear's post, I think she may have meant the term "insurance" figuratively. Not that they would be buying actual insurance. It's just that if you book the excursion through the cruise line you have a far greater chance that the ship will either wait for you, or catch you up to the ship. Whereas if you book the excursions independently, on your own, and miss the ship, then you would truely be "on your own." Meaning the piece of mind is worth the extra money the cruise line's excursions cost.
Hello Ytakbob, Where in Ohio are you from. We're live in Ohio too. In Parma (a suburb of Cleveland, for the non-Ohioans). About the insurance..well I always recommend inusurance, and I always buy it, but after 15 cruises we've never have needed to use it. Came close a few times though.
I can tell you're thinking of insurance in terms of having our lovely Ohio winter weather possibly ruin your trip. Well as you know that is always a possiblity around here. If the planes aren't flying you're not going to catch your ship. If that's your only concern, then consider just how much of a hit losing that entire cruise cost would be to your budget. Because there are no refunds for canceling on the day of the cruise. Possibly you might fly out to the first port, and catch up to the cruise there. How badly would those flight changes, and overnight hotel cost hit you? (That's if those are even possible to arrange.)
But remember insurance is not only about missing the ship, or for delays in catching it. It seems to me that the most frequent use of the insurance has been for those who have had to cancel their cruises. It's also for lost or delayed luggage. And more importantly for medical costs in the case of illness or accident while you are vacationing. Also we've have seen more than a few Cruise Addict's come home with tales of broken bones. Remember most regular health insurance companies will not cover you when you are out of the country.Probably the biggest expense you could incur while cruising would be the cost of medical evacuation in a serious emergency. I haven't a clue as to what it costs to medivac someone off a ship, but I'd bet big bucks, it ain't cheap.
m even though they do not depart until 5