Can you ever be too old to go on a cruise vacation?

As the peak of the Caribbean cruise season begins, many vacationers are headed to warmer temperatures in the tropics to enjoy a cruise.

According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), 17% of all cruise passengers from North America were between the age of 60-69, and 14% were 70 years old or older.

The U.S. Census Bureau says over the past 10 years, the population 65 and over increased 34% to 50.9 million. The government projects there will be 94.7 million senior citizens by 2060.

Seniors make up a large contingent of cruisers because they have the time to get away because so many are retired. However, seniors can face increased health risks while traveling.

While an estimated 200 people die on cruise ships each year, the risks are far greater of a medical issue occurring at sea than passing away.

While a major calamity is unlikely, being prepared is a smart plan for any cruiser of any age.

How old is too old to cruise?

Cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, do not have a maximum age limit of any kind. So the choice to vacation is one a person should be making with their health professional.

Given the popularity of cruise ships with retirees and the elderly, the next question is are there risk factors that should be taken into consideration before booking a cruise?

Stan Sandberg is co-founder of TravelInsurance.com, and shared his advice what anyone over 60 years old should be doing before they go on a cruise ship.

"While travel insurance is a smart purchase for travelers of any age, for Baby Boomers and Seniors (together, the over 60 crowd) travel insurance is essential for traveling the world."

According to Sandberg, seniors may not be aware of what might be covered if a medical problem occurred while outside the country, "It's critical for retirees who are on Medicare to check whether their coverage extends to international travel. Standard Medicare plans typically won't provide coverage when the recipient travels outside of the United States. A travel insurance plan with travel medical coverage and emergency medical evacuation coverage is a necessity for those travelers."

To that point, he believes the most important consideration for a Baby Boomer or Senior Citizen is to find a travel insurance plan with a pre-existing condition exclusion waiver.

"By default, most travel insurance plans will exclude losses resulting from a pre-existing medical condition unless the plan offers a waiver. One of the requirements to qualify for a waiver is that the traveler must purchase their travel insurance within a timeframe ranging from 7 days to 21 days from the date they made the first payment or deposit on the trip."

"Other requirements can include purchasing insurance to cover the entire trip costs. Since the definition of a pre-existing condition and the terms to qualify for a pre-existing condition exclusion waiver can vary between plans and providers, we always recommend reading a plan's detailed terms and conditions before purchasing."

Think about mobility

Something else affecting one's enjoyment on a cruise is your mobility.

Getting around a cruise ship is quite easy, as there are elevators to get between decks, and even special cabins designed for guests who have mobility disabilities and other disabilities that require the features of an accessible stateroom.

These special cabins include ramps at bathroom entries; roll-in showers with fold-down benches; handheld showerheads; and raised toilets. 

You can actually call Royal Caribbean's Accessibility Department at 866-592-7225.

Royal Caribbean won't provide wheelchairs, but you can bring your own and be able to use it during your cruise. Wheelchairs and scooters must be stored and charged in your room.

Tips for cruising safely as a senior

Travel insurance is a must-buy for all cruisers, especially seniors, and there are other good tips to consider if you're going on a cruise ship.

You'll want to not just pack all of your medications, but bring plenty of extra too.

Travel delays can occur, and having more medication than you think you need is a good idea.  In addition, be sure pack all the medical supplies you might need, including band-aids, Ace bandages, and over-the-counter medications.

If you require refrigerated medications, fill out the Royal Caribbean Special Needs Form before your cruise begins.

Be sure to pack proper footwear to use around the ship.  Decks can be slippery, especially on the pool decks. You'll want non-slip shoes of some kind.

Make sure you select shore excursions that realistically align with your physical abilities.  

Read the the physical requirements for any tour before booking it, paying close attention to how much walking is required, if there's uneven terrain, and how strenuous the activity is.

Age shouldn’t stop you from cruising

The saying "age is just a number" applies to cruises as well, but you should be prepared.

Ken Klingenberg is a 72-year-old retired paramedic and loves to cruise. He uses a scooter and thinks taking a cruise vacation is a "godsend" for people with mobility or other issues. 

"You get to this beautiful hotel on the water, and let the crew take you to different places while they feed and entertain you the entire time."

One piece of advice for seniors is to work with a travel agent that specializes in senior travel and/or accessible travel.

Brad Whitaker is over 60 years old, and he thinks cruising is a great way to get out of the same old routine for seniors, "Even if you never leave the ship (which is crazy to think you wouldn’t), there are tons of things to do and none of them are the same. Cruising helps you break your mold and enlarge your variety of life."

Plus, Brad uses cruising as a way to make new friends. The over 60 crowd can appreciate the social atmosphere you'll find around a Royal Caribbean cruise, "My wife and I have always met and made new friends on cruises," Brad said.

"I love asking people if I can take their picture with their camera so I can strike up a conversation! I know it’s an over-60 thing, but I do love doing it! Where else can I meet so many people?"

A woman claimed she was on a Royal Caribbean cruise and had an allergic reaction to something she ate, but then refused to pay the high price for medication onboard.

The woman posted a video on TikTok of her swollen face and disdain for the price the cruise ship's medical facility wanted to charge her.

"I've been on the boat for ... not even the full 24 hours and my face is swollen," she said as she took her sunglasses.

She did not say what she ate the triggered the reaction.  She said she said she went to the medical center on her vessel and was told it would cost $390 for Benadryl.

"They do have it, but it costs $390 for them to give me Benadryl," she said.

Cruise ship medical bays have doctors and nurses onboard, and it's effectively a mini urgent care location to treat and triage minor issues.  For major medical issues, the passenger will be taken off the ship to get treatment back on land.

For medical care onboard, they don't accept any insurance.  You have to pay out of pocket and then be reimbursed after the cruise by either your own medical insurance or a travel insurance policy.

Unfortunately, most medical insurance plans don't cover cruise ships because they're outside of their country. 

Luckily for this woman, she said at the end of the video she managed to get Benadryl from another passenger on the ship.

Fierce opinions

The comments for this woman's video exploded with opinions on the matter, as many had differing thoughts of what she should have done in this situation.

Many cruisers talked about how they bring all sorts of over-the-counter medications on vacation with them.

"I take the whole medicine cabinet with me on a cruise because I refuse!," said Deneanne Nicole.

Others recommended asking other passengers, who may have done just that.

"Girl. Go ask folks on the boat. Especially veteran cruisers. They have everything," said Baezivy.

Txfynest recommended, "Go on the Facebook travel group for your boat and ask the group hopefully you’ll be ok till yall port and get something."

Some viewers realized the need to plan ahead as a result of the video, "this is a learning experience for all of us. I need to take meds on my next cruise" gabrielabutcallmegaby commented.

Most of the comments centered around being prepared and bringing the right medications with you, just in case.

In fact, one of the top things cruisers shared they regretted not packing was over-the-counter medication.

No one wants to get sick on vacation, but it happens.

Whether you simply catch a head cold or you have a mild allergic reaction to a bug bite, having a variety of over-the-counter medication can make all the difference. 

The importance of travel insurance

The real debate topic was the importance of travel insurance and how they would have handled the situation.

Toneee22 shared their experience when something similar happened, "I fainted on a cruise was taken 2 the infirmary & my bill came 2 $600. I paid the bill before I left & sent it 2 my insurance company. They reimbursed me $570, so my out of pocket was only the co-pay."

Christina Sanford Hamilton added, "I have travel insurance. Buy it annually and I always take two bags of meds and bathroom stuff."

Travel insurance is technically optional, but it ought to be a must-buy for travelers going on a cruise vacation.

A basic policy from Allianz costs $37 per plan and covers:

• Flight, hotel, and vacation-rental cancellations
• Meal and transportation expenses during delays
• Rental-car insurance
• Medical expenses, including evacuations

The exact cost will depend on how long the trip is, the age of the cruisers, add-on coverages, and other considerations.

Travel insurance also covers you for a last-minute need to cancel a cruise, such as a death in the family or loss of a job.

The best way to compare insurance plans is to go through a travel insurance aggregator. 

My two favorite options are InsureMyTrip.com and TravelInsurance.com. 

Both charge you nothing extra to use their services, so it's free to browse. Plus, they offer ways to compare specific plans from different travel insurance companies against each other.

You probably won't actually need the travel insurance, but if you do, you never want to be in a situation where you're debating getting the health care you need versus the out of pocket costs.

If you are planning on purchasing travel insurance through Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises, they are raising the price of their policy effective June 1, 2023. 

Royal Caribbean sent out an email to travel agents warning them of the change.

"Dear valued Travel Partner," the email starts, "From time to time, we evaluate the product offering and pricing. As you may know, the plan cost is based upon your clients’ total trip cost (referred to as Total Protected Vacation Cost)."

"Effective June 1, 2023, the price of our Travel Protection product will increase for most guests, specifically when your clients’ Total Protected Vacation Cost is less than $8,000."

While the price of the product is increasing, there are no changes being made to the product itself. 

How much will the insurance policy cost?

There are 32 different price points for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity's insurance, all of which are based on the total vacation cost:

• $0 - $250: $39
• $251 - $500: $49
• $501 - $750: $69
•  $751 - $1,000: $79
• $1,001 - $1,250: $109
• $1,251 - $1,500: $119
• $1,501 - $2,000: $149
• $2,001 - $2,500: $199
• $2,501 - $3,000: $239
• $3,001 - $3,500: $289
• $3,501 - $4,000: $339
• $4,001 - $4,500: $389
• $4,501 - $5,000: $439
• $5,001 - $5,500: $489
• $5,501 - $6,000: $539

• $6,001 - $6,500: $599
• $6,501 - $7,000: $639
• $7,501 - $8,000: $739
• $8,001 - $8,500: $829
• $8,501 - $9,000: $879
• $9,001 - $9,500: $929
• $9,501 - $10,000: $979
• $10,001 - $10,500: $999
• $10,501 - $11,000: $1,099
• $11,001 - $11,500: $1,199
• $11,501 - $12,000: $1,299
• $12,001 - $12,500: $1,399
• $12,501 - $13,000: $1,499
• $13,001 - $13,500: $1,599
• $13,501- $14,000: $1,699
• Greater than $14,001: $1,799

What does the policy protect?

There are three primary components of the travel plan. 

The first is the Cancellation Penalty Waiver, which allows guests to cancel their vacation for specified reasons. It also includes a "Cancel for Any Reason Credit" that can be added for an additional cost.  

The second component is comprised of the benefits of the travel insurance that is underwritten by Arch Insurance Company: 

• Trip Interruption: Up to 150% of total trip cost if you can't start or finish your cruise vacation because you're sick or hurt, there's a death in the family or another covered reason.
• Trip Delay: Up to $2,000 ($250 per day) for catch-up expenses
• Missed Connection: Up to $300 if you miss your trip departure for covered reasons by three hours or more. 
• Accident and Sickness Medical: up to $25,000 if you get hurt and $25,000 if you get sick on your cruise vacation.
• Emergency Medical Evacuation: Up to $50,000 if you need emergency medical transportation during your vacation. 
• Baggage Protection and Delay: Up to $1,500 if your bags are lost, stolen, or damaged and up to $500 to buy necessary personal items if your bags are delayed.

Finally, you will get worldwide emergency assistance provided by On Call International. 

What does travel insurance not cover?

There are some things that Royal Caribbean's policy will not cover, such as Cancel for Any Reason. 

This is an addition that can be purchased separately by contacting 1-888-722-2195. If you booked through a travel agent, they will be able to assist you if this is something you are interested in.

Per the policy's contract, "This additional enhancement is offered by Royal Caribbean International as a special service to guests that purchase this cruise ticket Cancellation Penalty Waiver Addendum...Credits are valid for one year from issue date, are not transferable, and have no cash value."

"To be eligible for the credits: 1. The travel protection plan must be purchased prior to having made final payment for the cruise; and 2. Notification of cancellation must be given to Royal Caribbean International prior to the ship's departure."

"Once you’ve cancelled with Royal Caribbean International, please contact the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program Help Line at 1-800-453-4022 or 1-516-342- 7262 regarding cruise credits. Please note that AIR2SEA components are not subject to this cruise credit feature."

Additionally, the insurance policy will not reimburse you for inclement weather or cancelled ports of call.

If, for instance, you book a Western Caribbean cruise but find that the itinerary has been altered to an Eastern Caribbean one; the policy will not provide any compensation. 

Also, the policy's fine print states that benefits are not payable for any loss due to, arising from, or resulting from pre-existing conditions; war, invasion, acts of foreign enemies; or being intoxicated or under the influence of any controlled substance unless taken as administered or prescribed by a physician. 

If you are worried about something not being covered, you should read the fine print prior to purchasing the policy. 

What happens if I have already paid for insurance?

If you have already added travel insurance to your booking, you will not be required to pay the difference in pricing. 

That is, however, unless a certain event triggers a change. This could be a change in ship or sailing date, the addition of a promotion, or when the booking moves from offered to booked status, among other events.

Why should you consider travel insurance for your next cruise?

Travel insurance is not included in the cost of your cruise fare, meaning that you will need to factor it into your cruise budget. 

The purpose of insurance is meant to provide peace of mind in the unlikely event that an unexpected event occurs before, during, or after your trip and protects you against any major financial losses. 

Let's say that you booked your flight for the day before the cruise was scheduled to depart. Unfortunately, it was cancelled, and the airline was unable to rebook you on another flight that would guarantee an on-time arrival. 

The insurance plan would help cover some of the associated costs of rebooking and/or meeting up with the ship at the first port of call. 

Additionally, many passengers partake in active activities while on a cruise, whether they are onboard or ashore. Active activities come with a risk, and you can never predict if you will need medical attentional due to an accident.

Note that those residing in New York are ineligible for Royal Caribbean's insurance during booking. A policy can be added after the fact through travelcruisecare.com. This applies to Celebrity sailings, too. 

Related: Should you buy annual travel insurance plans?

It is impossible to predict the future, and that includes accidents, delays and other unforeseen circumstances.  That is why it is so important to invest in travel insurance to cover your cruise vacation.

We have a brand new video to share with you, that looks at the important reasons to buy a travel insurance plan for your next Royal Caribbean cruise. It is not too late!

And if you love this video, we have lots of other great cruise videos to watch on our Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel!

By the way, have you subscribed yet? Be sure to subscribe to our channel and never miss a single video!

So check out the video and then let us know: Why do you typically purchase travel insurance for your cruise?