Some of the unexpected things that can go wrong on a cruise include the following:
- You miss the boat – there are any number of reasons you could miss your cruise departure. You could have a traffic accident en route. Bad weather could delay your flight arrival. You, or someone close to you, could be injured or become ill before you leave. You could be delayed at one of the ports of call and miss the departure. If you miss your cruise departure or have to cancel your trip, who can you call for help? Your luggage is delayed or gone entirely – while it’s less common, luggage is still sometimes routed incorrectly, which could mean a significant delay in being reunited with your belongings (especially if you’ve already departed!). Of course, your luggage could also be stolen from you or damaged beyond repair or use. If your luggage is delayed beyond your cruise departure, who will help you track it and what will you do until it arrives? If your luggage is gone entirely, how will you replace the items you need on your trip? You have a medical emergency at sea – medical emergencies at sea are common – more common than most travelers think. If you or your child are hurt or become ill on your cruise, the cruise may or may not have medical staff with the necessary training and equipment to help. You may be forced to evacuate the cruise to the nearest medical facility. Who will coordinate medical transportation and how will you pay for it? You are assaulted – If you are assaulted prior to or during your cruise trip, you may decide to cancel the trip or end it and return home. How will you recover your travel costs so you can start your own path to recovery? Your cruise or tour is canceled – travel suppliers – including cruises, tours, rentals, and on-shore adventure providers – can have financial problems you don’t know about ahead of time. If they cease operations, how will you recover the money you paid them? Your wallet or passport is stolen – relaxed travelers can be robbed on board or while exploring the next port of call. The cruise line and its staff are not responsible for lost or stolen items, and once on land, travelers are at the mercy of the local authorities. Who can you contact for help replacing your passport and guarding your identity? You need help or advice – anytime you are traveling in a new place, you could be in a situation where you need travel advice or emergency assistance. You may even need help communicating in a foreign language. If you need travel advice, legal advice, or foreign language assistance, who can you call?