The cruise quirk you need to know
Cruising holidays are having a worldwide boom and according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) one in 19 Australians went on a cruise in 2016.
It’s not only overseas cruises that are attracting Aussies but many are deciding to use it as a way to explore our own country, with 26 per cent of Australian cruisers travelling domestically.
However, if you are deciding to travel domestically, there is an important travel quirk that you need to be aware of.
If you fall ill on a domestic cruise or have a medical emergency, Medicare will not cover you despite the fact you haven’t technically left Australia.
The reason for this is because the medical staff on board are not typically registered to practice in Australia.
“Unfortunately Medicare won’t cover you when you’re on a cruise ship; it doesn’t matter if you are in the middle of the Pacific or just departing the shores of Australia with land still in sight,” Ash Zaman from Travel Insurance Direct (TID) told news.com.au.
“As the doctors on board are generally registered internationally, your Medicare card is no good on board.”
Australia’s national health care system only covers up to 12 nautical miles (22km) offshore, so if the medical emergency occurs between ports you might not be covered.
Mr Zaman advises cruise passengers to take out cruise travel insurance on a domestic cruise.
“Having travel insurance for your cruise can mean the difference between coming home with fond memories or coming home with a hefty bill. While the average cruise related claim is $1037, more serious medical cases can run into the tens of thousands of dollars,” Mr Zaman said.
Before you go on a domestic cruise, Mr Zaman recommends getting in touch with the cruise line directly to confirm if you will be covered by Medicare.
“If you are unsure whether your cruise will accept Medicare or not you can always get in touch with your travel agent or the cruise line directly and ask, ‘Will you accept Medicare on board for medical treatment?',” he told news.com.au.
Travel insurance covers passengers for emergency medical treatment and helicopter rides to the closest hospital should the situation arise.
Tell us in the comments below, have you even been denied a cruise-related travel insurance claim in Australia?