There are two big questions you need to answer about travel insurance to get started.

Do I want it and where do I get it?

The smart answer to the first question is "Yes, I want it" Travel insurance, like auto insurance, is something you hope you'll never need but chances are someday you will. What makes travel insurance such a debated issue is that you can indeed cruise without it while you don't really have a choice on auto insurance, it's required by law. Personally I think you need to look at your particular situation before deciding NOT to buy it as buying it is the safe bet.

We did not buy travel insurance for our first 5 cruises. We were all in good health and it seems that health issues are one of the big coverage points. It's true, to be evacuated from the beach at Playa Sol in Cozumel by chopper is expensive. Insurance would cover it. Everything went fine for us so I believed we had made the right decision.

On our 6th cruise we decided, more on a whim, to buy travel insurance. Again we didn't use it. But we ALMOST did. Lisa was diagnosed with cancer shortly before the cruise. It was decided that she could wait till after the cruise for the surgery that was needed. Had she needed to go in for surgery and NOT made the cruise, we would have been covered. I was sold on travel insurance.

The second question, where to get it, is another part of your cruise equation that requires some study and investigation to be sure that your coverage is good and the price is reasonable. The easy way out is to buy it through the cruise line or your travel agent. They all have policies they'd love to sell you and they might have just the thing you need.

I suggest full coverage Travel Guard Travel Insurance as the a great value that covers all the bases. The reason I recommend Travel Guard is because they are good about paying claims. I work with about one client a week who is filing a claim for the first time and know from personal experience that Travel Guard makes them jump through less hoops to get it done than others. They all want documentation of everything but TravelGuard is quite helpful in getting the ball rolling and processing the claim quickly once they have all the information they need.

TIP: If you ever have to be treated for a medical condition anywhere along your covered vacation, be sure to get documentation signed by the medical professional who treated you. That is the most common slow-up. All the insurance companies want that and it's harder than you might imagine to get a doctor to sign off on his treatment of you in London when you're back home in Chicago.

Click here to compare the different options you need to consider

Protect Assist (Gold) Review

The Good: Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions if purchased within 15 days of initial trip deposit; "cancel for work reasons" is now part of the base plan; "cancel for any reason" benefit available if purchased within 15 days of initial trip deposit, pays 50%; job-loss/layoff coverage; baggage delay improved from 24 hours to 12 hours; missed connection is delay of 3 hours or more; medical coverage upgraded to Primary.

The Drawbacks: High price; "cancel for any reason" pays 50%, as opposed to 70% with their Platinum plan.

The Bottom Line: Travel Guard is the leader in travel insurance, and they have a plan to fit every need. According to Travel Guard, this is their most popular package plan. This plan is perfect for general travel, and for travelers who want "full coverage".

Where to buy this policy:

1. Buy direct from the company- Get a quote and purchase this plan directly from the Travel Guard website here.

2. Compare this plan with other plans- The best way to buy travel insurance is to use a comparison website (similar to using Expedia or Travelocity for airline tickets). There are several, but we recommend a comparison site called Squaremouth.com to get instant quotes and purchase online. Squaremouth.com only works with reputable companies, and you can get instant quotes and purchase instantly online with a credit card.

The Travel Guard ProtectAssist (Gold) insurance plan is ideal for travelers and families seeking comprehensive secondary coverage. Children 17 years and under are covered at no additional cost. This comprehensive plan provides excellent coverage including the optional ?Cancel for any Reason' and ?Cancel for any Work Reason' coverage.

It includes some commonly expected options, such as trip cancellation, trip interruption, travel delays, accident and sickness medical expenses, baggage and personal effects, flight accidents, and more. Some of the unique options include coverage for terrorism, unannounced strikes, inclement weather, inhabitable homes, military deployments, lost or stolen travel documents and credit cards, and baggage tracking. Travel medical assistance, emergency travel assistance, concierge services, and identity theft restoration services are all included in this plan.

Where to buy this policy:

1. Buy direct from the company- Get a quote and purchase this plan directly from the Travel Guard website here.

What is the coverage with Protect Assist (Gold)?

Pre-departure trip cancellation
This coverage provides reimbursement for non-refundable trip payments and deposits if you must cancel your trip before it starts. This plan provides trip cancellation coverage up to a maximum of $100,000.

Post-departure trip interruption
This coverage provides reimbursement for non-refundable costs or deposits related to your trip if it is interrupted after it starts. This plan provides trip interruption coverage up to 150% of your trip cost. You can also purchase the trip interruption ?Return Air Only' policy feature covering up to $750.

Emergency Medical Transportation/Evacuation
This coverage provides reimbursement for the cost to transport you or other covered members of your party to a medical facility to receive care. This coverage provides up to $500,000.

Trip Delay
This coverage provides reimbursement for reasonable additional expenses until travel can continue if it is delayed more than the defined number of hours in the policy, which in this case is 5 hours. Coverage is limited to $150/per day ($750 maximum). Expenses must be accompanied by receipts.

Missed Connection
This coverage provides reimbursement for the cancellation or delay of scheduled airline flights in the case of inclement weather or common carrier causes. Coverage is limited to $250.

Accident and sickness medical expenses
This coverage provides emergency medical coverage if you become ill or are injured while traveling and need medical attention. This plan provides up to $25,000 in coverage.

Baggage Delay
This coverage provides reimbursement for essential items related to your trip if your luggage is delayed more than the defined number of hours in the policy, which in this case is 24 hours. This coverage provides up to $300 for interim expenses.

Baggage and personal effects
This coverage provides reimbursement for lost, stolen, or damaged baggage and personal effects up to $1,000 including protection against unlawful use of credit cards and lost travel documents. Baggage tracking services are also included in this coverage.

Accidental death and dismemberment not to exceed the principal sum for all losses due to the same accident.

Optional coverage includes:

"Cancel for any reason" benefit which covers up to 50% of pre-paid, forfeited, or non refundable payments and deposits for the insured trip. This coverage requires cancellation not less than 48 hour prior to departure date.

"Cancel for any work reason" benefit which extends coverage for those additional unforeseen circumstances when the insured or traveling companion is required to work during the insured trip. This coverage requires demonstrated proof of requirement to work.

Umbrella package which increases coverage to includes double medical benefits, an additional $250 in missed connection coverage, transportation home in the event of an emergency medical condition, and a detailed pre-trip advisory.

Flight accident coverage which pays for the insured's covered accidental loss of life, hand, foot, or sight which occurs while riding as a passenger on a scheduled flight.

Car Rental Collision coverage which pays for damage due to collision, vandalism, windstorm, fire, hail or flood while in the insured's possession. The insured will pay the lesser of the benefit up to a maximum of $250 deductible for the cost of repairs and charges imposed by the rental company not to exceed $35,000.

Business assistant services are available to help with your business obligations 24 hours a day, anywhere in the world.

Coverage limitations:

Coverage for adventure sports activities is not included in this plan.

Where to buy this policy:

1. Buy direct from the company- Get a quote and purchase this plan directly from the Travel Guard website here.

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