The Travel Mistake I'll Never Make Again

My husband and I went on a cruise in December as a pre-holiday getaway. Most of our travel these days is with our kids and their significant others, so this was a rare chance for just the two of us, and we were really looking forward to it.

Everything was exactly what we needed… until it wasn’t.

When Things Took an Unexpected Turn

On the fourth day of the cruise, my husband began experiencing chest pains that quickly worsened. While he’s thankfully okay now (and we were able to complete the cruise as planned) we spent nearly 10 hours with the ship’s medical team that day.

It was scary and overwhelming.  

Outstanding Care at Sea

I cannot say enough good things about the ship’s doctors, nurses, and lab staff. Their bedside manner was exceptional, communication was clear and compassionate, and they were incredibly thorough.

They even sent all test results directly to a hospital in the U.S. to ensure nothing was being overlooked. In a stressful situation, that level of care made a huge difference.

The Mistake I'll Never Make Again

Here’s the part that still makes me cringe:As a seasoned travel professional, I did the unthinkable...didn’t purchase travel protection.

The trip was booked just a few weeks before departure, and we knew we were going. We arrived at the port 24 hours early to avoid issues with delays or lost luggage. Everything felt “safe.”

And yet this happened.

The Cost of Skipping Travel Protection

What started as a very economical trip for us quickly doubled in cost due to onboard medical expenses.Your medical insurance doesn't cover medical expenses abroad.  Even on trips that stay entirely within the U.S., medical coverage is still subject to deductibles, copays, and potential out-of-network charges.

And here’s the reality check: if an evacuation had been required, the helicopter alone would have started at $10,000.

Please trust me when I say this: travel protection matters. Not because we expect something to go wrong; but because if it does, the financial and logistical impact can be enormous.

To start planning your next trip with not only an expert but someone who will think of these missing things so you can protect yourself, before things happen, email me!