We’ve teamed up with CoverForYou to bring you this post. CoverForYou is a travel insurance provider that allows you to tailor policies to your exact requirements.

When planning a holiday, people often leave travel insurance until the last minute, but you really should buy insurance as soon as you book in case something goes wrong. You’ll find Martin Lewis of moneysavingexpert.com always says this too!

Many UK banks now include travel insurance as part of their packaged or premium accounts, which can seem like a convenient option. But how does this compare with taking out a dedicated policy that specifically covers cruises? We’re going to take a look at both.

Bank Travel Insurance packages with your current account:

Packaged bank accounts often bundle extras such as mobile phone insurance, breakdown cover and travel insurance. On the surface, this feels like a bargain – a “one-stop shop” where you pay a monthly fee which typically ranges from £15-£30.

Pros of Bank Insurance:

• Convenience: One payment, one account, everything included.
• Perceived value: Adding up the cost of phone insurance, roadside cover and family travel insurance separately can make the package look like a money-saver.
• Automatic renewal: No need to shop around every year.

 

Thinks to consider when using Bank Insurance

• One-size-fits-all: Designed to cover as many people as possible, so it may not suit your personal needs. Pre-existing medical conditions are often excluded – it’s important to make sure you disclose these to your bank and an additional fee may be payable. We, for example, were quoted an additional £90 per annum for ours with existing medical conditions – which are quite common ones!
• Age limits: Many bank policies only cover up to age 70, leaving older travellers unprotected.
• Geographical restrictions: You need to check if it is Europe-specific or worldwide.
• Limited cover for cruises: Many bank policies don’t offer cruise-specific protection, meaning you may be unable to claim for missed ports, or for confinement to your cabin due to illness.

While bank insurance is convenient, it may not provide the comprehensive protection that cruise travellers need.

 

The Specialist Approach

Unlike bank insurance, you’re not tied into a packaged deal – you choose and tailor the level of cover, the regions you travel to, and extras like cruise cover.

 

Pros of CoverForYou

• Customisable policies: Choose from single-trip, annual multi-trip, or backpacker cover up to 18 months, depending on how often you travel.
• Cruise-specific benefits: This is where CoverForYou really stands out vs a bank’s packaged policy. If your ship misses a port, you can claim compensation (usually around £100 per missed port). On our last Group cruise, one port was cancelled. The feedback we heard was that those insured with CoverForYou were delighted to receive their £100 compensation – a small but welcome boost when plans change unexpectedly.
• Cabin confinement cover: If illness keeps you in your cabin, you can also claim compensation for each day you’re unable to enjoy the ship’s facilities – something most bank policies don’t always offer.
• Flexibility: Add extras such as winter sports, gadget protection, or cover for pre-existing conditions.
• Pay for what you need: Unlike bank accounts, you’re not funding insurance you’ll never use.
• Competitive pricing: Particularly cost-effective for less frequent travellers who may only need a single-trip policy.

 

Things to consider when purchasing just travel insurance products

• Not a bundle: As you are only purchasing travel insurance, if you want a separate policy to cover your phone or need car breakdown cover, you’ll need to purchase these separately. Good to know: CoverForYou actually cover gadgets while you are on holiday (the value depending on the level of cover selected), also if you want to protect your gadgets even when home, you can insure all your gadgets with CoverForYou
• Requires comparison:  As with all insurance, you do need to check the details to make sure you select the right level of cover.

 

Which Option Is Best for You?

As we said at the start, travel insurance should never be an afterthought. While the bundled option with your bank can be convenient, it often lacks the flexibility and cruise-specific cover that dedicated policies provide.

If you travel just once or twice a year, a single-trip policy may not only give you better protection, but could also be cheaper than paying monthly fees for a bank account you don’t fully use. Frequent travellers, on the other hand, may benefit from an annual multi-trip policy that’s tailored to their needs.

Providers like CoverForYou specialise in travel insurance, giving you the peace of mind that your policy is built around your holiday – not bundled into a bank package.

We know we’ve already said this, but please don’t forget ASAB – Always buy your insurance As Soon As you Book. That way, you’re protected if something happens before your trip even begins.

Ready to get covered? Visit CoverForYou’s website today.

 

Further Reading:

Do you need to add Cruise Cover to your Travel Insurance?