Booking a sailing charter in the BVI is an incredible investment, but you are also making a major financial investment. With your vacation being a significant investment, you need to consider insurance because schedules can be rigid and other factors vary by season, especially during hurricane season, which is extremely unpredictable.
If you are on the fence about insurance, it’s highly recommended for a BVI charter. We look at all the reasons travel insurance is essential for your vacation.
Kathy can provide you with a crewed charter sailing vacation and treasured memories that will last a lifetime. She is an expert in arranging Crewed Sailboat Charters in the BVI. Get in touch with us today to arrange for your free quotation.
| With Travel Insurance | Without Travel Insurance | |
| You have to cancel before you travel | Trip cancellation cover reimburses your charter fee and flights if you cancel for a covered reason (illness, bereavement, jury duty) | You lose your charter deposit and potentially the full fee, charter contracts are strict on this |
| A hurricane is forecast for your dates | Trip cancellation or interruption cover kicks in if a named storm disrupts your charter | The yacht is not responsible for your shore-side costs, hotels, flights, transfers, if the charter is cancelled due to a named storm |
| You get ill or injured on board | Medical expenses and emergency evacuation are covered, crucial, as your home health insurance likely won’t cover you internationally | Medical evacuation from the BVI can cost tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket |
| Your flights are delayed, and you miss the embarkation | Travel delay cover reimburses additional hotel, meals, and transfers while you wait | You absorb all costs, and your charter clock may still start running at noon, regardless |
| Your luggage is lost or delayed | Baggage cover replaces essentials while you wait for your bags | You buy replacement swimwear, sunscreen, and clothing out of pocket on a Caribbean island |
| You need to cancel for a personal reason not covered by standard policies | Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) add-on lets you cancel up to 48 hours before departure for any reason, typically recouping 50 to 75% of costs | No recourse, you pay the full charter fee regardless of your reason for cancelling |
| The charter is cut short mid-week | Trip interruption cover reimburses unused charter days and any additional travel costs to get home | You lose the cost of unused days with no comeback |
| You want to go scuba diving on a charter | Check your policy; specialist adventure or activity cover is needed; standard policies often exclude diving | If you dive uninsured and something goes wrong, medical costs and evacuation are entirely your own |
| When to buy | Buy within 21 days of signing your charter contract to get the fullest protection, including pre-existing condition cover on many policies | The longer you wait, the narrower your cover, and a named storm that already exists is immediately excluded the moment it is named |
Protecting You Against Uncertainty
Insurance is essential for unlikely but serious uncertainties. If anyone were to require an emergency medical evacuation, then this could be exorbitant without insurance. There are risks around water, and when doing activities, insurance is vital to ensuring you have coverage. Insurance will also cover any non-refundable charter and flight deposits if the entire trip must be cancelled. If you travel during hurricane season, a sudden trip interruption can be covered by certain insurance policies. A robust travel insurance policy serves as a necessary safety net.
Do I Have Current Sufficient Cover?
It’s important to check whether your current insurance policies, such as health insurance, will cover you while you’re on vacation. Decent health policies will cover you for medical issues on your vacation, but health policies are unlikely to cover losses from cancellations due to unforeseen circumstances. Coverage can range from Trip Interruption to Missed Departure; if you miss your departure date or experience any interruption on your way to the BVI, you are covered. As the BVI is located directly within the Atlantic Hurricane belt, hurricanes can appear within a few days during the hurricane season. The BVI’s lack of a dedicated local meteorological authority can sometimes result in last-minute local weather updates. Mainly, delayed flash-flood warnings once the hurricane is already in the area. The hurricane season is June 1st through November 30th. A comprehensive travel insurance policy will cover disruptions and is highly recommended around this period, as a general safety net for any uncertainties.
