A new survey from travel insurance and assistance company Allianz Partners indicates positive news for the cruise market in 2021, and travel agent clients are key. The survey sampled more than 1,000 responses from customers who bought its U.S. travel insurance products via travel advisors and other retail distribution partners.
"Travel will continue to evolve in response to the unfolding of global events,” said Joe Mason, chief marketing officer at Allianz Partners. “Meanwhile, we are discovering that our customers are more open to taking trips to overseas destinations once again. One area where we are expecting to see an increasing interest in the year ahead is in international cruise travel.”
Overall, 60% of Allianz’ retail customers say they will not travel until 2021, but plan to travel internationally again next year. Of those asked “when you travel next, where will you stay?,” half indicated they will do so at a hotel or resort and 20% said they will do so onboard a cruise ship — well above the remaining categories of friends/family (13%), rental house (8%), personal vacation home (4%), other (3%) and RV/tent/cabin (2%).
Cruise travel may be on hold for Americans at this time, but it could resume as soon as November 2020 following Cruise Lines International Association members’ temporary pause in service. Global brands such as MSC Cruises are already back to sailing successfully in the Mediterranean.
RELATED: CLIA Voluntarily Suspends Cruising Resumption for a Third Time
Allianz currently offers coverage for trip cancellations, trip interruptions and emergency medical care for those who become sick with COVID-19. The company has also temporarily extended refunds of travel insurance premiums to clients whose travel suppliers have canceled their cruises due to the coronavirus. Customers can use their policy within 770 days of the purchase date to apply it to a new or rescheduled trip.
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Allianz Partners
www.allianztravelinsurance.com
