American Travelers Lose Confidence In Cruise Ships' Ability To Handle Medical Emergencies

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Business Weekly -- A new survey* from travel insurance provider Allianz Global Assistance, reveals that a majority of Americans (55.5 percent) do not feel cruise ships are equipped to handle serious medical emergencies. This is a significant change (15% difference) from last year's results, which found 60 percent (59.2 percent) of Americans believed cruise ships could handle medical emergencies. The survey was conducted during the height of Wave Season, which is a three-month period from January to March, when cruise lines and travel agents book a large number of cruise cabins.

When asked for their estimate of the cost of an air ambulance evacuation to the U.S. from Mexico or the Caribbean, a quarter of respondents (25.7%) drastically underestimated the cost at $0 to $10,000. Another quarter of respondents correctly estimated cost as coming in between $10,001 and $20,000.

Keywords for this news article include: Business, Allianz Global Assistance Usa.