How important is it to get insurance? I've never bought travelers insurance for previous vacations, but this is my first cruise.

Here are a couple of recent discussions on this topic to get you started:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...Text=insurance

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...Text=insurance

As you will will read..many people, including myself do not leave home without it. We have NOT bought insurance through the cruise company, but through companies such as AccessAmerica or TravelGuard.. You've invested alot of money for this cruise and a little more for insurance is necessary.. We have had several instances where we;ve had to use the insurance..

I always buy insurance!

I use Access America and have had to use it once.

As you will read on the posts provided by Patty, my advice is to only insure those things or events that to lose them would be financially catastrophic to you. You insure your home, your car and your health because should the worst happen, you are financially devastated.

To lose the price of a cruise, to me, would be unpleasant, but not catastrophic. Ask yourself if you would insure your land vacation to DisneyWorld, for example. If the answer is no - don't insure a cruise. Its about the same cost.