Costa Concordia and Cruise Ship Holidays

LONDON, March 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Following the Costa Concordia disaster, new safety procedures have been introduced to cruise ships. But what does this mean for the cruise industry?

On the 13th January the Italian cruise ship, Costa Concordia, partially sank after hitting a reef off the Tuscan coast. More than 4,200 people had to be evacuated and since then, the ship has lain submerged as experts attempt to remove the 500,000 gallons of fuel on board.

The sunken vessel can only begin to be removed when all the fuel has been taken off, but this could take up to a month.

The ship will then be removed either by floating it in one piece or cutting it up and towing it away as a wreck - an operation that could take up to ten months.

So, in the wake of this disaster, how has the cruise industry reacted?

Following a review of safety procedures the Cruise Lines International Association, European Cruise Council and Passenger Shipping Association announced that cruise holidaymakers will now need to take part in pre-departure safety drills.*

This should help ensure that all passengers know what to do and where to go in the event of an incident while on board.

So as peak booking time approaches and in light of these new safety regulations, why choose a cruise holiday?

• Value for money: You pay one price and your accommodation, food, drink and entertainment is all included.

• Variety: With hundreds of ships and thousands of ports to choose from, there's a cruise to suit everyone.

• Destinations: If you've only got limited time for a holiday, a cruise is the best way to see several destinations in one go.

• Great for families: Many cruise ships are geared up for families with kid's clubs and activities to keep your little ones entertained.

• Activities: These days cruise ships have every activity you can think of and more - from sports, lectures and dancing to music, gaming and of course, sunbathing.

Protecting your holiday:

If you do decide to embark on a cruise holiday, it's important to make sure you have the right travel insurance in place to protect you.

John Lewis Travel Insurance combines great value with a reassuringly high level of cover to protect you from the unexpected when you're abroad.

We offer 24 hour Emergency Assistance. So if something unexpected happens, we have a network of English-speaking agents with contacts in over 200 countries who can help with anything from a lost passport to a medical emergency.

• Cover for trip cancellation and lost luggage - £6,000 cancellation cover per person and £2,500 for lost luggage.

• Independent Traveller Cover - provides additional cover if you book individual elements of your trip separately and for disruption caused by a volcano.

• Don't worry if you get injured or fall ill - receive up to £10 million emergency medical cover.

• Protection against loss or theft of your passports and personal money - covered as standard.

Find out more and get a quote at http://www.johnlewis.com/insurance

Terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and eligibility criteria apply. A full copy of the policy wording and the insurance complaints procedure are available on request.

John Lewis Insurance is a trading name of John Lewis plc. John Lewis plc is an appointed representative of AXA Insurance UK plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

*Source: http://www.cruising.org/regulatory/cruise-industry-policies/passenger-muster-policy

Lauren Baldwin - Email: customerservice@johnlewis-insurance.com - Tel: +44(0)207-592-6677