Travel Insurance File

A recent surge of tourist muggings in Nassau has propelled major cruise lines to curb landside excursions in this Bahamian capital, long a prime port for Florida-based cruise itineraries.
Just in November, two groups of passengers from Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean were held up at gunpoint on the same day while touring a popular eco-park near Nassau. Their tour guide was tied up, a woman was hit in the face with a gun butt, and the visitors were relieved of their cameras, watches, purses, jewelry, anything of value. The previous month, 11 Carnival Cruise passengers were robbed near the Queen’s Staircase, one of Nassau’s most popular attractions. In one of the more brazen attacks, a Canadian tourist was recently mugged while walking along Bay Street, Nassau’s main thoroughfare, close to the cruise line terminals. Police records show that in one day alone, 21 people were victims of aggravated theft, each in busy tourist areas. Local news media report also report that tourist-related robberies are up some 25 percent.

So should you have concerns about a cruise stop in Nassau? I have been travelling to this city and to other Bahamian islands for many years and I don’t intend to stop. But like any other destination with a lot of tourist activity, it demands caution and common sense. The rule I follow is: if I can’t afford to lose it, don’t take it along.
But one thing you should do is check your travel insurance fine print to see if you are covered for losses due to robberies. Generally, if you are injured and need medical care you will be covered for any emergencies arising out of the attack—so long as you were not involved in criminal activities yourself, such as negotiating a small drug deal, or helping one of the muggers escape out of a sense of misguided compassion. As for stolen high end goods like a Rolex, or camera, or expensive jewelry (which you should not be taking ashore anyway) they will likely not be covered by your baggage insurance—which usually has quite modest limitations per item and per bag. The bottom line is that if you plan to go ashore anywhere, not just Nassau or Mexico—read the fine print in your travel policy and don’t hesitate calling your insurer (your agent may not always know the right answers) and asking for specific coverage and exclusion details. Policies differ on this point. It’s up to you to know what you’re buying.
To date, Disney, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian cruise line have put some curbs on landside excursions though none have threatened to avoid Nassau altogether. The cruise industry brings some $3.5 billion to the Bahamas each year.