You probably have heard it on the news these last few days - airport closures and long travel delays in the Midwest and Northeast because of heavy snow. Eastern regions of the United State and Canada are also expecting an additional 50 inches of snow to fall within the next few days.

This could have been you - stranded in an airport wondering if you are going to make your flight connections and get to your Caribbean cruise before it departs the New York port. Wouldn't that be a dreadful way to start your holiday?

What happens when you finally get to New York and your cruise has departed? Last minute hotels in New York is expensive. What about dinner? Is it possible to meet your cruise at the next port and how do you arrange a flight to get you there? I would be pulling my hair out trying to figure out what would be the next logical step. And all these added costs! All of a sudden my travel spending budget has been cut in half, if not a quarter, before my holiday even starts.

This is why you should always protect your travel investment with insurance. So what if your past cruise holidays have been uneventful? The law of probabilities will soon catch up to you. We can not control everything - the weather, the traffic and air schedule. The sooner you realize the importance of being able to have a hassle free holiday and purchase that much needed insurance, you will have a better peace of mind. And, they will help you get to the next port!

AIG Travel Guard, the largest provider of travel insurance in the United States, reports that they were flooded with calls for assistance from stranded travellers trying to depart from or return to the affected regions.

"Our LiveTravel assistance center has received more than double the normal volume of calls from travelers needing help to rebook cancelled flights and make alternative hotel reservations," reports Dan McGinnity, AIG Travel Guard Vice President. "The delays and airport closures have stranded travelers in airports throughout the country because such major hubs like Chicago's O'Hare and Washington's Dulles and Reagan National have been affected. Most of our clients have been rebooked on alternate flights and will be on their way home today or tomorrow. We expect the increased call volume to continue this week as the Midwest storm moves East today and tomorrow. Next week we anticipate a significant number of calls from customers filing trip delay and cancellation claims."

If you purchased insurance, you could have immediate 24/7 access to Travel Guard's LiveTravel emergency service hotline. What is that good for? Rebooking cancelled flights, making alternative hotel reservations or assisting with ground transportation.

Travel Guard's Cruise Travel insurance will provide you with adequate coverage for delayed trips and cancellations due to winter storms or other severe weather. So, if you were to cancel a trip due to severe weather conditions, your insurance will provide reimbursement for nonrefundable covered expenses.

Travel insurance is a necessity that you never leave home without, and should be considered a priority after purchasing your cruise. Your travel agent will provide you with information on what coverage is perfect for your holiday. Better yet, if you want the best insurance rates, request a free cruise travel insurance quotes from AIG Travel Guard.