Compare cruise travel insurance

Travel insurance for cruises can be just $10/day*, yet medical evacuations at sea can cost you up to $90,000.

Something as simple as gastro on a cruise ship can put a huge dent in your wallet as on-board doctors can charge whatever they want - and that's just for a stomach bug. Imagine how more serious emergencies can add up. Much more than just medical, cruise travel insurance covers unique cruise risks and doesn't have to break the bank.

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DID YOU KNOW

• You can filter your results to customise your cover!
• You can choose from Basic, Standard or Comprehensive Cover

Compare cruise travel insurance brands:

We analysed policies from three of our most popular partners with cruise cover (by referrals) to see how their policies for cruises compared. We looked at a 7-night South Pacific cruise using a 30-year-old traveller. These quotes were retrieved on 11 September 2018.

• Comprehensive policies
• Standard policies
• Basic policies

How is cruise travel insurance different from regular travel insurance?

Cruise insurance offers more than just the standard travel insurance benefits like medical and cancellation cover. Some travel insurance companies do cover cruise in their standard policies, but also add additional cruise benefits as add-ons, which include features like:

• Missed shore excursion cover. If you’re unable to make a pre-paid shore excursion such as a tour or excursion for reason outside of your control, you’ll be able to lodge a claim to have the costs reimbursed.
• Missed cruise departure assistance. If you’re late to arrive at the port, say for example you miss the departure because your car broke down, your cruise policy will provide you with cover for additional accommodation and travel expenses.
• Cabin confinement compensation. If you’re heading on a cruise you know you’re running the risk of the dreaded gastro outbreak. If you’re confined to your cabin because of a medical issue such as gastro, your cruise pack will with a daily benefit amount for as long as you’re quarantined.
• Missed port cover. If your cruise ship is unable to dock due to weather or other extraordinary circumstances, your cruise insurance will provide you with a benefit for each missed port.

What should I watch out for with cruise travel insurance?

• Medical coverage aboard domestic cruises. If you're cruising in Australian waters and docking at Australian ports, insurance policy inclusions get a bit fuzzy, especially if you're requiring medical attention.

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How will cruise travel insurance protect me?

If you put yourself in the following situations, you’ll soon understand why cruise insurance is such a great way to protect your holiday:

• You’re injured on board the ship. You’ll be glad you had cruise insurance because the only doctor on board will most likely be an expensive private doctor.
• You need to be flown to the hospital. If your medical needs are more serious, the right policy will help cover your evacuation to a hospital or your repatriation to Australia. Medical emergencies occurring at sea will almost always require an expensive airlift (think tens of thousands of dollars).
• There’s an emergency back in Australia. If a family emergency happens back home (eg, a family member dies or your house is destroyed in a fire) and you need to return immediately, a cruise insurance policy will save you from the cost of last-minute travel arrangements.
• You’re injured and need someone by your side. If you are hospitalised and need someone from home to be with you, a cruise insurance policy will cover their travel expenses. It also covers you if the person you are travelling with is hospitalised and you need to adjust your plans to stay with them.
• Your ship misses its port because of bad weather. If you have to miss out on arrangements you already paid for and it isn’t your fault, cruise insurance will pay you back. This comes in especially handy on cruises, where bad weather commonly forces cruise liners to adjust course. It will even cover the entire trip if you get sick beforehand.
• You missed your departure. If you miss the ship's departure and it isn't your fault, the right policy will help you get to the next port before the ship departs again.

• Gastro confines you to your cabin. Gastro can quickly run amok on cruises, and they’ll do anything to stop it, including confining you to your cabin if you’ve got symptoms. Cruise insurance will pay you a flat daily fee to make up for all the fun you miss out on.
• You spill wine on your tux. Cruises often have "formal nights", and you can clean, fix or replace your formal wear if something happens to it.
• The airline loses your luggage. If your luggage is lost or stolen at any point on your trip, your policy will pay for new supplies.
• Someone nabs your cash. The policy will also pay you back if your cash, money orders, bank notes or credit cards are lost or stolen.

How much could a medical emergency at sea cost?

The cost of receiving treatment in a medical facility while on a cruise can be extremely high – often up to $5,000 a day.

A case study on the DFAT website demonstrates the danger of being underinsured when you're on a cruise. Carol bought a basic travel insurance policy for her round-the-world cruise. While at sea, she experienced severe shortage of breath and was diagnosed as having pulmonary emphysema. She required oxygen until the next port, where she was taken to the nearest hospital and eventually required medical evacuation to a better hospital. She didn’t have adequate cover and ended up having to pay $90,000 out of pocket for the medivac and hospitalisation. She even had to borrow money from her children to help cover the costs.

Is cruise travel insurance really worth it?

Cruise travel insurance is a worthwhile investment however you look at it, especially considering how much medical care can cost you at sea compared to at home in Australia and the additional benefits compared to a non-cruise policy like cabin confinement and missed shore excursion cover.

Plus, cruise insurance often costs only slightly more than a normal travel insurance policy of the same length while providing the usual benefits (like medical care and cancellation cover) and the cruise-specific extras. Back to top

What's covered by cruise travel insurance?

Cruise insurance includes everything that your regular travel insurance will cover like lost luggage, medical care required during your trip and trip cancellation, depending on the level of cover you purchase. But, what makes it stand out, is that it also covers you for anything that should go wrong at sea.

What’s not covered?

Every insurance policy contains exclusions, or reasons why they could deny your claim. Generally speaking, you won't be covered if any of the following occur:

• You act recklessly. Your claim could be denied if the incident happened while you were drunk or on drugs or while you were breaking the law.
• You engage in high-risk activities. Some high-risk activities, such as scuba diving and skydiving, require additional cover depending on the policy. Check the fine print to make sure all your planned activities are covered.
• You're careless. You won't get paid if it's your fault you missed a flight or if your belongings were stolen because you weren’t watching them.
• You visit somewhere you shouldn't. If you travel to a destination that DFAT warns against visiting, any claims will be refused. Check Smartraveller for DFAT’s latest travel advisories.
• Your doctor tells you not to travel. If your doctor says you shouldn't travel but you decide to go cruising anyway, you won’t be covered for any medical claims.
• You have a pre-existing condition that's not covered. Unless your condition is listed in the insurer’s pamphlet as being automatically covered, you’re required to tell them about it. If you don’t, they’ll deny your claim.
• You're on your home turf for more than 48 hours. Some providers won’t cover you for medical events that happen while you’re in an Australian port for more than 48 hours.

Check out our guide on travel insurance exclusions for more details.

Am I covered by cruise travel insurance if I need to cancel my cruise?

Like any insurance, cruise travel insurance will take care of you if you need to cancel because of a serious, unexpected event including if:

• You suffer a serious illness or injury.
• A relative, business partner or travelling companion dies unexpectedly or suffers a serious illness or injury.
• You’re made redundant at work.
• Your flight is cancelled due to severe weather and you miss your cruise departure.
• You’re called for jury duty.
• Your home is destroyed by a natural disaster.

Will the cruise line reimburse me if I cancel?

Even if your cruise insurance doesn’t cover your cancelled trip, you may be able to scrape back some of the cost of the cruise itself. Many cruise companies will allow you to cancel ahead of time and only pay a cancellation fee rather than the full cost of the cruise. This fee varies based on how far out you cancel.

Cancellation policies vary between cruise lines, but we’ve included P&O’s cancellation fees in the table below as a guide:

How does travel insurance booked directly through the cruise line work?

If you're cruising with a specific line, like P&O or Carnival, and are wondering how you can get covered or how their own cancellation policies will (or won't!) protect you, read our guides catered toward your next adventure.

Which cruise travel insurance brands do lines use?

Most cruise lines have access to policies from insurance brands and underwriters, including some of the ones we've listed above. Prices and benefits aren't always the same if you book your cover directly through the line or the insurance provider, so it's best to compare your options when given the option to add on cruise travel insurance at the time of your booking.

Carnival Cruises: Cover-more

• If you're booking insurance directly from Carnival, your coverage will be provided by Cover-more

P&O Cruises: Cover-more

• If you're booking insurance directly from P&O, your policy will be from Cover-more

Princess Cruises: Cover-more

• If you're booking insurance directly with Princess Cruises, you'll be covered by Cover-more

Am I covered by cruise travel insurance if...?

I have pre-existing conditions?

If you have a pre-existing condition and it is not listed in the insurer's list of automatically covered conditions, then you will need to tell the insurer before purchasing your policy. The insurer might charge you more to cover the condition or exclude it from your policy altogether. If you don't tell your insurer about your condition, they could deny any claims related to it.

I'm pregnant?

Yes, but the terms and conditions surrounding pregnancy can vary from one insurer to the next. Some will have a cut-off point (eg, the 26th week of pregnancy) after which you can claim for everything else on your policy except pregnancy-related issues.
It’s worth pointing out that most cruise lines don’t allow women who are more than 24-weeks pregnant to board a cruise. With this in mind, check the cruise carrier’s terms and conditions closely when booking your holiday. It’s also a good idea to read your insurer’s PDS to see whether there are any pregnancy-related medical benefits excluded from cover.

I'm a senior?

While policy age limits differ between insurers, some providers will cover travellers up to 80, 90 or even 100 years of age with cruise travel insurance for seniors with . Keep in mind, your premiums may be a little higher, and there are generally increased restrictions on pre-existing conditions. For example, some insurers will automatically cover asthma for travellers under the age of 60, but they will exclude the condition from cover for anyone above this age limit.

I'm scuba diving, snorkelling or doing other watersports?

Not necessarily, so check the fine print. You may need to purchase an additional adventure sports pack to make sure you have the cover you need.

Something happens on the non-cruise portion of my trip?

Yes. A cruise insurance policy is essentially a normal travel insurance policy with added protections for mishaps that happen at sea.

I'm already overseas when I purchase my cover?

A handful of Australian insurers will offer travel insurance, including cruise insurance, to Australians who are already overseas. They may have some additional requirements, such as requiring you to end your trip in Australia or imposing a waiting period before you can make certain claims. Make sure you talk to the insurer so that you're not caught off guard.

I book a one-way cruise?

Yes, but this depends on the insurer. While some travel insurance policies offer cover for one-way trips, others require your journey to end in Australia. You can compare one-way travel insurance options here.

I get seasick?

Your insurance will cover any medical expenses related to seasickness if you have to see a doctor on board as long as the doctor can provide evidence that the treatment was necessary. If you become so seasick that the doctor thinks it’s dangerous for you to stay on the cruise, you may be also be covered for trip disruption. You will not be covered for cabin confinement if your seasickness makes it difficult for you to leave the cabin, because that cover is provided only if the ship’s authorities force you to stay inside because of a contagious illness like gastro.

I get gastro on my cruise?

Yes. If you get norovirus or another form of gastro, you’ll be covered for medical expenses, cabin confinement, missed shore excursions, emergency medical evacuation and the cost of having to cut your trip short.

Gastro is highly infectious. With so many people living so close together and with nowhere to go, it can spread very quickly on a cruise - making this an important cover to have.

How is cruise travel insurance affected by cyclone/hurricane/typhoon season?

We found that Australia's second-highest fear of cruising was encountering a big storm, with 34% of people surveyed citing this worry. However, you can still get cruise travel insurance if you're sailing during the stormy season as long as meteorologists have not already identified a specific storm brewing before you purchased your policy.

Here's when storm seasons are:

• Atlantic hurricane season (Caribbean and trans-Atlantic cruises): June to November
• South Pacific cyclone season (South Pacific cruises): November to April
• Typhoon season (Asia cruises): May to October

Most insurers will cover you year-round, although you may pay more during times when claims are more likely, such as during cyclone season.

Cost

How much does cruise travel insurance cost?

The cost will vary from person to person depending on where you’re going, how long you’ll be gone for, how many people are travelling, your age and a number of other factors. But to give you an idea of how much cruise insurance might cost an individual traveller, we’ve pulled together some quotes covering a variety of circumstances:

*Prices are accurate as of September 2017 and are subject to change. Please use the quote engine above for the most accurate pricing.

How can I save on cruise travel insurance?

If you want to save money on your policy, give these a try:

• Choose lower benefit amounts. Some insurers will have several levels of cover with different benefit amounts. Policies with lower benefit amounts will cost you less. Just make sure you’re willing to sacrifice that added protection.
• Choose a higher excess. Some insurers allow you to choose your excess (or the share of the cost you’ll pay out of pocket) when you apply for a policy. Paying more out of pocket means paying less for your premium.
• Ditch the add-ons. If you can live without certain activities, you can avoid paying for them to be covered. For example, if your insurer wants you to pay extra for scuba diving cover, maybe you can leave scuba diving for next time and settle for snorkelling. Or consider leaving your high-value items at home to avoid paying the extra fee it takes to cover those.
• Take advantage of discounts. Seniors discounts, multi-policy discounts and travel insurance coupon codes can all help you save money on your policy.

International cruises

Do I need cover for each location visited on my cruise?

You don’t need separate policies, but you do need to tell your insurer every place you will be visiting by sea or by land. This helps them work out an appropriate quote.

Most travel and cruise insurance policies provide automatic cover for stopovers of up to 48 hours, but it still makes sense to talk to your insurer about how they treat these situations. After all, if bad weather causes your ship to divert course to an island that happens to be in a different region, you’ll want to know that you’re still covered.

What should I consider when it comes to international destinations and cruise travel insurance?

• South Pacific cruises

  Cruise travel insurance for South Pacific islands

  Consider the following if you're going on a South Pacific cruise to destinations like Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

  • Cyclone season cover: If you haven't purchased travel insurance before a storm is discovered by meteorologists, you're likely to not be covered by the event. Getting your insurance as early as possible, even if you are sailing during cyclone season, can help prevent your policy's weather-related protection from being voided.
  • Good medical cover: Depending on where you're cruise departs from, you may end up with two or more days at sea in a row. If an emergency happens and you can't wait a day or two until you reach a port and need to be evacuated, this can cost a lot without adequate cover.

• Caribbean cruises

  Caribbean cruise travel insurance

  Consider the following if you're going on a Caribbean cruise to destinations like the Bahamas, Jamaica, Mexico and the Cayman Islands.

  • Lost luggage/delays: Getting to the Caribbean isn't easy from Australia and with (at least) two flights plus the transfer to the cruise port, you'll want to make sure you're covered should your bags get lost or delayed along the way.
  • Hurricane season cover: If you book your insurance after a storm is discovered, then you may not be covered for it. If you're planning a cruise in this season and a storm isn't declared at the time of your booking, it's best to get your insurance as soon as possible.

• Mediterranean cruises

  Travel insurance for Mediterranean cruises

  Consider the following if you're going on a Mediterranean cruise to destinations like Italy, France, Spain and Greece.

  • Theft of cash: The exchange rate of euro to dollars isn't all that favourable to Aussies, so if you're the victim of petty crime, make sure the cash you do have on you is covered.
  • Missed shore excursions: With so many bucket-list destinations to tick off near European ports, like Pompeii near Naples or the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, missed shore excursion cover can protect you and get you a refund should your dream excursion not come to fruition.

What if I’m just taking a short cruise as part of a longer holiday?

You will still need cruise insurance, but technically only for the length of the cruise. However, it can be tricky to find a single policy that lets you split your cruise and non-cruise portions.
Here are your best options:

• Stick with a cruise policy for the whole trip. Remember, cruise insurance covers you on and off land, and you may find that this option is not much more expensive than a normal policy anyway.
• Double up by getting a standard policy and a cruise policy. If you’re only out to sea for a couple of days, you might consider buying cruise insurance on top of the normal travel insurance that’s covering the rest of your trip. You’ll be paying twice, but hey, if you save a few bucks, you’re still ahead. Just remember you won’t be able to make the same claim on both policies.
• Work out an arrangement with the insurer. If you don’t want to double up or pay for cruise insurance when you won’t be using it, try contacting an insurer and see if they can create a custom policy for you.

Domestic cruises

No one can blame you for thinking Medicare and/or private insurance will cover any medical mishaps on a domestic cruise, but that’s not necessarily the case.

Medicare will only cover the cost of your treatment if BOTH of these requirements are met:

• If you are cruising between domestic ports. If you are coming to or from an international port, you are automatically disqualified even if the ship is in Australian waters, AND
• If you are treated by a Medicare-approved doctor. Cruise liners are not required to hire Medicare-approved doctors, so you might want to check with the cruise provider ahead of time if you're looking to rely on Medicare.

Private health insurance could foot some of the bill in some cases, but onboard medical costs can be so high that private cover may not be enough.

Sometimes insurers will categorise their domestic cruise insurance as “international” since the addition of medical cover makes it resemble an international policy. If that’s what they call it, then that’s what you should choose, but you want to make sure you clearly state where you’ll be travelling so that you and the insurer are on the same page. Check the insurer’s PDS to find out how they categorise their domestic cruise insurance policies.

Learn more about travel insurance for domestic cruises

River cruises

Just because getting to dry land may seem easier on river cruises than ocean cruises doesn't mean you shouldn't consider cruise cover for your journey.

Missing your boat, having the trip to your next port being delayed by weather, and being confined to your cabin are all real possibilities aboard a river cruise that you don't want to worry about.