- Princess sells two separate plans: Cancellation Protection, which only waives your cancellation fee, and Platinum Protection, a broader plan that bundles its own cancellation benefit and coverage for medical expenses, medical evacuation, trip interruption, and baggage loss.
- Princess Platinum Protection caps medical at $20,000 for accidents and illness, and evacuation at $100,000 total, both well below what a serious medical event can cost on a cruise ship.
- Only bookings made directly through Princess are covered. Independently booked flights, hotels, and excursions aren’t protected under Princess.
- Princess does not cover pre-existing conditions, making a separate travel insurance plan with a pre-existing conditions waiver worthwhile for seniors and those with ongoing health conditions.
With its nickname ‘The Love Boat,’ its diverse destination itinerary, world-class dining, and relaxing, at-home experience, Princess Cruises is the perfect way to sit back and enjoy a vacation overseas.
While cruises are filled with adventure and lifelong memories, there is always a chance that something may go wrong. But should you opt for the protection offered directly by Princess Cruises, or are you better off with an independent travel insurance policy?
In this comprehensive guide, we break down exactly how Princess’s travel insurance works, where it falls short, and how to choose the right policy for your trip.
What Is Princess Cruise Insurance?
Princess Cruises offers its passengers an optional travel protection called Princess Vacation Protection, which is broken down into two kinds of coverage: Cancellation Protection, which only covers your cancellation fees, and Platinum Protection, which covers you for illnesses on the ship, delayed or lost baggage, and emergency evacuation.
What Does Princess Cancellation Protection Cover?
If you cancel your cruise at least 72 hours before your departure date, Princess waives the cancellation fee you would normally pay. This coverage only waives the cancellation fee, meaning medical expenses, trip interruptions, delays, or lost baggage aren’t covered under this plan.
What Does Princess Platinum Protection Cover?
Platinum Protection is a separate plan built around its own cancellation benefit, plus insurance on top:
- Princess Cruise Cancellation Fee Waiver: Unlike Cancellation Protection’s 72-hour cutoff, you can cancel any time up until departure. If your reason is on Princess’s approved list, you get 100% of your cancellation fees back in cash, as well as your prepaid cruise vacation. If it isn’t, or your claim doesn’t qualify, you still get 100% back, just as a credit toward a future cruise instead of cash.
- Trip interruption: If you have to cut your trip short for an eligible reason like an illness or injury, you can be reimbursed for the prepaid cruise or land arrangements you booked through Princess, plus the cost of a one-way ticket home, up to 150% of those Princess-booked costs.
- Trip delay: If a covered delay of three hours or more keeps you from making your cruise, or gets you home late, you can be reimbursed for the extra transportation, meals, and lodging it takes to catch up or get home. The cap is $500 for a pre-cruise delay or $1,500 for a post-cruise delay, but $1,500 total is the most you can collect if you’re hit with both.
- Medical expenses: If you get sick or injured during your trip, you can be reimbursed for treatment costs, up to $20,000 for an accident and a separate $20,000 for an illness. Emergency dental treatment is included within that, up to $1,000.
- Medical evacuation and repatriation: If you need emergency transport to a medical facility, or transport home for treatment, Princess covers those costs up to $100,000.
- Baggage and personal effects: If your bags or belongings are lost, stolen, or damaged during the trip, you’re covered up to $3,000. If your luggage is delayed more than 24 hours on the way to your cruise, you’re covered up to $500 for essentials you have to buy in the meantime.
- Flights, hotels, and tours booked through Princess: Any airfare, hotel stay, or excursion you purchased through Princess itself, not a third party, is covered under the same cancellation and interruption terms as your cruise fare.
- 24/7 worldwide assistance: A round-the-clock line for travel, medical, and emergency assistance while you’re on your trip, provided as a service rather than an insurance benefit.
Important: Princess Platinum Protection is only available for purchase after your initial trip deposit has been made. Please note that this coverage is distinct from other checkout options, such as refundable deposit fares, which are not a substitute for Cancellation or Platinum Protection.
Which is Better: Princess Vacation Protection vs. Travel Insurance?
When comparing Princess’s Cancellation Protection and Platinum Protection against a plan like iTravelInsured Travel LX, there are some differences in coverage to keep in mind:
| Benefit | Princess Cancellation Protection | Princess Platinum Protection | iTravelInsured Travel LX |
| Trip cancellation | Fee waiver only, no reimbursement for cruise fare | Up to 100% of bookings through Princess | Up to 100% of your overall trip cost |
| Trip interruption | Not covered | Up to 150% of bookings through Princess | Up to 150% of your overall trip cost |
| Trip delay | Not covered | Up to $500 for pre-cruise delays or $1,500 for post-cruise delays (up to a $1,500 combined maximum), after a 3-hour delay | Up to $2,500 after a 6-hour delay |
| Emergency medical coverage | Not covered | $20,000 accident + $20,000 illness, secondary coverage | Up to $500,000 |
| Emergency medical evacuation | Not covered | $100,000 | Up to $1,000,000 |
| Baggage loss | Not covered | $3,000 | Up to $2,500, $250 per item |
| Missed connection | Not covered | Not covered | Up to $500 after a 3-hour delay |
| Cancel for any reason | Not applicable | 100% cash for a covered, listed reason or future cruise credit if not | Optional add-on, up to 75% for any reason not listed in your policy |
| Pre-existing conditions | Not covered | Not covered | Covered if you qualify for the pre-existing conditions waiver |
| Covers non-Princess bookings | No | No | Yes |
Where Does Princess Cruise Travel Insurance Fall Short?
While Princess’s Vacation Protection insurance provides coverage for certain benefits while you are on a cruise, they are often not enough. Here are some places where Princess Cruise travel insurance may have some coverage gaps:
- Medical coverage is thin for a cruise: $20,000 for accidents and $20,000 for illness can be wiped out by a single overnight hospital stay abroad, which is lower than the amount our licensed insurance experts recommend. Our team recommends a minimum of $100,000 for emergency medical expenses, which many of our plans like iTravelInsured Choice Cruise and iTravelInsured Travel LX can fill that gap.
- Evacuation coverage is capped too low for more than one traveler: $100,000 total may not stretch far if two people need medical transport from the same trip. Helicopter airlifts can start at $20,000 to $50,000, while international air transport can sometimes exceed $100,000.
- Only bookings made through Princess are protected: Independently booked flights and hotels, which is how most travelers book airfare for better rates, aren’t covered under either plan.
- Pre-existing conditions are not covered: If you are someone with an ongoing health condition, an emergency flare-up on a cruise ship may not be covered under Princess travel insurance.
- Cancel for any reason coverage acts differently: Princess’ Cancel For Any Reason benefit only pays out as cruise credit, not cash. The credit you receive carries an expiration date and blackout dates. Independent cruise insurance pays out CFAR claims in actual cash.
Should You Get Princess Travel Insurance or Separate Travel Insurance?
You should consider Princess Vacation Protection if:
- Your cruise itinerary is entirely domestic or low-risk, and you live close enough to drive to the cruise port.
- Every single part of your vacation (cruise, airfare, transfers, and excursions) was purchased directly through Princess.
- You do not have pre-existing conditions, and wouldn’t mind receiving Future Cruise Credits if you had to cancel.
You should get a separate travel insurance policy for your cruise if:
- You are a senior citizen, keep in mind that traditional health insurance, including Medicare, generally stops covering you the moment a ship sails into international waters, so you need a standalone policy with high-limit medical coverage.
- You are traveling internationally to destinations such as Europe, Asia, or South America, which likely require higher medical evacuation limits.
- If you booked your trip separately from Princess, such as by purchasing your flights through an airline, using credit card points, or booking independent hotel stays before or after the cruise, only a third-party policy will cover the full value of your entire itinerary.
How Can I Find the Best Travel Insurance Plan for My Cruise?
Choosing between Princess’s own protection and a separate policy comes down to what you actually need covered. If your whole trip runs through Princess and you’re fine with $20,000 in medical coverage, Platinum Protection can be the simpler choice. If you booked flights or hotels on your own, or want medical and evacuation limits that can hold up against a real hospital bill abroad, shopping for travel insurance for cruise ships from a third-party provider usually gets you more coverage for a comparable price.
The right plan also depends on your age, your destination, and whether you have a pre-existing condition that needs a waiver, none of which a cruise line travel insurance plan accounts for. Our customer service team can walk through your specific trip and help you compare options side by side.
