- Cruise insurance typically costs 4% to 10% of your total prepaid, non-refundable trip cost.
- The bigger the trip investment, the more there is to protect, which is why premiums rise with trip cost.
- For a $6,000–$8,000 cruise, a few hundred dollars in insurance is a small price against losing the entire trip cost to an unexpected cancellation.
- Since trip cost, age, and trip itinerary can factor into the price of insurance, the fastest way to know your true cost is to get an instant quote.
Cruise vacations tend to be paid for long before you ever step on board. Cruise fares, port fees, prepaid excursions, airfare, and hotels before or after sailing are usually paid weeks or months in advance, with much of that cost becoming non-refundable well before departure.
Many travelers going on a cruise wonder, “How much does cruise insurance cost?” And the honest answer is that it depends on your age, trip cost, and trip length. We pulled real premiums from VisitorsCoverage’s cruise insurance plans, broken out by traveler type, so you can find the scenario closest to your own trip.
What Is Cruise Insurance?
Cruise insurance is a form of travel insurance designed to protect you both on land and at sea during a cruise vacation.
These policies typically combine:
- Trip cancellation and interruption protection for prepaid, non-refundable costs
- Emergency medical coverage for treatment onboard or at ports of call
- Emergency medical evacuation from the ship or a remote port
- Coverage for missed connections, travel delay, and baggage issues
Those going on a cruise generally choose between either the insurance sold by the cruise line at checkout, or a third-party plan purchased independently. For those still on the fence about what to choose, we have covered why cruise line insurance typically falls short compared to a dedicated cruise insurance plan.
How Much Does Cruise Insurance Cost?
The prices below come from our cruise insurance plans. It reimburses your prepaid cruise fare, flights, and excursions if you need to cancel or cut your trip short, and it covers the same medical and evacuation risks people worry about at sea.
| Traveler Type | Trip Cost | Trip Length | iTravelInsured Choice Cruise | iTravelInsured Travel SE | iTravelInsured Travel LX |
| Solo traveler, age 30 | $1,500 | 10 days | $78 | $59 | $123 |
| Couple, ages 45 & 43 | $3,000 | 10 days | $170 | $159 | $281 |
| Family of 4 (ages 42, 40, 12, 9) | $6,000 | 10 days | $170 | $276 | $527 |
| Couple, ages 65 & 63 | $5,000 | 10 days | $322 | $373 | $569 |
| Couple, ages 72 & 70 | $8,000 | 10 days | $648 | $777 | $1,089 |
Quotes are shown for Californian residents on a cruise to the Bahamas departing 9/1/2026, using VisitorsCoverage’s quote tool.
What Factors Affect How Much My Cruise Insurance Price?
Cruise insurance pricing is driven by a few core variables:
- Total trip cost: Higher prepaid, non-refundable expenses mean higher premiums
- Traveler age: Older travelers typically pay more due to higher medical risk
- Destination and itinerary: International or remote cruises often require higher medical and evacuation limits
- Coverage limits and add-ons: Higher medical caps or optional benefits increase cost
Examples of what can factor into cruise insurance costs:
- A couple booking a $3,000 Caribbean cruise paid $170 for iTravelInsured Choice Cruise coverage, about 5.7% of their trip cost, right in the middle of the typical 4% to 10% range.
- A family of four spending $6,000 on a similar cruise saw almost the same premium as the couple above for iTravelInsured Choice Cruise, since their two kids were added with no cost.
- A senior couple in their 70s spending $8,000 paid $648, close to 8% of trip cost, near the top of the range, driven primarily by the cost of their trip and their age.
What Does NOT Affect How Much Your Cruise Insurance Costs?
- Cruise line brand
- Ship size
- Cabin category
- When you purchase your travel insurance
When Should You Buy Cruise Insurance?
The best time to buy cruise insurance is soon after making your first trip payment.
Buying early means:
- Ensures full coverage of your full prepaid cost from that point forward
- Cancel For Any Reason and pre-existing conditions waivers typically require purchase within 14–21 days of your initial deposit
- Improves overall value of what coverage you are getting, even if the premium stays similar
Waiting until close to departure can limit options and flexibility.
Where Can I Buy Travel Insurance for a Cruise Ship Online?
VisitorsCoverage offers cruise trip insurance plans from trusted insurers, giving travelers the ability to review coverage details such as medical limits, emergency evacuation benefits, and optional features like Cancel For Any Reason before purchasing a policy.
In addition to online plan selection, travelers can speak with licensed travel insurance experts who help explain coverage details and exclusions, making it easier to choose insurance that fits their cruise plans rather than relying on default add-ons during booking.
