Cruise Travel Insurance

What is it?

Cruise insurance provides coverage for costs related to lost luggage, trip disruptions, emergency medical evacuation, missed ports, urgent medical care, and other mishaps.

What Is Cruise Insurance?

Cruise insurance offers comprehensive coverage that protects travelers from a range of potential problems throughout their entire journey. This includes support for cruise-specific issues like cancellation or delays, as well as medical coverage should a policyholder become sick or injured while aboard the ship or during other parts of their trip.

Travelers can choose the right plan for them depending on the amount of coverage they need, the length and distance of the trip and other key factors.

Travel Insurance For Cruises

Cruise insurance is a type of travel insurance that helps protect you from unexpected disruptions throughout your entire trip, not just while you're on the ship. It can cover trip cancellations, delays, lost or stolen luggage, medical emergencies, and emergency evacuations.

Since cruises often involve international travel, time at sea, and multiple connecting parts like flights and hotel stays, the potential for complications is higher. Cruise insurance provides important financial protection, helping you recover costs and get support when things don’t go as planned.

Do I Need Travel Insurance for a Cruise?

Cruises involve multiple moving parts, flights, hotels, port stops, and excursions, and each step comes with potential risks.

Common issues cruise travelers face include:

Missed departures due to delayed or canceled flights
Stolen luggage or personal items at the port destination
Injuries due to activities at port destination
Late arrivals causing traveler to miss the cruise
No coverage from U.S. health insurance or Medicare in international waters or foreign countries
Weather disruptions, such as hurricanes or winter storms, affecting cruise schedules

Additionally, while most cruise lines have doctors or medical staff aboard a cruise, they may lack the resources necessary for more complex care. If you experience an emergency medical event at sea, cruise insurance includes emergency medical evacuation, crucial if you need to be taken back to land for complete care.

What’s the Difference Between Third‑Party Cruise Insurance and Cruise Line Insurance?

Cruise lines often sell their own protection plans. Still, these plans usually only cover you while during your time on the ship, and could actually be more expensive than purchasing a separate trip insurance plan.

Many travelers discover too late that issues before boarding, at port, or after disembarking are not covered. For example, if you need to fly to your cruise port and your flight is cancelled, your prepaid, nonrefundable airfare will most likely not be covered by your cruise line’s insurance. This creates gaps in your coverage and makes the cruise line's plan less cost-effective.

Independent trip insurance, however, covers your entire journey, from leaving home until you return, offering much broader protection and ensuring the protection you get for your trip is worth it.

Beyond these coverage differences, some countries and cruise lines now require proof of travel insurance for entry or boarding. Failing to meet these requirements could result in being denied boarding or being unable to disembark at certain ports.

What Does Cruise Insurance Cover?

Cruise ship travel insurance offers coverage for nonrefundable costs associated with trip-related hiccups as well as emergency medical coverage.

Cruise insurance can offer the following benefits:

Emergency Medical Evacuation
Missed Ports
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Travel Delay
Lost Passports
Urgent Medical Coverage
Optional Cancel For Any Reason (additional costs may apply)
Lost or Stolen Baggage Protection
Accidental Death or Dismemberment

Travel insurance for cruise benefits may differ depending on the cruise insurance plan you choose. If you’re interested in purchasing a cruise insurance policy, it’s advised to review and compare plan benefits and coverage to choose a plan that offers adequate coverage and the type of benefits you are looking for.

What is the Best Travel Insurance for Cruises?

Best Affordable Plan with Dedicated Cruise Travel Protection: iTravelInsured Choice Cruise

Best Customizable Cruise Insurance Plan: iTravelInsured Choice

Best Cruise Insurance with Strong Medical Coverage: iTravelInsured Travel SE

Best Travel Insurance for Families with Flexible Coverage and CFAR: FlexiPAX

Best Affordable Plan with Basic Trip Protection Coverage: iTravelInsured Travel Lite

Best Cruise Insurance with Comprehensive Coverage: iTravelInsured Travel LX

Is Cruise Insurance Worth It?

Yes, cruise insurance is often well worth the cost. For a relatively small percentage of your total trip cost, it can offer significant financial protection if something goes wrong.

Cruises come with unique risks. You’re often far from home, out at sea, or traveling through foreign countries where access to medical care and emergency services may be limited or expensive. Weather disruptions, delays, cancellations, and unexpected illness or injury can all derail your plans, and come with serious costs.

Cruise insurance helps safeguard your trip investment by covering expenses related to cancellations, medical emergencies, and other unexpected events. Given the relatively low cost of coverage compared to what you could lose without it, the risk of traveling without insurance simply isn’t worth it.

Cruise Cancellation, Interruption, or Delay

If your cruise is canceled unexpectedly, interrupted in some way, or delayed, cruise insurance can offer reimbursement for any nonrefundable trip costs you end up losing due to certain circumstances.

Cruise Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR)

Most cruise insurance plans also offer an optional Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) benefit, which allows you to cancel your cruise travels for any reason and still recoup a portion of your nonrefundable trip costs, based on the plan’s described benefits.

Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains

Another crucial benefit of cruise insurance is the coverage for emergency medical evacuation. Medical evacuation may be necessary if you require life-threatening medical attention that cannot be handled onboard. Evacuation transfers you from the ship to a facility on land that is more equipped to handle your care. Without insurance, emergency medical evacuation can be extremely expensive.

Repatriation of remains is another added benefit of cruise insurance which helps cover eligible costs associated with repatriating your remains back to your home in the event of your death onboard.

Cruise Belongings Protection

Most cruise trip insurance plans also offer belongings protection, which includes reimbursing you for lost or damaged baggage, baggage delay, or lost passport, visa, or other travel documents.

Cruise Accident and Sickness Coverage

If you have an accident or fall ill unexpectedly during your travels, cruise insurance can offer coverage for eligible medical care up to the benefit amount.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment

Cruise insurance can also include an Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit which is designed to assist your family financially in the event that you pass away during your cruise.

What Is the Best Place to Find Cruise Insurance?

You should be able to enjoy your trip without the stress of spending too much time learning how to insure it. VisitorsCoverage simplifies your search for the ideal cruise insurance. We offer a diverse selection of cruise insurance plans to suit every traveler.

Easily compare top-rated plans by entering your trip details, including destination, age, and desired coverage. Our platform allows you to refine your options using filters for key features like Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR), pre-existing condition waivers, and high medical evacuation limits. This way, you can quickly and confidently select the best policy for a worry-free cruise.

Frequently Asked Questions about Travel Insurance for Cruises

How much does cruise insurance typically cost for a week-long trip?

Typically, cruise insurance will cost between 4% and 10% of your trip's total prepaid, nonrefundable expenses. The cost can vary based on other factors, such as the travelers' ages, the number of people covered, the cruise duration, and the destination. For example, if a 55-year-old traveler is taking a week-long domestic U.S. cruise with $1,200 in prepaid, nonrefundable expenses, the insurance premium could range from about $57 to $158.

How is cruise travel insurance different from regular travel insurance?

There really isn’t a difference between cruise insurance and travel insurance. Cruise insurance is essentially a travel insurance policy that offers comprehensive protection for your entire trip, including coverage for your cruise. Whether you are traveling by air or at sea, travel insurance, often called "trip insurance”, can cover you.

Is the travel insurance on my credit card enough for a cruise trip?

Most likely not. Credit card travel insurance coverage is often limited compared to a third-party travel insurance policy. It often lacks key benefits that can be critical for cruises, like emergency medical evacuation and medical coverage while you are sailing internationally. It is important to review your card’s specific coverage details, identify any gaps, and consider where cruise-specific insurance can provide necessary protection for your needs.

Is it cheaper to buy cruise insurance through the cruise line or from a third-party company?

Not always. Cruise line insurance often offers more limited coverage, less flexibility, and can sometimes be more expensive than purchasing separate cruise insurance from a third-party provider. Additionally, cruise line insurance only covers you while you're on the cruise ship, not the parts before or after your trip, such as flights or hotel stays.

Can I buy cruise insurance online before my departure?

Yes, you can purchase cruise travel insurance online before your departure, but we strongly recommend buying it sooner rather than later. Many policies offering Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage require purchase within 14-21 days of your initial trip deposit. Waiting too long can also limit coverage for pre-existing medical conditions or trip cancellation.

Is cruise insurance worth it for short cruises?

Yes. Even short cruises benefit significantly from travel insurance. While the duration of your trip might be brief, the potential for unforeseen events like medical emergencies, delays, or lost luggage does not diminish. A sudden illness or injury, even on a 3-day cruise, could lead to substantial medical bills, especially if you’re in international waters and your domestic insurance doesn’t apply. Travel insurance provides a crucial safety net for a small percentage of your total cruise cost.

Does cruise insurance cover medical emergencies on the ship and in port?

Yes. Cruise insurance, in general, can provide coverage while you are on the ship or at your destination. This includes doctor visits, hospital stays, new medications, and emergency medical evacuations if needed. For example, if you become seriously ill while visiting a port and need to be flown to a better hospital, cruise insurance would typically cover this expensive service, whereas cruise line insurance often doesn't.

Does cruise insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions and how do I qualify?

Yes. Cruise insurance can cover pre-existing medical conditions with a pre-existing conditions waiver. To qualify for this waiver, you need to purchase your travel insurance policy after you make your first trip deposit, often within 14-21 days. You also need to insure the total cost of your prepaid, nonrefundable expenses, and be medically able to travel at the time you purchase your trip insurance policy.

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Helpful articles

Why Do You Need Travel Insurance for a Cruise?

Not sure if you need cruise insurance? Learn what it covers—trip cancellations, delays, medical emergencies, and more—and how to choose the right plan.

Cruise Travel Insurance FAQs

Trip Insurance plans can offer coverage for a policyholder taking a cruise. It can help provide support for trip issues like cruise cancellation or trip delays, as well as medical coverage should the policyholder become sick or injured while onboard.

If you purchase Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage, you can cancel your trip for any reason, as long as it’s at least 48 hours before departure. If your policy does not include CFAR, trip cancellations must fall under specific covered reasons, which may include:
• Inclement weather
• Sickness, injury, or death
• Terrorist incidents
• Other specific events as defined by your policy

It’s important to review your policy’s terms and conditions for a complete list of covered reasons, exclusions, and restrictions. If you have questions about CFAR or finding the right policy, contact us at support@visitorscoverage.com or call 1-866-384-9104.

Trip cancellation coverage will begin the following day after purchasing a policy leading up to departure. Trip interruption benefits will begin after the policyholder departs on their journey.

US Residents who live in the US are covered by cruise insurance for traveling both within the US, as well as internationally outside the US.

Pre-existing conditions are generally not covered by most travel insurance plans. This means the insurance company will not pay for expenses related to any illness, disease, or condition that occurred during the specified time period before your coverage starts. However, for certain plans, the exclusion for pre-existing conditions can be waived if the following conditions are met:

(1) Your payment for the policy was made within the time-sensitive period before your initial deposit date.
(2) You insure all prepaid trip costs that are subject to cancellation penalties or restrictions.
(3) You are not disabled at the time your premium is paid.

To find plans that offer coverage for pre-existing conditions or to discuss your specific situation, feel free to contact us at support@visitorscoverage.com or call 1-866-384-9104.

The trip cancellation benefit on the Trip insurance plans will begin the day after purchase. All other benefits will begin once a policyholder departs on their trip.

Cruise insurance plans will offer a free look-back period on the policies. After purchase, the policyholder will have a specific time frame to cancel the plan without any penalties. The plan will be retroactive from the start. After this free look-back period has passed, the policyholder will only be able to utilize the trip cancellation benefit for a covered reason. Please review your policy terms and conditions for a list of exclusions and restrictions.

Cruise insurance will provide coverage for international travel destinations outside of your home country, including your primary destination country. Only the primary destination in the application will be listed on the policy documents, but rest assured that all other eligible countries will be covered during the active policy period. You can compare all the cruise plans on our website here.

We’ve got you covered.

At VisitorsCoverage, you can easily compare Cruise Insurance plans and buy them online, quickly and without excessive paperwork. Cruise Insurance plans can help protect you from unforeseen circumstances and let you travel with peace of mind.

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Disclaimer

Plan features listed here are high level, provided for your convenience and information purpose only. Please review the Evidence of Coverage and Plan Contract (Policy) for a detailed description of Coverage Benefits, Limitations and Exclusions. Must read the Policy Brochure and Plan Details for complete and accurate details. Only the Terms and Conditions of Coverage Benefits listed in the policy are binding.