Insuring Your Cruise

Last updated on 04/16/2024

Understanding Cruise Travel Insurance
3rd Party Cruise Insurance vs. Cruise Line Travel Protection
Specialized Cruise Coverage Options
Frequently Asked Questions

Cruise insurance is especially important to consider when booking a cruise because of the unique multi-leg nature of traveling by cruise ship. Depending on the plan, cruise travel insurance can protect you if you miss a leg of your trip or have an emergency evacuation from the sea. When traveling abroad by ship, cruise trip insurance can cover you for unexpected medical issues. We invite you to get a personalized insurance quote for your cruise and compare the available plans. If you are primarily interested in emergency medical coverage, please read more about our travel health insurance plans we have available.

However, it's important to be cautious about where you get travel insurance for a cruise. Typically, to find the best and most robust cruise insurance it's advisable to look at cruise insurance reviews and then buy travel insurance for your cruise from a third-party source — not from the cruise line itself or from a booking site. These types of travel insurance plans tend to be limited in their coverage and may not include the essential benefits you need for your individual comfort and safety. They may be written in a way that is more likely to benefit the cruise line operator rather than the cruiser. Our online insurance comparison app now recommends cruise insurance plans for travelers who identify they are traveling by cruise. Whenever you purchase travel insurance for a cruise, make sure to find out what type of coverage is available to you for the following concerns:

Emergency Medical Care

If you should unexpectedly fall ill or become injured while you're on your cruise, you'll need some sort of medical insurance coverage to offset the expense of the care you receive. Many cruisers don't know that their home medical insurance provider may not cover any care they receive outside of their home country and some may only cover a portion of the costs. Travelers on international cruises with primary Medicare insurance should be particularly concerned with this type of benefit, as Medicare does not traditionally cover any kind of medical care outside of the United States.

Emergency Medical Evacuation

While rare, emergency medical evacuations are a genuine possibility for cruisers. Whether the emergency is severe enough to require an air rescue from the ship, or whether it involves emergency transport from the nearest port-of-call, the costs can be expensive if not covered by insurance. Travelers who are particularly concerned about the possible quality of medical care in an unfamiliar area of the world may want to consider the optional Hospital of Choice benefit as an additional coverage. The benefit may allow for transfer to another hospital in the event that the attending physician determines evacuation is medically necessary.

Baggage Loss or Baggage Delay

Between airlines, ships, and ports-of-call there are plenty of opportunities for luggage to be delayed, lost in transit or stolen. Baggage loss coverage may help recover the costs of replacing lost items, or baggage delay coverage may help reimburse for the necessities purchased while waiting for bags. Having baggage coverage can significantly decrease the stress of losing your belongings.

Identity Theft

Losing personal documents, such as passports, is indeed a possibility when on a cruise. Identity theft protection is a unique service offered by some travel insurance providers. This coverage may include a toll-free assistance line to help guide you through the process of minimizing possible damage to your credit or financial reputation. It can also assist in important communications and monitoring to help replace your documents as quickly as possible and continue your cruise.

Financial Default

One significant benefit that third-party insurance plans offer is possible coverage for financial default. In other words, if your cruise line operator or another travel supplier related to your cruise goes bankrupt after the waiting period on the policy (typically 10 days after purchase), financial default coverage potentially would allow you to recover the money paid to that travel supplier. It’s important to note that financial default coverage is generally a time-sensitive benefit, so be sure to look into purchasing your travel insurance soon after you make your initial trip payment. It is important to read the details of the plan as some do restrict coverage for financial default of the travel supplier, tour operator, travel agency, organization or firm that you purchased the trip from.

Hurricanes and Other Bad Weather

Cruise ships are obviously especially vulnerable to the effects of hurricanes or other severe weather. While most comprehensive travel insurance plans will not offer coverage if your cruise departs as scheduled, the plan may cover you if the cruise is canceled or cut short. Trip cancellation coverage can help to recoup any costs that the cruise company will not reimburse. Some plans written for cruises do have coverage for itinerary changes or excursion cancellation due to weather conditions. There are also important travel insurance benefits available that are related to bad weather that causes damage to your home and renders it uninhabitable, such as trip interruption coverage.

What About Travel Insurance Offered by a Cruise Line?

	Luxury Cruise See plan	Carnival Cruise Insurance	Celebrity Cruises Insurance	Costa Cruises Insurance	Disney Cruise Insurance	Holland America Cruise Insurance	MSC Cruises Insurance	Norwegian Cruise Line Insurance	Princess Cruises Insurance	Royal Caribbean Insurance	Viking Cruise Insurance
Baggage Loss	$2,500 Covers up to	$1,500 Only	$1,500 Only	$1,500 Only	$3,000 Covers up to	$1,000 Only	$1,000 Only	$3,000 Covers up to	$3,000 Only	$1,500 Only	$3,000 Covers up to
Baggage Delay	6+ hours $1,000 max	24+ hours $500 max	24+ hours $500 max	24+ hours $500 max	24+ hours $500 max	24+ hours $500 max	24+ hours $100 max	24+ hours $750 max	24+ hours $500 max	24+ hours $500 max	24+ hours $1,000 max
Emergency Medical	$150,000 Covers up to	$10,000 Only	$25,000 Only	$10,000 Only	$20,000 Only	$10,000	$25,000 Only	$20,000 Only	$20,000 Only	$25,000 Only	$100,000 Only
Medical Evacuation	$1,000,000 Covers up to	$30,000 Only	$50,000 Only	$30,000 Only	$30,000 Only	$50,000	$50,000 Only	$50,000 Only	$75,000 Only	$50,000 Only	$250,000 Only
Missed Connection	3+ hours $2,500 max	X	3+ hours $300 max	X	X	X	X	X	X	3+ hours $300 max	X
Trip Delay	6+ hours $1,000 max	3+ hours $500 max	3+ hours $500 max	3+ hours $1,000 max	6+ hours $500 max	3+ hours $500 max	12+ hours $600 max	3+ hours $500 max	3+ hours $1,500 max	3+ hours $500 max	12+ hours $1,500 max
Cancel For Any Reason	Up to 75% Cash	Up to 75% Future credit	Up to 90% Future credit	X	Up to 75% Future credit	Up to 90% Waiver	X	Up to 90% Future credit	Up to 100% Future credit	Up to 90% Future credit	Up to 100% Future credit
Trip Cancellation	Up to 100% Trip cost	Cancellation Waiver	Cancellation Waiver	Up to 100%	Up to 100%	X	Up to 100%	Up to 100%	Cancellation Waiver	Cancellation Waiver	Up to 100%
Pre-Ex Waiver	Within 14 days of ITP	X	X	X	X	Sudden worsening of condition	Within 24 hours of final payment	X	X	X	X
Pre-Ex Period	60 days	60 days	60 days	60 days	60 days	X	60 days	60 days	60 days	60 days	60 days
# of Covered Reasons	18	9	7	6	9	6	20	7	5	5	21

This is a general representation of coverage and some benefits may differ based on your quoted information or not be available if all eligibility requirements aren’t met. Please read your state specific policy for full coverage details. Coverage may not available in all states. Cruise Line coverages are based on platinum (not standard) policies.

InsureMyTrip researchers evaluated popular cruise lines and found while many plans offer basic travel insurance perks, few offer robust trip cancellation insurance or expansive emergency medical care coverage.

The findings suggest that cruisers should review the travel insurance coverage advertised by their cruise line to understand what exactly it covers — and what it doesn’t.

InsureMyTrip recommends that cruisers compare coverage with a travel insurance comparison website before choosing a plan offered by their cruise line.

Cruisers will likely discover that comprehensive travel insurance plans aka 3rd party travel insurance available on InsureMyTrip will offer far more coverage options, often at a lower price.

Quote travel insurance plans with InsureMyTrip

Cruise Line Travel Insurance Downfalls

Limited number of reasons for cancelling a trip
Most fail to cover pre-existing conditions, so older travelers and those that may be traveling with a condition could find themselves not covered if they need to cancel/interrupt or seek medical attention during the trip for it.
Medical coverage is typically lower than what we see on third party travel insurance plans.
For some cruise line plans, Trip Cancellation is a “penalty waiver” offered by the cruise line, not the same thing as a traditional insurance benefit and will have a very limited number of covered reasons for cancellation.
CFAR is typically offered through the cruise line as a type of waiver, and reimburses credits/voucher, not cash as a third-party plan would.
Fail to cover the financial default of the cruise line or common carrier.
Typically, a cruise plan will not cover the full trip cost. So, if you are booking flights and accommodations separately from the cruise, you would need separate insurance to cover those expenses. With a third-party insurance plan, you can insure all of them on one policy.
Most cruise line plans only offer secondary coverage.
Most cruise line plans will not include “inconvenience benefits” like you might find on some cruise specific third-party cruise plans.

Cruise Line Travel Protection vs. 3rd Party Travel Insurance

Coverage Type	Cruise Line Travel Protection	3rd Party Travel Insurance (available on InsureMyTrip)
Cancel For Any Reason	No Cash, Credits Only	Cash
Trip Cancellation	Limited Covered Reasons	Many Covered Reasons
Emergency Medical	Low Limits	High Limits
Pre-Existing Conditions	No	Yes
Trip Cost	Only Cruise Insurable	All Costs Insurable
Financial Default	No	Yes
Baggage Delay	Delay Must Be Many Hours	Few Hours

Bottom line — your cruise line may offer some protection. However, it will not provide the same amount of coverage available from traditional travel insurance.

A comprehensive travel insurance plan purchased from InsureMyTrip can cover the entire trip cost in addition to providing robust key benefits including emergency medical coverage, emergency medical evacuation, trip interruption, trip delay, baggage coverage, and 24/7 emergency assistance. Typically, these plans will run 4-8 percent of a total trip cost.

Travelers seeking additional assistance when evaluating their travel insurance options can contact a licensed travel insurance agent for help.

Quote travel insurance plans with InsureMyTrip

Unique Travel Insurance Coverage for Cruises

When you are planning a cruise, you have specific travel needs that are different from a traditional traveler – for obvious reasons. This is not your normal “fly away, vacation and fly home” trip. You’ll be meeting up with your cruise, vacationing out on the deep blue sea, probably experiencing some new things through excursions and then coming home to reality.

These differences mean you’ll need unique travel insurance coverage for your trip. A typical comprehensive plan would be a great option for any traveler, even cruisers. But there are some comprehensive cruise insurance plans that offer specialized coverage specific to the needs of cruisers. Below are some examples of coverage you can find if you look carefully at the plan details:

Return Home Early

It’s a new twist on trip interruption coverage. This coverage allows you to abandon your cruise for any reason and provides reimbursement of your transportation costs, up to the specified benefit limit, in order to get home. This coverage is available if all eligibility requirements are met and is available in most states.

Shipboard Service Disruption

Unfortunately, in the past few years, cruise lines have been in the spotlight for situations that often end the cruise early, cause travelers to become sick or leave them stranded in the middle of the ocean. If there is a fire or mechanical breakdown, the Shipboard Disruption benefit can provide a one-time payment of the amount stated in your plan, to compensate you for the inconvenience. This coverage is available in most states.

Pre-Paid Excursion Reimbursement

Because you planned ahead, you probably added your pre-paid, non-refundable excursions to your trip cost when purchasing your travel insurance plan. Well, if the cruise line changes your itinerary after your departure, this can throw a wrench in your plans. This coverage will provide a one-time reimbursement, up to the limit on your confirmation, for pre-paid, non-refundable activity expenses that you have lost. This coverage is available in most states.

Missed Connection

No one is immune to travel mishaps. Sometimes when you are traveling to meet your cruise, you get delayed on the way. If you and your travel companions are delayed 3 or more hours due to a covered reason and you miss your cruise departure, this coverage may reimburse, up to the stated limit, for expenses to help you rejoin your ship. However, depending on the travel insurance company, you may only be eligible for benefits if you left adequate time between your delayed flight and missed connection. The amount of coverage will vary from plan to plan.

As of July 2021, some cruise lines will not allow travelers to join their cruise if they miss the initial embarkation at the departure port. This is due to the health screening and other processes that are performed there, and are not able to be made up down the line. Due to this new restriction, missed connection coverage may not apply if you are not allowed to rejoin the ship after departure.

Before purchasing a travel insurance policy, we encourage all customers to look into their specific cruise line's restrictions and understand how coverage may work in the event of a missed connection.

Ship-to-Shore Coverage

Locating this coverage in your average comprehensive plan will be difficult. This is a rare benefit that is defined as a part of emergency evacuation. Essentially, the travel insurance company will assist with making arrangements to get you off the cruise ship and to an onshore hospital if your condition warrants an evacuation. Of course, there may be exclusions or exceptions due to your ship's location. But this benefit allows you to have peace of mind knowing that assistance, in an unfortunate situation, is just a phone call away, even if you are aboard a cruise ship.

Remember, not all comprehensive travel insurance plans will have these benefits. While they can be beneficial to most cruisers, there may be some coverage limitations as well as eligibility requirements. We always recommend contacting our Customer Care Team to answer any questions you may have on the coverage and plans prior to purchase. Finding the right plan can help you cruise worry-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do You Need Special Insurance for a Cruise?

Due to the unique nature of traveling by cruise ship, travel insurance is strongly recommended for all travelers. Depending on the plan, cruise travel insurance can protect against missed connections, an emergency evacuation, unexpected medical issues, baggage loss, and more.

Is Cruise Insurance Worth It?

At InsureMyTrip, we have heard endless feedback from customers that travel insurance is worth it and they were thankful to have it. While travel insurance cannot prevent mishaps from occurring, it can reduce the burden of unexpected expenses and additional travel arrangements that need to be taken care of with very little notice.

It can protect the cost of your trip if you have a travel delay or need to cancel, offset added expenses due to a travel delay or lost, delayed or damaged luggage, and protect against expensive medical bills if you are injured or ill while traveling abroad.

Compared to the cost of a cruise, travel insurance is a smart investment. Plans are not one-size-fits-all, as the price and conditions will vary, but generally travelers can expect to pay 4% - 10% of their total, nonrefundable trip costs.

What Does Cruise Insurance Cover?

Typically, cruise insurance will include coverages for:

Emergency Medical
Emergency Medical Evacuation
Baggage Loss or Delay
Identity Theft
Financial Default
Hurricanes or Severe Weather

Cruise insurance may also offer unique coverages such as:

Return Home Early
Shipboard Service Disruption
Pre-Paid Excursion Reimbursement
Missed Connection
Ship-to-Shore Coverage

Plans will vary as some of these coverages have limitations and eligibility requirements. We recommend speaking directly with a Customer Care agent to ensure your policy has the right coverages for you.

What If I Miss My Cruise?

Generally, the Missed Connection and Trip Interruption benefits may help cover expenses so you can rejoin your cruise ship at a later point. However, as of July 2021, some companies - such as Royal Carribean and Carnival - may not allow travelers to join a cruise if they miss the initial embarkation at the departure port. This is due to health screenings that take place only upon embarkation and cannot be performed later. In this case, the Missed Connection benefit would not be able to apply. Be sure to review the policies and understand the restrictions for your specific cruise line before purchasing insurance.

Does the Travel Insurance Provided by my Credit Card Cover My Cruise?

While your credit card may offer some travel protection, it will not provide the same amount of coverage available from traditional travel insurance providers.

Can I Get Travel Insurance After I Book My Cruise?

A common question we receive is "how late can I purchase my travel insurance?" We recommend purchasing early, ideally after making your first payment towards your trip. Some benefits are time-sensitive, such as coverage for pre-existing medical conditions or the optional Cancel for Any Reason benefit. And while some plans offer post-departure benefits or can be purchased last minute, we advise not to wait to start comparing travel insurance plans.

How Does Cruise Insurance Cover COVID-19 Travel Concerns?

Coverages for COVID-19 related travel concerns vary by policy and provider. Generally speaking, coverage by a comprehensive policy may apply in the following unforeseen scenarios:

Emergency Medical Coverage
Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage
Trip Interruption
Cancel For Any Reason (optional, time-sensitive benefit)

Over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, many traditional travel insurance companies expanded or adapted their existing coverage for travelers. In addition to the coverages above, examples of these may include:

Reimbursement for covered medical treatment during a trip due to a COVID-19 illness
Get sick with COVID-19 and must cancel a trip by physician’s order
Physician orders a quarantine before trip
Lost a job during the coronavirus pandemic by no-fault of your own

For travelers concerned with cancellation, Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) offers the most trip cancellation flexibility and is the only option available to cover fear of travel. CFAR is an optional, time-sensitive benefit with eligibility requirements, so not all travelers will qualify. Full terms of coverage will be listed in state-specific policy. If eligibility requirements are met, reimbursement is up to 50%-75% of the insured pre-paid non-refundable trip cost.

No matter what coverages you are interested in, our licensed representatives are available to help you identify the right policy, read the fine print and review any exclusions before you purchase a policy.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article serves as a general overview of benefits and should only be used for informational purposes. Refer to your individual certificate of insurance for specific coverages, exclusions and benefits. When in doubt, please contact one of our licensed agents for additional assistance.

Ask an Expert

I have a question about this subject!

Question:

We have paid a deposit on a cruise for May, 2025 and are buying the cruise insurance now in order to get the pre-existing coverage. However, the flight portion will not be booked for two more months. Are we able to add that to our insurance we are purchasing now or do we need to purchase a separate policy?

- Shelia,

05/28/2024

Answer:

You can insure what you have paid for to date and any known costs, and once you make subsequent payments towards the trip prior to departure, you can contact us and update your existing policy accordingly. So when you book airfare or any other travel arrangements for this trip, please contact us so the policy can be updated at that time.

- MatthewG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

06/01/2024

Question:

We're doing a trip to Alaska that will have a land component (self-planned) and a cruise. Will a single insurance policy cover both? Or should i separate the two portions of our trip?

- Deepti,

05/21/2024

Answer:

Yes, you only need to obtain one policy to cover your entire trip away from home. You can insure all prepaid non-refundable travel arrangements paid for prior to departure with one policy, including the land and cruise portion of the trip.

- MatthewG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

06/01/2024

Question:

I put a down payment on a cruise for February. Full payment is due in November. Can I still get full coverage for this trip? Do you offer yearly plans also?

- Paula,

08/15/2023

Answer:

You can purchase most policies up until the day before departure, however; you may not be eligible for some time sensitive benefits if you do not purchase within 10-21 days of the initial trip deposit/payment. Some time sensitive benefits are, but not limited to: Pre-Existing Condition Waiver, Financial Default, Terrorism, Cancel For Any Reason and Cancel For Work Reasons. We do provide annual medical policies for trips that take place outside of your home country. Typically, the trips cannot be longer than 70 days per trip with most plans. Our multi-trip medical plans provide both medical and medical evacuation coverage. The comprehensive policies have to be purchased on a per trip basis.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

08/17/2023

Question:

I am going on a cruise in October. I have separately booked two connecting rooms, one for my wife and one child and one for myself and another child. (Royal Caribbean would not let me book two minor children alone in a room.) Can I buy insurance for all 4 of us on the same policy at the same time even though there are two different booking numbers?

- John,

08/05/2023

Answer:

Yes, you can all be listed on the same policy together as long as you live in the same state and travel on the same dates. You are not required to be booked in the same room or have the same booking number to be able to be listed together on a policy.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

08/05/2023

Question:

Have just booked a cruise within the United States and have Medicare. Is there insurance that covers cruise and air without medical?

- Richard,

08/03/2023

Answer:

Unfortunately, we do not have policies that just include trip cancellation coverage. We have comprehensive policies that include these benefits. These plans provide coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip interruption, Baggage loss, Medical, Dental, Emergency Evacuation, 24 Hour Traveler Assistance, Baggage Delay, Travel Delay, and some also offer coverage for Accidental Death. The medical coverage would essentially act as secondary to whatever your existing insurance will not cover you for, up to the policy limit.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

08/05/2023

Question:

We will be doing a 12 day British Isle cruise staying in London for several days before and then flying to Munich to stay after.....do I need separate trip insurance for the cruise or can both cruise and land be covered together?

- Linda,

02/03/2023

Answer:

You can cover your entire trip away from home with one policy. You are not required to obtain separate policies for each segment of your trip. Please fill out the quote form on our home page, www.insuremytrip.com with your trip details to obtain a quote. If you are interested in trip cancellation and other travel protection benefits, please click on the “Comprehensive” filter on the left when you arrive on the results page. If you like, you can also call us at 800 487 4722 and any customer care representative will be happy to assist you with finding a policy over the telephone.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

02/04/2023

Question:

My wife has a preexisting. If she were to become ill a week before the cruise date and we have to cancel is there any insurance that would reimburse partial or cost of the trip?

- Randall H,

08/23/2022

Answer:

Most Comprehensive Plans will offer a waiver of pre-existing conditions if you meet the following conditions: You purchase the policy within 10 - 21 days of making your first trip payment; insure ALL prepaid non-refundable expenses prior to your departure date; and be medically fit to travel the day you purchase the policy. Please fill out the quote form on our home page, www.insuremytrip.com with your trip details to obtain a quote. If you are interested in trip cancellation and other travel protection benefits, please click on the “Comprehensive” button on the left when you arrive on the results page, then the pre-existing conditions waiver filter below that. If you like, you can also call us at 800 487 4722 and any customer care representative will be happy to assist you with finding a policy over the telephone.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

08/23/2022

Question:

We have 5 cruises booked for 2022, Is there a yearly plan we can purchase?

- SusanE,

12/16/2021

Answer:

We do provide annual medical policies for trips that take place outside of your home country. Typically, the trips cannot be longer than 70 days per trip with most plans. To obtain a quote, please fill out the quote form with your very first trip's details and once you arrive on the results page, please click on the button labeled “medical” on the bottom left and view our plans that are labeled “multi trip". Our multi-trip medical plans provide both medical and medical evacuation coverage. If you were interested in trip cancellation and other travel protection benefits, that coverage has to be purchased on a per trip basis.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

12/20/2021

Question:

I had to rebook canceled cruises. Will my coverage switch dates automatically or should I report each to you?

- Janet,

05/21/2020

Answer:

The dates on your policy will not change automatically. You will need to contact our Customer Care department at 800-487-4722 with the updated information (please have your email address, order and/or policy number available so that we can find your information in our system). We will contact the insurance company to make sure the updates are made on their end as well.

- Meghan,

05/21/2020

Question:

My wife and I have an Iceland cruise booked on Seabourn for July 2021. We made a deposit of $8,500 (refundable until 120 days before sailing), and the total trip cost for both of us is about $40,000 for the penthouse suite. If history holds true, that cost will adjust downward to $30,000 six to eight month before the cruise. Is there a way to just insure our deposit now (especially for financial default of Carnival Seabourn), and then increase the amount to cover the entire cruise once the fare adjusts to its final pricing? I don't want to pay a premium that covers more than we anticipate paying for the cruise, and I especially don't want to pay such a high premium for a cruise that we might cancel depending on Covid conditions 120 days out. Thanks.

- DavidH,

04/30/2020

Answer:

Yes, with most plans you can insure the cost of your deposit now and then insure subsequent payments as you make them. Some plans do have time sensitive benefits, such as a pre-existing condition waiver and/or optional Cancel For Any Reason protection, that (among other eligibility requirements) require you to insure your trip within 10-21 days after making your first payment or deposit. If you are reviewing plans that have time sensitive benefits, it is important to read the full policy details as they will list all eligibility requirements. As you make future payments toward your trip, it is important to then insure that additional amount right away, within 10-21 days after making that payment, so that you don't risk becoming ineligible for any time sensitive benefits that may be on your plan. When talking about coverage for COVID-19, and potentially having to cancel your trip because you don't feel comfortable traveling, you would want to look at a plan that offers optional Cancel For Any Reason protection. Standard comprehensive travel insurance plans don't cover fear of travel. There are some eligibility requirements for Cancel For Any Reason protection, such as insuring 100% of pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs, purchasing your coverage within 10-21 days after making your initial trip payment (and insuring subsequent payments within 10-21 days after making them), and you must cancel your trip no less than 2 days prior to departure. Cancel For Any Reason can reimburse a portion, typically up to 50%-75%, of your trip cost depending on the plan purchased. A policy with Cancel For Any Reason can cost an additional 40%-60% more than a standard policy, is not available in all states, and eligibility requirements may differ by company. If you are looking at different plans and have questions, please call our Customer Care department at 800-487-4722 to speak with a licensed travel insurance representative.

- Meghan,

04/30/2020

Question:

Is Airfare covered if you have to cancel for a covered reason?

- StephanieL,

04/10/2020

Answer:

If you included your airfare in your total insured trip cost and it is prepaid and non-refundable, it may be covered if you are cancelling your trip due to a covered reason. The travel insurance company providing coverage will make all final determinations as to what is or is not covered at the time of a claim.

- Meghan,

04/21/2020

Question:

Can I cancel my cruise and get a refund if my doctor writes a note saying I am not medically approved for travel? Too ill to travel? Also, can my companion that was scheduled to travel with me be included in the refund?

- LisaH,

03/10/2020

Answer:

The number one covered reason for Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption is the unforeseen illness or injury of you or a traveling companion that deems you unfit to travel, by order of a licensed physician; or the unforeseen hospitalization or death of a family member. To see all of the covered reasons to cancel or interrupt your trip, please click on the dollar amount that appears under the words "Trip Cancellation" when viewing a quote. Trip Cancellation reimburses 100%.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

03/16/2020

Question:

What if the cruise ships is going to multiple places? What do I put for the destination?

- JaylaS,

03/09/2020

Answer:

Please enter the first international port of arrival as your destination. For instance, if you're boarding your cruise in Florida and your first port is Nassau, Bahamas, you will want to enter the Bahamas as your destination.

- Meghan,

03/11/2020

Question:

We have booked an Alaskan Cruise in July. The flight to Vancouver arrives the night before the ship leaves. If the flight is cancelled or not available for some reason and we can not board on time, is our entire trip insured?

- George S,

03/08/2020

Answer:

If your concern is having to cancel or interrupt your trip on the day of departure or after you have started traveling, Comprehensive travel insurance plans typically have coverage if there is a complete cessation of services of your airline for a certain number of hours for a covered reason such as inclement weather, strike, or mechanical breakdown. Coverage differs by provider and by plan, so you want to read your policy which will list all covered reasons for cancelling your trip as well as any coverage exclusions. When insuring your trip, you would want to make sure that you are insuring all pre-paid non-refundable trip costs as well as from when you leave your home, until you plan to return home. Please note, as Coronavirus is now a known event and no longer considered unforeseen, flight cancellations due to this reason would not be covered on a standard comprehensive plan. It may be a good idea to check and see what types of cancellation policies your travel suppliers are offering in the event that flights/cruises are cancelled.

- Meghan,

03/12/2020

Question:

How long do I have to purchase insurance for my cruise? I already booked my cruise and paid my deposit. My cruise date is set for June 15th

- JohnC,

03/07/2020

Answer:

You can purchase most comprehensive insurance policies up until the day before departure, however; you may not be eligible for some time sensitive benefits if you do not purchase within 10-21 days of the initial trip deposit/payment. Some time sensitive benefits are, but not limited to: Pre-Existing Condition Waiver, Financial Default, Terrorism, Cancel For Any Reason and Cancel For Work Reasons.

- Meghan,

03/10/2020

Question:

Just put down a deposit on a cruise in March, 2020. The deposit is non-refundable. Is this covered through the Trip Insurance I am planning to purchase?

- Lee,

10/14/2019

Answer:

Yes, you can insure a non-refundable cruise deposit with all other prepaid non-refundable travel arrangements paid for prior to departure. Most providers will allow you to insure just the deposit now and once you make the final payment towards the trip prior to departure, you can update the amount you insured with your existing policy at that time.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

10/14/2019

Question:

We are booked on two consecutive cruises. Do I insure them separately or as one?

- Mike,

07/29/2019

Answer:

If you are not returning back to your home in between each cruise, this is viewed as a single trip and you would only need to obtain one policy to cover you from the time you leave home until the time your return back to your home. You can insure all prepaid non-refundable travel arrangements associated with both cruises.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

07/30/2019

Question:

Is there any insurance that would cover a cruise if I have to cancel due to the sickness or medical emergency of an elderly parent

- LaTonyaJ,

05/17/2019

Answer:

The number one covered reason for Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption is the unforeseen illness or injury of you or a traveling companion that deems you unfit to travel, by order of a licensed physician; or the unforeseen hospitalization or death of a family member. To see all of the covered reasons to cancel or interrupt your trip, please click on the dollar amount that appears under the words "Trip Cancellation" when viewing a quote. This applies to all comprehensive policies and it extends to non-traveling Family Members. Trip Cancellation reimburses 100%.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

05/18/2019

Question:

We are taking two cruises this year. One in Feb for 21 days and one in Aug. for 30 days. Is there a way to insure for both at the same time or do we purchase two separate plans?

- SallyG,

01/03/2019

Answer:

If you are looking for comprehensive coverage such as Trip Cancellation and other travel protection benefits, you would need to purchase a separate policy for each trip. Comprehensive Plans are the most widely known form of coverage and are often called package plans. Typically, a Comprehensive Plan will offer a variety of benefits for travelers, covering a wide range of concerns. Most provide coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip interruption, Baggage loss, Medical, Dental, Emergency Evacuation, 24 Hour Traveler Assistance, Baggage Delay, Travel Delay, and Accidental Death.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

01/05/2019

Question:

When insuring my cruise vacation, should I include the hotel stays while traveling to and from the cruise? We typically drive to the ports.

- JohnieD,

11/15/2018

Answer:

As long as the hotel arrangements are prepaid and non-refundable prior to departure, you can insure the cost of these arrangements as well as the cost of the cruise.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

11/17/2018

Question:

If you have a non-refundable hotel booked, would it be covered by trip insurance?

- Sheila,

03/27/2018

Answer:

Yes, our comprehensive policies do cover prepaid non-refundable hotel arrangements.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

03/28/2018

Question:

Traveling on viking cruse in Germany next August 2018. When do I have to buy insurance?

- justinaS,

10/24/2017

Answer:

You can purchase most policies up until the day before departure, however; you may not be eligible for some time sensitive benefits if you do not purchase within 10-30 days of the initial trip deposit/payment. Some time sensitive benefits are, but not limited to: Pre-Existing Condition Waiver, Financial Default, Terrorism, Cancel For Any Reason and Cancel For Work Reasons.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

10/25/2017

Question:

We've put a deposit for a cruise directly out of LA to the Mexican Rivera. So no airline travel. Is there a policy that covers us in the event one of our family members isn't able to make the trip at the last minute?

- MaryP,

10/07/2017

Answer:

The number one covered reason for Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption is the unforeseen illness or injury of you or a traveling companion that deems you unfit to travel, by order of a licensed physician; or the unforeseen hospitalization or death of a family member. To see all of the covered reasons to cancel or interrupt your trip, please click on the dollar amount that appears under the words "Trip Cancellation" when viewing a quote. This applies to all of our comprehensive plans. As long as the cruise is prepaid and non-refundable, you can insure it.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

10/07/2017

Question:

What if the weather is bad where your leaving from like snow and the flight is cancelled what insurance do I need to get my cruise payment reimbursement

- TeresaL,

10/06/2017

Answer:

Our comprehensive policies provide Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption coverage due to inclement weather. To see all of the covered reasons to cancel or interrupt your trip, please click on the dollar amount that appears under the words "Trip Cancellation" when viewing a quote.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

10/07/2017

Question:

Cruise booked but need insurance as I am flying to the cruise liner from Bulgaria,British Passport but now live in Bulgaria Can I get insurance that covers me for flight and cruise

- Alan,

06/15/2017

Answer:

Yes, as long as your travel arrangements are prepaid and non-refundable, you can insure them with any one of our comprehensive plans.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

06/19/2017

Question:

I'm going on a 30 day European holiday which includes an 8 day cruise. Do I need to get separate insurance for the county's I'm visiting and the cruise?

- ElissaR,

05/24/2017

Answer:

You can purchase one policy to cover your entire trip and you can insure all prepaid non-refundable travel arrangements, including the cruise. For the destination, we only ask to list the country where you are spending the most of your time, or you can list the country you fly to where the cruise begins.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

05/24/2017

Question:

If I purchase insurance for a cruise and I end up having to change the departure dates does the insurance follow me or do I have to cancel the insurance and then open it again?

- EdwardC,

05/13/2017

Answer:

If your travel dates change after the policy has been purchased, you can amend the existing policy with out having to purchase a new policy, as long as you contact us prior to the original listed departure date.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

05/15/2017

Question:

Am I covered if I am bumped off of an overbooked flight and then miss the cruise.

- David,

04/15/2017

Answer:

Generally, that is not something that is covered with travel insurance and the airlines are typically responsible for compensating any losses that may result from this type of incident.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

04/17/2017

Question:

My Neice WANTs TO BOOK A CRUISE, BUT her FATHER IS ON A LIST FOR HIP SURGERY IN CANADA. He is not taking the cruise, but she is a nurse and will have to take care of him. We don't know when the surgery will be as with the Canadian health system we have to wait for a call when space is available. Can she get a full refund for the cruise if this should happen the week of my cruise and I can't go.

- Michelle,

04/06/2017

Answer:

For this type of concern, you would need Cancel for Any Reason as this is considered foreseen. There are 3 conditions that must be met to purchase a Cancel For Any Reason Rider as follows: Purchase the policy within 10 - 21 days of First Trip Payment; Insure ALL prepaid and non-refundable travel expenses prior to departure; Trip arrangements must be canceled more than 48 -72 hours prior to the departure date. If you meet all 3 of these conditions, most of the policies will reimburse you 75% of your trip costs, unless otherwise noted.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

04/11/2017

Question:

Cruise is paid for can we still buy travel insurance?

- Mary,

03/18/2017

Answer:

You can purchase most policies up until the day before departure, however; you may not be eligible for some time sensitive benefits if you do not purchase within 10-30 days of the initial trip deposit/payment. Some time sensitive benefits are, but not limited to: Pre-Existing Condition Waiver, Financial Default, Terrorism, Cancel For Any Reason and Cancel For Work Reasons.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

03/21/2017

Question:

We are going on a 10 day cruise to Northern Europe with Regent cruise line. What type of insurance coverage do you recommend?

- Saundra,

02/25/2017

Answer:

Unfortunately, because we are a comparative website, we cannot recommend one company over the other. However, we can make a suggestion based on your travel needs. The easiest way to help you narrow the search is to call us at 800-487-4722 and we can help find the best plans for your particular concerns.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

02/28/2017

Question:

We are taking a cruise to Cuba but will only be there 1 1/2 days of a 5 day cruise. The starting port of Tampa would be considered the main port, correct? I have some health issues, if we had to cancel would our excursions off the ship be covered also? We get our excursions from a third party.

- Jean,

02/23/2017

Answer:

As long as the travel arrangements are prepaid and non-refundable, you can insure them. It does not matter where the arrangements were purchased.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

02/23/2017

Question:

We will be cruising in November but driving to the port .what's the best type of cruise insurance to purchase ? Also would they insurance have to have purchased at the time of the first payment .

- jackieB,

02/17/2017

Answer:

Any comprehensive plan will provide coverage for your upcoming cruise trip. We also have specific cruise policies through Nationwide which may be available depending on the cruise line you are cruising with. You can purchase most policies up until the day before departure, however; you may not be eligible for some time sensitive benefits if you do not purchase within 10-30 days of the initial trip deposit/payment. Some time sensitive benefits are, but not limited to: Pre-Existing Condition Waiver, Financial Default, Terrorism, Cancel For Any Reason and Cancel For Work Reasons.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

02/20/2017

Question:

We plan a 12 day cruise with stays in different ciites before and after the cruise. Is the land with flights and cruise covered based on total cost? Do any of your policiies include missed connection while on the cruise, e.g., in one port the bus or train we took to town has an accident and the boat sails without us. thank you

- KarenH,

02/17/2017

Answer:

Unfortunately, that is not something that is covered with travel insurance. Missed Connection benefits offer coverage in the event you miss a cruise or tour departure because of a common carrier delay resulting from inclement weather or other specified reasons.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

02/20/2017

Question:

Is having to go to university on "early admissions ' status a sustainable reason for cancelation/interruption under your coverage. University will not make admission decision until May, long after deadline for paying for cruise.

- Marilynn,

02/09/2017

Answer:

Unfortunately, this is not something that is covered with Trip Cancellation. We would recommend buying a policy that offers Cancel for Any Reason for that particular concern. There are 3 conditions that must be met to purchase a Cancel For Any Reason Rider as follows: Purchase the policy within 10 - 21 days of First Trip Payment; Insure ALL prepaid and non-refundable travel expenses prior to departure; Trip arrangements must be canceled more than 48 -72 hours prior to the departure date. If you meet all 3 of these conditions, most of the policies will reimburse you 75% of your trip costs, unless otherwise noted.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

02/09/2017

Question:

Is there insurance to cover thefts or injuries on excursions not sponsored by the ship?

- GarrieB,

02/05/2017

Answer:

The baggage coverage that is included with our comprehensive plans offer coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged baggage. Please refer to the policy certificate for more specific details regarding baggage coverage.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

02/07/2017

Question:

I am booked on a river cruise from Vantage Travel from June 21 to July 6 flying from Washington D.C. to Amsterdam, boarding a riverboat and cruising down the Seine River through Germany, France, and Switzerland. Do you cover river cruises like this?

- LettieH,

01/27/2017

Answer:

Yes, as long as the cruise and your other travel arrangements are prepaid and non-refundable, you can obtain a comprehensive plan that includes Trip Cancellation to cover your upcoming trip. For the destination, please select the first destination on the cruise or the destination where you are spending the most of your time in.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

01/30/2017

Question:

I have made a deposit on a cruise but have not made the final payment. Do you know of a travel policy that covers pre-existing conditions under these circumstances?

- RonaldW,

01/20/2017

Answer:

We may have a policy that will offer a Pre-Existing Conditions Waiver as long as you still have a final cruise payment to make. This benefit is offered through Nationwide, but Nationwide only covers certain cruise lines.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

01/26/2017

Question:

If we buy a non-refundable airline ticket and are unable to make the trip. Will travel insurance cover the cost of the ticket as long as we include to ticket price in the amount of insurance we buy?

- Jerryu,

11/02/2016

Answer:

As long as the airline tickets are prepaid prior to departure and non-refundable, you can include this in your "Trip Cost" with all other prepaid non-refundable travel arrangements.

- MattG,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

11/08/2016

Question:

we are going on a 14 day cruise and want to know if insurance covers the possibility that we miss getting to the ship from an excursion. Will the incurance get us to the next port?

- Barbara,

03/19/2014

Answer:

No, if you just return to the ship late this would not be covered. Only in the event that a covered reason for trip interruption occurs and causes you to miss portions of the covered trip would there be coverage to get caught up.

- David M.,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

03/19/2014

Question:

Carnival cruise lines departing Tampa Fl. for 5 day cruise to Mexico and back to Tampa Fl. how much does Ins.cost for 2 people.? Is it recommended for a short cruise.?

- CharlesG,

03/08/2014

Answer:

We do recommend that you insure a trip anytime you have a risk of losing money. If your short cruise is not refundable then it is advisable to insure the amount of money you would lose in the event you have to cancel for a covered reason.

- NicholeH,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

03/08/2014

Question:

We made deposit on trip through a university continuing ed dept. At that time, nor for more than a week after deadline for deposits, did we know if the trip was a "go" with sufficient participants. When does the window expire to sign up for coverage including preexisting conditions?

- Wayne,

02/07/2014

Answer:

Once you make the initial booking/payment/deposit, you have 10-30 days to purchase a policy that will include the waiver of existing medical conditions.

- David M.,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

02/07/2014

Question:

If you arrange your own air using miles, what's the best way to protect yourself against fees for redepositing/changing? Cost of the trip is not in dollars, but miles and fees.

- Melody,

02/07/2014

Answer:

Airline miles are not generally considered an insurable cost. The fees and taxes you pay to use them can be insured for, and certain companies will also allow you to insure the cost of re-banking or re-depositing fees. There is also one company - Travel Insured - who will allow you to insure the value of the tickets, as long as the airline does NOT allow you to re-bank the miles.

- David M.,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

02/07/2014

Question:

When requesting a quote, does it matter if the trip starts in America but makes a stop in Mexico. Example, flying from Denver to LA. Then taking a cruise that stops in Mexico. Would I list Cont. United States or international when requesting a quote.

- Scott,

01/15/2014

Answer:

The destination is whichever country you will be spending the most time in during your trip. If you'll be visiting several destinations equally (or spending most of it on a cruise ship) then list the country where your trip begins. You will still be covered while traveling outside of the selected country, so long as you are not visiting a destination that is considered restricted. If a policy does consider certain destinations restricted, you can find this list in the terms and conditions section.

- David M.,

Customer Care insureMyTrip

01/15/2014

See all questions

I still have a question about this subject!

Insuring Your Cruise

Emergency Medical Care

Emergency Medical Evacuation

Baggage Loss or Baggage Delay

Identity Theft

Financial Default

Hurricanes and Other Bad Weather

What About Travel Insurance Offered by a Cruise Line?

Cruise Line Travel Insurance Downfalls

Cruise Line Travel Protection vs. 3rd Party Travel Insurance

Unique Travel Insurance Coverage for Cruises

Return Home Early

Shipboard Service Disruption

Pre-Paid Excursion Reimbursement

Missed Connection

Ship-to-Shore Coverage

Frequently Asked Questions

Do You Need Special Insurance for a Cruise?

Is Cruise Insurance Worth It?

What Does Cruise Insurance Cover?

What If I Miss My Cruise?

Does the Travel Insurance Provided by my Credit Card Cover My Cruise?

Can I Get Travel Insurance After I Book My Cruise?

How Does Cruise Insurance Cover COVID-19 Travel Concerns?

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