Medical at sea
Cover can include emergency medical treatment on board or in port, plus repatriation or evacuation where covered by the policy.
Recommended by CruisePorts
Specialist Cruise Insurance
Designed specifically for cruise holidays. Cover for missed ports, cabin confinement, evening wear and medical emergencies at sea.
Get a Cruise Insurance QuoteWhy consider specialist cruise insurance?
Standard travel insurance can have different limits and exclusions for cruise holidays. Cruise-specific policies may include cover for events such as medical treatment at sea, missed ports, cabin confinement and unused excursions. Always check the policy wording, eligibility and cover limits before buying.
Missed port
Some policies provide a benefit where an itinerary change means pre-booked excursions cannot be used.
Cabin confinement
Policies can include a benefit for qualifying periods of medically required cabin confinement.
Compare cruise travel insurance cover levels
Holiday Extras presents three levels of cover. The figures below are summary limits from the current CruisePorts comparison page and must be checked against the quote and policy documents for your trip.
| Benefit | Bronze | Silver | Gold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency medical and repatriation | £15,000,000 | £20,000,000 | Unlimited |
| Cancellation and curtailment | £1,000 | £2,500 | £5,000* |
| Missed port | £100 per port, up to £1,000 | £150 per port, up to £1,500 | £200 per port, up to £2,000 |
| Cabin confinement | £100 per 24 hours, up to £1,000 | £150 per 24 hours, up to £1,500 | £200 per 24 hours, up to £2,000 |
| Unused excursions | £500 | £750 | £1,000 |
| Personal baggage | £3,000 | £4,000 | £6,000 |
| Evening wear | £300 | £400 | £500 |
*Or as specified on your schedule. Cover is subject to eligibility, policy terms, limits and exclusions.
What can cruise insurance cover?
Standard travel cover
Typical benefits can include medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment, baggage cover and personal liability, subject to the policy.
Cruise-specific cover
Check whether a policy includes missed departure, missed port, cabin confinement, unused excursions and evening-wear cover.
Medical conditions
Declare medical conditions accurately and complete any screening requested by the provider before you purchase.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need cruise insurance if I have standard travel insurance?
Standard travel insurance can differ from cruise cover. Check that your policy covers your cruise, every destination on the itinerary and the cruise-specific benefits that matter to you, such as medical treatment at sea, missed departure, missed ports or cabin confinement. Cover, limits and exclusions vary by policy.
Does travel insurance cover a cruise holiday?
Some travel insurance policies include cruise cover, while others may require it to be selected or may have different limits and exclusions. Before you buy, check that the policy covers the full cruise duration, every destination and any activities you plan to do.
When should I buy cruise insurance?
Many travellers arrange cover when they book their cruise so that cancellation cover can begin as early as the policy allows. Check the policy wording for the exact start date, eligibility conditions and any limits on when cover can be purchased.
Does cruise insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?
Medical conditions must be declared accurately. A provider may ask screening questions and will confirm whether cover is available, any extra premium and any relevant exclusions. Do not assume that a condition is covered until it is confirmed in your quote and policy documents.
Can over-70s get cruise travel insurance?
Many providers offer cruise travel insurance to travellers over 70, but availability, price and maximum trip length can vary by age, medical history, destination and selected cover. Compare eligibility carefully, declare medical conditions accurately and check the policy wording before purchasing.
Does cruise insurance cover missed ports?
Some policies include a missed-port benefit when a covered itinerary change means you cannot use a pre-booked excursion. The cause of the itinerary change, the evidence required, the benefit limit and the policy terms all matter, so check the wording before you buy.
Does cruise insurance cover a missed cruise departure?
Some policies include missed-departure cover for qualifying travel delays that prevent you from reaching your embarkation port. Check which causes of delay are covered, any time thresholds, the evidence you need and the benefit limit.
Does cruise insurance cover medical treatment at sea?
Cruise policies may include emergency medical expenses, repatriation and evacuation, but the limits, excesses, medical screening requirements and exclusions differ between policies. Review those details alongside the destinations on your itinerary.
Does annual travel insurance cover cruises?
Annual multi-trip policies vary. Check whether cruise cover is included, the maximum duration of each trip, all destination limits, age rules and any medical screening requirements before relying on an annual policy for a cruise.
Does cruise insurance cover shore excursions?
Some policies can include benefits for unused or cancelled pre-booked excursions in specific circumstances. Check whether the excursion must be pre-paid, the reasons covered and the relevant policy limits and exclusions.
What should I check before buying cruise insurance?
Check the cancellation amount against your cruise cost, every destination, trip duration, medical-condition disclosure, emergency medical limits, cruise-specific benefits, excesses, exclusions and the full policy wording. A quote confirms the terms available for your circumstances.
Get a quote
Use the Holiday Extras quote journey to see the current options, policy documents and terms for your cruise.
Get Your Cruise Insurance Quote
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