Do you need special travel insurance for a cruise?
Cruise cover is designed to protect you against things that can go wrong at sea – like missing a port, being confined to your cabin, or needing medical care while you're on board. It can also help if you miss a pre-booked excursion, have to cut your holiday short, or need to be brought home early.
Standard travel insurance won’t usually cover these situations. That’s why we offer cruise-specific policies.
When you compare travel insurance with us, just tick the cruise cover box. We’ll make sure it’s included in all the quotes you see – helping you find the right cover at a great price.
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What does cruise insurance cover?
At PayingTooMuch, cruise holiday insurance policies are built around you and your travel plans. This might include cover for:
- ✓ Missed port cover
If your ship can’t dock as planned, you could claim for lost time or excursions at that destination.
- ✓ Cabin confinement
If you’re unwell and told to stay in your cabin, you might be able to claim for the disruption and any lost activities.
- ✓ Cruise interruption
If you need to leave the cruise early due to illness or an emergency, this can help cover extra travel and any unused parts of your trip.
- ✓ Unused excursions
If illness or injury stops you from joining a pre-booked trip, cruise cover can help you claim back the cost.
- ✓ Medical care at sea
Treatment on board can be expensive – cruise cover helps with medical bills and may include repatriation if needed.
- ✓ All the benefits of a standard travel policy
Cruise cover is an extra, and not usually included on a standard policy – so you’ll still be covered for everything standard travel insurance has to offer (like cancellation, emergency medical treatment and lost baggage).
What won’t be covered?
Most of the time, you won’t be covered for:
- ✗ Alcohol or drug-related incidents
Most insurers won’t cover claims that happen while under the influence.
- ✗ Undeclared medical conditions
If you don’t tell your insurer about a pre-existing condition, you might not be covered if something goes wrong.
- ✗ Travelling against medical advice
If your doctor recommends you don’t travel and you go anyway, your cover could be invalid.
- ✗ Cancellations for personal reasons
If you choose not to travel or cancel for something that’s not listed in your policy, you’re unlikely to be covered.
- ✗ Changes made by the cruise line
If your cruise provider changes your route or cancels a stop, this may not be covered unless your policy says so.
- ✗ Planned medical treatment abroad
Travel insurance is for unexpected emergencies – not care you’ve arranged in advance.
Different insurance providers may have different policies for anything you’re not covered for, so make sure you read your policy documents in detail. This means that you’ll know exactly what your travel insurance covers you for.
Cruising with medical conditions?
Booking a cruise with a medical condition can feel overwhelming, especially when you're not sure if your insurance will cover you. It’s true that some insurers may charge more or not cover pre-existing conditions at all because they’re seen as higher risk.
That’s where PayingTooMuch can help. We work with insurers that offer policies for people with medical conditions. By comparing quotes with us, you can see exactly what’s available, helping you find the best deal for your trip – and giving you a bit more control over what you pay.
That’s what makes us different to ‘normal’ price comparison websites. We specialise in comparing travel insurance, including for customers who have pre-existing medical conditions, helping you find the right policy for your cruise, no matter your health.
How to get travel insurance for a cruise
1. Get started
Click “Compare quotes” to begin. Answer a few questions, and we'll help you find the right cover for your cruise.
2. Choose your cover and extras
Pick either single trip or annual multi-trip and tick the ‘Cruise cover’ box. Then, fill in your personal details and any medical conditions to make sure you're fully covered.
3. Compare quotes
Once you've entered your details, we’ll show you all the quotes from trusted insurers, from cheapest to most expensive. Compare the options side by side to choose the right cover at a great price.
How much does cruise cover cost?
Cruise travel insurance tends to be more expensive than standard policies because it covers the specific risks of being at sea. But the price is also influenced by:
- Your age
As you get older, your premium might rise due to a higher chance of needing medical assistance while on holiday.
- How long your cruise is and where you're going
Longer cruises or sailings to high-cost areas like the US will generally push up the cost of your insurance.
- Your health
If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, you’ll need to declare them. It might affect your premium, but you’ll know exactly what’s covered and have the right protection for your health during your trip.
For more details on what affects your travel insurance cost, take a look at our blog post on travel insurance costs.
With us, comparing quotes is quick and easy, helping you find a great deal that gives you the right protection.
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Top tips: getting the right cover
Getting the right cruise cover can be tricky. Between standard policies and optional extras, it can be hard to know exactly what’s included – and whether you meet your cruise line's insurance requirements. With this simple checklist, you’ll know exactly what to look for.
Trip length
Make sure your policy covers the full length of your cruise. Also, check that your annual policy includes cruise cover and covers trips of the right length – some have limits like 30 days per trip.
Destinations
Whether you're island-hopping in the Caribbean, exploring the Mediterranean, or cruising through the Alaskan fjords, make sure your policy covers each country on your route.
If you already have an annual multi-trip policy, check if your cruise includes destinations outside your usual cover area. If so, you might need to adjust your policy before you set sail.
Activities
Cruise itineraries are packed with exciting excursions, from snorkelling to hiking. Make sure your policy covers activities like these, especially if they involve adventure sports or going off the beaten track.
Cover limits
It’s important to review your limits across the board. Some cruise lines require at least £2m in medical and repatriation cover, so make sure your policy meets this. Check your baggage cover too – particularly if you're bringing valuable items like electronics.
Pre-existing medical conditions
If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, like cancer or diabetes, it's important to declare them when you get your policy. Failing to declare a condition could invalidate your cover if something happens during your trip.
Cruise essentials
Make sure you’re clear on your policy’s cover for cabin confinement and missed departures. If your cruise can’t dock at a scheduled port due to weather or other issues, it should cover lost excursions or time.
Likewise, if you're confined to your cabin due to illness or bad weather, check that you’re covered for the disruption and missed activities.
Getting the right cover for your cruise
When you go on a cruise, you’ll need to make sure you have enough cover for your holiday. This includes checking:
- The full length of the trip
- All the destinations you’ll be going to
- Any activities you plan on doing
Some cruise lines might ask you to have a travel policy with at least £2m cover for medical and repatriation. So, make sure you check your cover limits carefully before you book.
If you already have an annual multi-trip policy, it’s a good idea to check the countries your cruise will be stopping at. If it stops at a country outside the geographical area you’re covered for, then you should get in touch to change your policy before you leave. You would also need to make sure your annual policy includes cruise cover.
Annual policies will also usually have limits on how long each trip can be, so it’s important to check that you’ll be covered for your whole cruise.
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What happens if I can’t see any quotes for cruise holiday insurance?
PayingTooMuch meets the eligibility requirements to be included on the Money Helper travel insurance directory, which the FCA has confirmed meets its criteria for a ‘medical cover firm directory’. This means that PayingTooMuch may be able cover customers who may not be able to find travel insurance from other travel insurance providers. To be part of this directory, PayingTooMuch went through a thorough checking process to prove that cover could be provided for particular scenarios without exclusions for customers.
In some cases, we might not be able to find travel insurance for you. If that happens, try the Money Helper website. If you’d prefer to speak to someone, you can call them on 0800 138 7777 – they’ll put you in touch with other specialist travel insurance providers.
Want to understand some of the words we’ve used in more detail?
Repatriation
This is where an insurance provider will help you get home if you’re unwell and unable to continue to travel as planned.
Annual multi-trip policy
An annual multi-trip policy is designed for people who travel more than once a year. Instead of buying a new policy for each trip, this single policy covers you for multiple trips throughout the year, giving you year-round protection.
Personal liability
This is where an insurance provider will help pay towards any costs incurred if you accidentally cause injury to someone or if you damage someone else’s belongings. For example:
If you accidentally knocked someone over on the pavement and they have to pay medical costs to be treated for an injury, you should be able to claim back some of the cost on your travel insurance.
Or, if you accidentally knocked someone’s phone out of their hand and their screen broke, so you had to pay to replace it, your travel insurance could help.
