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We reveal the best travel insurance policies if you're going on a cruise, andwhy standard travel cover isn't enough.
DS
Dean SobersSenior researcher & writer
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In this article
- What is cruise insurance?
- Best travel insurance policies for cruises
- What does cruise insurance cover?
- More on cruise insurance
- How we analyse cruise insurance
What is cruise insurance?
Cruise insurance is a specific type of travel insurance policy that covers accidents, injuries and other potential mishaps that could occur during a cruise holiday.
Bear in mind that the European Health Insurance Card (Ehic) and new Global Health Insurance Card (Ghic) won't cover the cost of rescue from a cruise, so relying on them alone could prove extremely costly.
Here we reveal the best travel insurers for going on a cruise and explain why standard travel cover may not suffice.
Please note that the information in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. Please refer to the particular terms and conditions of an insurer before committing to any financial products.
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Best travel insurance policies for cruises
We've listed the travel insurance policies that offer cruise cover either as standard, or as an add-on.
They're ranked by policy score, which (unlike the scores in our best travel insurance reviews) include cover features specifically designed for cruises. Some of these cruise-specific features are shown in our tables.
Top 20 highest scoring policies
Barclays | Travel Pack Worldwide Travel Insurance | As standard | 81% | £10,000.00 | £10,000,000.00 | £10,000.00 |
Staysure | Signature | Optional extra | 76% | £1,500.00 | £1,000.00 | £500.00 |
AllClear | Platinum | As standard | 76% | £1,000.00 | £1,000.00 | £500.00 |
Unity Travel | Gold | Optional extra | 75% | £750.00 | £1,500.00 | £500.00 |
NFU Mutual | Home and Lifestyle | As standard | 75% | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered |
Insurancewith | Platinum | Optional extra | 75% | £1,500.00 | £1,000.00 | £5,000.00 |
Tesco Bank | Premier | Optional Extra | 75% | £500.00 | £1,000.00 | £500.00 |
Table note: the policy score is our assessment of how comprehensive the travel insurance is, including cruise specific cover areas. See our full methodology below.
What does cruise insurance cover?
Most cruise insurance policies cover the following areas:
Cabin confinement
If you fall ill during your cruise, you may be ordered to stay confined to your cabin to stop your illness spreading.
The cabin confinement clause in cruise insurance allows you to receive compensation for every 24-hour period that you have to stay confined. In our most recent analysis, the median daily cover limit was £1,000.
Unused excursions
Most cruise insurance companies will cover the cost of any prebooked excursions that you're unable to use because you've been confined to your cabin due to illness or injury.
Itinerary change
Sometimes, your cruise operator may have to change the itinerary of your trip due to adverse weather or timetable restrictions.
For example, if you signed up to an eight-stop cruise but due to a faulty engine you could only stop at six. If a significant proportion of the services on your cruise can't be provided, you should be entitled to compensation from the cruise operator too.
Missed port departure
Missed port departure covers the cost of accommodation and travel expenses if you miss your cruise leaving and need to catch it at another port. This could be due to a number of reasons, such as:
- public transport delays
- accident or breakdown in the vehicle you're travelling in
- an accident or breakdown ahead on the motorway that causes delays
- strike, industrial action or adverse weather.
Cancellation and curtailment
Cruise holidays can be expensive and are often booked far in advance of the travel date. Cancellation cover allows you to claim back the cost cancelling your trip before you take off. This includes things such as flights, hotel bookings and travel to and from airports.
Curtailment covers the cost of your cruise if it's cut short and you return home early unexpectedly.
Cruise interruption
Cruise interruption covers the cost of you needing hospital treatment during the course of your cruise. This includes medical bills as well as expenses required for you to rejoin your cruise where possible.
Medical expenses
Medical expenses cover costs that arise due to you falling ill or getting injured during your trip. This includes the cost of medical treatment, procedures and daily hospital room fees where they apply.
Medical expenses also cover the cost of having to fly you back to the UK via air ambulance so that you can be treated. Some policies will also pay for accommodation for your travel companions if you require extensive treatment.
Baggage and belongings
Most cruise insurance policies will cover the cost of your baggage or belongings being lost, stolen or delayed during your trip. The level of cover that you're likely to get may vary depending on your policy, so be sure to check the terms and conditions before taking one out.
Money
The majority of cruise insurance policies will cover the cost of your travel money being lost or stolen. The sum you're allowed to claim for will vary among insurers, so it's important to make sure that you have the right level of cover.
If you're getting foreign currency, you might be better off with a travel debit card or travel credit card. You get better exchange rates, no fees and fraud protection.
Check you're getting a great deal and search for a new travel insurance policy using the service provided by Confused.com. Get a quote now
More on cruise insurance
If you're planning on taking a cruise, don't assume it'll be covered by your standard travel insurance policy.
Cruises can last months or even longer at sea, but some annual policies cover trips of no longer than 22 days.
Cruise cover also comes with additional features of cover that aren't typical in a standard travel insurance policy.
Cruise insurance is primarily bought as an add-on to a standard travel insurance policy.
Ehic and Ghic are free medical cards that can be used throughout the EU (but no longer Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, in most cases). Both entitle you to treatment in state hospitals at the same price as residents of the country you're visiting.
If you have an Ehic already, it will still be valid until it reaches its expiry date. But now that the UK has left the EU, the Ehic has been replaced by the Ghic, which is almost identical but isn't valid in any non-EU countries.
It's advisable that you take your Ehic or Ghic with you if your itinerary includes stops in any EU countries, as it could allow you to access state healthcare.
Medical facilities on a cruise are usually operated by private, non-state funded, healthcare companies. As a result, your Ehic or Ghic is unlikely to be accepted as a way of getting medical treatment.
You can find out more about how this works in our guide to the Ehic and Ghic.
Some policies limit cover cruise insurance cover to people aged 65 years. Generally speaking, however, age limits tend to vary depending on the insurance company.
Travel insurance premiums tend to be higher for older travellers, as they are seen as higher-risk and more likely to make a claim.
Similarly to standard travel insurance, most people with pre-existing medical conditions should be able to get cruise insurance.
However, depending on the condition, cover may be more expensive or subject to exclusions.
Find out more about how to get the best cover for in our guide to medical conditions travel insurance.
How we analyse cruise insurance
We analyse cruise insurance as part of our travel insurance reviews. The main difference is the policy score: the policy score you see here includes cruise specific elements, which are usually excluded.
The policy score rates how comprehensive the cover is - the higher the better.
Claims performance, service and price aren't taken into account - just the levels of cover.
In April 2023, we surveyed 56 travel insurance companies about their levels of cover and analysed 161 of their policies. We rated 67 key elements of each policy.
Initially, we score all of the product elements out of five, reflecting how competitive each provider is in that area compared with other insurers.
Then, based on our assessment of which elements are more or less important for customers choosing and using policies, we adjust the impact that each element has on the overall score. Among the highest-weighted elements are medical expenses cover, cancellation cover and the compulsory excesses on the policy.
Find the right policy for your holiday using the service provided by Confused.com
Get a quote now- Best travel insurance for over 65s
- Best travel insurance for medical conditions
- Best travel insurance and policies
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Find the right policy for your holiday using the service provided by Confused.com
Get a quote now- Best travel insurance for over 65s
- Best travel insurance for medical conditions
- Best travel insurance and policies
Related articles
- Best private health insurance 2024
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- Best life insurance
- The Kennel Club pet insurance review
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