Cruise Insurance

Cruise holidays are among the most popular ways Australians travel overseas and domestically. They combine flights, accommodation, meals, entertainment, and excursions into one seamless adventure.

There are some unique aspects to cruising:

•  Cruise companies typically limit their liability for loss, injuries, or cancellation costs under their passenger contracts.

Medical treatment on board can be extremely expensive, especially if evacuation to a hospital ashore is required.

Flights to and from your cruise departure port might be non-refundable or costly to rebook.

•  Natural events, such as weather systems, can disrupt itineraries, leading to missed excursions or ports of call.

Cruise insurance is usually a specialised component of travel insurance, designed to meet the specific risks associated with cruising. Depending on the level of coverage you choose, your policy may include:

Medical and Emergency Evacuation Cover

Cruise ships usually take trips to remote locations far from medical centres. Depending on the location and the complexity, emergency evacuation costs may be very high. Among the most important elements of cruise insurance is medical evacuation coverage.

• Emergency treatment for illness or injury while on board.
• Transport to onshore medical facilities if needed.

Trip Cancellation and Curtailment

•  Reimbursement for non-refundable prepaid cruise costs if you must cancel for a covered reason (like illness).
• Compensation if you have to cut your trip short unexpectedly.

Luggage and Personal Items

•  Covers loss, theft, or damage to your luggage and personal effects.

Travel Delay and Missed Connections

•  Provides cover if delays cause you to miss your cruise departure or connections. Ships may miss scheduled ports due to weather or mechanical problems. Cruise insurance can also be used to cover the catch-up travel costs, such as emergency flights, hotels, and transport, in case flight delays or other travel inconveniences cause you to miss boarding your ship. Specific policies may compensate passengers for ports they missed and help restore part of the experience.

Cruise-Specific Benefits

Depending on the insurer and the policy level, this might include:

• Cabin confinement allowance if you’re stuck in your cabin due to sickness or injury – In case the doctor of a ship needs you to remain in your cabin because of illness or injuries, you might not have the experience that you paid for. Cabin confinement coverage is a daily compensation that is meant to compensate for these losses.
• Missed shore excursions if illness forces you to skip pre-booked tours. In case of an accident and inability to take part in a pre-booked shore excursion, insurance is capable of refunding unused excursions; usually several hundred dollars per person.
• Ship-to-shore medical evacuation beyond standard medical cover.

Some of these benefits are not automatically included in basic travel insurance and require a cruise extension or cruise-specific policy add-on.

The cost of cruise insurance depends on several clear factors: your age, the full cost of your cruise (including add-ons), your chosen destination, the length of your trip, and the specific type and level of coverage you select.

Average Costs

Cruise insurance premiums commonly cost about 4% – 10% of the total insured trip cost. For a cruise costing $5,000, insurance may cost roughly $200 – $500, though older travellers, higher-risk itineraries, pre-existing medical conditions, or “Cancel For Any Reason” coverage can push premiums higher.

A CHOICE survey found that the average cost of travel insurance with cruise cover was about $271 AUD for an 11-day South Pacific journey. Although prices vary significantly by insurer and personal profile.

Minimum and Maximum Ranges

• Younger and healthier travellers on shorter cruises often pay much lower rates, sometimes under $200 for basic cruise cover.
• Older travellers, those with pre-existing medical conditions, or those seeking high cancellation coverage may pay $1,000+ for longer, more expensive cruises.

Here’s what affects the cost of your cruise insurance:

Age of Travellers

Insurance typically costs more as you age, particularly after age 65, because the risk of medical claims increases. Older travellers can expect to pay higher premiums than younger ones, especially on comprehensive plans.

Total Trip Cost

The more you’ve invested in your cruise (including flights, pre-booked excursions, and accommodation), the higher your insurance cost tends to be – because insurers need to cover the potential financial loss.

Cruise Length

Longer voyages expose you to more risk simply because there’s more time for things to go wrong. Premiums generally increase with trip duration.

Destination

International cruises may carry higher insurance costs than domestic ones because of the greater expense of medical evacuation and treatment overseas.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

If you have a pre-existing condition you want covered, expect a higher premium. The insurer may also require extra medical screening. In obtaining a quote, tell the truth about your medical history.

Optional Extras

Add-ons such as adventure sports, rental car excess cover, or “Cancel For You Reason” (CFYR) can increase cost. Although it is costlier, CFYR gives you the flexibility to cancel your cruise for reasons not covered by regular policies. This normally covers up to 75 per cent of non-refundable expenses.

Number of Travellers

Insuring a family or group is usually more expensive than insuring a single traveller, but multi-traveller policies often offer savings compared to buying separate plans.

Cruise insurance may cover many things, but it’s still critical to read the fine print – policies have exclusions and limits.

Some Common Inclusions

• Emergency medical expenses up to a policy limit
• Evacuation and repatriation
• Trip cancellation for covered reasons (up to your selected level of cover)
• Lost or stolen luggage
• Some cruise-specific benefits, like missed prepaid optional cruise excursions you can’t use due to illness, injury or adverse weather.
• A benefit if scheduled port visits are cancelled due to weather or cruise timetable restrictions.
• Cover to help you re-join your cruise in certain situations, such as illness, injury or transport disruption.
• And daily benefit if you’re confined to your cabin on the ship doctor’s orders

Common Exclusions

• Pre-existing medical conditions without disclosure or waiver.
• High-risk adventure activities, unless specified
• Certain pandemic, war, or civil unrest exclusions, depending on policy wording
• Claims arising from unapproved activities or reckless behaviour

Insurers publish a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Financial Services Guide (FSG) and also the Target Market Determination TMD. Read them carefully, as exclusions can determine if your insurance will cover a claim.

Choose the Right Level of Coverage

Consider the cancellation cover or other optional inclusions if they are important to you.

Check for Multi-Trip Policies

If you cruise several times a year, annual multi-trip insurance can be more cost-effective than single-trip policies.

Adjust Excess Amount

A higher excess (the out-of-pocket amount you agree to pay before insurance kicks in) typically lowers your premium.

Getting a Quotation is straightforward:

Enter cruise information, including all ports of call.

• Provide details on travellers, such as age and medical history
• Select ‘Yes’ to (Going on a cruise) ✔
• Choose the coverage levels based on your cruise price and your needs.
• Buy online and get instant confirmation.

Get A Quote

Note: Do not forget to include all planned port stops in your itinerary, even short ones. This ensures that your quote and or policy is the best possible reflection of your trip and that you are notified of any travel alerts for your destinations.

Cruise Insurance Quotes – Agency

Mike Adams – ANZIIF Aff CIP

Whether you’re cruising within Australia’s waters or journeying around the world, understanding what cruise insurance covers and what the common exclusions are can help you travel with confidence.

On this website, you can explore quotes and buy directly online through secure online insurer portals, giving you peace of mind for smooth sailing ahead.

• Please remember you must select ‘Yes’ to (Going on a cruise) when quoting online to unlock the optional cruise insurance coverage and benefits.