Cruise insurance

Cruise insurance is a specialized travel insurance policy that covers risks associated with cruise vacations, such as trip cancellation, medical emergencies at sea, and missed port departures. Major policies reimburse nonrefundable prepaid costs if you cancel for covered reasons like illness or injury; for example, Allianz Global Assistance states that 40% of claims involve trip cancellation.

Medical coverage includes shipboard treatment and emergency evacuation, with typical limits between $25,000 and $250,000–higher than standard travel insurance due to maritime medical costs. Policies cover lost or delayed luggage specific to shipboard scenarios, such as bags missing at embarkation, with providers like Travel Guard offering up to $1,000 per person in baggage benefits.

Common exclusions include pre-existing conditions unless a waiver is purchased within 14–21 days of deposit, as stated by companies like Travelex. Most plans provide compensation for missed connections if a flight delay causes you to miss embarkation–Travel Insured International caps this at $750.

Coverage can extend to itinerary changes caused by weather or mechanical issues; insurers may pay up to $500 per missed port. Claims processes require documentation such as physician statements or airline delay letters; companies report average claim review times of 7–10 business days.

Several credit cards offer limited cruise-related protections but typically lack comprehensive medical evacuation coverage, which averages $50,000 per incident according to MedjetAssist data. Prices vary from 4% to 10% of total trip cost depending on age and benefit levels; for instance, a $5,000 cruise might incur a premium between $200 and $500, as documented by YourInsurance.info.

Top cruise lines like Royal Caribbean recommend third-party cruise insurance because line-provided policies often limit reimbursement eligibility and offer lower benefit caps than independent insurers.