Cruise insurance generally covers the following—up to your policy limits— if the expense is caused by a reason listed in your policy or not excluded from coverage:
Travel Medical Insurance
This pays for medical expenses associated with injuries and illness you get while on the trip. The top travel insurance plans have $500,000 in travel medical insurance, but you might find $150,000 to be sufficient for a cruise. If you’re a senior, good travel medical coverage is crucial.
U.S. health plans may have very limited or no coverage when you’re outside the U.S. And Medicare doesn’t cover medical care outside the U.S., with only very narrow exceptions.
Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage
Medical evacuation travel insurance covers the costs to get you to the nearest adequate medical facility or even back home if it’s medically required. Your travel insurer’s emergency assistance team can also help arrange for the medevac.
Coverage for Pre-existing Medical Conditions
You can also get a pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver if you buy coverage within a certain period, usually within 14 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit. This means medical expenses related to pre-existing conditions that arise during your trip will be covered.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you 100% for the pre-paid and non-refundable deposits you lose if you have to cancel for a reason covered by the policy.
Trip Interruption Coverage
This will reimburse you for unused trip costs if your trip is cut short because of illness, injury, death, a family emergency back home or other reasons. Trip interruption insurance can also pay for the extra expenses of a trip interruption, such as a one-way plane ticket home on short notice. The reason for the interruption has to be listed in the policy.
“Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR) Travel Insurance
Canceling for reasons that aren’t listed in the policy isn’t covered, unless you have already purchased a CFAR upgrade. This typically reimburses you 75% of trip costs, as long as you cancel at least 48 hours before your departure. Adding it increases a policy cost by an average of 50%.
For example, you could make a “cancel for any reason” claim if you’re worried about being seasick—a reason not covered by standard trip cancellation insurance. Buy this coverage shortly after you make your first trip deposit or the purchase window for it will close.
“Interruption for Any Reason” Travel Insurance
Cutting a trip short for reasons that aren’t listed in the policy aren’t covered, unless you have already purchased “interruption for any reason” travel insurance. This coverage typically reimburses you 75% of trip costs. It usually adds 3% to 10% to your travel insurance cost. You generally must buy it within 15 to 20 days of making your first trip deposit. Benefits don’t kick in until you are a specified amount of time into your trip, for example 48 or 72 hours.
Travel insurance companies currently offering “interruption for any reason” coverage include PrimeCover, Nationwide, Seven Corners, Travel Insured International and WorldTrips.
Additional Types of Travel Insurance for Cruises
A comprehensive travel insurance policy will include additional benefits such as:
A cruise travel insurance policy may also compensate you if your cruise ship is disabled and you’re stuck on board without power, food or water for a specified amount of time listed in your policy. For example, the WaveCare plan from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection provides a flat $500 reimbursement for cruise disablement if you’re stuck on the ship for five hours or more without one of these: power, food, water or a restroom.
Travel insurance typically also provides a 24/7 hotline for travel emergencies.
