Cruise travel insurance

Compare cruise insurance quotes and get cover for cabin confinement, missed port and more

  • Compare travel insurance for your cruise with policies from £15.49*

  • Protect yourself against cancellations for pre-paid accommodation and travel

  • Choose "cruise cover" in the extras section when getting a quote

*The cheapest price for a single-trip policy with cruise cover. Based on a 30 year old with no pre-existing medical conditions travelling in Europe for 7 nights. Confused.com data - May 2024.

1Correct as of July 2024

What is cruise travel insurance?

Cruise travel insurance is an optional policy add-on designed for the unique risks associated with going on a cruise.

This includes things like:

  • Cabin confinement due to illness or bad weather
  • Unused excursions
  • Having to be airlifted to hospital

This type of travel insurance can also offer cover that's tailored to the type of cruise you're going on. For example, an ocean cruise, or river cruise.

Helpful hint: You can easily buy cruise cover on its own, as an add-on to your standard policy.

When getting your quote, make sure to select 'cruise cover' in the extras section:  

Cruise insurance selection

What our travel insurance expert says

"Some travel insurance policies include cruise cover as standard, but many don’t as it’s a more expensive extra that not every traveller needs. If you’re comparing prices for your cruise trip, make sure you tick the box to include cruise cover in your quote. That way you’ll only see policies that include the cover you need."
Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert
Travel insurance expert Confused.com logo

What does cruise insurance cover?

Cruise insurance covers you against unexpected costs and emergencies at sea. This includes:

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What's covered

Cabin confinement

If you fall ill, the medical officer on board might require you to stay in your room to avoid making other passengers ill. If you're covered for this, you should get a payout from your insurance.

Personal belongings, money, and baggage

This covers you if your items are stolen, accidentally lost, or damaged.

Cancellations

If you have to cancel your trip in an emergency, your policy should cover the cost of pre-paid travel, accommodation, and unused excursions.

Missed departure

This cover offers some compensation if you miss your departure. It covers strikes, car breakdowns, or train cancellations.

Cruise interruption

If you become ill and need to go to land for treatment, you’ll be able to claim for your travel expenses.

Unused excursions

If you miss an excursion because of an accident, an injury, or illness, you should be able to claim for the activity cost.

Missed port cover

If your ship leaves without you due to reasons beyond your control, your travel and accommodation costs should be covered until you can rejoin. For example, if you’ve been delayed by bad weather or an accident on the road.

Medical cover

This is important, especially if you’re hundreds of miles away from the mainland and need medical assistance. Medical cover can also cover emergency airlift to hospital if needed.

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What’s not covered

Claims related to pre-existing medical conditions

If you need treatment for a condition you didn't declare when getting a quote.

Delays or cancellations due to bad weather

Most insurers won't provide cover for delays or cancellations caused by poor weather conditions.

Cancellations made by the cruise provider

If your trip is cancelled by your cruise provider, your insurer may not provide financial cover.

Incidents that happen when under the influence of alcohol or drugs

If illness, injury, or death occurs due to the influence of alcohol or drugs, insurers typically won't accept a claim

Excursions or sports that aren't covered by your policy

If you plan to do certain high-risk activities, like open-water swimming, you may need to get additional cover. For example, adventure travel insurance.

If you’re taking a cruise in the UK

If you're going on a cruise that's within a certain distance of your home, some providers may not offer cruise cover.

Free eSIM with up to 2GB of roaming data when you buy travel insurance**

With roaming charges making an unwelcome return, eSIMs are a convenient option when travelling. eSIMs are non-physical and are embedded into most newer smartphones; meaning you won’t have to put anything physical into your device, it should already be there.

How does it work?

Simply buy your travel insurance, claim your free eSIM, and install it onto your device at the tap of a button. Your eSIM with 2GB of roaming data will kick in on a local mobile network when you get to your destination.

Find out more about eSIMs
Image of a mobile asking you to claim your eSIM reward
**eSIM comes with pre-funded credit and the amount of data received in exchange, will vary based on the specific country you select. Compatible devices only. T&C's apply.

We compare quotes from up to 47 travel insurance companies1 to find you our best deals

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Coverwise
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How do I get a cruise travel insurance quote?

Number 1 icon

Select "get a quote" to get started. We'll need some personal information from you, as well as any additional people you want to include in the policy.

Number 2 icon

Then, select the type of cover you need, such as single-trip, annual, or backpacker. After you've done this, you'll need to let us know where you're travelling to.

Number 3 icon

You'll then be prompted to select any additional cover you may need. Select 'cruise cover' to make sure we can show you policies that include it.

When you get a quote, we’ll only show you policies that have the protection you need for your cruise based on the details you give. But, policies can vary between insurers. So, it’s important to check what's covered before you buy to make sure you're not missing any cover you may need.

By reading the details carefully before buying, you'll be able to make sure you're selecting a policy that's offering the level of cover you need. Phew!

Planning on taking a cruise?

Use our holiday budget calculator to help budget for your time at sea!

How much does cruise travel insurance cost?

Type of cover Policy cost
Single-trip cruise insurance
£15.49*
Annual cruise insurance
£18.002
Couples single-trip cruise insurance
£30.843
Family single-trip cruise insurance
£50.094

2The cheapest price for annual travel insurance with cruise cover. Based on a 30 year old with no previous medical conditions travelling to Europe. Confused.com data - May 2024.

3The cheapest price for single-trip travel insurance with cruise cover. Based on 2 adults aged 30 with no previous medical conditions travelling to Europe for 7 days. Confused.com data - May 2024.

4The cheapest price for a single-trip family travel insurance with cruise cover. Based on a family of 4 (2 adults + 2 children) with no previous medical conditions travelling to Europe for 7 days. Confused.com data - May 2024.

Cruise travel insurance offers everything you'd expect from standard travel insurance. But, it also covers sea-related problems. So, this means the cost of cruise travel insurance can cost more than a standard travel insurance policy.

Age can also affect the price of a cruise insurance travel policy. Policy prices can often be higher for older travellers, as providers consider them to be at a higher risk of needing to make a claim.

Taking a cruise with a pre-existing medical condition

If you've got a pre-existing medical condition, you can usually still get cruise insurance. Just select your condition(s) on our quote form.

Pre-existing medical conditions can include things like:

Your insurance could cost more if the insurer thinks you're more likely to need medical treatment while on holiday due to your pre-existing condition.

Some insurers may not offer cruise travel insurance if you have a serious medical condition, especially if you’re undergoing treatment or waiting for an operation.

If you can’t find suitable cover, don't worry. The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) has set up a directory of insurers who cover customers with pre-existing medical conditions through their brand MoneyHelper.

You can find the directory of insurers on the MoneyHelper website or you can phone MaPS for free impartial advice on 0800 138 7777.

It's important to make your insurance provider aware of any pre-existing medical conditions when you get a cruise insurance quote. If you don’t, you could invalidate your cover, and if you need to make a claim it could be rejected.

Tips for getting the right level of cover for your cruise

Make sure all the cruise destination points are covered

You can buy cruise insurance that covers worldwide travel or specific areas. Check the FCDO for any advice against travel to certain areas, as you won't be covered if the government advises against visiting certain countries.

Check you’ll be covered for any sports or activities

A big part of cruises are the excursions. But, if you're planning to take part in any high-risk activities or sports, like snorkelling, you might need additional cover. Read the policy details to make sure you're getting the cover you need.

Compare policy cover levels for cabin confinement

Make sure that you're happy with the amount of reimbursement you'd receive if you needed to stay inside your cabin for bad weather or illness.

Check the conditions for missed port departure cover

Most insurance policies will provide financial cover if your cruise ship departs without you. As long as you were unable to board for an unexpected circumstance. For example, travel disruptions or extreme weather conditions. Read the policy details to make yourself aware of what your insurance provider would accept a claim for in this scenario.

Get comprehensive medical cover

Many cruise operators require travellers to have travel insurance covering a minimum of £2 million towards emergency medical treatment and repatriation.

Check that you're getting enough baggage cover

You might be planning to bring along expensive electronics or clothing. So, make sure that your policy offers cover for theft, damage, or accidental loss of your personal items.

Types of cruise travel insurance

Single-trip

If you're only planning to go on one cruise, a single-trip travel insurance policy could be a good option for you.

Single-trip travel insurance covers 1 trip, from the moment you leave your home until you return again.

With a single-trip travel insurance policy, you'll be able to take 1 trip for up to 30 days with cruise cover as an optional add-on.

This makes it an ideal option if you're only going on one trip for less than 30 days over the course of 12 months.

Annual cover

IIf you're planning on going on more than 1 cruise or taking multiple holidays, annual multi-trip travel insurance is a good option.

With an annual policy, you'll be able to take multiple trips over 12 months with cruise cover as an add-on.

If you have to cancel your trip in an emergency, your policy should cover the cost of pre-paid travel, accommodation, and unused excursions.

Plus, it could work out cheaper than purchasing single-trip travel insurance for each trip. Boom!

Most multi-trip policies have a limited timeframe on individual trips. So, if you want to go on a cruise for an extended period of time, you should consider long stay insurance.

Important information

All insurance products exclude cover for known events. These are global events that can put you in danger, or disrupt travel. This exclusion applies if the event was declared as a ‘known event' when you bought your insurance.

If you're travelling to a place where there's a known event, you won't be covered by your travel insurance. An example of this is the ongoing conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and the COVID 19 pandemic.

If you travel against Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice, you won't be covered by your travel insurance. As well as this, if you fail to comply with your destination's entry requirements, you won't be covered by any travel insurance you buy.

Compare cruise travel insurance quotes

Do I need a EHIC or GHIC for a cruise?

It’s not mandatory to have a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for a cruise, but it might be useful.

The GHIC was introduced to replace the EHIC when the UK left the EU, but if you have a valid EHIC you can continue using it until it expires. You can apply for a GHIC through the NHS website for free up to 6 months before your EHIC expires.

These cards give you access to medical treatment in many European countries at the same cost as a local would pay. But, it doesn't cover all European countries so check which are included before your trip. If you have the GHIC, you might be able to use it in some countries outside of the European Union.

Travelling with a GHIC or EHIC can dramatically reduce your medical bills if you do need treatment. But, it's important to remember that these cards aren't a replacement for travel insurance. They won't be able to offer all the things travel insurance can. So, it's important to take out a policy with the right level of cover for your cruise.

Why compare quotes with Confused.com?

  • We're regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as are all of the travel insurance companies we work with. This means you can be certain that we do things the right way for you, following strict guidelines.
  • We're 100% independent. This means we're not owned by any insurance company, so the prices you see are the best based on your information, not who they're from.

Is my cruise covered by ATOL or ABTA?

This depends on your cruise travel provider, so it's worth checking at the time of booking.

Air Travel Organiser's Licence (ATOL) protects holidays that involve air travel. So, if you've purchased a package cruise holiday that involves flights through an ATOL member, you'll be covered financially if there's an unexpected travel disruption. For example, if the cruise company goes into administration.

ABTA cover protects holidays that involve travel by sea, land, or rail. If your cruise operator is ABTA protected and it goes into administration, you'll be entitled to a refund and alternative holiday arrangements if they're available.

Top tip: If your cruise travel provider offers ABTA or ATOL protection, you should see these logos clearly displayed on their website, as well as on documentation.

Need more help?

When's the best time to buy travel insurance for a cruise?

If you're looking to buy cruise insurance, it's worth doing this as soon as you’ve booked your holiday.

Wondering why? Well, it'll mean that you'll be covered if you need to cancel your trip before you depart. For example, if you fell ill before travelling and were no longer able to go.

You can buy cruise travel insurance after you've booked your holiday right up until your departure date. But there’s often a period after booking when you can't claim. This is often 24 hours, so it's best not to leave it to the last minute to buy.

Travel insurance guides

What are the different types of travel insurance?

Page last reviewed: 19 June 2024

Reviewed by: Alvaro Iturmendi

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