Cruise travel insurance

Compare cruise travel insurance quotes

  • Protect yourself against missed ports, cabin confinement and unused excursions

  • Find cruise travel insurance quotes in minutes

  • Get a free eSIM when you buy travel insurance2

2eSIM 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&Cs apply.

What is cruise travel insurance?

Cruise travel insurance is a policy add-on designed to cover the unique things that could go wrong on a cruise, like:

  • Cabin confinement due to illness
  • Unused excursions due to insured reasons
  • Missed ports due to adverse weather
  • Being airlifted to hospital in an emergency

Some insurers offer cruise insurance as a standalone product or as an optional add-on for your travel insurance.

Helpful hint: Cruise travel insurance can be mandatory depending on your cruiseliner. So, make sure you double-check when you book your trip.

Compare cruise travel insurance quotes

You can easily compare travel insurance for cruises in a few minutes! Just follow these steps:

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Fill in our quote form

We just need a few details from you. If you’re going on a cruise, you can select cruise insurance when we ask if you want any additional cover.

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We'll do the hard work

We’ll compare your details against our panel of travel insurers to find policies. If you’ve selected cruise cover, we’ll only show you policies that include this.

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Choose your policy

All you need to do is compare the policy details and prices we show you. Once you’ve bought your travel insurance, don’t forget to claim your free eSIM!

What our travel insurance expert says

"Cruises can offer unforgettable experiences, but they come with unique risks that standard travel insurance might not cover. Cruise travel insurance is designed to provide comprehensive protection, ensuring you can enjoy your holiday with peace of mind."

Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert
Travel insurance expert Confused.com logo

What does cruise insurance cover?

Each policy will differ slightly in their cover levels. It’s important to check your policy documents to understand what your travel insurance covers. Let’s take a look at what you can typically expect to be covered for:

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Typically covered:

  • Unused excursions: If you can’t go on a planned excursion due to illness or injury, you can claim for costs.
  • Cabin confinement: Travel insurance can cover you if illness means you’re confined to your cabin and miss out on excursions or planned activities.
  • Missed port departures: If your cruise ship leaves without you due to factors beyond your control, you can claim on your insurance.
  • Cruise interruption: Cruise insurance can cover you if you need to disrupt your cruise to receive medical treatment on land.
  • Medical cover: This can cover your medical bills in the countries you’re due to stop in. It can also cover the cost of airlifting you to a hospital if needed.
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Common exclusions:

  • High-risk activities: If you’re planning any high-risk activities, like scuba diving, you might need a higher level of cover.
  • Undeclared medical conditions: You won’t be covered for any medical conditions you fail to declare.
  • Incidents that occur under the influence: Travel insurance won’t cover anything that happens while you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Natural disasters, civil unrest or terrorism: You won’t be covered for any disruptions or cancellations caused by these types of events.
  • Changing your mind: You won’t be covered for cancellations if you decide you no longer want to travel.

Cruise travel insurance for medical conditions

If you have a medical condition, travel insurance might cost you a bit more. But failing to declare any medical conditions you have can invalidate your cover. To get cruise travel insurance for medical conditions, just select your condition(s) when filling out our quote form.

Some insurers may not offer you cruise travel insurance if you have a more serious condition, if you’re undergoing treatment, or if you’re awaiting diagnosis.

If you’re struggling to find suitable cruise travel insurance that’ll cover your medical conditions, MoneyHelper might be able to help. They have a directory of travel insurers who specialise in medical travel insurance. You can contact them by phone on 0800 138 7777.

Is my cruise covered by ABTA or ATOL?

The Travel Association (the Association of British Travel Agents, ABTA) covers holidays that include travel by land, sea or rail. So, if your cruise operator is covered by ABTA and goes into administration, you’ll be entitled to a refund and alternative travel arrangements if available. You can check whether your cruise operator is a member by searching for ABTA members on their website.

ATOL (Air Travel Organisers Licensing), on the other hand, protects holidays that involve air travel. This means that if you’ve booked a package cruise holiday that involves flights through an ATOL-protected provider, you’ll be covered financially for travel disruptions.

Do I need cruise insurance if I have a GHIC?

Yes - the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is useful to have, but it doesn’t replace travel insurance.

The GHIC can dramatically reduce your medical bills if you need emergency treatment while you’re travelling. But that doesn’t mean you get free healthcare. It also doesn’t cover other things that can go wrong while you’re travelling, like lost luggage or travel cancellations.

Cruise travel insurance can cover all of these things, plus more! So, it’s always worth comparing policies to find cruise insurance that suits you.

Why compare cruise insurance with Confused.com?

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Find travel insurance in minutes

Compare cruise insurance in as little as 2 minutes. Just fill out our quote form and we’ll do the rest!

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Tailor your travel insurance

Choose from different policy add-ons, including cruise cover, to find the right cover for you.

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Compare different providers

We compare travel insurance policies from up to 43 insurers1 to find you the right policy.

1Correct as of February 2025

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&Cs apply.

We compare 43 trusted travel insurance companies1 to find you our best deals

Planning on taking a cruise?

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

Frequently asked questions

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

We always recommend buying insurance as soon as you’ve booked your cruise. That way, you’re covered in case of cancellations. For example, if you become ill or are made redundant and can no longer travel.

What’s the best cruise insurance for seniors?

As you get older, your risk of developing different health conditions increases. So, you might need travel insurance that has more comprehensive medical coverage.

This can mean that finding the best cruise insurance for seniors can cost a bit more. But having the right cover in place means you’re protected just in case things go wrong, giving you peace of mind to enjoy your cruise.

How many people can be covered by cruise insurance?

When you compare travel insurance with Confused.com, you can add cruise cover to family travel insurance, group travel insurance or couples travel insurance policies. This means you can cover up to 10 people.

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