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To find the best cruise insurance, Forbes Advisor analyzed travel insurance data to score travel insurance policies based on the following factors. We include only travel insurance policies that include missed connection coverage. A comprehensive travel insurance plan will package additional benefits such as travel delay insurance, baggage insurance and missed connection travel insurance. Trawick’s Safe Travels First Class policy provides solid benefits at a great average cost, including high medical evacuation limits and good missed connection coverage. Nationwide’s Cruise Luxury plan provides an array of extensive benefits at a decent price, including superior missed connection coverage and emergency and non-medical evacuation benefits. This means if you have your heart set on visiting a particular place, but it gets cut from the itinerary (a common occurrence due to weather conditions), you would receive some form of compensation.
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Not all plans include this, and for certain trips with a popular port (like visiting Alexandria, Egypt, to drive to the Pyramids), it may be wise to check if you are covered. If you don't have a credit card with coverage or you want to add more protection, it is wise to buy insurance as soon as possible after booking the cruise. Some companies require that you buy cruise insurance within two weeks of making the initial deposit, particularly if you're hoping for pre-existing medical coverage. If you already have an annual travel insurance policy and you want to book a cruise, the first thing to do is to check what is covered by your existing annual policy. If it doesn’t cover cruise travel, you should contact your travel insurance provider and ask if they can add on cruise cover.
All Your Questions About Cruise Travel Insurance, Answered
The average cost of travel insurance is between 4% and 8% of the total cost of your trip but may be even higher for premium coverage. Condé Nast Traveler reports that cancel-for-any-reason policies, for example, may cost up to 40% more than a standard policy. You may not ever need to file a claim, but you can cruise with confidence when your trip is covered by a travel insurance policy offering ship-to-shore protection. Without proof of medical evacuation coverage, foreign providers will also want that money upfront.
Trip Insurance Companies
As you get closer to your trip your coverage options may get more expensive, and certain providers may not be able to offer you coverage. But each plan offers cruise-specific coverages like ship-based mechanical breakdowns, coverage for missed prepaid excursions if your cruise itinerary changes, and covered service disruptions aboard the cruise ship. Nationwide is a top choice for many travelers due to its variety of cruise-specific coverage. The insurer offers three three tiers of cruise insurance, but its standard Universal Cruise Plan should meet many needs.
Trip cancellations are covered for 100% of the trip cost (up to a max of $150,000) and trip interruptions are covered for 150% of the trip cost (up to a max of $225,000). This plan includes $35,000 in rental car damage coverage (where it's valid) due to collision, theft or a natural disaster. When your baggage is delayed for more than 12 hours, you can be reimbursed up to $150 a day ($750 maximum) for any necessary personal items you purchase. In our research, AXA's Silver Plan stood out as the top budget plan for its mix of affordable premiums and essential coverage. CNBC Select also named AXA one of the best overall travel insurance providers.
Factors we considered when picking the best cruise insurance companies
It's not strictly necessary for everyone in your group to purchase a policy, but you'll receive more comprehensive protection if you do. Cruise insurance costs will generally depend on your age and the cost and length of your trip. Our editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate insurance companies, so all companies are measured equally. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the methodology for the ratings below.
Cruise Travel Insurance Plans
Policies that describe themselves as ‘cruise travel insurance’ could fall into either of those last two categories, so it’s important to understand exactly what you’re getting. It’s smart to buy travel insurance for every trip you take, but it’s especially important for a cruise. That’s because when you’re in the middle of the ocean, small problems can suddenly turn into major disasters. For the best coverage, make sure to compare multiple plans from various providers online. Not only will you get better coverage, you’ll be able to perform a side by side apples to apples comparison to save time and money. Trip cancellation insurance can cover up to 100% of the amount you’ve already paid toward the trip for reasons listed in the policy.
Whilst specialist cruise travel insurance is good to have as it covers you for more things, it’s not completely necessary – standard travel insurance that includes cruise cover may be enough for what you need. Once you purchase insurance coverage for your cruise, you’ll have some time to review your policy and cancel without penalty if you change your mind. During this “free look period,” be sure to read over the policy carefully to understand coverage limits and exclusions, how and when you will be reimbursed, and what you need to do to file a claim.
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How much will cruise travel insurance cost?
Under normal circumstances, you don't need to purchase a so-called "cancel for any reason" add-on to your cruise travel insurance policy unless you really need the flexibility. The right cruise insurance policy offers the coverage you need at a good price, but policies aren’t one-size-fits-all. We’ve run quotes for various coverage scenarios — from seniors to adventure tours — to find the best cruise insurance policies. With cruise insurance, you’re covered for unexpected issues that can interfere with your travel plans. Read on to learn what cruise insurance is, how to get it, and how to find the best cruise insurance policies, whether you’re buying directly from the cruise line or a third-party insurance company. Remember, too, that you can't purchase travel insurance and expect it to cover events that are already in motion.
It's also easy to search online for feedback on particular insurance providers. Travel-insurance aggregators like SquareMouth will show you the underwriter for each policy and how it is rated by the A.M. Best Company (an agency that rates financial institutions), as well as provide reviews from previous purchasers. Before buying one of these add-ons to cover cruise excursions that involve small planes and/or helicopters for sightseeing, read the coverage documents carefully or contact the insurer to verify that those types of aircraft are covered. You agree to those things in your purchase contract with the cruise line. Very few insurers offer cancellation options based solely on advisories issued by the CDC or other government agencies.
If you struggle to get affordable cover because of your age or medical history, then you might then want to look for specialist providers. Missing one port happens from time to time, but missing two is very unlikely, so it wouldn’t be worth it. For even more information about Cruise Insurance coverage, check out our “Travel Insurance for Cruises” section. Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts... We look at ratings from JD Power and other industry giants to see where a company ranks in customer satisfaction.
All of these contingencies and more can be covered; it's just a matter of finding the best insurance policy for you. Here's how to evaluate which plan is the right choice for you, as well as five of the best cruise travel insurance plans available. You can buy cruise insurance after booking your trip, right up until just before departure. The downside to waiting is that you likely won’t be able to cover pre-existing medical conditions, and you’ll lose the option to add cancel for any reason coverage. The average cost of cruise insurance is $457 per trip, based on Forbes Advisor’s analysis of rates for 37 cruise travel insurance plans. Cruise insurance can be any travel insurance policy that has the coverage features you want.
And it’s exceptionally expensive if you need to be evacuated for a medical condition. World Nomads Travel Insurance has been a top choice for comprehensive travel insurance for many years now. Note that the premiums and policy structures advertised for cruise insurance companies are subject to fluctuate in accordance with the company's policies. Travel insurance typically covers cruises and other types of travel, whereas cruise insurance is designed to specifically protect you while cruising or getting to your cruise.
An example of trip delay coverage on your return trip would be a positive test for COVID-19 while in a foreign country and CDC guidelines prohibit you from returning to the U.S. If you are hospitalized, your medical emergency insurance would kick in, but if you are not, the trip delay portion of your policy would cover expenses up to the limits of your policy. Those reasons and so many others are why cruisers seek insurance coverage -- and why we recommend it. More importantly, it prevents you from losing money due to unforeseen circumstances and travel emergencies, and insurance fees are typically just a small percentage of your vacation expenditure. All five plans provide coverage for COVID-19-related trip cancellation and interruption.
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