Travel insurance for cruises
A guide to travel insurance for cruises
Last updated March 26, 2024
Travel insurance tips for cruises
Catriona Rowntree’s top travel insurance tips for cruises.
Catriona Rowntree
Travel
Video Transcript
Hello there. I’m Catriona Rowntree, host of Australia’s longest-running travel and lifestyle show, Getaway.
I have visited more destinations than I can count. And today, I just wanted to talk to you about travel insurance for your cruise holiday.
You know, Aussies have a love affair with cruising.
Before COVID-19, we were the world’s number one cruise market per capita.
With restrictions easing and ships returning to Australian shores again.
The industry is full steam ahead, so it’s time to brush up on the importance of keeping ourselves covered when we hit the seas.
Purchasing cover as soon as you book your holiday can ensure any deposits and final payments; they are covered in case your trip is cancelled or rearranged due to unforeseen circumstances.
Getting an international travel insurance policy with appropriate medical expenses cover.
Even if you’re only travelling in Australian waters, it could prove crucial.
As the moment your ship leaves an Australian port, you’ll no longer be covered by Medicare or your private health fund.
Even if you’re not visiting any international ports, oh, and if you have pre-existing medical conditions, make sure that you’re comparing products
that allow you to declare these conditions as part of your application. The insurer, they will then decide whether to cover these conditions or not.
And before you set sail, make sure to make photocopies of your travel insurance, your passport, and any other documents.
Leave a copy at home with someone, just in case. Keep your possessions close by; if you leave them unattended and, they’re stolen, a theft claim might not be accepted.
You know, navigating what travel insurance is right for you.
It doesn’t have to be difficult, and by comparing, you could save time and money.
More for shopping.
Compare the Market can help you compare travel insurance policies online in minutes.
So you can travel with confidence.
Why take out travel insurance for cruises?
Besides giving you peace of mind on your holiday, there are a few other reasons you should consider taking out travel insurance for your cruise:
- Repatriation and emergency evacuation are incredibly expensive should you get seriously injured or ill and need to be evacuated to the nearest hospital or back to Australia. Without travel insurance, this cost will need to be paid entirely out-of-pocket.
- Taking out your travel insurance policy with cruise cover as soon as you make any bookings can help cover you if your cruise is cancelled before your departure.
- If bad weather causes your cruise to avoid docking at a destination, you may be covered for any missed ports on your trip.
- If you don’t make it to your cruise on time and miss the departure, you may be covered for the cost of getting on at the next port.
Choosing cover for cruises
When choosing travel insurance cover for your cruise, it’s important your policy is suitable for your trip. So before purchasing, be sure you consider the following:
- Some travel insurance providers may offer cruise cover automatically, while with others, you may need to purchase it as an optional extra; either way, make sure your policy includes all the cover you need before you purchase.
- Beyond cruise-specific benefits, it’s a good idea to be covered for theft or loss of luggage, personal liability and medical expenses, including cover for any pre-existing medical conditions.
- Make sure you’re covered for both onshore and offshore activities; if your activities aren’t covered automatically, they may be covered under an adventure pack add-on.
- Be aware of any exclusions to your policy that might affect your ability to claim, as well as your policy’s claim limits and any age limits that may apply.
Expert tips for choosing the right travel insurance for cruises
Our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor, has some top tips on choosing the right travel insurance for your cruise holiday.
Adrian Taylor
Executive General Manager – General Insurance
Make sure your activities are covered
When purchasing travel insurance for a cruise trip, consider what cover you need at sea and on land at any ports your cruise visits, especially for any activities you want to partake in.
Declare any ports of call
If you’re going on an international cruise, be sure to declare where your cruise is visiting ports of call, too; otherwise, you might not be covered for those destinations. Depending on your insurer, you may be able to select ‘South Pacific’ or ‘Europe‘ as a destination for blanket cover of the countries within those regions.
Get international travel insurance for domestic cruises
Even domestic cruises need international travel insurance with medical cover. If you become sick or injured on your trip, your Medicare or private health insurance typically won’t cover you.
All about travel insurance for cruises
Do I need special travel insurance for a cruise?
While some comprehensive policies automatically offer cover for cruises, cruise cover must be purchased as an add-on for most travel insurance policies. If you depart on a cruise without cover specifically for cruises, then you won’t be covered for any losses that happen onboard.
It might be more expensive for a travel insurance policy with cruise cover, but without this cover you’ll have no financial protection if something goes wrong.
Do I need travel insurance for a cruise in Australia
Whether cruising around a small part of Australian waters or setting sail on a river cruise around Europe, international travel insurance could help cover your offshore medical expenses. That’s because you won’t be covered by Medicare or your private health fund the moment your ship leaves an Australian port, even if you’re not visiting any international ports.
Most doctors on cruise ships are private practitioners, meaning consultations, medical treatments and medications are charged at private rates. It’s important to consider travel insurance for any unexpected medical attention or repatriation needed at sea.
Most cruise operators will suggest that passengers take out international travel insurance that includes cover for overseas medical expenses, regardless of whether you’re taking a domestic or international cruise.
Things to consider when getting covered for your cruise
Here are some things that may be useful to keep in mind when purchasing travel insurance for your cruise.
- What activities will you be partaking in? Cruises often include snorkelling, scuba diving and other activities when stopped at different ports, whether in Australian waters or on the oceans around Indonesia, Fiji or New Caledonia. You may not be covered for these types of activities unless you’ve purchased an adventure sports add-on.
- Are your medical costs covered? If you’re worried about falling ill or getting injured on your trip, consider a travel insurance policy that covers overseas medical expenses, medical or emergency evacuations and even pre-existing medical conditions.
- Reimbursement if you miss out on activities. If you must cancel your cruise or any pre-paid onshore excursions or activities for unforeseen reasons, travel insurance could help you get your money back (depending on your policy).
- Looking after your gear. If your formalwear is stolen, lost or damaged for any reason, your travel insurance may cover its worth, up to your benefit limits. This can also extend to belongings like your phone, camera and laptops.
Insurance policies may not cover all of the above, so remember to read the PDS before you purchase to know exactly what you’re covered for and what exclusions apply and check your insurer’s Target Market Determination (TMD) to see if the policy is suitable for you.
Inclusions and exclusions
What does travel insurance for a cruise cover?
Travel insurance can give you the peace of mind that you’ll be financially assisted if things don’t go as planned. Travel insurance with cruise cover can include cover for:
- Overseas medical assistance and hospital expenses
- Medical evacuations back to Australia
- Cabin confinement due to sickness
- Cancellation costs for pre-paid travel arrangements
- Trip delays and rescheduling fees
- Missed ports, cruise departure or pre-paid shore excursions
- Lost, damaged or stolen luggage and personal belongings
- Additional expenses
- 24-hour emergency assistance.
Terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply, so be sure to check your policy’s PDS.
What is excluded in travel insurance for cruises?
It’s important to remember that travel insurance policies come with general exclusions. For example, travel insurance may not cover claims for:
- Pre-existing conditions that were not disclosed to your insurer, or your insurer did not agree to cover
- Lost, damaged or stolen belongings that were left unattended in a public space
- Incidents due to intoxication, drug use, risky behaviour or acting illegally
- Travelling against government advice (check Smartraveller for updates)
- Acts of war, terrorism or civil unrest
- Travellers past the policy age limit.
If you’re a senior traveller, you should always check the PDS of your policy to understand the insurer’s age requirements. Depending on the policy, some insurers will cover travellers up to 99 years or older; however, age limits will vary between insurers. Read our pages on travel insurance for over 65s and over 85s for more information on travel insurance for seniors.
To understand any potential exclusions of your policy, you should always read the PDS before purchasing a policy for your cruise trip.
Meet our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor
As the Executive General Manager of General Insurance, Adrian Taylor believes in educating customers about the importance of travel insurance so that anyone can kick back and make the most of their time away from home. While no one wants a disrupted holiday, a suitable travel insurance policy can provide a financial safety net for yourself, your belongings and your trip in case things go wrong.