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Smooth Sailing Ahead: Your Guide to Cruise Travel Insurance [2024]

Jessica Merritt

Editor & Content Contributor

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Keri Stooksbury

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Table of Contents

The 5 best cruise travel insurance policies, what is cruise insurance, is cruise insurance worth it, cruise insurance costs, what cruise insurance covers, how to get cruise insurance, final thoughts.

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Taking a cruise is one of the easiest ways to travel, but cruising isn’t immune to unexpected hiccups. Sudden illness, travel delays, or other unforeseen events could cancel or interrupt your cruising plans — you might even need medical coverage. 

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.

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 . 

Consider these travel insurance policies for your next cruise:

Best Cruise Travel Insurance for Seniors: Seven Corners

Seniors cruising the world can get comprehensive coverage from Seven Corners Travel Insurance . We were quoted $89 for a 70-year-old cruising Mexico . The Seven Corners Trip Protection Basic policy offers trip cancellation and interruption, medical coverage, and medical evacuation, along with COVID-19 cancellation and medical coverage.

Comprehensive travel insurance, regardless of your age, is widely available and relatively affordable. Check out our complete guide to travel insurance for seniors .

Best Cruise Travel Insurance With COVID-19 Coverage: battleface

If you’re concerned about COVID-19 derailing your cruise travel plans, getting cruise travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage is essential. The battleface Discovery Plan covers COVID-19 cancellation and medical expenses, along with regular trip cancellation, medical evacuation, and medical emergency coverage. We were quoted $36.54 for a 35-year-old cruising Italy on this plan.

Best Cruise Travel Insurance for Young Travelers: Aegis

Young travelers often have the lowest-priced travel insurance policies. We got a quote for just $30.27 from Aegis for a 22-year-old cruising the Bahamas . The Aegis Go Ready Choice policy covers COVID-19 medical and cancellation, trip cancellation and interruption, medical evacuation, and medical expenses.

Best Cruise Travel Insurance for Adventure Tours: IMG

Are you planning adventurous excursions on your cruise? IMG’s iTravelInsured Travel Lite , with options for winter, adventure, and extreme sports, can give you the coverage you need. We were quoted $58.87 for a 40-year-old traveler cruising to Costa Rica with plans to zipline . It covers trip cancellation and interruption, medical expenses, medical evacuation, and adventure sports with some exclusions, such as diving and adventure races.

Your travel insurance might not cover everything you want to do — particularly if you plan on adventure activities. Here’s our complete guide to adventure and extreme sports travel insurance .

Best Cruise Travel Insurance, Cancel for Any Reason Coverage: John Hancock Insurance Agency

If you’re especially concerned you may need to cancel your cruise, Cancel for Any Reason coverage allows you to cancel your trip and receive partial reimbursement for nonrefundable trip expenses, even if you cancel for reasons not normally covered by trip cancellation coverage. We were quoted $100.50 for a 55-year-old cruising Alaska for John Hancock Insurance Agency’s Silver plan , which reimburses up to 75% of your trip cost under Cancel for Any Reason coverage. It also offers coverage for COVID-19 medical and cancellation, trip cancellation and interruption, and medical expenses and evacuation with primary coverage.

Cruise insurance is travel insurance that covers cruises . It can help you manage all the what-ifs on your cruise. What if you need to cancel your booking? What if your flight is late? What if you get sick or hurt? Travel insurance for cruises can cover you for all of these things. 

Many travel insurance policies cover cruises, but cruise insurance may be tailored to the risks of cruises, covering transportation, accommodations, and activities. Getting travel insurance for cruises can offer peace of mind if you’re concerned about losing nonrefundable trip payments, travel delays, or covering emergency medical care.

Cruise bookings can be unforgiving, and cruise insurance can help you minimize your risk of losing the money you’ve paid for your trip. Travel insurance coverage is often a good idea if you’re concerned about losing nonrefundable prepaid travel expenses or covering emergency medical expenses . 

Because cruises are often less flexible than other types of travel, it’s generally a good idea to get cruise travel insurance. For example, you might be able to rebook a flight or hotel room, but if you cancel your cruise, you could lose your deposit or more. Often, cruise lines won’t offer any refunds if you cancel within a certain period before your cruise, such as 14 or 30 days .

Additionally, you shouldn’t expect your U.S.-based health insurance plan to cover you on your cruise, especially if you’re on an international cruise. And it’s exceptionally expensive if you need to be evacuated for a medical condition.

While everyone hopes for smooth sailing, the reality is a lot of unexpected issues could pop up on your cruise. Your flight to the cruise port could be delayed, you might get sick or injured on your cruise, or you might have to cancel the whole thing if illness or obligations prevent you from going on your cruise. A hurricane could interfere with cruising in storm hotspots such as the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. 

Cruise insurance can offer financial support for many unexpected problems you might experience with a cruise. And with a 24-hour travel assistance hotline , you can get knowledgeable help whether you need to find a local pharmacy or coordinate the replacement of lost travel documents such as your passport.

That said, you might have travel insurance coverage available with a credit card . Some credit cards offer travel insurance benefits such as trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical treatment and evacuation, and travel delay coverage. Still, you should check the details of your credit card’s coverage to ensure it’s enough for your needs. 

Looking for a credit card with travel protections? Read our guide to the best credit cards for travel insurance coverage and protection.

Generally, expect cruise insurance to cost between 5% to 10% of the total cost of your cruise . For a $3,000 cruise, you’ll typically pay between $150 to $300 for comprehensive travel insurance coverage. But keep in mind several factors influence the cost of cruise insurance, including:

• Add-ons, such as CFAR 
• Coverage options 
• Cruise cost 
• Deductibles and limits 
• Destination 
• Group policies 
• Traveler age 
• Trip duration

Learn more about travel insurance costs in our guide to the average cost of travel insurance .

Each travel insurance policy is unique, but travel insurance for cruise coverage typically includes:

• 24/7 Assistance: You can get 24/7 support for itinerary changes, rebooking, medical emergencies, and more.
• Baggage Protection: Your luggage is covered for loss, theft, or damage on your flight or during your cruise.
• Cabin Confinement: You may get reimbursement if you have to stay in your cabin during your cruise, such as a required quarantine due to COVID-19.
• Cancel for Any Reason: Usually available as an add-on, CFAR travel insurance allows you to cancel your cruise for any reason and receive a partial reimbursement of your nonrefundable travel expenses.
• Itinerary Changes: You can get covered for changes in your cruise’s itinerary, missed port calls, or extended delays beyond your control.
• Missed Connections: If you miss your cruise departure due to a flight delay or other covered reason, you can get reimbursed for your nonrefundable travel expenses.
• Medical Emergencies: Cruise insurance can cover medical treatment on the cruise and may offer coverage for medical evacuation.
• Trip Cancellation or Interruption: You can get reimbursed for your nonrefundable travel expenses if you cancel your cruise or end your trip early due to covered reasons such as illness or injury. You’re typically covered if the cruise line cancels due to mechanical issues, weather, or other unforeseen events.

Cruise-specific travel insurance may also offer reimbursement if your cruise ship is disabled. And if you want to cover shore excursions, be sure to include the cost of excursions in your total travel cost when you get quotes for cruise insurance.

While these coverage types are common among cruise insurance policies, checking the terms and conditions to confirm all coverage areas is a good idea.

Types of Cruise Insurance

There are many options for travel insurance, and you can generally choose as little or as much coverage as you’d like. You can opt for a comprehensive travel insurance policy, which may offer Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage, or you might prefer to limit your costs and choose just the coverage you need. For example, you might choose standalone trip cancellation insurance or a travel medical insurance policy but decide you don’t need coverage for missed connections or baggage.

What To Look for in a Cruise Travel Insurance Policy

Consider these factors as you compare the best cruise travel insurance policies:

• Cancellation Window: Understand how many days before your cruise departure you must cancel to qualify for reimbursement.
• Coverage Availability: Travel insurance policies typically offer cruise coverage, but it’s best to confirm that a policy specifically covers cruises before you purchase it. Also, consider availability for coverages that may be important to you, such as CFAR or adventure sports. 
• Customer Reviews and Reputation: You can get insight into the insurance provider and how claims and customer service work by reading customer reviews and ratings.
• Eligibility Criteria: Cruise insurance policies may have eligibility criteria such as limits on age or trip duration and preexisting conditions. For example, some travel insurance policies max out at 90 days.
• Exclusions and Limitations: Read the policy to understand what’s excluded or limited specifically to cruise-related coverage, such as reimbursements for port closures, itinerary changes, or medical incidents on the cruise.
• Policy Cost: Get multiple quotes and compare each cost and coverage value to ensure you get a good value for your cruise insurance policy.
• Purchase Timeline: You’ll usually need to purchase your cruise insurance within a certain period of booking your trip, so be sure you’re buying your policy within that timeframe.
• Reimbursement Structure: Review the cruise insurance policy to confirm how much you can be reimbursed for under qualifying circumstances, such as if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip.

You can buy cruise insurance from the cruise line when you book, or a travel agent may offer cruise insurance plans. You also have the option to purchase cruise trip insurance independently. It’s a good idea to get multiple quotes to compare your costs and coverage and get the best deal on cruise insurance.

You should buy cruise insurance when you make your first deposit so you’re immediately covered for trip cancellation. Here are some of the options and coverages if you purchase cruise insurance directly from the cruise line:

Before you purchase cruise insurance from a cruise line, compare your third-party options. You can get quotes from multiple travel insurance companies at once using a travel insurance aggregator such as Squaremouth .

Even a meticulously planned cruise can run into unforeseen disruptions — and cruise insurance can come in handy for the unexpected.

Cruise insurance covers you for sudden illnesses, travel delays, and more, offering financial protection so you’re safeguarded against uncertainties. Whether you get cruise insurance from the cruise line or third–party insurance providers, understand your coverage and how it protects your investment in cruise travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my health insurance cover me on a cruise.

Some health insurance policies offer limited coverage on cruises, but coverage often depends on where you’re cruising and your planned activities. Check with your insurance provider about coverage before you depart on your cruise. Find out if supplemental cruise insurance is available if you want to use your existing health insurance coverage.

Are cruises covered under travel insurance?

Cruises are typically covered under travel insurance , so you don’t necessarily have to buy specialized cruise insurance, such as coverage from the cruise line. Travel insurance can cover trip cancellations and interruptions, medical emergencies, lost luggage, and more on your cruise trip.

Can you buy cruise insurance after booking?

You can buy cruise insurance after booking. It’s generally best to purchase cruise insurance as soon as possible after making your initial trip deposit — when you have money on the line. The sooner you purchase cruise insurance, the sooner you’re covered for trip cancellations.

Can you buy medical insurance for a cruise?

You can buy medical travel insurance to cover your medical expenses on a cruise, offering coverage such as medical emergencies, illnesses, and injuries.

How do I add travel insurance to my cruise?

You can add travel insurance to your cruise when you book with the cruise line or a travel agent. Alternatively, you can purchase travel insurance directly from travel insurance agencies.

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About Jessica Merritt

A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little cash as possible.

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Travel Insurance for Cruises

When experienced cruisers are about to set sail, they choose Allianz Travel Insurance to protect their cruise. Why? Because when you’re at sea, small mishaps quickly become major problems. Travel insurance can help make things right.

If the ship sails without you because your flight to Miami was delayed, travel delay benefits can help you catch up. If you break your leg and have to cancel your trip, the cruise line won't reimburse you—but travel insurance can. And if you suffer a medical crisis on board, travel insurance can cover your evacuation and emergency medical care.

Here’s the best part: Allianz Travel Insurance is much more than cruise travel insurance. Our plans can protect your flights, hotel stays, cruise excursions, and just about any other kind of travel. Learn about the options and insure your next cruise, so you can leave your worries at the dock.

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Cruise Line Insurance Plan Comparison

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The Guide to Cruise Travel Insurance

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Table of Contents

Look to your credit cards, first

What to consider if you buy a separate cruise travel insurance policy, what cruise travel insurance doesn't cover, how to shop cruise travel insurance options, is cruise travel insurance necessary.

Travel insurance can save you when you’re in a pinch, and cruises are especially important to protect. Whether you experience a flight delay, your car breaks down or you get sick, having a backup plan that will cover the cost of your trip, or at least help you get there without extra expense, can be essential. It’s recommended to arrive one day before the departure of your cruise to allow for any delays because if you arrive late to the departure point, the ship may have already left.

If you find yourself stranded at the pier long after your cruise has left, or aren't able to get to the pier at all, cruise travel insurance can help. These are some of the best travel insurance options for cruises.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Many credit cards provide sufficient travel protection that can help you in the event of a delay or cancellation. It can even help if you arrive on time, but your bags do not. Other travel protections include helping if you need medical attention or evacuation during your trip, as well as insurance for a rental car if you decide to drive in one of the ports you visit.

Some of the popular credit card options that provide ample protections include:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card .

Chase Sapphire Reserve® .

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card . Terms apply.

United℠ Explorer Card .

You'll need to review the policy before the trip to decide if you need to purchase additional coverage.

» Learn more: What to know before buying travel insurance

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.

The longer you wait to buy cruise insurance, the higher the price may become.

Also, your own health insurance may not cover cruise travel or medical attention onboard a ship. Often, some personal insurance plans do not protect passengers once they have sailed more than six hours from any U.S. port. This may come as a surprise for those who thought they were protected, which is why it can be wise to purchase additional coverage for a cruise.

Since medical treatment on a ship may be more expensive, and evacuation at sea may require a helicopter or small boat, having emergency coverage can be essential.

If you’re still deciding on additional protection, consider these factors:

Destination: Is it remote or far from an airport or medical facility? How difficult will it be for you to find medical care or leave the ship?

Length of stay: How long will you be traveling? If it's only a few days, the probability that you will need coverage is less than if the trip were longer or farther from home.

Credit card protections: Read the fine print of your credit card benefits. If you used that card to pay for your travel, you may already have protection in the event of trip delay or cancellation, missing or lost luggage, medical reasons or weather issues.

Personal liability: Will you be engaging in activities that may make you responsible for someone else’s injury? Will you be renting a car or participating in activities like boating, biking or motorized water sports? If you may be held liable for someone else’s injury, insurance can help protect you.

As important as knowing how you will be protected, it is also paramount to know what is not included.

For example, if any injury or health issue is alcohol-related, it may not be covered. You might also want to know if natural disasters like a hurricane, terrorist incidents or bankruptcy by the cruise line are also covered. Sometimes, there are specific carve-outs for such situations.

Another important factor to consider is COVID-19 protection , as not all insurance plans include it. You will want to consider what happens if you get sick before the sailing or onboard since you may have to find accommodation if you are not able to travel for a period of time.

Some cruise insurance policies will cover itinerary changes. 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. 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.

» Learn more: Should you insure your cruise?

There are many providers of travel insurance, and often, cruise companies will recommend a partner when making a reservation. Those are often best since the cruise line has a history of working with that company and has considered the intricacies of the various ports its ships are visiting. Still, policies vary.

If you want to buy a policy beyond what is already offered by your credit card, start with an aggregator site like Insure My Trip that compares several policies based on the criteria you choose. How long will you be gone? Where are you going? Do you have any pre-existing conditions? All of these things can affect the price of a policy that you purchase.

There are other respected insurance options like Travel Guard , which has policies specifically geared toward cruise trips. SafeCruise from VisitorsCoverage is another plan that is designed for cruise travel, and it includes an upgrade for a partial Cancel For Any Reason reimbursement.

Deciding if you want to protect your trip probably depends on your budget. If you can afford a worst-case scenario without protection, then maybe you won’t need to purchase travel insurance for cruises.

But for most travelers, having a backup plan in case anything goes wrong makes the trip that much more enjoyable.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Do You (Really) Need Cruise Travel Insurance?

Here’s everything you need to know about what kind of insurance coverage is truly worth the investment when you book a cruise..

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One way to make sure your cruise is smoother sailing? The right travel insurance.

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When you book a cruise either online or through a travel agent, one of the options you’ll be offered is cruise travel insurance. The question is: Do you really need cruise insurance? A lot depends on what kind of traveler you are and whether you feel you need to protect the investment you have made in your cruise vacation.

Think of cruise travel insurance as a safety net. We learned during the COVID-19 pandemic that the best-laid travel plans can change. Chances are your cruise vacation will go off without a hitch. But what if it doesn’t?

For myself, a frequent cruise traveler, peace of mind counts. My personal rule of thumb: If I am spending more than $1,000 per person for a cruise, I will buy cruise travel insurance to protect it in case the trip must be canceled—so that I can get most or all of my money back.

And I always buy international medical coverage.

Here’s what to know about buying travel insurance for a cruise and what the options are for cruise travel insurance policies.

Should you buy insurance through the cruise line?

Individual cruise lines make it easy to buy travel insurance simply by checking a box when you are completing your cruise booking, and your travel agent can also sell you the cruise line’s policy, which is administered by an outside travel insurance company.

It’s a convenient way to buy cruise travel insurance, but the prices won’t be the lowest you can find. Since they aren’t in the insurance business, cruise lines don’t typically sell policies with many options in terms of what you get. What you are buying is a one-size-fits-all bundled policy. And it may be more insurance than you need. Cruise travel insurance typically costs 4 percent to 10 percent of your total trip cost. Expect the policy from the cruise line to be on the high side of that range.

A cruise line insurance policy usually includes trip cancellation insurance, which covers common reasons for cancellation such as an unexpected weather event or illness. Included as well is trip interruption/trip delay insurance, which reimburses you if you need to start the cruise late or return home early or need emergency medical or dental care or an emergency medical evacuation; it also offers delayed and lost baggage protection and 24-hour customer support.

There will likely also be the option for a cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage upgrade. While standard insurance will protect against unforeseen risks, once an event such as a hurricane becomes a known event or a named hurricane, it will no longer be covered by standard trip cancellation coverage—only by CFAR coverage. But CFAR coverage does not necessarily mean you will get 100 percent of your money back, so travelers need to weigh the cost benefits.

Be aware that the policy offered by the cruise line may not cover pre- or post-cruise expenses— meaning any airline, hotel, or transportation costs that you did not book through the cruise line. Additionally, with cruise line policies, if your cruise is canceled or disrupted, your “reimbursement” may be in the form of future cruise credit rather than cash. Make sure to read the fine print and weigh the convenience, price, and inclusions when considering the cruise line’s plan.

But wait—first check if you already have travel insurance

Before you buy cruise insurance—or any travel insurance for that matter—do an inventory on what is already covered under your existing insurance plans (such as through your health insurance provider) and through your credit cards . Otherwise, you may over-buy coverage.

Any lost luggage may already be covered under your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, for instance. And if you have a premium credit card such as a Chase Sapphire Reserve® or The Platinum Card® from American Express, you will already have a large amount of coverage for things such as trip cancellation and disruption—assuming you paid for your vacation with the card.

Medical coverage is important to look into because many health insurance policies do not cover international travel. Medicare, for instance, does not. And you will want coverage for medical emergencies. As a baby boomer who travels a lot, I purchase annual plans (such as the basic AllTrips plan with Allianz , more on this below) for both medical coverage while traveling internationally and for medical transport (the latter through Medjet ) should I need to be evacuated to a hospital of my choice.

Buying cruise insurance through independent travel insurance companies

Considering all the above, you may want to shop around, looking at basic to premium cruise insurance policies based on your own needs.

There are plenty of reputable travel insurance companies that can insure your cruise, including:

• Travel Guard from AIG
• Berkshire Hathaway

You can go to the insurance companies directly or, better in my opinion, compare policies using an aggregator website such as InsureMyTrip.com , SquareMouth , or TravelInsurance.com . Regardless of whether you go directly to an insurer or search on one of the aggregator sites, you can plug in filters for the specific coverage you are looking for and omit coverage that you already have. This will save you money and get you more quickly to the exact coverage plan you need.

Do I need travel health insurance for a cruise?

Medical insurance that provides coverage when you travel is something that should definitely be considered—that became abundantly clear during the pandemic. Even with the end of the COVID public health emergency, travelers can still get sick or hurt while away, without warning. If you do fall ill or have an accident, you’ll want your medical expenses in another country and while cruising covered, especially if you need to be evacuated or require a costly hospital visit.

And with COVID-19 still circulating along with other communicable diseases, make sure to consider having contingencies not just for medical care but also to cover expenses if, for instance, you will need to isolate at a hotel for a time before you fly home.

As I mentioned, because I travel a lot internationally, I have an annual, basic AllTrips plan with Allianz that includes emergency medical/dental coverage and emergency medical transportation. I also have an annual plan through Medjet that covers evacuation for medical or security reasons.

That may sound like a lot, but again, it’s all about personal peace of mind.

Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage

As noted above, standard insurance will protect against unforeseen risks, but once an event such as a hurricane becomes a known event, it will no longer be covered by standard trip cancellation coverage—only by an optional cancel for any reason (CFAR) upgrade . CFAR will also cover you in case, for instance, you simply change your mind about your cruise vacation. It adds considerably to the standard policy cost—as much as 40 percent—but for some people it could be worth the upgrade.

If you are taking the whole family to the Caribbean during hurricane season , for instance, the add-on may be something that you want to consider. Personally, I don’t tend to splurge on this. Whatever coverage you choose, think of it as a safety net. In the best-case scenario, you won’t need it, but it’s good to know it’s there.

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Top 6 Best Cruise Insurance Plans of July 2024

Alex Carver is a writer and researcher based in Charlotte, N.C. A contributor to major news websites such as Automoblog and USA Today, she’s written content in sectors such as insurance, warranties, shipping, real estate and more.

Kelly Larson is a senior editor with 14 years of experience creating and optimizing data-driven, reader-focused digital content. Kelly enjoys running and exploring the outdoors with his sons.

Key Takeaways

• Based on the MarketWatch Guides industry-wide review of the travel insurance policies, Nationwide, Faye and Allianz offer the best cruise insurance.
• Cruise insurance can help protect your vacation by reimbursing prepaid, nonrefundable expenses in unexpected situations such as emergency medical bills and costs related to baggage loss.
• Our team evaluated 64 cruise plans to identify the top options for your next cruise. We score plans based on cruise-specific options, average cost, policy coverage, medical coverage and evacuation limits.

Why Trust MarketWatch Guides

Our editorial team follows a comprehensive methodology for rating and reviewing travel insurance companies. Advertisers have no effect on our rankings.

Companies Reviewed

Quotes Collected

Rating Factors

The Best Cruise Insurance Plans for 2024

To determine the best cruise insurance options for our review, we collected several sample quotes, carefully examined policy and coverage details, and evaluated providers with specialized cruising plans. Our thorough research found that the following travel insurance companies provide the best cruise insurance plans in the industry.

Here are our top picks for the best cruise insurance companies:

• Nationwide Travel Insurance: Luxury Cruise
• Allianz Global Assistance: OneTrip Prime
• AIG Travel Guard: Preferred Plan
• Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection : WaveCare ®
• Travelex Insurance : Travel Basic
• Trawick International : Safe Travels Voyager

How We Picked the Best Cruise Insurance Companies

To recommend the best providers to our readers, we looked for the following factors when evaluating coverage options for cruise insurance:

• Cruise-specific plan options: Our team sought out travel insurance providers that offer cruise-specific plans with coverages not found on standard policies, such as shipboard service disruption coverage, prepaid excursion reimbursement and more.
• Medical coverage: This protection helps pay for medical care at a local facility if you’re injured on your cruise. Companies with more generous medical coverage limits ranked higher in our roundup.
• Medical evacuation: We prioritized companies offering higher medical evacuation coverage, which can benefit you depending on how long and far you are from a port while on the cruise ship.
• Coverage maximums: We considered whether a provider offered higher-value coverage options for travelers planning longer trips or opting for an all-inclusive luxury package.
• Cost: We requested sample quotes from dozens of travel insurance providers and compared price and coverage options to determine the insurer offering the best values.

Nationwide Travel Insurance

Why We Picked Nationwide for Cruise Insurance

After earning 4.6 out of 5 stars when rated using our travel insurance methodology, we chose Nationwide as one of the best cruise insurance options for these reasons:

• Nationwide offers plans specifically for cruises with benefits such as shipboard service disruption, prepaid excursion reimbursement and missed connection benefits.
• Cruise-specific policies include medical and non-medical evacuation coverage.
• Nationwide covers up to 100% of your total trip costs for a covered cancellation and up to 150% of your total costs for trip interruption.

Pros and Cons

Allianz global assistance.

Why We Picked Allianz for Cruise Insurance

Allianz earned 4.1 out of 5 stars when rated using our travel insurance methodology, and we chose it as one of the best cruise insurance options for these reasons:

• Allianz extends free coverage for children 17 and under when you choose the OneTrip Prime plan, which can be ideal for families cruising together.
• Epidemic coverage includes trip cancellation, interruption, travel delays, emergency medical care and emergency transportation.
• Trip change protector coverage can reimburse you the fees or extra expenses incurred if you need to change your cruise itinerary for a reason listed in your policy.

AIG Travel Guard

Why We Picked AIG Travel Guard for Cruise Insurance

AIG Travel Guard earned 4.6 out of 5 stars when rated using our travel insurance methodology, and we chose it as one of the best cruise insurance options for these reasons:

• If you or your traveling companion lose your life or limbs during your cruise, AIG Travel Guard offers non-flight accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• AIG’s Preferred Plan includes one free child aged 17 and under with each paying adult on your policy.
•  You’ll find an array of policy add-ons with AIG such as CFAR coverage, adventure sports coverage, pet coverage and more that can offer you additional protection.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

Why We Picked Berkshire Hathaway for Cruise Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway earned 4.6 out of 5 stars when rated using our travel insurance methodology, landing a spot on our best cruise insurance due to the following:

• WaveCare® covers up to 100% of your total trip costs for covered cancellations and 150% of your total trip costs for covered interruptions.
• Berkshire Hathaway’s cruise-specific plan offers coverage beyond the norm, including cruise disablement, cruise diversion and river cruise diversion coverage.
• WaveCare® provides coverage for emergency evacuation and repatriation up to $750,000.

Why We Picked Travelex for Cruise Insurance

Travelex earned 4.7 out of 5 stars when rated using our travel insurance methodology — the highest score out of all providers we’ve reviewed. It landed a spot on our best cruise insurance list for the following reasons:

• Travelex offers some of the most affordable plans of the providers on our list, and allows parents to extend coverage to their children for a slightly higher rate.
• Add-on coverages available through the Travel Basic plan include car rental collision coverage and flight accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D).
• The Travel Basic policy has no deductible and is considered a primary coverage plan.

Trawick International

Why We Picked Trawick International for Cruise Insurance

We awarded AXA Assistance USA a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. We’ve included it on our list of the best cruise insurance providers for these reasons:

• The Safe Travels Voyager plan, marketed as Trawick’s most popular cruise insurance coverage, includes 30 covered reasons for trip cancellation.
• Trawick offers various optional add-on benefits, such as CFAR coverage, 24-hour AD&D, trip interruption for any reason (IFAR) coverage and more.
• Trawick provides a stipend for a hospital companion to evacuate with you during a medical emergency.

What To Look For in Cruise Insurance

According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) 2023 State of the Cruise Industry Report , cruising continues to be one of the fastest-growing sectors of tourism, with a projected 36 million people choosing a cruise vacation in 2024. While purchasing travel insurance to cover your cruise vacation is a personal decision, there are some coverages to look for that can enhance your policy.

• Travel medical insurance : If you’re worried about illnesses or potential injuries during your cruise, travel medical insurance covers medical expenses up to a maximum amount.
• Emergency medical evacuation coverage : If you suffer a medical emergency and require transport to a hospital while at sea, emergency medical evacuation coverage can help cover expenses associated with transport.
• Trip cancelation insurance : If you’d like to recoup any prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses if you need to cancel your trip, trip cancelation insurance can reimburse you if the event is covered under policy terms.
• Trip interruption insurance : If your trip is cut short for a reason covered with your travel insurance policy, trip interruption coverage can provide reimbursement for any unused travel expenses.
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage : If you’re concerned about canceling your trip for a reason not listed under a policy’s coverage terms, consider cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage , which allows you to cancel your trip for virtually any reason.

Travel medical insurance is especially worth considering if you’re cruising abroad, as domestic healthcare may provide limited to no coverage out of the country.

If you’re looking at plans explicitly marketed for cruises, you may find unique benefits like cruise diversion, disablement and prepaid excursion reimbursement. Other benefits to look for with a cruise insurance policy include travel delay coverage, baggage insurance and missed connection coverage. If you’re worried about coverage for pre-existing conditions or COVID-19, check if a plan offers these protections as you shop around.

Compare The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

See the table below for a direct comparison of our picks for the top cruise insurance plans, including average costs, our recommended plan and CFAR coverage amounts.

What Is Cruise Insurance and How Does It Work?

Cruise insurance is synonymous with travel insurance, and it can be any policy that offers the coverage you’re looking for to protect your trip expenses. While some providers offer plans marketed toward cruisegoers, many standard, comprehensive travel insurance policies provide coverages worth considering for cruise protection.

A cruise insurance policy works just like travel insurance. Your policy will cover you for the duration of your cruise and can cover a single person or a whole family. When a covered event occurs, you’ll file a claim with your chosen provider for reimbursement of expenses or financial losses. Note that all cruise insurance policies have exclusions, so read the fine print of your plan before you purchase it.

What Does Cruise Insurance Cover?

Depending on your choice of plan, cruise insurance can provide the following coverages:

Created with Sketch Beta. Medical expense coverage : Travel medical insurance can cover your medical bills if you get ill or injured on your cruise and need medical attention.

Created with Sketch Beta. Emergency medical evacuation coverage : Emergency medical evacuation coverage can provide transportation or evacuation to a medical facility from your cruise ship.

Created with Sketch Beta. Trip cancellation protection : Trip cancellation coverage can compensate you for non-refundable expenses if you cancel your trip for a reason covered by your policy.

Created with Sketch Beta. Trip interruption coverage : If you need to cut your cruise short, trip interruption coverage can provide reimbursement for any unused, non-refundable expenses.

Created with Sketch Beta. Trip delay protection : If your travel carrier delays your trip, you can receive reimbursement up to a set amount as outlined in your policy. 

Created with Sketch Beta. Baggage loss and delay coverage : If your baggage is damaged, stolen, missing or delayed during your trip, baggage loss and delay coverage can reimburse you for the items you packed in your luggage.

In addition, some cruise insurance plans offer coverages exclusively tailored to cruisegoers, such as cruise disablement coverage, prepaid excursion reimbursement, missed connection benefits and non-medical evacuation coverage. 

According to our research, you’ll also likely have access to a 24/7 hotline for travel emergencies — we’ve found this is a standard provision among travel insurance companies. If you’re looking for pre-existing condition coverage, many providers offer a waiver if you buy your coverage within a specific time frame from your initial trip deposit.

Is Cruise Insurance Required?

While cruise insurance isn’t typically legally required, it can be worth considering if you don’t want to risk your investment in your cruise booking. However, it’s best practice to check with your specific cruise line about any outstanding requirements around travel insurance. Even if travel insurance isn’t required, having coverages such as travel medical, trip interruption and trip cancellation cruise insurance can give you the peace of mind to enjoy your cruise fully.

When You Should Buy Cruise Insurance

If you plan on purchasing cruise insurance, it’s worth considering as soon as possible. For example, if you’d like emergency medical coverage through your cruise insurance policy to cover any pre-existing conditions, most travel insurance providers require you to purchase a policy within a certain number of days from when you make your first payment toward the cruise. You may not qualify for this waiver if you wait until the last minute to purchase your plan.

If your cruise is fast approaching and you’d still like to buy a policy, our research has found that some providers offer plans that can be purchased as late as 24 hours before your trip.

How Much Does Cruise Insurance Cost?

According to our analysis, the average cost of cruise insurance is $242. However, we found that the cost ranges from $81 to $500 and heavily depends on the total trip cost and age of the traveler.

The cost of cruise insurance can vary between customers. Your age, trip length, trip cost, plan type, number of travelers and destination all impact the overall premium you will pay. According to our research, trip cost, and age impact cost the most, with older travelers typically paying much more than younger travelers for the same trip.

The best way to determine what you will pay for your coverage is to get a quote. According to data from Berkshire Hathaway, you can expect to pay between 5% and 10% of your total cruise vacation price for insurance.

To help you get a better idea of what you might pay for cruise insurance, we requested multiple quotes from the providers in our review using various sample traveler profiles. The table below summarizes our findings:

To calculate costs, we collected quotes for each of the following trips and traveler profiles:

• 70-year-old couple taking a $3,000, seven-day cruise in Mexico
• 65-year-old taking a $1,200, five-day cruise in the Bahamas
• 34-year-old couple taking a $6,000, seven-day cruise in Greece
• 21-year-old taking a $900, five-day cruise in the Caribbean

How To Buy Cruise Insurance

You can purchase cruise insurance online and at your convenience. If you’d like to speak with a customer service representative about any questions or concerns about a policy, most travel insurance companies provide a phone number and contact information at the top of their website.

To start gathering quotes, head online to the quote portal of the company of your choice. For this example, we’ll walk you through getting a quote with Nationwide, our top pick for cruise insurance. We were asked to provide some trip details and personal information right away, such as our cruise line, destination, travel dates, total trip costs and more.

Once you’ve provided the information needed, you’ll be taken to your plan choices and their associated costs. Like many other cruise insurers, Nationwide offers a sample plan contract for you to read through, as well as coverage details to help you fully understand what’s covered or excluded with your policy.

After making your plan choice, you’ll need to provide more information on you and your traveling companions. From there, you’ll be able to finalize your purchase and be ready to cruise with protections in place that can help you navigate unexpected situations. While every cruise insurer’s purchasing process won’t look exactly the same, most follow the same format and will require the same information to purchase a policy.

Can You Buy Cancel For Any Reason Insurance for Cruises?

In short, yes, you can purchase travel insurance with cancel for any reason (CFAR) add-ons for a variety of travel insurance companies and plans. Cancel for any reason, coverage often time won’t cover the full value or price of your trip, but if you need to cancel for whatever reason, it is better to have some degree of coverage and get a partial refund than have to lose out on a trip and the monetary value behind it. Below is a list of CFAR coverage amounts for our recommended cruise travel insurance providers.

Is Cruise Insurance Worth It?

Determining whether cruise insurance is worth it is a personal decision. Cruises can get expensive quickly, so if you’re embarking on a 14-day international cruise that you’ve spent months saving up for, you may prefer to protect your investment. Spending a fraction of your total cruise expenses on insurance can help prevent you from forfeiting the entire cost of a non-refundable trip should the worst happen.

According to our 2024 travel insurance survey, of the 165 respondents who bought a policy for an upcoming cruise, 97% claim that travel insurance is worth it, with the majority citing peace of mind as the reason.

Angela Borden, a product marketing specialist at Seven Corners, noted that “When you’ve made a financial investment in your trip or need to protect your health when you travel, travel insurance is 100% worth it.” She also pointed out that coverage can help you recoup your expenses if the unexpected happens. 

“Travel insurance can also reimburse you if your belongings are lost, stolen, or damaged and you need to replace them during your trip,” she added. “Again, that’s a financial savings you would have missed out on if you didn’t have travel insurance.”

If you are unsure whether cruise insurance is worth it, we recommend getting a quote from our highlighted insurance providers before you set sail.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cruise Insurance

What should cruise insurance cover.

Cruise insurance should provide you with 100% coverage for trip cancellation and at least 100% trip interruption coverage. Your policy should also include baggage loss, trip delay coverage, medical care and emergency evacuations. 

When should I buy trip insurance for a cruise?

While your trip insurance cost might not increase if you buy a policy at the last minute, it’s best to buy coverage as soon as you make your initial trip deposit. Most insurance companies only allow you to add CFAR coverage a few days after you make your first trip payment. If you’re considering this insurance add-on, buy coverage as soon as possible. 

Do I need special insurance for a cruise?

Whether you need travel insurance specifically for cruises depends on the provider. While some travel insurance companies specify that policies provide coverage even if you’re on a cruise, others may exclude cruises from standard travel plans. For this reason, it’s best to check the terms of your coverage before purchasing a policy. 

Some companies, like Nationwide and Berkshire Hathaway, offer cruise-specific protection plans in addition to standalone travel insurance policies.  

What are the benefits of cruise insurance?

There are multiple benefits to investing in a cruise insurance policy. Cruise insurance provides you with money back for nonrefundable trip expenses, which can help you recoup a portion of your costs if you need to cancel at the last minute. Cruise insurance also provides protection when you’re on a boat and visiting international ports of call, with medical insurance coverage and compensation for travel expenses if you’re forced to evacuate during your vacation.

Does cruise insurance include COVID-19 coverage?

Travel insurance policy purchases have spiked since the COVID-19 pandemic. Most travel policies consider COVID-19 the same as any other illness, which means you may be entitled to use your insurance benefits if you’re hospitalized or cannot travel due to COVID-19. However, this also means that the fear of catching a new COVID strain will not entitle you to use your cruise insurance. 

If you’re concerned about the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on your vacation plan, consider upgrading to CFAR coverage.

More Travel Insurance Guides

• Best COVID-19 travel insurance companies
• Best travel insurance companies
• Cheapest travel insurance
• Best group travel insurance companies
• Health insurance for visitors to USA
• Best senior travel insurance
• Best travel insurance for families
• Best student travel insurance plans
• Travel insurance for parents visiting the USA
• Best travel medical insurance plans
• How much does travel insurance cost?

If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides. com .

More Resources:

8 travel insurance mistakes to avoid before your next cruise

The potential for unexpected and disruptive mishaps during your cruise is not something to ignore. Flight delays can lead to missed embarkations . A sudden medical emergency can result in passengers getting abandoned during port stops. Cruise lines can go bankrupt and strand travelers abroad.

As a consumer advocate, I receive hundreds of help requests each year from distraught cruisers whose trips didn't go as planned. Each time, I'm struck by how different their situation might have been if they'd only purchased an insurance policy. Cruise travel insurance can often save the day if you get hit by a surprise calamity before or during your cruise.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Of course, though, that's only true if you have a policy with the correct type of insurance coverage. Travel insurance mistakes and misunderstandings are common among cruise ship passengers and can lead to travelers finding themselves uninsured or under-insured when they encounter a problem on their trip.

That's something TPG wants to help you avoid. Here are the most common cruise travel insurance mistakes I've encountered so you will know how to make better choices for your next vacation at sea.

Not buying travel insurance because you expect to take the cruise

Not even considering travel insurance is by far the top mistake I see made by cruise ship passengers. I'm always surprised when a cruiser tells me they didn't buy travel insurance because they didn't expect to cancel their trip.

This is a common defense offered by travelers caught in expensive situations that travel insurance would have easily covered.

The idea that you don't need travel insurance because you don't expect to cancel your cruise is flawed at its most basic level. The fact is, travel insurance is meant to protect you from unexpected events that cause you to cancel or interrupt your cruise.

Before you reject the idea of travel insurance to protect your next cruise, consider what will happen if:

• You get sick or injured before or during the trip.
• You lose your job and can't afford to go.
• You or a family member is hospitalized or dies.
• Your flight is canceled or delayed and you miss embarkation.
• The airline loses your bags on the way to the cruise ship.

That's just a sampling of surprise events that comprehensive travel insurance could cover (depending on the policy). However, if you don't have a policy protecting you and you're in your cruise contract's penalty zone, you will miss your vacation and won't get your money back.

Related: Is travel insurance worth it?

Not budgeting for travel insurance

Another frequent excuse I hear from cruise ship passengers about why they didn't purchase travel insurance is the cost. That can be a short-sighted decision, though; if something goes wrong, an uninsured traveler can end up owing far more than the price of a comprehensive travel insurance policy.

Consider what would happen if you had an accident during a shore excursion and needed to be medically evacuated. Those emergency services can easily cost $50,000 or more, depending on your location. During a recent cruise to Antarctica, I was required by Aurora Expeditions to have $250,000 of medical evacuation insurance. Traveling to remote locations — or even not-so-remote locations — without medical evacuation coverage could be life-altering if you end up in a catastrophic emergency.

If you intend to spend thousands of dollars to take a cruise, it's always a good idea to budget some of your vacation funds for a travel insurance policy that minimally covers medical care and evacuation home. If you don't, you leave yourself wide open to medical bills, cancellation penalties and more.

Related: Should you get travel insurance if you have credit card protection?

Buying travel 'protection' from your tour operator

A handful of tour operators and cruise lines sell something called "Travel Protection" or "Travel Waiver," which a sales rep will offer to you when you purchase your cruise. If you're booking online, a pop-up will appear before you complete your reservation. It will say something like "Warning! Protect your investment with our Travel Protection Plan" or "Get peace of mind with Travel Protection."

This product isn't called travel insurance because it isn't travel insurance — it's a hybrid product.

The travel insurance industry is highly regulated. If you buy a policy through an actual travel insurance company, you will be protected by specific laws and regulations. If you have a complaint about your travel insurance policy or claim, you can escalate your problem to your state's insurance board .

Most importantly, travel insurance companies have underwriters, so consumers have a safety net if something goes catastrophically wrong with the travel insurance company.

If you purchase travel protection instead, many safety protocols meant to protect consumers who buy travel insurance will not apply to you.

Before buying one of these policies, it's critical to understand what you're purchasing. Travel Protection has two parts:

Part A: This is predeparture cancellation protection (the passenger's cancellation) and is a self-insured product provided entirely by the cruise line or tour operator. There is no underwriter. This is often advertised as a "cancel for any reason" policy, but that moniker is often misunderstood by the travelers who buy this product. I'll explain further below.

Part B: This is post-departure protection and will be an actual travel insurance policy provided by a third-party insurance company. That part of the plan will provide medical coverage, emergency evacuation protection, trip interruption and more.

Because Part A is not a travel insurance product, passengers are putting their "investment" in a precarious situation should the cruise line or tour operator go out of business or become insolvent. If the operator has no money to pay the claims, there is no safety net without an underwriter. Thus, the customers will be left empty-handed.

That's the unfortunate situation that many Vantage Deluxe World Travel customers found themselves in last June. When the tour operator canceled all future tours and filed for bankruptcy , it owed $108 million to roughly 10,000 customers. Many of those would-be travelers had approved Part A (predeparture) Vantage Travel Protection claims and were waiting for payment when the company went belly-up.

Other Vantage customers erroneously believed that Part B of the pricey travel protection plan would protect them under all circumstances — including bankruptcy.

Far too late, these stunned travelers read through their policies and discovered the truth about that expensive protection: It was worthless if the company had no money to pay its bills, and neither part of the plan had an insolvency or bankruptcy clause.

Of course, that is an extreme case. A typical cruise ship passenger is much more likely to encounter a less dramatic issue with this type of travel protection, usually regarding "cancel for any reason" coverage .

Travel protection policies are often advertised as having "cancel for any reason" coverage, but the fine print reveals that only a few specific circumstances allow a traveler to cancel and receive a cash refund. For anything not listed as a legitimate reason to cancel for a monetary payment, the cruiser will receive a future travel voucher.

If you choose to buy a travel protection product instead of a travel insurance policy, make absolutely certain you read through the entire document and understand what you're buying.

Related: The 5 best cruise travel insurance plans

Assuming your health insurance will cover you on the ship

Hopefully, you'll never discover through experience that shipboard medical care can come at an astronomical cost. Many cruise passengers have learned this lesson only after falling ill during their trip. But the worst news comes after the bill arrives: Most domestic health insurance plans — including basic Medicare — do not provide international coverage.

That means as soon as your cruise ship sails into international waters, you're medically uninsured. Any healthcare bills you accrue during your trip will be your responsibility.

It's not hard to imagine just how expensive and devastating it could be for an uninsured cruiser who becomes sick or injured on vacation. To make matters worse, cruise lines and foreign hospitals expect payment at the time services are rendered. No matter the circumstances, you'll be expected to pay immediately.

And I do mean no matter what the circumstances. A widow once contacted me soon after her husband had suddenly died aboard Holland America 's Eurodam.

The shock of losing her spouse was made even worse by what she viewed as the callous attitude of the crew member who handed her a bill for her husband's failed treatment — and expected her to pay before she was disembarked at the next port of call.

Unfortunately, that couple had assumed their Medicare plan was protecting them during their Caribbean cruise. It wasn't. (Note: There are supplementary Medigap plans that can provide international health care benefits for Medicare beneficiaries. These policies come at an additional cost and have coverage limitations and caps. Before using one, travelers should review all the details of the plan.)

While this woman's situation was extreme, accidents and illnesses happen all the time on fun-filled cruises. You don't want a lack of insurance to make those events more catastrophic than they are.

A comprehensive travel insurance policy can provide not only healthcare coverage abroad but also medical evacuation and repatriation — services that can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Related: What happens if you get sick on a cruise?

Not reading and understanding the travel insurance policy

Travel insurance policies are many pages long and often contain confusing terms. Many travelers buy policies that seem acceptable, and they gloss over the details. However, if you don't review and understand the travel insurance policy you've purchased, that mistake can have giant repercussions.

A one-size-fits-all travel insurance policy does not exist. The choices of travel insurance products available for cruise ship passengers are extensive, with options from basic to full coverage.

To know exactly which protections you've purchased, you must thoroughly read all the details of your plan. Each policy will have a list of named perils. If something on that list causes the cancellation or interruption of your trip, you can claim coverage. If the circumstances you're facing are not on that list, you're out of luck.

Not only should you pay attention to the named covered events, but equally important are the exclusions — conditions that can invalidate your policy. For instance, if you're planning on zip lining, bungee jumping, rock climbing or participating in any other extreme adventure, you'll want to make sure your policy doesn't exclude risky activities.

The travel insurance industry provides a generous lookover period, usually 10 to 15 days after purchase. Always use that two-week window to carefully review your policy. Do not skim over details you don't understand and hope for the best. If you need help understanding the fine print, contact the travel insurance company for clarification.

If you determine during that time that the policy doesn't provide the coverage you want and need, you can request a refund and continue your search. After that lookover period, your travel insurance policy is neither refundable nor changeable.

Related: The best travel insurance policies and providers

Waiting too long to purchase travel insurance for the cruise

A common mistake some cruise ship passengers make is waiting too long to buy travel insurance.

The general rule of thumb is that if you intend to insure your trip, you should purchase that protection at the same time you start to make prepaid, nonrefundable reservations. That includes airfare, excursions, pre- or post-cruise hotels and anything else for which you will not receive a refund if you need to cancel the trip.

Travel insurance coverage typically begins to protect you the day after you purchase the policy. So, at any time after that, if a covered event happens to you and causes you to cancel your trip, you'll be protected from financial penalties. Of course, if you wait too long to purchase your travel insurance for your cruise and an unexpected event occurs, you won't be able to buy a retroactive policy.

If you enter the cancellation penalty phase of your cruise contract, you've waited too long to buy travel insurance. In fact, some companies won't allow you to purchase travel insurance after that date.

Not disclosing a preexisting condition

Not disclosing a preexisting condition is a travel insurance mistake that can have devastating consequences. Although buying a policy that covers a preexisting condition is possible, it's a bit more complicated.

Cruise ship passengers with preexisting conditions should be aware that their window to purchase travel insurance is abbreviated. Most travel insurance companies require travelers with preexisting conditions to purchase travel insurance within 14 to 21 days after making their initial trip deposit.

If you've been diagnosed with any medical problems in the 12 months preceding your trip or have a persistent condition, you must be certain to:

• Buy a policy that specifically names coverage for preexisting conditions.
• Make your travel insurance purchase within the first 14 to 21 days after putting a deposit down on your trip.

Cruisers who file a travel insurance claim for a medical problem related to a preexisting condition will be at great risk of having that claim rejected.

Underinsuring the cost of the entire cruise package

Travel insurance can significantly increase the cost of your cruise vacation. Prices vary based on the level of protection you choose, the age of all travelers on the policy, the length of the trip and the state where you live. If you wish to be fully protected, it's critical not to undervalue your trip.

If you lowball the cost of your cruise and something goes wrong, your claim will only be paid based on the value of what you insured. Passengers who have purchased an annual insurance plan should pay careful attention to the limits on their policy. It can be easy to accidentally underinsure your cruise if you're relying on an annual travel insurance policy with a per-trip or per-year cap.

Cruise ship passengers should always insure every nonrefundable, prepaid part of their itinerary. That includes the cruise, airfare, hotels and third-party excursions.

Bottom line

Cruise travel insurance can provide peace of mind and protection from the repercussions of unexpected events that could ruin your vacation and wreck your wallet.

Purchasing travel insurance does not have to be a chore. Follow these easy steps for success:

• Use a website like InsureMyTrip or Squaremouth to compare various policies and cruise travel insurance providers.
• Read your policy and ensure you understand what's covered and how to file a claim if needed.
• Carry a copy of your travel insurance card during your cruise, which will have a toll-free number if you need help.
• Enjoy your cruise.

If you have a problem with a travel insurance company, cruise line, airline, car rental agency or hotel, send your request for help to [email protected] , and I'll be happy to investigate.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

U.S. News takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

The Best Travel Medical Insurance of 2024

Allianz Travel Insurance »

Seven Corners »

GeoBlue »

WorldTrips »

Why Trust Us

U.S. News evaluates ratings, data and scores of more than 50 travel insurance companies from comparison websites like TravelInsurance.com, Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip, plus renowned credit rating agency AM Best, in addition to reviews and recommendations from top travel industry sources and consumers to determine the Best Travel Medical Insurance Plans.

Table of Contents

• Allianz Travel Insurance
• Seven Corners

Buying travel insurance is a smart move for any type of trip, but you may not need a policy that covers everything under the sun. If you don't need coverage for trip cancellations or delays because you're relying on your travel credit card to offer these protections, for example, you may find you only need emergency medical coverage that works away from home.

Still, travel medical coverage varies widely based on included benefits, policy limits and more. If you're comparing travel insurance plans and hoping to find the best option for unexpected medical expenses, read on to learn which policies we recommend.

Frequently Asked Questions

The term travel insurance usually describes a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes coverage for medical expenses as well as trip cancellations and interruptions, trip delays, lost baggage, and more. Meanwhile, travel medical insurance is coverage that focuses on paying for emergency medical expenses and other related care.

Travelers need international health insurance if they're visiting a place where their own health coverage will not apply. This typically includes all international trips away from home since U.S. health plans limit coverage to care required in the United States.

Note that if you don't have travel health insurance and you become sick or injured abroad, you'll be responsible for paying back any health care costs you incur.

Many travel insurance policies cover emergency medical expenses you incur during a covered trip. However, the included benefits of each policy can vary widely, and so can the policy limits that apply.

If you're looking for a travel insurance policy that offers sufficient protection for unexpected medical expenses, you'll typically want to choose a plan with at least $100,000 in coverage for emergency medical care and at least that much in protection for emergency medical evacuation and transportation.

However, higher limits can provide even more protection from overseas medical bills, which can become pricey depending on the type of care you need. As just one example, Allianz says the average cost of emergency medical evacuation can easily reach up to $200,000 or more depending on where you’re traveling.

Your U.S. health insurance policy almost never covers medical expenses incurred abroad. The same is true for most people on Medicare and especially Medicaid. If you want to ensure you have travel medical coverage that applies overseas, you should purchase a travel insurance plan with adequate limits for every trip. Read the U.S. News article on this topic for more information.

The cost of travel medical insurance can vary depending on the age of the travelers, the type of coverage purchased, the length of the trip and other factors. You can use a comparison site like TravelInsurance.com to explore different travel medical insurance plans and their cost.

• Allianz Travel Insurance: Best Overall
• Seven Corners: Best for Families
• GeoBlue: Best for Expats
• WorldTrips: Best Cost

Coverage for preexisting conditions is available as an add-on

Easy to purchase as needed for individual trips

Relatively low limits for medical expenses

No coverage for trip cancellations or trip interruption

• Up to $50,000 in emergency medical coverage
• Up to $250,000 in emergency medical evacuation coverage
• Up to $2,000 in coverage for baggage loss and damage
• Up to $600 in baggage delay insurance
• Up to $1,000 for travel delays
• Up to $10,000 in travel accident insurance
• 24-hour hotline assistance
• Concierge services

SEE FULL REVIEW »

Purchase comprehensive medical coverage worth up to $5 million

Coverage for families with up to 10 people

Low coverage amounts for trip interruption

Medical coverage options vary by age

• Up to $5 million in comprehensive medical coverage
• Up to $500,000 in emergency evacuation coverage
• Up to $10,000 in coverage for incidental trips to home country
• Up to $25,000 in coverage for terrorist activity
• Up to $500 in accidental dental emergency coverage
• Up to $100 per occurrence in coverage for emergency eye exams
• $50,000 in coverage for local burial or cremation
• 24/7 travel assistance
• Up to $25,000 in coverage for accidental death and dismemberment per traveler
• Up to $500 for loss of checked baggage
• Up to $5,000 for trip interruptions
• Up to $100 per day for trip delays
• Up to $50,000 for personal liability

Qualify for international health insurance with no annual or lifetime caps

Use coverage within the U.S. with select providers

Deductible from $500 to $10,000 can apply

Doesn't come with any nonmedical travel insurance benefits

• Up to $250,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation
• Up to $25,000 for repatriation of mortal remains
• $50,000 in coverage for accidental death and dismemberment

High limits for medical insurance and emergency medical evacuation

Covers multiple trips over a period of up to 364 days

Deductible of $250 required for each covered trip

Copays required for medical care received in the U.S.

• Up to $1,000,000 of maximum coverage
• Up to $1,000,000 for emergency medical evacuation
• Up to $10,000 for trip interruptions
• Up to $1,000 for lost checked luggage
• Up to $100 per day for travel delays
• Up to $25,000 in personal liability coverage
• Medical coverage for eligible expenses related to COVID-19
• Ability to add coverage for your spouse and/or child(ren)
• Repatriation of remains coverage up to overall limit
• Up to $5,000 for local burial or cremation 
• $10,000 to $50,000 for common carrier accidental death

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is an award-winning content creator who has been writing about travel insurance and travel for more than a decade. She has researched travel insurance options for her own vacations and family trips to more than 50 countries around the world and has experience navigating the claims and reimbursement process. In fact, she has successfully filed several travel insurance claims for trip delays and trip cancellations over the years. Johnson also works alongside her husband, Greg, who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states, in their family media business.

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Should You Buy Cruise Insurance for Your Next Trip? What to Consider

Here’s what you need to know about cruise insurance before you take your next vacation.

Cruises, like any other type of vacation, are a worthwhile investment — and many folks purchase cruise insurance as an extra form of protection in case things go wrong. This specific type of insurance helps mitigate the costs of covered expenses — keyword: covered! — which often include cancellations, delays, and even medical emergencies. 

Fortunately, when it comes to cruise insurance, options abound to suit each traveler’s specific needs. Below, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about cruise insurance — including pros and cons, the different types of insurance options, tips on choosing the best policy, and how to use the insurance if necessary — with expert insight. 

Pros and Cons of Cruise Insurance

Purchasing cruise insurance means you’ll have financial protection in the event of an emergency, mishap, or unexpected incident, injury, or illness. For example, explains Jen Travis , a travel advisor specializing in cruises at Marvelous Mouse Travels , “Most of my cruisers are not aware that once they leave the U.S., their medical insurance typically does not provide coverage should they become sick or injured while traveling outside the U.S.” So, she says, “If you were to break an ankle and need surgery, that is potentially thousands of dollars out of your own pocket.” Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA , shares similar sentiments, telling Travel + Leisure , “Whatever can happen at home can happen at sea, so if you become ill or injured while cruising, you may face a large bill from the infirmary or have to be moved to a hospital where you may be asked to pay in advance of treatment.” Ultimately, though, “ Travel insurance can help pay for the cost of these scenarios, up to the limit of your policy,” Durazo says. 

Cruise insurance is an added cost, which is important for budget-conscious travelers to keep in mind. But beyond that, ironically, the biggest “con” of purchasing cruise insurance happens when your sailing runs smoothly, and there’s no need to use it. Even still, Travis still suggests it to her customers, saying, “Vacations are truly an investment, so why wouldn’t you protect it?”

Types of Cruise Insurance

Both Travis and Durazo tell T+L that there are several types of cruise insurance policies to choose from. Below, we’re breaking down some of the most common types, as well as the differences in coverage offered. 

Cruise Line-issued Policies

Many cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, and Holland America Line, offer passengers the opportunity to book insurance directly with them. However, it’s a good idea to do some digging — and perhaps even contact the line directly — to gain a better understanding of the policy, which may have some limitations and stipulations. While this varies depending on the cruise line, it’s worth noting that some only offer partial refunds or limits on trip delays. Several cruise lines also offer different tiers of coverage that include extras like emergency evacuations — either up to a certain amount or full coverage — and/or additional medical expenses. 

Third-party Policies

Third-party policies are available through carriers like Allianz , Travel Insured , and AIG Travel , to name a few. These companies often offer more robust policies and extensive coverage options than cruise lines. That said, it’s worth noting that policies and coverage can vary depending on the company, so it’s a good idea to do some research to compare the benefits and costs. 

Pro tip: Cruisers looking for the most flexibility should look for a policy that offers Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) insurance, which — you guessed it — allows you to cancel your trip for any reason. Keep in mind that CFAR insurance is often offered as an optional add-on, which means it will most likely cost you extra. 

Credit Card Insurance

Several types of credit cards, especially premium ones, offer varying levels of travel insurance, which means you may not even need to go out and purchase a separate policy — as long as you use said credit card to pay for your cruise. (We recommend contacting your credit card company directly to get the full breakdown of coverage options and limitations.) For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card provides a slew of benefits and protections, including but not limited to trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and travel emergency assistance services.

Travel Medical Insurance

Travel medical insurance can be purchased separately as a stand-alone policy or as part of a more comprehensive insurance plan, including some of the ones listed above. As you can guess by its name, this specific type of insurance provides protection against emergency medical expenses, including illnesses and injuries. As such, these can include things like X-rays, drugs, dental care, and ambulance services, among others. 

Related: How to Pick the Best Flight Insurance Policy for Your Next Trip

How to Choose the Best Policy 

When it comes to choosing the best cruise insurance policy, you’ll need to consider what’s most important to you. Below, Durazo breaks down a few factors to keep in mind when selecting a policy: 

Emergency Medical Transportation Benefits

According to Durazo, “The cost of a medical evacuation by air ambulance can exceed $100,000 in some parts of the world.” With that in mind, he recommends looking “for a policy with sufficient emergency medical transportation benefits for your specific trip and destination.” 

Covered Reasons for Trip Cancellation or Interruption 

Durazo encourages travelers to thoroughly read through the policy to understand the coverage terms. For example, “Some cruise lines may offer you a credit for your canceled trip while a travel insurance policy can reimburse you in cash for a covered cancellation.” 

Trip Delay Coverage 

“ If your flight is delayed and you miss your cruise ship's sailing, it may cost you quite a lot to catch up with the ship at its next port of call,” says Durazo. Fortunately, “Trip delay benefits can reimburse you for those covered unexpected costs, up to the limit of your policy.”

Related: 5 Affordable Cruise Vacations to Book — Plus How to Find the Best Deals

How to Use Cruise Insurance 

According to Travis, “Once you purchase the policy, it kicks in the date you leave your house/start date of the vacation.” That said, “More than likely, you will have to pay out of pocket for the doctor's visit, flight change fees, etc.” However, you can then file a claim and provide all the necessary documentation to start the reimbursement process. Once your claim is approved, Travis says it can take anywhere from three to six weeks. Some carriers, such as Allianz, offer 24/7 customer assistance, who, per Durazo, can “walk you through your plan’s benefits and medical costs, coordinate your care with doctors treating you on the cruise or at your port of call, or ensure you’re at an appropriate medical facility.”

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure .

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Enjoy Even More Peace of Mind with Our New & Improved Princess Vacation Protection

Life can be unpredictable but you can rely on princess vacation protection.

One of the most common questions we hear from our guests is, ‘Should I buy travel protection?’ If you want to spend more time relaxing and less time worrying about the unexpected, the answer is ‘yes’. That’s why we offer Princess Vacation Protection (PVP), which provides a cancellation fee waiver1 plus travel insurance benefits2 and 24-hour worldwide CareFree™ Travel Assistance 3 . Help protect in the event of unforeseen illness, including COVID-19, trip delays, baggage issues and more. It’s a convenient way to help ease your worries before setting sail.

Your benefits just got better – and you can still enjoy low prices!

New improvements:.

• Increased benefits up to 150% of vacation cost for Trip Interruptions.
• Increased Emergency Evacuation benefits up to $50,000 for the standard plan and $75,000 for the platinum plan.*

Benefits at a Glance

Cancel for any reason 1.

Cancellation Fee Waiver 1  (Non-insurance features provided by Princess Cruises) Life is unpredictable… but you can rely on Princess Vacation Protection. If you need to cancel for specified reasons outlined in the Cancellation Fee Waiver section of the plan, you’ll receive a refund of your cancellation fees. If you need to cancel for any reason not listed in the plan, under the “Any Reason” Cancellation Enhancement feature, you’ll receive 75% of the cancellation fee amount in the form of future cruise credits under our Standard plan and 100% under the Platinum plan.

Trip Interruptions

If you need to interrupt your trip due to a covered reason such as an illness or injury, you are eligible for reimbursement of prepaid cruise/land arrangements made through Princess and/or the cost of one-way airfare to get you home.

Medical Evacuation

Princess Vacation Protection also provides coverage in case your medical condition requires emergency evacuation to an appropriate medical facility.

Medical Expenses

Most medical expenses are covered in case you become sick or injured during your trip.

Trip Delays

If you are delayed starting your trip or returning home, you may be reimbursed for expenses that were not arranged through Princess – including meals, hotel, and transportation.

Personal Belongings

Your baggage is also covered in the event it is damaged, lost, stolen, or delayed to your destination.

24/7 Support

Need help? You will have access to 24/7 worldwide assistance for travel, medical, and emergency services.

The plan terms, conditions and exclusions are available online:

Captain’s Circle Loyalty Benefit

Available in both a Standard and Platinum plan, choose the plan you want based on the coverage and plan price that works best for you. Captain’s Circle members who have achieved Ruby, Platinum or Elite status who elect to purchase Standard PVP automatically receive a complimentary upgrade to PVP Platinum; we’ll pay the difference in plan cost on your behalf.

3 Ways to Purchase Princess Vacation Protection

Princess Vacation Protection can be purchased at the time of booking or up until final payment. You are considered enrolled as soon as the plan cost has been paid.

• When you  Book your Cruise  on Princess.com
• Call 1-800-Princess or contact your Travel Advisor
• Already Booked Guests can purchase in  Manage Booking

Product Details

Cancellation Fee Waiver 1 (Non-insurance features provided by Princess Cruises)

Life is unpredictable… but you can rely on Princess Vacation Protection. If you need to cancel for specified reasons outlined in the Cancellation Fee Waiver section of the plan you’ll receive a refund of your cancellation fees. If you need to cancel for any reason not listed in the plan, under the “Any Reason” Cancellation Enhancement feature, you’ll receive 75% of the cancellation fee amount in the form of future cruise credits under our Standard plan and 100% under the Platinum plan.

Travel Insurance Benefits 2 (Underwritten by Nationwide®)

Sail through your vacation with less to worry about.

Trip Interruption:  Up to 150% total trip cost reimbursement for missed, prepaid cruise arrangements and/or the cost of one-way airfare if you must start your vacation late or need to come home early due to illness, injury and more.

Trip Delay:  Up to $500 for any pre-cruise trip delay expenses and/or post-cruise trip delay expenses up to $1,500 (not to exceed $1,500 for both pre- and post-cruise delays) for meals, hotel and transportation.

Baggage Delay:  Up to $500 if your luggage is delayed during travel.

Baggage/Personal Effects:  Up to $1,500 ($3,000 with the Platinum plan) if your stuff is lost, stolen or damaged.

Accidental Medical Expense:  Up to $10,000 ($20,000 with the Platinum plan) if you become injured while traveling.

Sickness Medical Expense:  Up to $10,000 ($20,000 with the Platinum plan) if you become sick while traveling.

Emergency Medical Evacuation/Repatriation: Up to $50,000 ($75,000 with the Platinum Plan) in the event your medical condition requires emergency medical transportation to an appropriate medical facility or in the event of your death, provides coverage to transport your mortal remains.

24/7 Worldwide Travel Assistance Services 3 (Non-insurance services provided by LiveTravel)

Need help while you travel?  Assistance is there for you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, anywhere in the world.

Princess Vacation Protection can be purchased while booking your next cruise vacation on princess.com, by contacting your travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or on Manage Booking. It is available for purchase up until final payment for your trip on all Princess Cruises, Princess Cruisetours, Princess Alaska Land Tours and Princess Canadian Rockies Land Tours, and is available at two levels: Standard or Platinum. Princess Vacation Protection is not in effect until the plan cost has been paid to Princess in addition to any required cruise deposits or payments.

1  Non-insurance feature provided by Princess. WA residents only, Trip Cancellation benefits are underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies, Columbus, Ohio (NAIC #23787).

2  Travel Insurance Benefits are underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies, Columbus, Ohio (NAIC #23787).

3  Travel Assistance services are non-insurance services provided by LiveTravel International.

This plan provides insurance coverage that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker.

Princess Vacation Protection – Standard  To obtain your state-specific Certificate of Insurance providing the terms, conditions and exclusions of the certificate, visit  PVP Standard .

Princess Vacation Protection – Platinum  To obtain your state-specific Certificate of Insurance providing the terms, conditions and exclusions of the certificate, visit  PVP Platinum .

Note that Princess Vacation Protection is not available to residents of the state of New York, British Columbia, Quebec, Puerto Rico, or Mexico.

Need to file a claim?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  What happens if I test positive for COVID-19 and need to cancel the day before my cruise? A:  Like with any illness diagnosed and treated by a medical professional, if you test positive for COVID-19 after purchasing the plan, you will be eligible to receive a refund to your original form of payment. If you do not have an official medical diagnosis, but feel unwell, you will receive a Future Cruise Credit.

Q:  What if my spouse gets COVID-19 right before the cruise and we can no longer sail? A:  You will be eligible to file a claim for a cash refund if you, your traveling companion or a member of your immediate family is diagnosed and treated for COVID-19, which causes you to cancel your cruise.

Q:  What if my mother, who isn’t sailing with us, gets COVID-19, and we may have been exposed? A:  Princess Vacation Protection has you covered! Even if they are not traveling with you, if someone in your immediate family is diagnosed and treated for an illness, you may request a refund to the original form of payment. If they are ill but are not diagnosed or treated, you may call us and receive a Future Cruise Credit for the cruise fare.

Q:  What if I find out I was exposed to someone either on my way to my cruise or during the cruise, and I end up being isolated in my cabin for part or all of the voyage? A:  PVP provides reimbursement for the days you are confined to your cabin if the confinement is ordered by a medical professional.

Q:  Does PVP cover my medical expenses if I get COVID-19 during my cruise? A:  Yes, PVP provides reimbursement for eligible medical expenses for any illness, including COVID-19.

Q:  What if I want to cancel my PVP coverage? How does that work? A:  PVP is refundable until final payment is due. For new bookings made within final payment, the PVP plan cost is only refundable within 10 days of purchase provided the person hasn't departed on the trip nor filed a claim.

Q:  Am I protected by my Princess Vacation Protection plan if my mother, who is not traveling with me, develops pneumonia and I have to cancel my trip to care for her? A:  Yes! Princess will refund the cancellation fees (up to the full value of the cruise vacation) if you have to cancel your trip because of a specified reason such as illness, injury or death of yourself, a traveling companion or either of your immediate family members.

Q:  If I have a heart condition and am on continuing medication, am I protected if my heart condition flares up during my vacation? A:  Yes! Princess Vacation Protection provides reimbursement for conditions that are stable during the 60-days prior to purchase, so if you have had no changes in your health (even if you are on continuous unchanged medication), you would be protected.

Q:  What if my condition did change prior to purchasing Princess Vacation Protection? A:  Rest assured, emergency evacuation benefits are still provided in the event of a medical emergency. Also, if you cancel your cruise vacation and do not qualify for cash reimbursement due to an unstable medical condition prior to purchase, you will have the benefit of cancel-for-any-reason protection from Princess.

Q:  If my pet becomes ill and I have to cancel my trip as a result, will Princess Vacation Protection reimburse me? A:  Although you would not qualify for cash reimbursement, as an added feature for purchasing Princess Vacation Protection, Princess will provide a credit toward a future cruise equal to 75% of the cancellation fees imposed (100% if Platinum Vacation Protection is purchased) if you choose to cancel for an ineligible reason. This benefit is provided by Princess Cruises and/or Princess Tours.

• The Inventory

Getting sick on a cruise ship could cost you as much as the vacation

Most cruise ships don't accept health insurance in the event of a medical emergency.

A record 34.7 million people are estimated to go on a cruise trip in 2024, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) . And if they’re not careful, some of them could wind up with a hefty medical bill.

Suggested Reading

It’s vital for anyone going on a cruise to pay close attention to the fine print of their cruise line’s terms, especially when it comes to medical care.

Related Content

In the worst case scenario, you could be forced to pay thousands of dollars before you’re allowed leave the ship, like in the case of Vincent Wasney .

Wasney, who was uninsured at the time, went a cruise with his wife in December of 2022. After suffering a series of seizures, Wasney had to be evacuated off the ship by a rescue boat to seek appropriate medical care on land. However, as he was leaving he was presented with $2,500 bill for the care he had already received on the ship.

Wasney was traveling on a Royal Caribbean cruise, which has a policy in their terms of agreement in which guest must pay all onboard costs before the end of the cruise .

Even for those passengers who are insured, they could still be left with a costly bill due to a medical emergency, considering that most cruise ships don’t accept health insurance.

Here is everything you need to know about how medical care on cruise ships works.

What are common health concerns on a cruise?

Medical staff aboard cruise ships typically handle medical concerns like the ones seen in emergency departments and urgent care centers on land, Joe Scott, the chair of the cruise ship medicine section of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), told Quartz.

“While sea sickness and sunburns may be more frequent and motor vehicle collisions less so, complaints of chest pain, abdominal pain, fever, injuries, and mental health issues are regularly seen and evaluated,” Scott said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that shipboard environments can “facilitate the spread of person-to-person, foodborne, and waterborne diseases .”

According to the CDC, roughly half of all passengers that seek medical care are a cruise ship are older than 65

What are cruise ships equipped to handle?

All oceangoing cruises that are members of CLIA are required to meet medical facility guidelines set by ACEP, CLIA vice president of communications and public affairs Sally Andrews told Quartz.

These guidelines include having “at least one qualified medical professional available 24/7 for medical bay visits or cabin ‘house calls,’” Andrews said.

Cruise ships are also required to have an examination room, an intensive care room, and equipment that can process lab tests, monitor vital signs, and administer medications.

“Larger cruise ships are typically equipped to manage the first few hours of any emergency that may occur, and well prepared to manage many conditions for a few days,” Scott said.

About 95% of conditions reported to ship medical staff is managed onboard, according to the CDC.

Why don’t cruise ships accept health insurance?

Most cruise ships don’t accept health insurance because each trip has guests from all around the world with hundreds of different insurance plans, each with different polices for international coverage.

“Requiring payment of all charges while on board reduces this very large administrative burden,” Scott said.

Cruise lines typically encourage guests to seek reimbursement from their plans when they get home. But coverage could vary depending on the policy.

For example, Medicare does not cover healthcare services obtained more than 6 hours away from a U.S. port .

What should you look for in a travel insurance plan?

The best way to protect yourself is to buy a travel insurance plan that covers medical expenses. Premiums for these plans can cost up to a couple hundred dollars, but in the case of an emergency they can save a traveler thousands.

Scott recommends travelers purchase plans that cover their current medical conditions and the locations they plan to visit on their trip.

He also stresses that a good plan should have sufficient medical evacuation coverage since cruise ships often visit remote locations.

According to Scott, air medical evacuations from the Caribbean to the U.S. mainland could cost around $20,000 and similar evacuations in Alaska, the South Pacific, and Australia could cost over $100,000.

What preventative actions can you take to protect yourself on a cruise?

“Contrary to what some may think, the medical concerns you have onshore will continue when you are on a cruise,” Scott said.

He recommends passengers bring extra quantities of their current medications, along with a list of their prescriptions , medical problems, and contact info for their doctors. This list could come in handy for the ship’s medical staff in the case of an emergency.

Scott also said that people should wash their hand frequently, stay hydrated, and know their limits.

“Climbing the stone steps in Santorini may sound exciting but if you don’t regularly exercise in the heat, you might want to reconsider,” Scott said.

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Introduction to American Express Travel Protection

Types of travel protection offered, american express travel protection: a guide to your benefits.

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews .

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card, American Express® Green Card, The Plum Card® from American Express. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

• Some American Express cards offer trip cancellation and interruption benefits .
• You'll find these perks on cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express.
• If you're eager to sign up for a travel credit card with perks, compare each card's offerings.

Overview of Travel Protection Benefits

While credit card insurance and travel protection coverage are usually considered secondary to rewards programs and other cardholder perks, these benefits can be equally important if you travel.

When you pay for a trip with a credit card that offers trip cancellation and interruption insurance, for example, you can get reimbursed for some of your travel expenses in the event your vacation is halted for reasons beyond your control. Meanwhile, trip delay insurance lets you apply for some reimbursement when a delay of your trip results in surprise expenses, such as an unplanned hotel stay near the airport when your flight is on hold.

Importance of Travel Insurance

Chase credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card have really st o od out for years in terms of the protections they offer, and with some of the highest limits out there. Still, American Express is still coming around — it recently added trip cancellation and interruption insurance, along with trip delay coverage, to many of its top rewards credit cards. 

If you're in the market for an American Express card and you're hoping to take advantage of important travel benefits, consider the cards below and their expanded travel protections.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

New trip cancellation and interruption insurance from American Express credit cards will provide you with up to $10,000 in coverage (and up to $20,000 per account per year) you can use for reimbursement of prepaid travel expenses like airfare and hotels. This coverage can come in handy if your trip is canceled for a covered reason beyond your control, or you're stuck in your destination and require an extended stay and additional costs before you can return home.

Note that this coverage is good for round-trip travel booked with your credit card, meaning you have to pay for travel expenses with a common carrier with your American Express credit card in order to be eligible.

American Express cards that qualify for this coverage include:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

Other versions of the Amex Platinum card — including the Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and corporate flavors —  also offer this coverage, as do all versions of the Amex Centurion (black) card , which is invite-only.

Baggage Insurance Plan

Quite a few American Express credit cards also offer a baggage insurance plan, although this isn't a new or upgraded benefit from the card issuer. This coverage can come in handy if your luggage is lost or stolen during a covered trip. To be eligible for this coverage, you have to pay for travel with a common carrier (airfare, cruise fare, etc.) with your American Express credit card.

The amount of coverage you'll receive depends on the card you have. For example, baggage insurance from the The Platinum Card® from American Express offers up to $3,000 in coverage per person for carry-on luggage and up to $2,000 per person in coverage for some types of checked baggage.

With baggage insurance from the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card , on the other hand, you'll only qualify for up to $1,250 in coverage per person for carry-on luggage and up to $500 for covered checked baggage, although an extra benefit of $250 is offered for qualified "high risk items" like jewelry or sporting equipment. 

American Express cards that come with baggage insurance include:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express (including various versions)
• American Express® Gold Card (including various versions)
• American Express® Green Card (including various versions)
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
• Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
• The Plum Card® from American Express

American Express business cards with baggage insurance include:

• American Express® Business Gold Card
• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
• Lowe's Business Rewards Card from American Express
• Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
• Amazon Business American Express Card

Various versions of the Amex Centurion card and several Amex corporate cards also offer baggage insurance.

Travel Accident Insurance

Some American Express cards also offer secondary auto rental coverage, which means this coverage kicks in after other policies you have are exhausted, as opposed to primary car rental coverage.

While this benefit applies to many Amex cards, note that coverage limits can vary. With the Amex Gold card, for example, coverage is limited to $50,000 per rental agreement for damage or theft, yet the Amex Platinum card offers up to $75,000 in coverage. The insurance doesn't cover personal liability, either.

Also note that this coverage comes with a certain amount of Accidental Death or Dismemberment Coverage that varies by card. With , for example, you'll receive up to $200,000 in coverage per person and up to $300,000 in coverage per car accident for accidental death and dismemberment. Make sure to read your credit card's terms and conditions so you know exactly how much coverage you have. 

American Express cards that come with secondary auto rental coverage include:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express (including various versions)
• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Card
• Marriott Bonvoy American Express® Card (no longer available to new applicants)
• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
• Amex Everyday® Credit Card from American Express

And business cards from Amex that offer secondary car rental insurance include:

While American Express did offer travel accident insurance on some of its cards, this coverage was effectively dropped as of January 1, 2020. The same is true for the American Express Roadside Assistance Hotline, which is no longer available.

Trip Delay Insurance

In January of 2020, American Express also rolled out an upgraded trip delay insurance benefit for many of its top rewards credit cards. While this perk may seem like an unusual one, there are so many scenarios where trip delay coverage could help you save money and avoid surprise expenses when travel is delayed beyond your control. 

With trip delay coverage from Amex, you can be reimbursed for up to $500 per trip for hotel stays, meals, and other miscellaneous required expenses when your flight or other trip plans are delayed by more than six hours. If you're sitting at the airport and your flight is suddenly delayed until the next morning, for example, you could use this coverage to get reimbursed for a nearby airport hotel and your dinner, then for an Uber or Lyft ride back to the airport.

To qualify for American Express trip delay coverage, you need to pay for your round-trip travel expenses with a common carrier with your credit card.

Amex cards that come with trip delay coverage include:

• American Express® Gold Card
• American Express® Green Card

Again, the various versions of the Amex Platinum and Amex Centurion cards also offer trip delay insurance.

Most travel protections are automatically activated when you use your American Express card to book your travel. However, specific activation steps, if any, depend on the benefit.

Covered reasons for trip cancellation or interruption typically include illness, severe weather, and other unforeseen events, reimbursing you for non-refundable travel expenses.

Yes, baggage insurance plans come with coverage limits, which vary depending on the card and the type of loss (e.g., lost, damaged, or stolen baggage).

The Global Assist Hotline offers medical, legal, and other emergency coordination and assistance services, but financial costs for services rendered are typically the cardholder's responsibility.

Eligibility for specific travel protections varies by card. Premium cards often offer more comprehensive protections compared to basic cards.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

Watch: Marketing leaders have to help their companies keep pace with the rapidly changing worlds of their customers, says Elizabeth Rutledge, CMO of American Express

• Main content

A dozen rotten teeth; pain like 'jabbing knives': Stories from America's dental crisis.

Jackie Duda spent nearly a year recovering after a life-threatening case of sepsis. Duda, of New Market, Maryland, was never denied medical care, even when bills from her extended hospital stay and doctors’ visits surpassed $250,000.

But the 61-year-old hasn’t had the same luck with dental bills. As a freelance health journalist, she learned there's no easy solution.

Her Medicaid insurance won't cover dental implants, which she needs to replace three teeth that decayed beyond repair because of sepsis and another chronic illness. Even with a discounted rate offered through the University of Maryland’s dental school, Duda doesn't have $6,000 for the required dental work – charges she hopes to put on a high-interest rate Care Credit account that will only add to her existing credit card debt. Her grown children have offered to help her and her husband, who is on disability and works part-time at Sam's Club, with these dental costs.

“Who has that kind of money just lying around?” said Duda. “At least hospitals will work with you on costs and even waive some of the payments, but all the dental providers I've ever encountered never do.”

There’s a great divide for Americans who need dental care, with some forced to live with pain and shame while others flash five-figure veneers. The government offers no backup plan for the tens of millions without dental insurance, and insured people often struggle to cover out-of-pocket costs if they have extensive dental needs. Since 2014, the Affordable Care Act has provided coverage to millions of Americans through subsidized medical insurance and expanded Medicaid, the federal and state health insurance program for low-income families. The federal law doesn't mandate adult dental insurance, which means millions of people are routinely denied necessary dental care.

But the problem runs deeper. Having dental insurance often does not amount to financial security if you have extensive needs. Many dental plans, including Duda's, require patients to shoulder pricey out-of-pocket care beyond routine cleanings and X-rays.

More: Why Bernie Sanders is targeting oral health: 'Dental care in America is in crisis.'

Duda discovered that with Care Credit, and other medical credit cards, she faces the risk of high interest rates if she can't pay the balance within six months. In a report released July 2 , the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warned that medical credit cards generate a "significant number of consumer complaints regarding how dentists and other healthcare providers promoted, offered, and sold medical credit cards."

Duda will apply for the medical credit card before her scheduled procedure next month since there's no other way to pay for the dental care she needs.

"I'm trying to work and look like a professional," Duda said. "I can't be smiling and have holes in my mouth."

The ethics of serving everyone in need

The problem for patients begins at a philosophical level, namely, the degree to which providers consider patient care their professional duty.

In health care, the bar has always been lower for accessing care if you don't have insurance or funds.

Hospitals are legally required to assess and stabilize patients regardless of whether they can pay, but there are no such mandates for dental practices. Most dental clinics operate as independent businesses and they can – and often do – reject patients who can’t afford care.

Dentists say they need to recover operating costs, including the cost of hygienists, office workers and expensive equipment. Many providers also have hefty debt. Dental school graduates in 2023 owed an average student loan balance of $296,500, surpassing what doctors owed in student loans for medical school.

Dentists do offer discounted or free care to some patients. In 2018, the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute estimated dentists gave $800 million in discounts and $1.6 billion in free care. Another 6.1 million patients in 2022 received dental care from federally funded community health centers, which provide medical and dental care to underserved populations.

But dentists say their charity has limits, given the nation's overwhelming, unmet oral health needs.

"We all went into business to help the communities we're serving, but there's a limit to that," said Brett H. Kessler, president-elect of the American Dental Association. "We can't give away everything for free."

There are routes to improving access, but the legislative proposals face an uphill battle with the election pending. The Biden administration has adopted a rule to let states opt into adult dental insurance coverage as part of their Affordable Care Act plans. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., wants a more comprehensive plan : His bill would expand dental coverage through Medicare, Medicaid and the Veterans Administration and increase the number of dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists nationwide.

Sanders told USA TODAY that U.S. dental care is "in crisis" with far too many Americans shut out of the system. Nearly 69 million U.S. adults did not have dental insurance or access to routine oral health care last year, according to the nonprofit CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.

"Most people know that our health care system is broken. It's outrageously expensive. Millions of people can't afford insurance," Sanders said. "But I think there is not that same consciousness with regard to dental care. The reality is that dental care in America is extremely expensive. Many dentists do not accept Medicaid reimbursement because it is too low or for other reasons."

Another problem in Sanders' view: "We don't have enough dentists in America, and we especially don't have dentists in many underserved areas."

While there is no estimate yet on the cost of Sanders' bill, any plan that significantly expands health and dental benefits would be pricey at a time of ballooning federal budget deficits and will likely face opposition from fiscal conservatives.

Kessler, the incoming leader of the American Dental Association, acknowledges far too many Americans are shut out of dental care, but the reasons people can't access needed dental care are complex.

A major barrier, he said, is that dental insurance tends to limit coverage as costs rise. With medical insurance, once people reach their deductible, all necessary care at hospitals and with in-network doctors is largely covered. With dental insurance, the coverage tends to run out quickly. After a certain range or a few thousand dollars of service, the plans stop covering patients.

"That's the ridiculousness of the dental insurance model," Kessler said. "Why can't dentists offer the finest dentistry has to offer for our patients, yet medicine can? It makes no sense to me."

Carlos S. Smith, a professor and associate dean of inclusive excellence, ethics and community engagement at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, challenged the profession to examine whether independent dentists can do more to improve access to care, in a 2022 column posted by the Academy of General Dentistry. Smith asks in the piece whether organized dentistry should be rooted in an "ethical decision-making model" or a model that supports "office profits?"

Smith recently told USA TODAY this foundational question remains essential. Too many patients are shut out of the system because of a lack of dental insurance. And patients with limited benefits through Medicaid, won't necessarily get the care they need, since many dentists don't accept those plans.

"One of the hallmarks of our profession is autonomy," Smith said. However, he thinks self-evaluation and self-analysis are essential for practitioners: "I believe it is incumbent upon the profession to ask of ourselves, how can we be better?"

'Pray to get something deadly' to get dental care

Harold Krieg is among the millions experiencing the fallout of the country's crisis in dental care. The Las Vegas resident no longer smiles. He can't remember a day when he wasn't in pain.

On good days, the discomfort from his untreated dental disease is tolerable. On bad days, he said, it “feels like somebody jabbing knives into my mouth.”

The 62-year-old former television crew worker feels “shame and ugliness” because years without care have left him with receding gums and a dozen remaining teeth. His dental disease is exacerbated by other medical conditions – esophagitis, severe acid reflux and Type 2 diabetes.

He can visit the doctor because he has Medicare and Medicaid insurance. But he does not have $35,000 to pay for the dental care he needs. That's the total he was quoted for extracting his remaining teeth and installing “All on 4” dental implants that would be screwed into his jaw.

Krieg’s doctor wrote a letter asking insurers to cover his dental care. The doctor explained stomach acid from his medical condition causes him to vomit frequently – and that has eroded his gums.

That effort went nowhere.

He also tried unsuccessfully to get the procedure at dental schools, hospital emergency rooms and through dental lotteries. A former production worker on a New York cable talk show, Krieg volunteered to tell his story on television talk shows, including on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, hoping he'd catch the attention of someone who could help. Those pitches went unanswered.

He reached out to dental companies and volunteered to be filmed for dental implant training videos. That also failed.

When he went to a periodontist in Las Vegas who advertised free consultations, he quickly learned that there was no charity care. Instead, he said, staff at the clinic chastised him “for being poor.” He left with “tears in my eyes and the sense that I don’t matter as a person.”

For more than six years, Krieg has lived with pain and discomfort. He can no longer eat foods he loves such as corn on the cob or crisp apples. Instead, his diet consists of soft foods like mashed potatoes and eggs.

He said he's landed on one final way he could get insurance coverage for necessary dental care. Medicare covers some dental procedures for cancer patients before they start chemotherapy.

He's contemplated that as a way out of the pain in the event he's ever diagnosed with cancer.

“You literally have to pray to get something deadly in order to get your teeth done,” Krieg said. “Unfortunately, I don’t have cancer and I am not on chemotherapy.”

Stuck with half a mouth of broken, infected teeth

Another firsthand witness to the dental crisis is Betty Lowe, of Jellico, Tennessee, who never had consistent access to oral health care. Her husband's employer does not offer dental insurance, and Lowe relies on that since she is raising the couple's children.

She was ecstatic last year when Tennessee expanded dental benefits to adults who qualify for TennCare, the state’s Medicaid program. She could finally address her long-neglected dental needs.

The mother of three waited months to land an appointment with a dentist who would take her new dental coverage. The dentist, Timothy Gansore, works in Jacksboro, about 30 miles south of Jellico, a small town near the Kentucky border. He told USA TODAY he is one of two dentists who accept Medicaid in the region.

During that appointment, Lowe learned the price of years without dental care: All her teeth were infected. Gansore drew up a care plan. The dentist would extract all her teeth and replace them with dentures to “get the beautiful smile I've always longed for,” Lowe recalled.

But after the dentist pulled her molars and other back teeth, she lost her Medicaid coverage when Tennessee resumed Medicaid eligibility checks halted during the COVID-19 emergency. She couldn't afford to pay Gansore to extract her remaining teeth or to finish the dentures. She now has a dozen teeth in the front of her mouth and all of them “are all broken and infected.”

At her dentist's suggestion, she applied for Care Credit but only qualified for $300 of care, far short of the $2,700 she needs to cover the remaining work. Dental office workers told her another option would be to apply for a bank loan, but that was impossible. Her husband earns $10 an hour, so there's no way they can qualify, let alone make loan payments. She can't get a job herself because of a recurring leg ulcer, for which she has unsuccessfully sought Social Security disability status.

"Not only do I feel terrible because I don't have the pretty smile, but I don't have any hopes of getting it either, because I don't have money," Lowe said.

Gansore told USA TODAY he is one of two dentists who accept Medicaid in a 25-mile region north of Knoxville including two rural counties near the Kentucky border.

He said he offers patients a discount of up to 10%, but he can't afford to lop off much more of their costs. He has to pay for staff, equipment, insurance and other expenses. Since Tennessee expanded adult dental benefits last year, his dental practice has been inundated with calls from low-income patients desperate for care. The problem, he said, is Medicaid pays far less than private insurance and customers who pay in cash. To keep his business afloat, he's had to maintain a healthy mix of insurers and payments and has limited the number of bookings for Medicaid patients.

"I cannot see all of them," Gansore said. "I take whatever I can – and the rest of them, I say, 'I cannot take any more new patients.'"

"It's unfortunate because the other providers probably would (accept Medicaid) if the reimbursements were attractive," he said. "It doesn't matter if the government offers programs like that if no doctor wants to take it."

Have you had trouble accessing dental care due to cost or lack of health insurance? Please share your story with consumer health reporter Ken Alltucker, [email protected] .