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Travel insurance for cruises
Travel insurance for cruises
Written by
Rachel Gregg
Edited by
Ellie Garran
Reviewed by
Adrian BennettEasily compare Travel Insurance
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- What is cruise travel insurance?
- Do I need travel insurance for cruises?
- What does travel insurance for cruises cover?
- Why should I consider travel insurance for cruises?
- How much is travel insurance with cruise cover?
- Is travel insurance for cruises worth it?
- Frequently asked questions
- Save yourself from an ‘oh buoy’ moment with travel insurance for cruises
Long story short
Cruises need their own specific cover
Most policies won’t include cruise-specific concerns, so you’ll usually need to add specific extra cover for cruises to your travel insurance.
Without insurance, overseas medical expenses aren’t cheap
Whether your ship is in or leaves Australian waters, Medicare and private health won’t be able to cover you, but cruise travel insurance can.
Cruise insurance is an extra cost, but it could help save your trip
Cruise travel insurance usually requires an additional premium on top of your policy, but if something goes wrong, it could help save you.
What is cruise travel insurance?
Cruise travel insurance is an optional add-on available for most standard travel insurance policies. It’s usually not a standalone travel insurance product, although some providers might include some cruise cover under certain conditions. Compared to standard travel insurance, cruise travel insurance is a more specific coverage option that protects you against issues unique to ocean cruises, such as increased medical costs, weather delays, cabin confinement and missed departures. Some cruise lines won’t let you board without a cruise cover included in your international travel insurance policy, which is why it’s important to check before packing.
You could find that some comprehensive travel policies include cruise coverage, but this is usually only if the cruise meets certain conditions, like only lasting a few nights or being a day river cruise. Once your travel insurance is all done and dusted, you can happily sit by the poolside deck in pure bliss, knowing that insurance has your back if things go wrong in international waters.
Do I need travel insurance for cruises?
Sometimes cruise insurance is mandatory, but even when it’s not, it’s highly recommended. Some cruise providers won’t let you board the ship without cruise-specific cover, but even if this isn’t the case for your cruise, travel insurance is still highly recommended because of the very high cost of medical bills while at sea. Taking out a travel insurance policy with a cruise add-on can help cover you for risks common at sea, like medical emergencies, missed departures and cabin confinement.
What does travel insurance for cruises cover?
Travel insurance for cruises can include missed port cover, weather delays, serious medical emergencies (including emergency assistance) and virus outbreaks while on board. Typically, travel insurance for cruises won’t cover you for pre-existing medical conditions you haven’t declared, reckless behaviour, claims while under the influence or docking in a country listed as ‘Do not travel’. The exact list of inclusions and exclusions will depend on your travel insurance coverage and provider.
Common inclusions of cruise travel insurance
Missed departures or ports: If you miss the boat or can’t dock due to reasons outside of your control, insurance could cover the cost of alternate transport to catch up to your original itinerary.
Itinerary changes due to bad weather: Bad weather can cause travel delays, missed port connections and cancelled shore excursions. Without insurance, lost deposits and cancellation fees add up quickly.
Illness or injury: Seasickness, falls and injuries could all be covered by your insurance, along with medical facility expenses onboard and onshore medical treatment.
Serious medical emergencies: If you need evacuation to the nearest hospital by helicopter, it could easily cost tens of thousands of dollars. But your insurance should be able to help.
Transmissible diseases: Viruses like COVID-19, influenza and noroviruses are always a risk in high-density spaces and could lead to cabin confinement. Your policy may cover reimbursements for parts of your trip you’ve missed.
Theft and loss of belongings: Cruise ships and ports can be hot spots for theft. Insurance may help cover the cost of replacing lost or stolen personal effects.
Common exclusions of cruise travel insurance
Undisclosed pre-existing medical conditions: If you have a pre-existing medical condition and don’t declare it, you won’t be able to make any related claims during your cruise.
High-risk sports and activities: Cruise cover will usually include a few standard activities, but not all. If you take part in a risky activity without specific extra cover, it won’t be covered.
The use of alcohol or drugs: If you have a few too many cocktails or take illegal substances and need to claim, your insurer probably won’t cover it.
Reckless or illegal behaviour: If you do something dangerously risky or break the law and end up needing to claim from a related incident, your insurer probably won’t cover it.
Trip disruptions from war or civil unrest: If your cruise gets derailed by local civil unrest and you need to make a related claim, your insurer won’t cover it.
Cruising to countries with a ‘Do not travel’ status: If you travel somewhere with a Smartraveller advice level of ‘Do not travel’, you likely won’t be covered for any resulting claims.
Why should I consider travel insurance for cruises?
Travel insurance can help cover you for any medical costs you might incur while on your cruise, which is important because once your ship leaves its dock, Medicare and private health insurance won’t cover you. Even if you’re on a domestic cruise within Australian coastal waters, you could find that there aren’t any Medicare-friendly doctors onboard, so your Medicare card won’t be able to help. Cruise insurance is important to have as it can help with medical bills both onshore and offshore, plus emergency transport if you need to be evacuated from the ship.
Beyond medical coverage, cruise insurance could also protect you from missed port departures, lost or delayed luggage, travel cancellations or cancelled pre-paid shore excursions. It’s basically there to make sure your trip sails along as smoothly as your cruise ship.
Helpful tip
Before your cruise holiday sets sail, make sure to check the entry requirements for every port on your itinerary. If you’re docking between countries on an international cruise, the rules can change from one stop to another. For example, travel insurance is required for entry to New Caledonia – a popular port for many South Pacific cruise itineraries. Some destinations might have lax entry rules, while others may require proof of travel insurance or a visa before you can step off the ship and explore.
Adrian Bennett
General Manager for General Insurance
How much is travel insurance with cruise cover?
Travel insurance with cruise cover can cost on average $100 for a week long domestic cruise within Australia and up to $168 for international cruises. This is for a 30-year-old traveller according to iSelect data as of July 2026. How much travel insurance costs for your cruise depends on several factors, such as where you’re cruising to, your age, and what type of base policy you’ve chosen.
| Country | One-week cruise insurance policy cost |
|---|---|
| Australia | $100 |
| Mediterranean | $168 |
| South Pacific | $115 |
| New Zealand | $115 |
| Asia | $151 |
Note: These figures reflect indicative comprehensive cruise insurance costs for cruise destinations for a 30-year-old traveller, based on comparisons conducted via iSelect website and rounded where appropriate. Actual costs may vary depending on trip length, destinations and add-ons. Data retrieved July 2026.
Is travel insurance for cruises worth it?
Yes, travel insurance for cruises can be very worthwhile, especially for any medical costs you might incur. Private health insurance and Medicare won’t cover any medical costs, even while in Australian waters, so having cruise-specific cover could provide ship-to-shore medical cover, hospitalisation you might need, and medical evacuation, which can cost thousands of dollars. If any illnesses do break out onboard they can spread fast on a cruise ship, so having travel insurance to cover cabin confinement or missed shore excursions can also be worth it.
Fictional scenario: Is cruise travel insurance worth it for Scott and Kirsten?
Let’s look at our fictional friends Scott and Kirsten. They’ve decided to take a 2-week-long summer cruise from Australia to New Zealand, picking out an international comprehensive policy that costs them around $297, with an excess of $200. If they had to cancel their trip at the last minute, they could be out of pocket up to $4,000 without insurance. With coverage from their policy, they may be able to make a claim and only have to pay a $200 excess. This excess amount is likely the same for all claim events, but is still subject to their policy terms and conditions.
The same principle applies to medical emergencies. Without cruise-specific cover, Scott and Kirsten could be left to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical or evacuation bills if something unexpected happens at sea. But with insurance cover, they could make a claim, pay their $200 excess and be covered for unlimited medical costs.
These are what some of their potential out-of-pocket costs could look like without travel insurance:
- Lost luggage: $2,000
- Onboard medical treatment: $5,000
- Trip cancellation: $4,000
- Medical evacuation: up to $100,000
Ultimately, whether cruise cover is worth it for you depends on your trip details, length, destinations, limits and your comfort with risk. While insurance will add to the upfront cost of your trip, it can help protect you financially if things don’t go to plan.
Frequently asked questions
When should I purchase travel insurance for a cruise?
You should buy your travel insurance policy for your cruise as soon as you book your trip. Purchasing your cruise policy earlier rather than later means you’ll be covered for pre-trip cancellations and get a refund on some of your prepaid costs if you need to cancel before setting sail.
How can I make sure I’m covered for all my cruise stops?
To make sure you’re covered for all the destinations your cruise ship will dock at, make sure to list all the countries you’ll be sailing across within your policy (or the region you’ll be in if your provider offers that option), not just the country of departure. If your cruise itinerary includes a stopover at another Australian port, make sure to add Australia to the list alongside the other regions you’ll be visiting. Your insurance should also cover any onshore activities you want to participate in at every port, whether it’s domestic or international.
Will Medicare or private health insurance cover me for cruises in Australian waters?
No, Medicare or your private health insurance won’t cover you for any medical costs while on a domestic cruise that doesn’t leave Australian waters. Some domestic cruises could have Medicare-eligible doctors on board, but you’ll have to contact them to find out if any medical bills from these doctors are included within Medicare coverage.
Most cruise lines are owned by international companies that hire private doctors (who may not be licensed to practise in Australia). That means that Medicare or private health insurance is unlikely to lend a helping hand. Any onboard medical costs or treatments will need to be paid before disembarking.
Will Medicare or private health insurance cover me for cruises between an Australian and a foreign port?
No, Medicare or private health insurance won’t cover you. Cruises between Australian and foreign ports, or between 2 international ports, are excluded from Medicare and private health insurance coverage. This is the case even if it’s a registered Australian doctor treating you on board.
Does travel insurance for cruises have any age limits?
Yes, most cruise insurance policies do have age limits. Some policies cap coverage at age 79, but many extend it to 100, while some don’t have any age limits. Just be sure to check the policy so you and your travelling companions are properly covered on your journey.
Save yourself from an ‘oh buoy’ moment with travel insurance for cruises
Cruises are all about sitting atop the poolside deck, cocktail in hand and not a worry in the world (emphasis on that last part). If you want to make sure your cruise is all smooth sailing ahead, start comparing from a range of travel insurance policies and brands. Once your insurance is sorted, it’s full steam ahead on your cruising adventures.
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