Michelle MegnaLead Editor, Insurance
Michelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine editor covering consumer technology, a foreign correspondent for Time and various newswires and local newspaper reporter.
Michelle Megna
Michelle MegnaLead Editor, Insurance
Michelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine editor covering consumer technology, a foreign correspondent for Time and various newswires and local newspaper reporter.
Lead Editor, Insurance
Jason MetzLead Editor, Insurance
As a former claims handler and fraud investigator, Jason Metz has worked on a multitude of complex and multifaceted claims. The insurance industry can be seemingly opaque, and Jason enjoys breaking down confusing terms and products to help others make well-informed decisions.
Fact Checked
Jason Metz
Jason MetzLead Editor, Insurance
As a former claims handler and fraud investigator, Jason Metz has worked on a multitude of complex and multifaceted claims. The insurance industry can be seemingly opaque, and Jason enjoys breaking down confusing terms and products to help others make well-informed decisions.
Lead Editor, Insurance
Fact Checked
Updated: Jun 1, 2024, 11:03am
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Our analysis has found that WorldTrips, Nationwide and TravelSafe Insurance are the best cruise insurance companies.
Not all travel insurance policies provide top-notch coverage for cruises, so we scored policies based on cost, medical expense, trip interruption and trip cancellation benefits. We evaluated 37 travel insurance policies with missed connection coverage to identify the best cruise insurance.
Why you can trust Forbes Advisor
Read more
Best Cruise Insurance Plans
- WorldTrips – Atlas Journey Premier
- Nationwide – Cruise Luxury
- TravelSafe Insurance – Classic
- AIG – Travel Guard Preferred
- AXA Assistance USA – Platinum
- Generali Global Assistance – Premium
- HTH Worldwide – TripProtector Preferred Plan
- John Hanco*ck Insurance Agency – Gold
- Nationwide – Cruise Choice
- Seven Corners – Trip Protection Choice
- Trawick International – Safe Travels First Class
- USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services – Diamond
WorldTrips
5.0
Our ratings take into account a product's benefits and coverage levels. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Top-scoring plan
Atlas Journey Premier
Missed connection coverage per person
$2,000
Medical & evacuation limits per person
$150,000/$1 million
Via Forbes Advisor's Website
Atlas Journey Premier
$2,000
$150,000/$1 million
Editor's Take
The Atlas Journey Premier policy provides excellent missed connection coverage and medical evacuation benefits. Available upgrades include “cancel for any reason,” “interruption for any reason” and extra coverage for pets traveling with you, adventure sports, destination weddings, hunting and fishing equipment, and more.
More: WorldTrips Travel Insurance Review
Pros & Cons
- Lowest average cost among top-rated policies evaluated.
- Very good travel delay benefits of $2,000 per person after only 5 hours.
- Excellent missed connection coverage of $2,000 per person after 3 hours.
- Medical coverage level is low compared to some competitors evaluated.
- Baggage delay benefits have a 12-hour waiting period.
Nationwide
4.5
Our ratings take into account a product's benefits and coverage levels. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Top-scoring plan
Cruise Luxury
Missed connection coverage per person
$2,500
Medical & evacuation limits per person
$150,000/$1 million
Via Forbes Advisor's Website
Cruise Luxury
$2,500
$150,000/$1 million
Editor's Take
Nationwide’s Cruise Luxury plan provides an array of extensive benefits at a decent price, including superior missed connection coverage and emergency and non-medical evacuation benefits.
More: Nationwide Travel Insurance Review
Pros & Cons
- “Cancel for any reason” upgrade available and “interruption for any reason” upgrade available.
- Includes $25,000 in non-medical evacuation benefits.
- Pretty good baggage delay benefits of $1,000 per person.
- Good travel delay benefits of $1,000 per person covered after only a 6-hour delay.
- Medical coverage is lower than some other top-rated plans but might be sufficient for your needs.
- 24-hour delay required for hurricane and weather coverage, compared to some competitor policies with only a 6- or 12-hour delay requirement.
TravelSafe Insurance
4.5
Our ratings take into account a product's benefits and coverage levels. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Top-scoring plan
Classic Plan
Missed connection coverage per person
$2,500
Medical & evacuation limits per person
$100,000/$1 million
Via Forbes Advisor's Website
Classic Plan
$2,500
$100,000/$1 million
Editor's Take
TravelSafe’s Classic plan provides the highest limits for missed connection and evacuation benefits among top-rated plans. It also has very good trip interruption and hurricane and weather coverage at a competitive price.
More: TravelSafe Travel Insurance Review
Pros & Cons
- Provides coverage for non-medical evacuation at $25,000 per person.
- “Cancel for any reason” upgrade available.
- Excellent baggage loss coverage limits of $2,500 per person.
- $100,000 in medical benefits is on the low side compared to top competitors but might be sufficient for your needs.
- Baggage delay coverage is a little skimpy at $250 per person after a 12-hour delay.
AIG
4.0
Our ratings take into account a product's benefits and coverage levels. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Top-scoring plan
Travel Guard Preferred
Missed connection coverage per person
$1,000
Medical & evacuation limits per person
$50,000/$500,000
Via Forbes Advisor's Website
Travel Guard Preferred
$1,000
$50,000/$500,000
Editor's Take
AIG’s Travel Guard Preferred plan provides solid benefits at a very low average price. Optional pet, wedding, security, baggage, medical, adventures sports and travel inconvenience upgrades allow you to customize a policy to fit your needs.
Additionally, the Travel Guard Preferred plan includes benefits if (under certain conditions) you must start your trip earlier than planned—a feature not found in all policies.
More: AIG Travel Insurance Review
Pros & Cons
- Provides up to $750 for “travel inconveniences,” such as flight delay to your return destination, runway delays and cruise diversions.
- Reimburses up to $2,500 for meals, accommodations and transportation if you must begin your trip earlier than scheduled due to inclement weather or common carrier changes.
- Offers “cancel for any reason” upgrade.
- Very low travel medical insurance limits compared to other policies we evaluated, but you can increase coverage with an upgrade.
- Missed connection benefits of $1,000 are low compared to some competitors.
AXA Assistance USA
4.0
Our ratings take into account a product's benefits and coverage levels. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Top-scoring plan
Platinum
Missed connection coverage per person
$1,500
Medical & evacuation limits per person
$250,000/$1 million
Via Forbes Advisor's Website
Platinum
$1,500
$250,000/$1 million
Editor's Take
AXA’s Platinum plan hits all the high points for coverage that you’ll want if you’re looking for top-notch protection, including non-medical evacuation coverage and baggage insurance.
More: AXA Assistance USA Travel Insurance Review
Pros & Cons
- Generous medical and evacuation limits.
- “Cancel for any reason” upgrade available.
- Top-notch baggage loss coverage of $3,000 per person.
- Provides excellent non-medical evacuation coverage of $100,000 per person.
- Travel delay and baggage coverage kicks in only after a 12-hour delay.
- “Interruption for any reason” upgrade not available.
Generali Global Assistance
4.0
Our ratings take into account a product's benefits and coverage levels. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Top-scoring plan
Premium plan
Missed connection coverage per person
$1,000
Medical and evacuation limits per person
$250,000/$1 million
Via Forbes Advisor's Website
Premium plan
$1,000
$250,000/$1 million
Editor's Take
Generali’s Premium policy provides very good benefits at a decent average price. It has excellent trip interruption insurance and medical coverage, and includes generous benefits for rental car damage and accidental death.
More: Generali Global Assistance Travel Insurance Review
Pros & Cons
- You can qualify for coverage of pre-existing medical conditions if you buy the policy prior to or within 24 hours of making your final trip payment, as opposed to a deadline of 10 to 20 days after making your first trip deposit, which is typical from top competitors.
- Excellent hurricane and weather coverage with no waiting period.
- Top-notch emergency evacuation coverage of $1 million per person.
- If you want “cancel for any reason” coverage you must buy it within 24 hours of making your initial trip deposit, compared to 10 to 20 days from top competitors.
- “Interruption for any reason” upgrade not available.
HTH Worldwide
4.0
Our ratings take into account a product's benefits and coverage levels. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Top-scoring plan
TripProtector Preferred Plan
Missed connection coverage per person
$1,000
Medical & evacuation limits per person
$500,000/$1 million
Via Forbes Advisor's Website
TripProtector Preferred Plan
$1,000
$500,000/$1 million
Editor's Take
HTH’s TripProtector Preferred policy provides luxury-level benefits, including superior medical and evacuation benefits and trip interruption coverage, but it also comes with a high average price.
More: HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance Review
Pros & Cons
- Top-notch coverage limits for medical expenses and evacuation.
- “Cancel for any reason” upgrade available.
- Excellent trip interruption coverage of 200% of the trip cost.
- Very good travel delay coverage of $2,000 per person after a 6-hour delay.
- Highest average cost among top-rated companies, but you’re getting robust benefits.
- Baggage delay coverage requires a 12-hour delay.
John Hanco*ck Insurance Agency
4.0
Our ratings take into account a product's benefits and coverage levels. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Top-scoring plan
Gold plan
Missed connection coverage
$1,000
Medical & evacuation limits per person
$250,000/$1 million
Via Forbes Advisor's Website
Gold plan
$1,000
$250,000/$1 million
Editor's Take
John Hanco*ck’s Gold policy is worth checking out if you want high medical and evacuation limits. It also includes very good trip interruption, baggage and missed connection coverage.
More: John Hanco*ck Travel Insurance Review
Pros & Cons
- “Cancel for any reason” upgrade available.
- Good missed connection coverage of $1,000 per person after 3-hour delay.
- Travel delay benefits kick in after only a 3-hour delay.
- Pricey among the plans we analyzed but you buy top-tier benefits.
- Baggage delay benefits require a 12-hour delay.
Nationwide
4.0
Our ratings take into account a product's benefits and coverage levels. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Top-scoring plan
Cruise Choice
Missed connection coverage per person
$1,500
Medical & evacuation limits per person
$100,000/$500,000
Via Forbes Advisor's Website
Cruise Choice
$1,500
$100,000/$500,000
Editor's Take
Nationwide’s Cruise Choice plan provides solid benefits at a good average price. It includes non-medical evacuation coverage and offers a trip interruption upgrade.
More: Nationwide Travel Insurance Review
Pros & Cons
- Decent missed connection coverage of $1,500.
- Includes $25,000 in non-medical evacuation benefits.
- Provides benefits if you miss out on a prepaid activity or event because your cruise ship changes its itinerary, or if your cruise ship has a fire or mechanical breakdown that delays arrival at the next port of call for two or more hours.
- Medical coverage is lower than most other top-rated policies in our analysis but might be adequate for your needs.
- “Cancel for any reason” upgrade not available.
Seven Corners
4.0
Our ratings take into account a product's benefits and coverage levels. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Top-scoring plan
Trip Protection Choice
Missed connection coverage per person
$1,500
Medical & evacuation limits per person
$500,000/$1 million
Via Forbes Advisor's Website
Trip Protection Choice
$1,500
$500,000/$1 million
Editor's Take
Seven Corners’ Trip Protection Choice plan has great upgrade options and benefits across the board to cruise goers, including unrivaled medical coverage limits and very good missed connection benefits.
More: Seven Corners Travel Insurance Review
Pros & Cons
- Highest medical expenses and medical evacuation coverage limits among top-rated plans.
- “Cancel for any reason” and “interruption for any reason” upgrades available.
- Very good travel delay coverage of $2,000 per person.
- Includes $20,000 for non-medical evacuation.
- Hurricane and weather coverage has a 48-hour delay, compared to some competitors’ plans that require only 6-, 12- or 24-hour delays.
Trawick International
4.0
Our ratings take into account a product's benefits and coverage levels. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Top-scoring plan
Safe Travels First Class
Missed connection coverage per person
$1,000
Medical & evacuation limits per person
$150,000/$1 million
Via Forbes Advisor's Website
Safe Travels First Class
$1,000
$150,000/$1 million
Editor's Take
Trawick’s Safe Travels First Class policy provides solid benefits at a great average cost, including high medical evacuation limits and good missed connection coverage.
More: Trawick Travel Insurance Review
Pros & Cons
- Offers “cancel for any reason” upgrade.
- Top-level medical evacuation coverage of $1 million.
- Excellent baggage loss coverage of $2,000 per person.
- Medical coverage is lower than most other top-rated plans but might be sufficient for your needs.
USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services
4.0
Our ratings take into account a product's benefits and coverage levels. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Top-scoring plan
Diamond
Missed connection coverage per person
$1,500
Medical & evacuation limits per person
$500,000/$1 million
Via Forbes Advisor's Website
Diamond
$1,500
$500,000/$1 million
Editor's Take
While pricing is higher than most other top plans, USI’s Diamond plan provides a solid range of top-level benefits, including first-rate medical and evacuation benefits and very good missed connection coverage.
More: USI Affinity Travel Insurance Review
Pros & Cons
- Superior coverage levels for medical expenses and evacuation.
- “Cancel for any reason” upgrade available.
- Very good travel delay coverage of $1,500 per person.
- High baggage loss coverage of $2,500 per person.
- Baggage delay coverage is good at $500 per person but requires a 12-hour delay for benefits to start.
- Has the second-highest average cost among top-scoring plans.
Summary: Best Cruise Insurance Ratings
| Company | Company - Logo | Forbes Advisor Rating | Starting price | Top-scoring policy | Emergency medical/evacuation coverage limits per person | Learn More CTA text | Learn more CTA below text | LEARN MORE | Missed connection coverage per person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WorldTrips |  | 5.0 |  | Atlas Journey Premier | $150,000/$1 million | Get a Quote | Via Forbes Advisor's Website | $2,000 | |
| Nationwide |  | 4.5 |  | Cruise Luxury | $150,000/$1million | Get a Quote | Via Forbes Advisor's Website | $2,500 | |
| TravelSafe Insurance |  | 4.5 | | Classic | $100,000/$1 million | Get a Quote | Via Forbes Advisor's Website | $2,500 | |
| AIG |  | 4.0 |  | Travel Guard Preferred | $50,000/$500,000 | Get a Quote | Via Forbes Advisor's Website | $1,000 | |
| AXA Assistance USA |  | 4.0 | | Platinum | $250,000/$1 million | Get a Quote | Via Forbes Advisor's Website | $1,500 | |
| Generali Global Assistance |  | 4.0 | | Premium | $250,000/$1million | Get a Quote | Via Forbes Advisor's Website | $1,000 | |
| HTH Worldwide |  | 4.0 | | TripProtector Preferred | $500,000/$1 million | Get a Quote | Via Forbes Advisor's Website | $1,000 | |
| John Hanco*ck Insurance Agency |  | 4.0 | | Gold | $250,000/$1 million | Get a Quote | Via Forbes Advisor's Website | $1,000 | |
| Seven Corners |  | 4.0 | | Trip Protection Choice | $500,000/$1 million | Get a Quote | Via Forbes Advisor's Website | $1,500 | |
| Trawick International |  | 4.0 | | Safe Travels First Class | $150,000/$1 million | Get a Quote | Via Forbes Advisor's Website | $1,000 | |
| USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services |  | 4.0 | | Diamond | $500,000/$1million | Get a Quote | Via Forbes Advisor's Website | $1,500 |
What Is Cruise Insurance?
Cruise insurance can be any travel insurance policy that has the coverage features you want. It does not have to be a travel insurance policy with “cruise” in the policy name. It’s helpful to have missed connection coverage included in a cruise insurance policy, as the cost of catching up to a cruise can be significant.
What Does Cruise Insurance Cover?
Cruise insurance generally covers the following—up to your policy limits— if the expense is caused by a reason listed in your policy or not excluded from coverage:
- Medical expenses
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Trip cancellation
- Trip delay
- Trip interruption
- Missed connections
- Lost, stolen, damaged or delayed baggage and personal items
A cruise travel insurance policy may also compensate you if your cruise ship is disabled and you’re stuck on board without power, food or water for a specified amount of time listed in your policy. For example, the WaveCare plan from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection provides a flat $500 reimbursem*nt for cruise disablement if you’re stuck on the ship for five hours or more without one of these: power, food, water or a restroom.
Typically, cruise insurance also provides a 24/7 hotline for travel emergencies. You can also get a pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver if you buy coverage within a certain period, usually within 14 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit. This means medical expenses related to pre-existing conditions that arise during your trip will be covered.
Do I Need Cruise Insurance?
Cruise insurance is worth considering if you can’t afford to lose the money you paid in advance for nonrefundable trip costs if you have to cancel your cruise.
Cruise insurance can also pay for costs associated with medical treatment during your trip, emergency medical evacuation, trip delays, lost luggage and more.
How Much Does Cruise Insurance Cost?
The average cost of cruise insurance is $457 per trip, based on Forbes Advisor’s analysis of rates for 37 cruise travel insurance plans.
Cruise insurance costs will generally depend on your age and the cost and length of your trip.
Below you’ll see examples of cruise insurance costs for the best cruise insurance policies.
| Travel insurance company | Top-scoring policy for cruise insurance | Average cost per trip |
|---|---|---|
WorldTrips | Atlas Journey Premier | $408 |
AIG | Travel Guard Preferred | $413 |
Trawick International | Safe Travels First Class | $421 |
TravelSafe Insurance | Classic | $431 |
AXA Assistance USA | Platinum | $470 |
Nationwide | Cruise Luxury | $485 |
Generali Global Assistance | Premium | $496 |
Seven Corners | Trip Protection Choice | $527 |
John Hanco*ck Insurance Agency | Gold | $571 |
USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services | Diamond | $593 |
HTH Worldwide | TripProtector Preferred | $602 |
Source: Forbes Advisor research. Average costs are based on rates for seven different trips with a variety of traveler ages, without “cancel for any reason” coverage. Policies have different levels of benefits, which can account for price differences.
Where and When to Buy Cruise Insurance
You can buy cruise insurance from your cruise line, through a travel agent or from a travel insurance agent or company.
Although you can purchase a policy right up to your departure, there are advantages to buying travel insurance right after booking your trip. One is that you can maximize the length of your trip cancellation coverage. For example, if you buy a travel insurance policy three months before your departure and get seriously injured a week before you leave, you can file a trip cancellation claim.
Buying cruise insurance within the first two weeks or so of making your first trip deposit also qualifies you for additional coverage. This can include a pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver or a “cancel for any reason” travel insurance (CFAR) upgrade, depending on the policy.
CFAR allows you to recoup 50% or 75% of your forfeited, nonrefundable trip costs, depending on your policy. You must cancel at least 48 hours prior to your departure. CFAR increases your travel insurance cost by about 50%.
If the dates of your trip change, your travel insurance company should allow you to change the dates of your policy to match the new travel dates. You can also add items to your itinerary later—such as shore excursions—and then add them to your travel insurance coverage.
Compare & Buy Travel Insurance
How to Shop for the Best Cruise Insurance
Whether it’s your first voyage or you’re a cruise veteran, having the right travel insurance is important. This is especially true if you’re a senior traveler who wants a high level of medical coverage while traveling.
Here are good starting points for coverage you’ll likely want in a cruise insurance plan:
Trip Cancellation Insurance
Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you 100% for the pre-paid and non-refundable deposits you lose if you have to cancel for a reason covered by the policy.
Trip Interruption Coverage
This will reimburse you for unused trip costs if your trip is cut short because of illness, injury, death, a family emergency back home or other reasons. Trip interruption insurance can also pay for the extra expenses of a trip interruption, such as a one-way plane ticket home on short notice. The reason for the interruption has to be listed in the policy.
Travel Medical Insurance
This pays for medical expenses associated with injuries and illness you get while on the trip. The top travel insurance plans have $500,000 in travel medical insurance, but you might find $150,000 to be sufficient for a cruise. If you’re a senior, good travel medical coverage is crucial.
U.S. health plans may have very limited or no coverage when you’re outside the U.S. And Medicare doesn’t cover medical care outside the U.S., with only very narrow exceptions.
Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage
Medical evacuation travel insurance covers the costs to get you to the nearest adequate medical facility or even back home if it’s medically required. Your travel insurer’s emergency assistance team can also help arrange for the medevac.
Coverage for Pre-existing Medical Conditions
Many travel insurance plans give you a pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver if you buy the plan within two to three weeks after your first trip deposit. This is one of the advantages to buying travel insurance shortly after you book your trip. Without the waiver, medical expenses related to pre-existing conditions that flare up during your trip won’t be covered.
“Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR) Travel Insurance
Canceling for reasons that aren’t listed in the policy isn’t covered, unless you have already purchased a CFAR upgrade. This typically reimburses you 75% of trip costs, as long as you cancel at least 48 hours before your departure. Adding it increases a policy cost by an average of 50%.
For example, you could make a “cancel for any reason” claim if you’re worried about being seasick—a reason not covered by standard trip cancellation insurance. Buy this coverage shortly after you make your first trip deposit or the purchase window for it will close.
“Interruption for Any Reason” Travel Insurance
Cutting a trip short for reasons that aren’t listed in the policy aren’t covered, unless you have already purchased “interruption for any reason” travel insurance. This coverage typically reimburses you 75% of trip costs. It usually adds 3% to 10% to your travel insurance cost. You generally must buy it within 15 to 20 days of making your first trip deposit. Benefits don’t kick in until you are a specified amount of time into your trip, for example 48 or 72 hours.
Only a few travel insurance companies currently offer “interruption for any reason” coverage, such as Nationwide, Seven Corners, Travel Insured International and WorldTrips.
Additional Types of Travel Insurance for Cruises
A comprehensive travel insurance plan will package additional benefits such as travel delay insurance, baggage insurance and missed connection travel insurance.
The best travel insurance plans offer high levels of reimbursem*nt and short waiting periods for benefits to go into effect when things go wrong. A travel insurance agent can help you match your concerns to the right travel insurance package.
Case Study: Cruise Insurance Saves the Day, Again
I’ve unfortunately filed several cruise insurance claims in recent years, but I’m so grateful I had coverage. When my father passed away on the day we were set to depart, insurance reimbursed us over $3,000 for the trip cancellation. Later, my wife and I tested positive for Covid-19 in Paris right before our river cruise. We had to cancel and pay for a week’s stay in a pricey hotel, but insurance covered the entire $12,000 claim. Most recently, I was diagnosed with cancer before a cruise and had to cancel for surgery. The documentation was complex, but our policy paid the remaining $2,000 to $3,000 after refunds without hesitation. Travel insurance gave us peace of mind through it all.
– David R., Texas
Is Cruise Insurance Worth It?
Cruise insurance is worth it if you don’t want to risk losing the non-refundable money you invested in your trip if the unexpected happens. For example, let’s say you missed the boat. Cruise insurance can pay for you to rejoin the cruise if you can’t board on time because of an issue covered by the policy, such as severe weather.
The average cost of travel insurance is 5% to 6% of your trip cost, according to our analysis of travel insurance rates. That means cruise insurance might be worth it if:
- Your non-refundable trip costs are much more than you can afford to lose.
- You are traveling internationally and your U.S. health plan has limited coverage abroad.
- You are traveling to a remote area with limited health care facilities and want insurance that will pay for medical transportation to an adequate medical facility.
- You are traveling to a hurricane-prone area where your trip could be scuttled due to weather.
- Your trip involves connecting flights or multiple destinations, which increase the chances of travel delays and lost baggage.
- You want to be partially reimbursed if you decide to cancel your trip or return home early for any reason.
What Are the Travel Insurance Requirements of Different Cruise Lines?
Cruise lines departing the U.S. generally do not require travel insurance. But it’s a good idea to buy a policy that includes travel medical insurance and emergency evacuation insurance. That’s because U.S. health insurance is unlikely to cover you if you travel outside of the United States.
Methodology
To find the best cruise insurance, Forbes Advisor analyzed travel insurance data to score travel insurance policies based on the following factors. We include only travel insurance policies that include missed connection coverage.
Missed connection coverage (up to 30% of score): Plans with higher reimbursem*nt levels for missed connections scored more points.
Average price (up to 25% of score): We analyzed travel insurance quotes for a variety of traveler ages and trip costs to develop an average price for each plan. We scored the average cost for each travel insurance policy for trips to the popular destinations of Italy, Mexico, France and the U.K. for common traveler profiles:
- Couple, age 30 for Mexico trip costing $3,000
- Couple, age 40, for Italy trip costing $6,000
- Family of four for Italy trip costing $15,000
- Family of four for France trip costing $15,000
- Family of four for U.K. trip costing $15,000
- Couple, age 65, for Italy trip costing $6,000
- Couple, age 70, for Mexico trip costing $3,000
Medical expenses (up to 10% of score): Travel medical insurance was evaluated by coverage amount. Travel insurance policies with travel medical expense benefits of $250,000 and up per person were given the highest points.
Medical evacuation (up to 10% of score): Emergency medical evacuation/transportation coverage was evaluated by coverage amount. Travel insurance policies with medical evacuation expense benefits of $500,000 and up per person were given the highest points.
“Cancel for any reason” travel insurance (up to 10% of score): Policies offering a “cancel for any reason” upgrade earned points. Policies with 75% reimbursem*nt for canceled trips were awarded the most points.
Trip interruption travel insurance (5% of score): Points were given if trip interruption reimbursem*nt was 150% or higher.
“Interruption for any reason” travel insurance: (5% of score): Policies earned points if an “interruption for any reason” upgrade was available.
Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver (5% of score): Points were given to policies that cover pre-existing medical conditions (if purchased within a required time frame).
Read more: How Forbes Advisor rates travel insurance
Best Cruise Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
How do I buy cruise insurance for a long-duration cruise?
The coverage in many travel insurance policies will max out at 90 days, so you’ll need to look for a travel insurance plan that can provide coverage for a long trip length.
For example, Allianz Global Assistance’s OneTrip Premier Plan can cover a trip up to 366 days and includes $200,000 in trip cancellation coverage and $1 million in emergency medical evacuation benefits. It also provides trip cancellation coverage in the event that there is an NOAA hurricane warning at your destination.
How do I buy insurance for cruise shore excursions?
If your shore excursions are pricey, insure the nonrefundable deposits for the excursions and the cruise. If your excursions are included in the cruise cost, you would simply insure the cruise trip cost.
Travel medical insurance can cover medical expenses you incur while on and off the ship. But if your excursions involve adventure activities or extreme sports, be aware that many travel policies exclude these from coverage. Still, there are adventure travel policies and optional upgrades that will cover injuries due to activities such as mountain climbing, parasailing, skydiving and hot air ballooning.
Review your policy to be sure the plan you’re buying will cover your adventurous fun. If it doesn’t, ask about an adventure sports add-on, or consider a company such as World Nomads that caters to the adventurous traveler.
Do I need a special cruise insurance plan?
You don’t need a travel insurance plan that’s specifically for cruises. Any good travel insurance plan with generous medical benefits and the other benefits you want can work well for a cruise.
Can you buy cruise insurance after booking?
You can buy cruise insurance after booking your trip, right up until just before departure. The downside to waiting is that you likely won’t be able to cover pre-existing medical conditions, and you’ll lose the option to add cancel for any reason coverage.
Buying right after you book also lets you lock in trip cancellation coverage right away.
Can I cancel a cruise without insurance?
You can cancel a cruise, but may have to pay a cancellation penalty for the cruise and/or flights. You could also lose the cost of pre-paid shore excursions. If you don’t have travel insurance for these losses, check the credit card you used for booking. Some credit cards include trip cancellation coverage.
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