Best cruise insurance plans April 2024
Published 3:00 AM EDT, Tue December 26, 2023
Cruises are a great all-in-one vacation option, but they can be expensive. If an unforeseen situation arises that causes you to cancel or interrupt your trip, you could be out thousands of dollars in nonrefundable trip expenses. Cruise travel insurance can help you avoid some or all of those losses, but no plan is one-size-fits-all.
We reviewed dozens of travel insurance companies and plans to determine the best cruise insurance policies to fit your needs.
We receive compensation from our partners for Featured Offer placements, which impacts how and where their offer is displayed.
Methodology
Our list of the top cruise insurance companies results from research that spanned more than 1,100 data points, 12 categories, 45 plans and 18 insurers. To gather our data, we used 90 different primary sources. Our winners are based on their overall score and our editorial judgment. Read our full methodology here.
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Nationwide Cruise Luxury
: Best for mid-trip interruptions
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TravelSafe Classic
: Best for missed connection coverage
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Seven Corners RoundTrip Choice
: Best medical coverage
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Trawick International Safe Travels First Class
: Best value
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HTH Travel Insurance TripProtector Preferred
: Best for cruise interruption coverage
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John Hancock Gold
: Excellent if you have pre-existing conditions
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USI Affinity Diamond
: Most convenient medical coverage
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WorldTrips
: Best for financial stability
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Trawick International Safe Travels Single Trip
: Lowest premiums
Nationwide Cruise Luxury
Best for mid-trip interruptions
Missed cruise and tour departure times and interruptions because of injury and sickness are as unpredictable as they are frustrating. Nationwide’s Cruise Luxury plan provides the best all-around coverage in these areas. Its missed connection wait time is only three hours, reimbursement for expenses related to a missed cruise or flight maxes out at $2,500 (the highest we found), and it’s one of the few plans that includes coverage in the event that your trip is interrupted because you or one of your traveling partners gets sick or injured.
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On the downside, Nationwide’s premiums were about $15 higher than the group average and around $140 higher than the lowest premiums in the group.
- Missed connection coverage at least five times higher than 25 competitors
- Offers up to $1,000 for expenses related to trip interruption
- Above-average medical evacuation coverage
- Slightly higher average premiums than the group average
- One of the lowest emergency medical coverage amounts
Healthy cruisers traveling during hurricane season and to or through areas where severe weather is likely to occur.
TravelSafe Classic
Best for missed connection coverage
TravelSafe Classic was one of just two plans to offer up to $2,500 in missed connection coverage per person, making it a top choice for missed connection and putting its max coverage amount nearly $1,700 above the group average.
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The plan’s main drawbacks are that its average premium was slightly higher than the group average, and its $100,000 in emergency medical coverage was more than 50% lower than the group average.
- Most coverage for missed connections
- Second-highest overall score
- 75% CFAR reimbursement rate
- Average premiums were slightly high
- Low emergency medical coverage amount
- No IFAR coverage
Those who have multiple shore excursions planned for their cruise and are worried about missing departure times due to unforeseen circumstances.
Seven Corners RoundTrip Choice
Best medical coverage
Seven Corners’ RoundTrip Choice policy stands out as our choice for best medical coverage because it offers the highest coverage amounts for emergency medical ($500,0000 and medical evacuation/repatriation ($1 million). Also, it offers primary medical emergency coverage, which means you work directly with Seven Corners for reimbursement instead of going through your health insurer first. Finally, the plan covers pre-existing condition. RoundTrip Choice was only one of three plans to earn a perfect score in each of those four categories.
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The policy’s main downside is that its average premiums are higher than the group average by about $44.
- Above-average medical evacuation, repatriation, and emergency coverage
- Primary medical coverage
- Covers pre-existing conditions
- Higher average premiums than the group average
- Missed connection coverage is lower than other top travel insurers
Cruisers planning excursions or tours that could cause injury or illness.
Trawick International Safe Travels First Class
Best value
Trawick International’s Safe Travels First Class plan provided excellent value, offering $3,910.23 per $1 spent on the average premium. With $1.15 million in total medical emergency, evacuation and repatriation for an average of $294.10, Safe Travels First Class beat the average coverage per dollar by nearly $2,000.
- $500,000 in emergency medical coverage
- $1 million in evacuation and repatriation coverage
- Average premium was one of just 10 under $300
- Emergency medical is secondary coverage
- $150,000 in emergency medical coverage is slightly below average
Cruisers who want to get the most bang for their buck when it comes to medical coverage.
HTH Travel Insurance TripProtector Preferred
Best for cruise interruption coverage
Cruise travel insurance can help cover the unexpected costs of your trip interruption. We found HTH Travel Insurance’s TripProtector Preferred plan is the best travel insurance for cruise interruptions.
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It will cover up to 200% of eligible costs, such as additional airline fees and unused bookings and other expenses that have already been paid for and cannot be refunded, if you have to join the cruise after it departs or end your trip early for covered reasons. This may include an injury, illness or family emergency.
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The plan’s excellent cruise interruption comes at a cost, though. Its premiums were about $90 higher than the group average.
- Highest trip interruption coverage reimbursement
- Excellent emergency medical coverage
- Above-average medical evacuation coverage
- Higher average premiums than the group average
- Missed connection coverage is lower than other top travel insurers
Travelers who want peace of mind that, should you have to arrive late or depart early because of a covered event, you could receive up to double your out-of-pocket trip costs.
John Hancock Gold
Excellent if you have pre-existing conditions
John Hancock’s Gold plan was one of only eight plans to score a 4.65 and offer coverage for pre-existing conditions.
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While John Hancock Gold was one of our top plans, its average premium was around $80 higher than the group average.
- Excellent overall score
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions
- $1 million in medical evacuation and repatriation coverage
- Average premium was considerably higher than group average
- Only $1,000 in missed connection coverage per person
Cruisers dealing with health issues who want to ensure their condition is covered if it requires treatment while they travel.
USI Affinity Diamond
Most convenient medical coverage
USI Affinity Diamond earned our convenience designation because the plan offers primary medical insurance, which means you don’t have to go through your health insurance company first before filing a claim with USI Affinity. Additionally, the plan offered $500,000 in emergency medical and $1 million in evacuation and repatriation coverage, meaning the limits are high enough that the cost of care for any injuries you sustain will likely be covered, eliminating the inconvenience of having to pay for most of your expenses out of pocket.
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The plan’s main drawback is that its average premium of $463.60 was around $85 higher than the group average of $378.69.
- One of only three companies to cover pre-existing conditions and offer $1.5 million in combined medical coverage
- Among the best plans for coverage per premium dollar
- 75% CFAR coverage
- Average premiums were around $85 higher than group average
- No interrupt-for-any-reason coverage
Cruisers who have pre-existing conditions and want high coverage amounts in the event they have a health emergency while traveling.
WorldTrips
Best for financial stability
An insurance company’s financial stability shows its past ability to meet obligations such as paying claims. The higher its financial rating, the more quickly and easily the insurer can reimburse you for eligible travel expenses.
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WorldTrips’s underwriter (the company that provides the policy) has an A++ (Superior) AM Best rating, which is the highest rating that AM Best gives. Multiple companies’ underwriters have an A++, but WorldTrips had the highest overall score of those companies.
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While WorldTrip’s financial strength is excellent, its emergency medical coverage across the three plans we analyzed was, on average, around $75,000 below the group average. Two of the three plans offer emergency medical coverage on a primary basis, while the third offers it on a secondary basis.
- Lowest interruption for any reason waiting period under the Atlas Journey Premier plan
- Offers cancel for any reason coverage for two of the three plans we reviewed
- Two of the three plans were among the best missed connection coverage amounts
- Lower premiums than group average for two of three plans
- Slightly higher average premiums than group average for the Atlas Journey Premier plan
- One of the lowest emergency medical coverage amounts under the Atlas Journey Economy plan
Travelers who want assurance that even large claims will be paid in full and quickly. The Atlas Journey Premier travel insurance policy also boasts short waiting periods, additional coverage options and generous reimbursement levels without being the most expensive option.
Trawick International Safe Travels Single Trip
Lowest premiums
If you’re looking for a basic cruise insurance policy on a budget, consider Trawick International’s Safe Travels Single Trip plan. This no-frills travel insurance policy is the second-cheapest in our study, averaging just over $255 for cruise vacation protection, far less than the average premium of $379 for the 45 policies we examined.
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However, because you’re paying low rates, you won’t get as much medical coverage. Safe Travels Single Trip provides $75,000 for emergency medical and $350,000 for medical evacuation and repatriation, both considerably lower than the group average.
- Average premium is $120 less than the group average
- No preexisting condition look-back period
- No cancel for any reason coverage
- Low emergency medical coverage amount
- Minimal medical evacuation coverage
Budget-conscious travelers and first-time cruisers who want peace of mind with basic coverage.
Our picks at a glance
| Company | Plan name | Overall score | Average premium | Cancel for any reason reimbursement rate | Per-person missed connection coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nationwide
| Cruise Luxury
| 5 | $393.20
| 75%
| $2,500
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TravelSafe
| Classic
| 4.9 | $384.00
| 75%
| $2,500
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Seven Corners
| RoundTrip Choice
| 4.9 | $422.40
| 75%
| $1,500
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Trawick International
| Safe Travels First Class
| 4.7 | $294.10
| 75%
| $1,000
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HTH Travel Insurance
| TripProtector Preferred
| 4.7 | $469.02
| 75%
| $1,000
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John Hancock
| Gold
| 4.7 | $458.40
| 75%
| $1,000
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USI Affinity
| Diamond
| 4.4 | $463.60
| 75%
| $1,500
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WorldTrips
| Atlas Journey Economy/Preferred/Premier
| 4 | $321.07
| Up to 50%
| Up to $2,000
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Trawick International
| Safe Travels Single Trip
| 3.1 | $255.75
| 0%
| $500
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What is cruise insurance?
Cruise insurance is a travel insurance policy that will reimburse nonrefundable and prepaid trip costs when a covered event causes you to cancel or interrupt your cruising plans. A comprehensive cruise insurance policy will also cover baggage loss, travel delay and emergency medical expenses or evacuation that your regular health insurance might not cover, especially for international travel.
How does cruise insurance work?
Cruise insurance is a contract between you and an insurance company, in which you pay a premium in exchange for coverage for certain things that could go wrong before and during your trip.
The coverage typically pertains to trip cancellations and interruptions, medical emergencies and illnesses, travel delays and lost or delayed baggage. For example, if you have to cancel your trip, most companies will cover 100% of your nonrefundable costs if your policy covers the reason for your cancellation.
Buying travel insurance within a few days of making your first trip deposit provides the most flexibility, as you can then upgrade your policy to include cancel for any reason (CFAR) or interruption for any reason (IFAR) coverage. Those add-on coverages are typically available up to 21 days before your departure.
Cruise insurance coverage types
Most cruise insurance policies provide a series of coverages that protect you in a variety of circumstances you could encounter while traveling, such as:
- Emergency medical coverage: Typically offers hundreds of thousands of dollars in coverage for any covered medical care you get while traveling
- Preexisting conditions waiver: Allows coverage for treatments related to preexisting conditions during your travels
- Medical evacuation and repatriation coverage: Provides reimbursement if an emergency or illness requires you to evacuate the country you’re in as well as the cost of flying you back home or taking you to the closest medical facility
- Trip interruption coverage: Provides reimbursement of up to 200% if your trip is interrupted by a covered reason
- IFAR coverage: Covers trip interruption reasons that aren’t covered by your policy’s standard trip interruption coverage
- Missed connection coverage: Provides reimbursement if you miss a connection due to a flight being delayed for weather, for example
Many cruise insurance companies offer CFAR as an add-on to their policies. CFAR coverage typically reimburses up to 75% of your nonrefundable cruise costs if you cancel your trip for any reason not already covered by your policy. In most cases, insurers require you to cancel 48 to 72 hours before your cruise — any later, and your CFAR coverage doesn’t apply.
Do I need cruise insurance?
If you have concerns over losing what you paid for your cruise due to unforeseen circumstances or you’re dealing with health issues that may jeopardize your trip, cruise insurance is a good idea.
It’s more than just a policy to recover lost prepaid expenses, too — it can also provide coverage for travel emergencies like getting left behind at a port city or suffering a medical emergency on the cruise ship, in port or while traveling to your cruise destinations.
Additionally, cruise insurance can be helpful if you’re traveling to a place where your health insurance doesn’t cover you.
How much does cruise insurance cost?
Cruise insurance usually costs around 5% to 10% of the total trip cost, including flights and tours. Your cruise insurance plan costs will depend on factors like:
- Your age
- Your total cruise trip costs
- How long your cruise is
- How many people the policy covers
- How far in advance you purchase travel insurance
- Cruise destinations and ports of call
- The type of coverage you choose
Comparing cruise travel insurance companies and plans can help you determine which policy offers the most comprehensive coverage at the best price.
How to shop for the best cruise insurance
Whether you book your cruise directly through the cruise line or use a travel agent, knowing what to look for can help you find the best cruise travel insurance plan. The best cruise insurance policies offer pre-departure benefits like missed connection, travel delay and baggage loss coverage.
If you or a travel companion has preexisting conditions, buying a policy early is worth it for the preexisting medical conditions exclusion waiver. This waiver prevents the insurance company from reviewing your medical records if you file a medical coverage claim. Preexisting conditions aren’t covered unless you have this waiver.
Compare different plans, benefit limits and optional upgrades to determine which policy best fits your travel needs. If you purchase and then find a better policy, you can cancel and get a refund if you’re within the free-look period, which usually ends 10 to 15 days from the purchase date.
Methodology
To find the best cruise insurance policies, we gathered data from 45 different policies from 18 travel insurance companies. We then analyzed that data across 12 key categories. Winners were chosen based on their score within a category, and only plans with overall scores of at least 3.0 were eligible to win categories.
Average premium (27%)
A plan’s average premium accounts for 27% of its overall score because it’s a key factor in travelers’ decisions about which travel insurance to buy. If a plan’s premiums are too high, a traveler might not choose it, even if it offers high coverage amounts. Therefore, plans with lower premiums received higher scores.
Missed connection coverage (20%)
Missed connection coverage provides reimbursement if you miss a cruise or cruise tour because weather delayed or canceled a flight. We scored plans based on the amount of coverage they offered and what the minimum delay time was for the coverage to activate. Plans with higher coverage amounts and lower delay times received higher scores.
Medical evacuation and repatriation limit (15%)
If you require evacuation from the country you’re traveling to because of your medical emergency (including return travel to the United States), travel insurance policies may pay up to a certain amount. This coverage tends to be higher than emergency medical coverage, with the best plans offering $1 million limits. Plans with higher limits earned higher scores.
Cancel for any reason coverage (CFAR) offered (10%)
CFAR coverage allows you to cancel your travel purchase for any reason, whereas you’d normally be restricted to a certain number of covered cancellations with your plan’s trip cancellation coverage. CFAR plans typically reimburse you for a certain percentage of your trip cost, with many plans offering 50% to 75% reimbursement. Plans with higher reimbursement percentages earned higher scores.
Interruption for any reason (IFAR) coverage (5%)
The usual trip interruption coverage only covers you if you have to interrupt your trip for specific reasons. IFAR coverage reimburses you if you have to interrupt your trip for any reason not already covered by your policy. Like CFAR, IFAR coverage offers to pay a percentage of your trip costs. Plans with higher reimbursement rates and lower activation times earned higher scores.
Emergency medical primary or secondary (5%)
Supplemental insurance policies like travel coverage are either primary or secondary. Primary coverage means the plan covers you no matter what other type of insurance you have. Secondary coverage covers you after any applicable plans kick in. Plans with primary coverage earned a higher score because primary coverage simplifies the claims process.
Emergency medical coverage amount (5%)
If you face a medical emergency abroad and your insurance company covers it, you usually have a maximum coverage amount of anywhere from $50,000 to $500,000. Once you use up that coverage amount, you have to pay your expenses out of pocket if you don’t have any other insurance you can use. Plans with higher coverage amounts led to higher scores.
No look-back period for preexisting conditions (5%)
Travel insurance policies sometimes have rules about covering preexisting conditions that require medical care during a covered trip. A “look-back period” refers to the time you have to be symptom-free in order to get coverage for a preexisting condition.
Trip interruption reimbursement rate (5%)
Trip interruption coverage can help reimburse the cost of any travel you don’t get to participate in because your trip is cut short by covered reasons. Trip interruption coverage is usually expressed as a percentage, like 100% or 150%. We gave higher scores to plans with higher trip cancellation reimbursement rates.
AM Best (3%)
AM Best is a well-respected independent credit rating agency that evaluates insurance companies’ financial strength. By analyzing insurers’ balance sheets, risk management, operating performance and other factors, AM Best assigns a financial strength rating (FSR) based on the insurers’ abilities to pay out on claims and cover other obligations. Even a slight drop in a rating — an A+ instead of an A++ — means there’s a higher chance of default (the company cannot pay your claim).
What did make the cut
Of the 45 plans that we researched, 36 did not make our final list of top picks. Twenty-eight of the plans that didn’t make the cut scored well but did not stand out enough in any one category to earn recognition. The remaining eight plans did not meet the minimum 3-star overall score requirement we have for eligible winners.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Yes, you can typically buy cruise travel insurance up to the day before you leave. If you buy a policy within two weeks of making your first payment, you could get complimentary perks, such as preexisting medical condition coverage, benefits for cruise disruption or financial default coverage.
Most cruise policies from reputable insurers will provide a baseline of coverage for medical emergencies, medical evacuation, trip interruption and cancellation, trip delays, baggage delays and lost baggage and personal items.
As you shop for a policy, look for the coverage amounts offered for each coverage category. For example, Trawick International’s Safe Travels Single Trip plan offers $75,000 in emergency medical coverage, while HTH Travel Insurance’s TripProtector Preferred provides $500,000.
If you need coverage for unique circumstances or activities, such as coverage for action sports, search for insurers that offer policies tailored to your needs.
Cruise insurance limitations and exclusions can vary by insurance company and plan. Common exclusions include named storms, preexisting medical conditions, disease outbreaks, itinerary changes, medical tourism and adventure travel. Some exclusions can be waived, like receiving a preexisting medical condition exclusion waiver for buying your policy early or upgrading to an adventure sports bundle.
Cruise travel insurance policies also have coverage limitations — the maximum amount the insurance company will pay under each coverage. For example, Nationwide’s Cruise Luxury plan covers up to $2,500 per person for missed connections.
To get a cruise insurance quote, you’ll need to provide your travel dates, state of residence, the date you made your initial deposit, the dates of birth for each traveler the policy will cover and the trip cost per traveler. To complete your purchase, you’ll need additional information such as your full name, address, phone number and email address.
If something changes after you purchase cruise insurance, like your trip dates, total trip costs, residency state or age and number of travelers, you’ll need to update your policy.
You can only get a refund on your cruise insurance if you cancel it during the free-look period. This period is typically 10 to 15 days from the date you purchase your travel insurance. If you cancel after this window, you can no longer get a refund, but you can use the trip cancellation benefits if you’re canceling the trip for a covered reason.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines, hotel chain, or other commercial entity and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of such entities.
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended and should not be understood to constitute financial, investment, insurance or legal advice. All individuals are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified financial professional before making any financial, insurance or investment decisions.
Note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed or may no longer be available.
