Need to know
- Most travel insurers will cover cruises for an extra fee
- Beware of exclusions – you won't be able to claim for events that occur because you've had too much to drink
- You need to make sure you declare your pre-existing medical conditions
Cruising is more popular than ever. Over 1.32 million Australians cruised in 2024, making Australia the fourth largest cruise market in the world behind the US, Germany and UK.
There are a lot of things that can go wrong on a cruise, so if you're planning one, read on to discover the cover you need to look for and which travel insurance policies are the best for cruises.
On this page:
- Does travel insurance cover you on a cruise?
- How much does travel insurance for cruises cost?
- Cheapest insurers for cruises
- What to look for in cruise cover
- Which travel insurers cover international cruises?
- What is not covered by travel insurance?
- Does travel insurance cover you if you have a drink on your cruise?
- Do you need insurance for a domestic cruise in Australia?
- When to buy travel insurance for a cruise
Does travel insurance cover you on a cruise?
Most travel insurers will cover international cruises that start and end in Australia as an optional extra, so you'll need to make sure you select this option and pay an additional fee.
Some providers also offer tailored cruise travel insurance, which can give you access to additional inclusions that are unique to cruising and that may not be covered in standard policies, such as cover for missed ports, missed departures, or cabin confinement due to illness.
When choosing a policy, it's important to make sure the region you're visiting is covered and that it suits your needs and itinerary.
How much does travel insurance for cruises cost?
To find out, CHOICE experts averaged nearly 11,000 quotes from top-tier travel insurance policies with cruise cover for a couple on an 8–12 day cruise (based on a variety of destinations, traveller ages, excesses and lead times).
We found the average policy cost was $382.
Cheapest insurers for cruises
Based on our aforementioned calculations of almost 11,000 quotes, these are the insurers with the lowest prices on average:
- Allianz Comprehensive $244
- World Nomads Standard $264
- Worldcare Comprehensive $266
- Travel Insurance Direct Basics $270
- NIB Essentials $284
- 1Cover Comprehensive $296
- NRMA Comprehensive $292
These are the cheapest travel insurance policies for cruises but are they the best? Sign up to our travel insurance comparison to find the best travel insurance policies. No phone calls, no commissions. Unlike other insurance comparison websites, we don't get paid by any of the insurers we're comparing. So we only recommend the best insurance policies for you.
What to look for in cruise cover
The main reason to take out travel insurance is for medical insurance, and this is no exception when going on a cruise.
Even if your cruise doesn't leave Australian waters it's possible the doctors on board aren't registered for Medicare, which means no claiming medical costs back from the government or private health funds.
Domestic travel insurance is unlikely to cover medical costs on a cruise unless it's a cruise-specific policy.
Which travel insurers cover international cruises?
Medical Cover
While COVID-19 may seem like a thing of the past, cruise ships are still a high risk environment for the transmission of respiratory diseases like COVID-19 and influenza, as well as other infectious diseases like gastroenteritis.
Sometimes payment for treatment is required upfront. If you have a serious case, you may need to be evacuated from your ship by helicopter, so it's important to look for a policy with a high limit for medical cover.
This advice also applies to local cruises that don't leave Australian waters. See further information on this below.
Cover for shore destinations and activities
Make sure you check the government advice on Smart Traveller for all destinations your cruise is planning to visit.
Each destination is given an official advice level, which is updated regularly. If the advice is level 3, which is 'Reconsider your need to travel', or 4: 'Do not travel', that destination may not be covered by your insurance.
If you plan to participate in onshore activities, it's important to check out the product disclosure statement (PDS) to see which activities are included and which are not.
Some, like motorbike/moped riding, come with special conditions. Adventure activities in other countries may not meet the same safety standards as in Australia.
Theft
Theft of personal items has been known to occur both on ships and during shore visits by professional thieves who target cruise passengers. If you're taking anything of value with you, read the limits for personal items in your PDS before buying a policy. Many policies allow you to increase the limits for 'specified items' for an extra fee.
Some cruise policies provide specific cover for formal wear as standard.
Death
While it's not something that we like to think about, sometimes the worst does happen. If a passenger dies onboard a cruise ship, the cruise line won't pay for repatriation of remains, and neither will the Australian government.
It's important that you have travel insurance that covers death and repatriation of remains so your relatives aren't left with this significant cost.
Best travel insurance for your destination
What is not covered by travel insurance?
Check the policy age limit and other exclusions in our travel insurance comparison. Some policies cover you up to the age of 100 but others only cover you up to 69.
It's also worth noting that if you want cancellation coverage in case a relative in Australia becomes ill or dies, the relative will also need to meet the age limit on the policy and satisfy the existing medical condition requirements.
Existing medical conditions and pregnancy
As with other types of travel insurance, some pre-existing medical conditions may not be covered, and others will need to be disclosed in order to be covered. If in doubt, contact the insurer to discuss your needs.
It's also worth noting that pregnancy is considered an existing medical condition. Some insurance policies cover pregnancy up to 30 weeks, but most cruise lines won't allow you onboard if you are more than 24 weeks pregnant.
Does travel insurance cover you if you have a drink on your cruise?
Some people liken cruises to a floating RSL club. But the combination of alcohol and a seagoing vessel can cause accidents.
In an Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) case, Phil* fell down a flight of stairs on a cruise ship, and suffered a moderate brain injury, skull fracture and right lung contusion.
All travel insurers have a clause that excludes cover for claims resulting from a person being under the influence of alcohol
Phil said the area was not well lit and the steps would have been slippery, while his wife said he was walking steadily. He was taken to a hospital in Austria and a test showed that he had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.198%.
The insurer had an exclusion for 'any conduct engaged in whilst under the influence or effect of alcohol or drugs', and AFCA sided with the insurer, determining that Phil's claim for expenses should be denied.
All travel insurers have a similar clause that excludes cover for claims resulting from a person being under the influence of alcohol.
* Not their real name. Policyholder names are not disclosed in AFCA case records.
Do you need insurance for a domestic cruise in Australia?
Even if you book a cruise that won't be leaving Australian waters, you'll still need travel insurance as shipboard medical expenses are likely not covered by Medicare.
Doctors working on cruise ships don't need Medicare provider numbers. You can check with your cruise line if they have a Medicare doctor on board. But if not, you will need international or cruise-specific insurance. Domestic travel or health insurance won't cut it.
Domestic travel insurance doesn't cover medical costs, so you'd need either international travel insurance (check that it covers domestic cruises) or special 'domestic cruise' insurance, which is available from a few select insurers.
When to buy travel insurance for a cruise
Cruises are often booked well ahead of time, so you could be forgiven for forgetting or delaying the purchase of your travel insurance. But if your cruise is cancelled ahead of time and you don't yet have cover, you could lose your money. The earlier you buy the policy, the better.
On the flip side, there aren't many insurers that cover you more than a year out from starting your trip. If you book your trip more than a year out, shop around for a policy that will cover you.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
