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Why cruise travel insurance matters
Cruise holidays are relaxing and exciting. You get to see different places, enjoy entertainment and travel in comfort. But they come with some extra risks too.
That’s because a cruise isn’t just a holiday. It’s your transport, hotel and activities all in one. And standard travel insurance might not cover everything that could go wrong.
That’s where cruise travel insurance can help. It gives you extra protection just for cruise holidays, including at the ports you visit along the way.
It can help if you get sick and need treatment on or off the ship. Or if you’re confined to your cabin and miss a stop or trip. It can also cover you if your cruise is cancelled or delayed for certain reasons.
This guide explains what cruise cover includes, how it’s different from normal travel insurance, and why it’s worth having. Whether you’re cruising around the UK or going abroad, the right insurance can protect your plans and your money.
Do you need special travel insurance for a cruise?
Yes. Cruises involve risks that standard travel insurance might not cover. These include needing to stay in your cabin if you get ill or even having to leave the ship in an emergency, which can be costly.
You might also miss a port or trip because of bad weather or changes to the ship’s route. These things may only be covered by comprehensive cruise insurance.
Some cruise lines want proof of cruise insurance before they’ll let you board. So it’s important to get the right cover and check what’s included. Adding cruise cover to a regular policy or choosing a special plan for cruises is often the best way to stay protected.
What’s the difference between travel insurance and cruise insurance?
Travel insurance helps protect you on most holidays. It can help if you get sick or hurt in another country, if your bags are lost, stolen or damaged, or if you have to cancel your trip or go home early because something unexpected happens.
Cruise insurance builds on that base protection to also cover things that can happen only on a cruise. We’ll look closer at them in the next section.
Depending on the insurer, cruise cover might be its own plan or an option you can add to regular travel insurance to give you extra protection.
What does cruise travel insurance cover?
Cruise travel insurance for a cruise holiday protects you before your trip, on the ship and during any stops. Here are the main things it usually covers.
Medical and emergency cover
Standard travel insurance often includes emergency medical care. But on a cruise, you may need more.
Cruise vacation insurance usually covers medical care on the ship or at a port, including being evacuated from the ship and taken to a hospital. On-board treatment is private and can cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds. If you get sick, cruise cover helps with those costs.
Protection for your plans and belongings
Lots of things can go wrong before or during your cruise, besides getting ill or injured. The right insurance can help you get your money back for things like:
- Missing your ship because your flight or train is delayed
- Missing a port or excursion due to illness, weather or itinerary changes
- Lost or stolen bags (cruise cover often includes higher limits)
- Cabin confinement, if you’re ill and have to stay in your room
- Leaving the cruise early because of an emergency
All of this helps make sure you don’t lose out financially if your plans are disrupted.
Remember, not all policies are the same. Always read the details carefully to make sure you’re protected for the right things and to the extent you need.
What does cruise travel insurance for seniors cover?
Cruises are a popular way for older holidaymakers to travel in comfort. And cruise travel insurance for seniors includes everything we’ve talked about, but with a few extra points to check:
- Be upfront about your health: It’s important to tell your insurer if you have pre-existing health conditions and about any medications you take for them. This is so they can check if they’ll still give you cover. You might need to complete a medical screening and pay more for cover, but it means you’re properly protected
- Check for any age or trip duration limits: As you get older, you might not be covered for as long on any one trip. So check the wording of any policies you’re considering to check what age they’ll cover you up to, and how long for
- Be clear about cover levels: Look for policies with higher medical limits in case you need serious care. At Post Office, our standard policies come with a choice of economy, standard or premier level cover for emergency medical cover of 5, 10 or 15 million pounds
Many insurers will still cover you if you declare conditions like diabetes or heart problems. If they can’t help, the MaPS directory (from the Money and Pensions Service) shows other companies that might.
What does Post Office Cruise Cover offer?
Post Office Cruise Cover is an add-on to our standard travel insurance. You pay a bit extra and get a lot more protection for your cruise. Here’s what we cover:
- Help if you’re ill: If you feel unwell on the ship, the cover helps pay for medical care or even getting you to a hospital on land
- Money if you’re stuck in your cabin: If you’re too sick or hurt to leave your room, you’ll get money for each full day you miss out on activities
- Missed ports or plan changes: If the ship skips one of the stops you were meant to visit, you may be able to claim money back to help make up for it
- Emergency trip home: If something serious happens and you need to leave the cruise early, the cover helps pay for you to get home
- Extra cover for your luggage: Cruises often last longer, so you pack more. The cover gives extra protection for your bags and what’s inside
There’s a limit to the cover provided, which varies depending on the cover level you choose for your travel insurance.
There’s more, too:
- Missed departure: If you miss your ship because your car breaks down, your train is cancelled or you lose your passport (outside the UK), Post Office Cruise Cover helps you catch up with the ship, even at the next port
- Getting back to the ship after hospital treatment: If you have to go to hospital on land, the cover pays for you to re-join your ship when you’re better
- Missed excursions on land: If you booked fun outings on land but can’t go because you’re stuck in your cabin or the ship’s itinerary changes, the cover helps reimburse you
- Evening dress hire: Many cruises have fancy dinners or events. If your luggage is delayed or lost, the cover gives you up to £75 to hire a dress or suit so you can still join in
With Post Office Cruise Cover, you can feel safe knowing you’re protected up to your cover limit if such things go wrong. So you can enjoy your holiday without worry.
Key takeaways
- You need special travel insurance for cruises, even if you’re taking one around the UK
- Cruise travel insurance protects against unique risks standard travel insurance may not cover
- You can pay extra to add cruise cover to new or existing Post Office policies
Don’t set sail without peace of mind
Common questions about cruise travel insurance
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Standard travel insurance policies often don’t cover things like missed ports, on-board treatment or evacuation from the ship if you need it. Cruise travel insurance is made to cover these risks and more.
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Usually not. You’ll likely need to add cruise cover or choose a policy made for cruises.
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As soon as you book your cruise. That way, you’re covered if you have to cancel due to unexpected issues the policy covers before you set sail.
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Yes, it usually costs a bit more. But it covers things like medical evacuation and missed ports, which can cost a lot more than the price of the insurance.
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Yes. Even if you’re staying in the UK, cruise vacation insurance is still a good idea. Medical care on ships is private, not NHS. It also protects against cancellations, missed activities and other cruise-specific risks.
- Read more
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Yes, lots of insurers, including Post Office, cover most pre-existing medical conditions. You must tell the insurer upfront about any that affect the people named on your policy. You might have to pay a bit more, but it helps keep you safe.
If you can’t get cover, perhaps because your condition’s more serious, check the Money and Pensions Scheme (MaPS) directory. It shows other companies that might be able to help you. Or call MaPS on 0800 138 7777.
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If your ship skips a stop because of bad weather or an itinerary change, cruise insurance may give you your money back for things you already paid for, like tours or activities. Just make sure to read your insurance plan to see what it covers and what the cover limits are.
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Tell the ship’s medical team and your insurer. Onboard medical treatment can be costly, but it should be covered by cruise insurance. It also covers getting you to a hospital if needed.
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Yes. For an extra cost you can add the cruise cover option to your policy or update an existing one. Read the full policy wording for full details of what the add-on covers and any cover limits.
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Yes, you can add cruise cover to new or existing policies for an extra fee. Just select it as an option when getting a quote for a new policy. Or contact us to let us know you’d like it adding to your existing policy.
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All Post Office Travel Insurance plans include some Covid-19 cover. And if you want more you can add our trip disruption option to cover more scenarios. You can find out more about what’s covered as standard or by the add-on, plus what’s not covered, in our travel insurance help and support FAQs.
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