Travel insurance is important especially for cruisers because cruises are unique compared to other types of vacations.

Unlike a road trip or a resort stay, a cruise often involves multiple destinations, international waters, and strict cancellation policies.

Here are the top reasons why travel insurance is a wise investment for cruisers:

1. Trip Cancellations & Interruptions

Cruises often require full payment months in advance, and most cruise lines have strict cancellation policies. If you need to cancel due to illness, a family emergency, or other unforeseen circumstances, travel insurance can help reimburse non-refundable expenses.

2. Medical Emergencies & Evacuations

Your health insurance may not cover you outside your home country. If you get sick or injured while at sea or in a foreign port, medical costs can be significant.

Worse, if you need emergency evacuation from the ship to a hospital, through MedEvac, it can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Travel insurance helps cover these expenses.

I've personally been on several cruises where a fellow passenger encountered a catastrophic medical situation that required diversion and emergency disembarkation at a foreign port of call.

3. Missed Connections & Delays

If a flight delay causes you to miss your cruise departure, you could be responsible for catching up with the ship at the next port, at your own expense. Travel insurance can cover missed connections, allowing you to rejoin your cruise without hefty out-of-pocket costs.

4. Lost, Delayed, or Stolen Luggage

Cruises require multiple transitions (flights, transfers, and embarkation) that increase the chances of lost or delayed luggage. Travel insurance can help cover essentials if your bags are delayed and reimburse you if they are lost or stolen.

5. Weather-Related Disruptions

Hurricanes and severe weather can lead to cruise delays, cancellations, or altered itineraries. Travel insurance can cover these disruptions, helping with rebooking costs or refunds.

Many travelers assume their regular health insurance will cover them on a cruise, but that’s often not the case. Here’s why relying solely on your medical insurance can leave you vulnerable:

1. Limited or No Coverage Outside Your Home Country

Most U.S.-based health insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, do not cover medical expenses incurred outside the country. Since cruises often travel to international waters and foreign ports, your standard insurance may not apply.

2. Emergency Medical Care Can Be Expensive

Cruise ships have medical facilities, but they are limited and often charge out-of-pocket rates for treatment. Suppose you need more advanced medical care, such as an emergency appendectomy, as just one example. In that case, you may have to be transported to a hospital in a foreign country, where your insurance might not be accepted.

3. Medical Evacuations Are Not Covered

If you experience a severe medical emergency, you might need an emergency evacuation to the nearest hospital or even back home.

These evacuations can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and most health insurance plans (including Medicare) do not cover them. Travel insurance with emergency medical evacuation benefits can cover these costs.

4. International Billing and Reimbursement Issues

Even if your medical insurance offers limited international coverage, you may have to pay upfront for treatment and then submit claims for reimbursement, which can be a complicated and lengthy process.

If you seek treatment on a cruise ship, even if your medical insurance may cover it, you'll most likely need to pay the full cost upfront before being allowed to disembark. It's then up to you to submit for reimbursement later. 

5. Travel Insurance Provides Supplemental Medical Coverage

A good cruise travel insurance policy includes primary or secondary medical coverage that helps pay for doctor visits, hospital stays, and even emergency transportation without the hassle of out-of-pocket expenses or claim denials.

It's helpful to look into your health insurance to see what, if anything, is provided for international coverage, as well as the payment and reimbursement policies.

If you have a travel-specific credit card, which I am a big advocate of, you likely receive some travel protections for trips purchased with that card. 

However, while these benefits can be useful, they come with limitations, and relying solely on credit card coverage could leave you underinsured.

I do both. I book my cruises with a travel-specific credit card, and personally I'm a big fan of the Capital One Venture X card, and I also carry an annual family travel insurance plan.

As one example, my Venture X card does provide some built-in basic protections, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, travel delay reimbursement, and lost luggage coverage.

However, for comprehensive protection for medical emergencies, evacuations, and full trip cancellation coverage, a dedicated travel insurance policy offers far more coverage, especially for medical costs at sea, and that's why I do both.

Use of a premium travel credit card can supplement, but not replace, a dedicated travel insurance policy. 

When purchasing travel insurance for a cruise, you have two main options: buying through the cruise line or purchasing a third-party policy. Each option has its advantages and drawbacks. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:

Buying Travel Insurance Through the Cruise Line

✅ Pros:

1. Convenience – It’s easy to purchase directly when booking your cruise, eliminating the need to research and compare policies.
2. Covers Cruise-Related Issues – These plans are designed specifically for cruise travelers, covering trip cancellations, itinerary changes, and missed connections.

❌ Cons:

1. Limited Medical Coverage – Most cruise-line policies do not include sufficient medical coverage, particularly for emergencies, hospital stays, or medical evacuations.
2. Limited ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ (CFAR) Option – Cruise line insurance usually only covers cancellations for specific reasons, and if it provides CFAR it's only for partial future cruise credit. If you want flexibility to cancel for any reason, and to receive a refund with cancellation, third-party insurance is likely a better choice.
3. Coverage is Restricted to the Cruise – Typically, cruise-line insurance does not cover pre- or post-cruise travel, flights, hotel stays, or independently booked excursions.
4. Medical Evacuation May Be Insufficient – If you need to be airlifted from the ship, the included coverage might not be enough to cover the full cost.

Buying Travel Insurance on Your Own (Third-Party Insurance)

✅ Pros:

1. More Comprehensive Coverage – Third-party policies typically include higher medical limits, emergency evacuations, and broader trip interruption benefits.
2. Covers Pre- & Post-Cruise Travel – If your trip includes flights, hotels, or excursions outside the cruise, a third-party policy will cover those aspects, unlike cruise line insurance.
3. More Flexibility – Many third-party policies offer Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage, which lets you cancel for reasons not covered by standard policies.
4. Independent Assistance – If something goes wrong, you deal directly with the insurance provider, not the cruise line, which may be more responsive in an emergency.
5. Coverage of All Travel - Some plans, like the Allianz annual plan I personally use, covers all of my trips throughout the year, making it a much more affordable option.

❌ Cons:

1. Requires Research – You need to compare policies, coverage limits, and exclusions to find the best plan for you and your family.
2. Might Be More Expensive – A third-party plan can cost more upfront, but the coverage is often more robust, making it a better value in the long run.
3. Pre-Existing Conditions May Require a Waiver – If you have a pre-existing condition, you may need to purchase your policy within a certain timeframe (e.g., 14-21 days of booking) to qualify for coverage.

Allianz offers several annual travel insurance plans, starting at $435 per year, and the difference between them is the coverage they provide. Obviously, the most expensive plans provide more coverage. Submit my form here and I'll send you a price quote for the four most popular options.

What I love about Allianz annual plans, and why I chose this for my own family, is that they provide you and your household family members with an entire year of worldwide travel protection and 24/7 assistance whether you’re traveling separately or together. 

So, is ALL travel covered?

All of the annual plans cover all of your travel throughout the year, 100 miles from home. Not just cruises but even travel in a rental car, shuttle, or flight that you will need to get to and from your port destination.

If your method of travel can provide a “travel carrier document," it's covered.

If you’re borrowing grandma's trailer and it breaks down, you might be out of luck.

If you want all the fine print and details, you can find it all on this brochure.

I recommend Allianz for many reasons, one of which is their satisfaction guarantee. 

This means if you purchase a policy and are not completely satisfied, you have 15 days (or more, depending on your state of residence) to request a refund, provided you haven’t started your trip or initiated a claim. 

Premiums are non-refundable after this period. 

I always try to be as transparent and upfront as possible, so I'll be the first to say that this type of plan isn't the best for everyone. 

The downside of Allianz annual plans are the limitations on coverage for trip cancellation.

I personally carry their cheapest annual option, which provides up to $2K in trip cancellation coverage. For me, that works nicely because I sail on free casino offers, so trips I take rarely exceed this amount. 

If you have an expensive trip booked, like an African safari or multi-month cruise, this is not the plan for you.

The Allianz introductory annual plan, which I have, is the cheapest option (I pay $485 a year for this for me and my family), and it's the one that covers up to $2K in trip cancellation.

Allianz does offer other annual plans that provide more cancellation coverage (including $5K, $10K, and $15K plans), and greater coverage across other areas, but the cost of these plans is obviously higher. If you'd like a price quote for any of these, submit my form here. 

If you have an expensive trip planned, purchasing an individual policy for that specific trip is probably best. You can get an instant quote here.

If you have expensive tastes and your trips are pricey, an annual plan is likely not the best option for you, given the lower level of cancellation coverage. 

If you'd like a quote for an individual trip, you can get one instantly online here.

If you decide you need coverage for just one cruise, I recommend getting an instant price quote online here and then comparing the pricing and coverage with what the cruise line offers. Then, pick the one that provides the most bang for your buck.

Another type of traveler that is likely not best suited for an Allianz annual plan is the infrequent traveler. If you aren't taking at least 2-3 trips per year, the annual option is probably not the best.

For the purposes of your travel insurance policy, Allianz  defines family members as the following:

• Spouse (by marriage, common law, domestic partnership, or civil union);
• Cohabitants (A person you currently live with and have lived with for at least 12 consecutive months and who is at least 18 years old. You must be able to show evidence that you have lived together for 12 consecutive months.)
• Parents and stepparents;
• Children, stepchildren, foster children, adopted children, or children currently in the adoption process; Siblings;
• Grandparents and grandchildren; The following in-laws: mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister, and grandparent;
• Aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews;
• Legal guardians and wards; Paid, live-in caregivers;
• Service animals (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act)

Only the people who are named insured; that is, named in the plan, are covered by insurance benefits.

If you're interested in an Allianz annual plan, please submit this form, and we will provide you with a price quote. 

Once you've decided on the plan you'd like to purchase, you'll need to complete this authorization form, and my booking partner Kelley, who is a travel agent, will personally process your policy and call you to complete your payment. 

If you just need Allianz insurance coverage for a specific trip, you can get an instant quote and buy online here. 

And remember, Allianz offers a 15-day satisfaction guarantee.