A cruise vacation can take much of the stress out of planning a vacation. With a pre-set itinerary on the high seas, you don't have to worry about how you're getting to your destination and what you're going to do there. However, an unexpected emergency can take the wind out of your sails and money out of your travel budget. So you'll want to ensure you have the best cruise insurance plan that won't leave you marooned in an emergency.
The best cruise travel insurance will have high coverage limits on emergency medical evacuations, as sea to land evacuations can be expensive. They'll offer coverage for baggage delay, trip interruption, and it might be a good idea to have some adventure sports coverage if you plan on participating in any outdoor activities like snorkeling or scuba diving.
Here are our picks for the best cruise travel insurance companies in 2025.
Best Cruise Insurance
- Best overall: Nationwide Travel Insurance
- Best for affordability: AXA Assistance USA
- Best for seniors: Seven Corners Travel Insurance
- Best for expensive trips: HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance
- Best for adventure cruises: World Nomads Travel Insurance
Featured Cruise Insurance Companies
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- Zero Complaint Guarantee
- Streamlined comparison platform
- Variety of partnered travel insurance companies
- Customer service team is difficult to reach
SquareMouth is an online marketplace that helps you choose a travel insurance policy from 32 companies that shares a comprehensive, streamlined overview page for each insurance provider.
SquareMouth Travel Insurance
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- Policy coverage includes most pre-existing health conditions
- Generous medical and evacuation amounts for peace of mind
- COVID coverage included by default on all insurance plans
- Offers a wide range of plans for various budgets and travel needs
- Some plans offer CFAR, “cancel for work reasons,” financial default, and unemployment coverage
- Limited add-on coverage options
- Baggage loss and delay coverage is low compared to competitors
Tin Leg travel insurance offers eight travel insurance plans to meet the unique needs of travelers.
Tin Leg- Tin Leg was founded in 2014 by the travel insurance industry experts at Squaremouth. Designed to meet the most common needs of travelers, these policies offer comprehensive Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption benefits, and a range of Emergency Medical and Medical Evacuation limits.
- Options to cover sports equipment
- Option to increase medical coverage
- Can cancel up to 48 hours before travel when CFAR option is purchased
- Affordable coverage for budget-conscious travelers
- Includes generous baggage delay, loss and trip delay coverage
- Optional "adventure sports" bundle available for riskier activities
- Pricier than some competitors with lower coverage ceilings
- Some competitors offer higher medical emergency coverage
Travelex travel insurance is one of the largest travel insurance providers in the U.S. providing domestic and international coverage options. It offers a basic, select, and America option. Read on to learn more.
Travelex Travel Insurance- Optional CFAR insurance available with the Ultimate plan
- Travel delay insurance starting at $500 with the Advantage plan
- Emergency medical and dental coverage starting at $15,000
Best Overall: Nationwide Travel Insurance
Nationwide is a long-standing and reputable brand within the insurance marketplace that offers cruise insurance plans with solid coverage and reasonable rates.
It has three cruise insurance options: Universal, Choice, and Luxury. The Nationwide Choice plan, for example, offers $100,000 in emergency medical coverage and $500,000 in emergency medical evacuation coverage. It also offers coverage for itinerary changes that caused you to miss pre-paid excursions, from $250 up to $1,000 depending on the plan.
The right plan for you depends on your budget and coverage needs. But each plan offers cruise-specific coverages like ship-based mechanical breakdowns, coverage for missed prepaid excursions if your cruise itinerary changes, and covered service disruptions aboard the cruise ship.
Read our Nationwide travel insurance review.
Best for Affordability: AXA Assistance USA
AXA offers three comprehensive coverage plans: Gold, Silver, and Platinum. Each of these plans offers coverage for issues like missed flights, medical emergencies, lost luggage, and more.
The highest-tier Platinum plan provides $250,000 in medical emergency coverage and $1 million in medical evacuation coverage. The baggage loss coverage is $3,000 per person, and their missed connection coverage is $1,500 per person for cruises and tours.
In addition, travelers can take advantage of AXA's concierge service, which provides an extensive network of international service providers. They'll be able to assist you with things like restaurant reservations and referrals, golf course information, and more. This service could come in handy if you're stopping at a variety of unfamiliar destinations during your cruise.
The coverage limits on AXA's policies are on the higher end compared to other providers. And you can buy coverage for a little as 4% of your trip cost depending on your age, travel destination, and state of residence.
Read our AXA travel insurance review.
Best for Seniors: Seven Corners Travel Insurance
Seven Corners Travel Insurance lets cruisers enjoy traveling in their golden years with the knowledge they're covered in the event of an accident or emergency. While other providers do offer coverage to those 80+ years old, Seven Corners is known for its affordable premiums while offering above-average medical expenses and medical evacuation coverage limits — two areas of travel insurance coverage that are even more important as we get older.
Seven Corners also offers the option of a pre-existing conditions waiver and CFAR insurance at an additional cost, plus "Trip Interruption for Any Reason" coverage, which you won't find on many policies.
You can choose between the Trip Protection Basic or Trip Protection Choice plans, with the higher-tier Choice plan costing more but providing more coverage.
Read our Seven Corners travel insurance review.
Best for Expensive Trips: HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance
HTH Worldwide is one of the cheapest travel insurance companies. It offers three levels of trip protection: TripProtector Economy, Classic, and Preferred. The higher the tier, the more coverage you'll get for things like baggage delays, trip delays & cancellations, and medical expenses. But their premiums remain reasonable even at the highest tier of coverage.
Not only does the HTH Worldwide Trip Protector Preferred plan offer higher-than-average medical emergency and evacuation coverage limits ($500,000 and $1 million, respectively), but you'll also get a baggage loss coverage limit of $2,000 per person and coverage for trip interruption of up to 200% of the trip cost. You also have the option to add CFAR coverage for an additional cost, as long as you purchase within 21 days of your initial trip deposit.
Read our HTH Worldwide travel insurance review.
Best for Adventure Cruises: World Nomads Travel Insurance
World Nomads is a top choice for people taking cruises that offer adventure activities, including coverage for over 300 activities, like snorkeling, kayaking, and deep sea fishing. This benefit will cover the myriad of excursions you may book while on your cruise.
The basic Standard Plan comes with $125,000 in medical emergency coverage and $400,000 in emergency evacuation coverage. You'll get higher coverage limits with their Explorer or Epic plans, plus a greater variety of covered activities. However, it's worth noting that emergency evacuation coverage maxes out at $700,000. Additionally, the Epic plan is quite expensive.
Additionally, World Nomads is one of the few travel insurance providers that sells policies to people who have already departed for their trip. However, you'll have to wait 72 hours before the policy kicks in.
Read our World Nomads travel insurance review.
Introduction to Cruise Insurance
Cruise insurance may offer unique coverage like missed port of call and medical evacuation coverage. You might not need the flight protections of a regular travel insurance plan if you're catching a cruise at a port near you, but medical and cancel for any reason coverage could be critical. The best travel insurance plans will provide flexibility to add coverage options to fit your travels needs.
Understanding the Basics of Cruise Insurance
At its core, cruise insurance is your financial lifeboat, designed to protect you from unforeseen events that could disrupt your sea voyage. Whether it's a sudden illness, adverse weather, or other unexpected occurrences, having the right insurance can make a world of difference.
Why Cruise Insurance is Important
Picture this: You're all set for your dream cruise, but a sudden family emergency means you can't set sail. Or worse, you fall ill in the middle of the ocean. Without cruise insurance, you're not just missing out on an adventure, but also facing potentially huge financial losses. That's why securing cruise insurance isn't just recommended; it's a crucial part of your cruise planning.
Types of Cruise Insurance Coverage
Cruise insurance isn't a one-size-fits-all life jacket. There are various types of coverage, each tailored to protect different aspects of your cruise experience.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Coverage
This coverage is like your safety net, catching you financially if you need to cancel your trip last minute or cut it short due to emergencies, be it due to personal, health-related, or even certain work conflicts. Interruption coverage should also include coverage for missed stops on your cruise or the cost of rejoining a departed cruise if you missed your cruise due to a delayed or cancelled flight. You can also find coverage for missed nonrefundable pre-booked excursions due to a covered incident or missed ports during your cruise.
Medical Coverage
Being on a cruise shouldn't mean being adrift from medical care. Travel medical coverage ensures that if you fall ill or get injured, your medical expenses won't sink your finances.
When you purchase travel medical insurance, be sure to note whether your coverage is primary or secondary. Secondary insurance means you'll need to file a claim with your primary insurance provider before filing with your travel insurance provider.
Emergency Evacuation Coverage
In the rare case that you need to be evacuated from the ship due to a medical emergency or severe weather, this coverage ensures you're not left adrift in a sea of expenses. You'll want high coverage limits for emergency evacuation, as sea-to-land evacuations can be costly.
Baggage and Personal Effects Coverage
Imagine reaching your dream destination only to find your luggage lost at sea. This coverage ensures that lost, stolen, or damaged baggage doesn't dampen your cruise experience. It'll reimburse you for any money you spent replacing items while traveling.
Adventure Sports Coverage
Cruises often offer activities that can be classified as adventure sports, such as snorkeling and scuba diving. Medical treatment for injuries sustained while participating in these activities isn't normally covered under normal travel medical coverage. If you're planning on participating in any adventure activities, you'll want to ensure that your policy explicitly includes coverage for these activies or offers an adventure sports coverage add-on.
Tips for Buying the Best Cruise Insurance for You
Securing the best cruise insurance isn't just about finding the best price; it's about ensuring it covers all your potential needs.
When to Purchase Cruise Insurance
It's always best to purchase cruise insurance soon after placing the initial deposit on your cruise. The sooner you buy your insurance, the quicker your trip is protected against a sudden cancellation. Additionally, most travel insurance plans have optional riders you can add to your policy as long as you purchase your policy within a certain window.
For example, cancel for any reason coverage often needs to be purchased within a purchasing window, which can last anywhere between a few days to three weeks from your initial trip deposit. You can also get coverage if you're traveling with pre-existing medical conditions under the same conditions by purchasing your policy early, depending on your provider.
That said, most companies will let you buy travel insurance up until the day before your departure. There are some limited policies that you can purchase after you've left for your trip, such as Allianz OneTrip Emergency Medical policy.
How to Find the Best Deals on Cruise Insurance
Keep a lookout for deals, but remember, the cheapest option isn't always the best. Balance cost with coverage, and ensure you're getting the protection you need at a price that doesn't rock your financial boat. A travel insurance comparison site like VisitorsCoverage and InsureMyTrip are good places to compare multiple quotes from all of the major carriers at once.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Cruise Insurance Plans
When comparing cruise travel insurance providers, we evaluated them based on the following criteria to come up with our list of top picks:
Customer Satisfaction
We look at ratings from JD Power and other industry giants to see where a company ranks in customer satisfaction. We also look at customer review sites like Trustpilot, SquareMouth, and InsureMyTrip to see what customers have to say, particularly about claims experience.
Policy Types
The most important part of any travel insurance company, we look at all the policies a company offers. While we looked at coverage limits, we also looked at options for multi-trip plans, travel medical insurance, and pre-existing condition coverage. We also considered policy flexibility and add-ons that a company offers.
Average Premiums
We acquired quotes from various travel insurance companies using the same trip details. We compared these quotes side-by-side, taking into account the level of coverage each company offered for the price.
Claims Paid
We looked at how quickly a company processes and pays out on a claims. We also look at any favorable terms related to claims. For example, some companies will pay a claim with additional interest if they take longer than expected to pay out.
Ethics
We look at the company's overall behavior. Is it operating ethically? Companies can earn additional points for such behaviors.
You can read more about Business Insider's travel insurance rating methodology.
Cruise Travel Insurance FAQs
Your options for travel insurance is severely limited after your trip starts, but you still have a few options. World Nomads offers policies to people who have already departed on their cruise. However, once you buy coverage, you'll have to wait 72 hours before it kicks in.
You can buy your own cruise insurance that isn't offered directly through the cruise line operator. In fact, this could be a better option if you want coverage for your travel to the cruise's departure point, not just for the cruise itself.
The difference between standard travel insurance and cruise insurance is that cruise insurance offers more specialized coverage, for situations such as missing a departure port and more coverage for medical evacuations, since they are more involved at sea than on land.
Most cruise insurance includes coverage for missing a departure port, so you should be able to claim for a missed port. Just make sure you check the details of your policy before you file a claim, and before you travel so you know what compensation you're entitled to.
The best cruise travel insurance overall is Nationwide, with cruise-specific benefits like itinerary change coverage.
