International Cruise Travel Insurance

Anything can happen when you’re cruising international waters. Being confined to your cabin, slipping and falling on the deck or being struck down with an illness on board are all common mishaps passengers can encounter while onboard multi-night cruises. That’s why having international cruise travel insurance can give you peace of mind that you’ll be protected if something goes awry while you’re at sea.

Some of the common benefits of overseas travel insurance include:

• Medical coverage: Whether you suffer a bout of food poisoning or take a tumble onboard, your travel insurance can cover the cost of any medical treatment you require while aboard your cruise ship, as long as it’s covered under your policy. A visit to the onboard medico can cost you anywhere up to $200 or more, even for a bout of seasickness, so having cover will reduce any out-of-pocket expenses.
• Cruise-specific cover: Cruise travel insurance has your back if you’re confined to your cabin due to illness or injury, miss your vessel embarkation or a planned excursion via a port stop is cancelled due to mechanical or weather complications.
• Evacuation and repatriation: If you suffer a severe medical episode aboard your multi-night cruise liner, you may need to abandon ship via a helicopter. Depending on the part of the world you’re travelling, the cost of this can start anywhere from $100,000. Thankfully, your insurer can foot the bill if you need to be evacuated and repatriated in Australia, including if you die onboard your ship and your remains are to be returned home.
• Around-the-clock assistance: Many insurance companies offer 24/7 customer service, no matter where you are in the world. This allows you to make a claim or seek assistance day or night if you’re embroiled in an emergency.
• Cancellation: Having to cancel your trip due to a family emergency or serious illness can be stressful. However, most comprehensive policies protect any pre-paid bookings such as flights and other bookings if you can no longer travel.
• Delays: Delays and disruptions are part and parcel of travelling nowadays. Luckily, most insurance companies will cover the cost of accommodation, meals and basics such as clothes or toiletries if your flight or ship is delayed by more than 24 hours.
• Luggage and personal items: Losing your worldly possessions onboard your cruise ship can be a stressful and worrying situation when you’re on a trip of a lifetime. However, most insurers will cover the cost of replacing or repairing any lost, stolen or damaged luggage and personal items up to a set limit (often up to $15,000).
• Special event transport: If your embarkation is held up because your connecting ride or flight is delayed, your insurance company will cover the cost of getting you onboard in the nick of time.
• COVID-19-related events: Many insurance providers will cover you for any treatment you require that relates to COVID-19. However, only a select few cruise policies cover you in the event your travel plans are cancelled or delayed due to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.

One of the highlights of cruises is the onboard activities and shore excursions you can take part in. Whether it be a spot of scuba diving, kayaking or quad biking through some dunes, it’s important to make sure you have the best cruise travel insurance to cover these types of activities. Many providers require you to pay a little extra to get additional coverage for these, as they’re deemed ‘high-risk’ by many insurance companies.