Should I Buy Cruise Insurance? Complete Guide to Coverage

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• CRUISE HIVE NEWSLETTER
• Should you buy travel insurance through a cruise line? Maybe not, experts say
• Holland America Line Touts ‘Glacier Day’ Perks on Alaska Voyages
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• What’s the Royal Caribbean vacation protection plan?

Many cruise lines partner with an insurance company to underwrite its policy benefits. "And then that next level is what you're purchasing to extend that coverage or to get better coverage or to have more reasons or whatever," she said. The one advantage that cruise line plans have is that they typically offer cancel for any reason coverage included. Royal Caribbean’s plan, for example, will reimburse you 90% of what you’ve paid for your cruise if you cancel for any reason. Just know that the refund is applied as a future cruise credit — not a cash payment as you’d get with the coverage from a traditional travel insurer.

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If you have a medical condition, then it makes sense to find a plan that would cover that. Some policies will include or exclude certain pre-existing health conditions, so be sure to investigate which one works for you. I've covered the cruise industry for many years, and unforeseen circumstances that lead to a last-minute cruise cancellation are probably right at the top of most common stories I've heard from readers. And it's usually the ones without travel insurance that end up writing a long winded post on a forum why they're stuck.

Should you buy travel insurance through a cruise line? Maybe not, experts say

Without insurance, you're on the hook for out of pocket expenses not refunded by the cruise line. In 2023, Royal Caribbean listed 32 different price points for its insurance, based on the total vacation cost. Its cheapest plan was $39 for a cruise value up to $250 to a $1,799 policy for a cruise costing more than $14,001.

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In some cases, policies don’t reference cruising specifically but rather that travelling despite a travel warning or travel ban, will result in a lack of coverage. Again, for cruise travel insurance, we suggest looking at a site like InsureMyTrip.com. This site searches many companies at once to find the right insurance for you and your trip and bring you all your choices.

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The travel protection program reimburses for medical expenses as well as emergency transportation by air or land. Before buying this coverage, compare your options against your credit card benefits. You might also shop for general travel insurance policies to see if you can get a better deal than what’s offered through your cruise line. Cruisers can have different and unique travel needs compared to traditional travelers.

ALL YOUR TRAVEL NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF

These policies are available at a variety of price points to meet a traveler's budget. When comparing policy options, you can balance price versus coverage options. The Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program offers minimal coverage for a relatively similar price as other available options. The medical insurance coverage is only $25,000, and only $50,000 medical evacuation, which may not be adequate for a serious illness or injury. Cancellation reasons are limited, and the Cancel For Any Reason option only grants future cruise credits that expire after a year. Overall, the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program offers limited value for the price.

If you must cancel, interrupt, or seek medical treatment for a medical condition while traveling, travel insurance policies typically exclude claims related to Pre-existing Medical Conditions. However, if you purchase the policy within a few days of your Initial Trip Payment or Deposit date, many policies add a Waiver to the policy that covers Pre-existing Conditions. As a result, there is no Look Back Period and Pre-existing Conditions are covered. Alternatively, travel insurance policies like John Hancock Silver (CFAR 75%) pay a 75% cash refund of all prepaid, non-refundable trip costs including arrangements made outside of Royal Caribbean.

Pre-existing medical conditions can affect coverage and may require a waiver for full coverage. There are many different travel insurance companies, such as Travelguard, AIG Travel, Allianz Travel Insurance, and Travelex Insurance. The first thing to do is call your insurance company when you think you're about to do something that will be covered by the policy. It never hurts to ask to verify the scenario playing out is indeed covered, and what steps you should take along the way. The most common issue with travel insurance is wanting to change your plans arbitrarily, especially during hurricane season. Royal Caribbean sells its own Travel Protection Program, which is actually provided by a third-party company Aon Affinity.

What’s the Royal Caribbean vacation protection plan?

Whether you are looking for affordability or the best coverage, all your options are laid out for you. Prices will vary based on company, trip length, cost, who is being covered, and the sort of coverage you choose. Most companies also offer different levels of plan that have different limits and thus, higher or lower prices. Additionally, a cruise vacation, like any other type of travel, poses a risk for trip interruption, delays, and other unexpected issues. From a bag getting lost in transit to flight cancellations, it’s always better to be protected than to not have insurance when you need it most.

Philip Perrey took a cruise with his family to Mexico in November, but navigating the travel insurance they purchased to protect their trip proved to be anything but a vacation. One important thing to note is that these policies rarely give 100% of your entire trip fare back. Still, considering that you get nothing back if you cancel for a non-covered reason, this additional coverage is often worth the cost. Pre-Existing Condition Coverage – Most of us know that insurance is hesitant to cover pre-existing conditions. If this is important to you, make sure you double check the specific policy, which will make it very clear if pre-existing conditions are covered or not. Lost/Stolen Luggage – Most of the time lost or stolen luggage isn’t so much about the money as the pain of having to replace everything.

And also, you may find that the food at the specialty restaurants is better than the main dining hall food. It's also a good idea to budget for the upgrades you may decide to pay for. Although that's a personal choice, here are three specific cruise upgrades you might appreciate as a first-timer.

And if you tend to need downtime during your travels, then the higher cost may be worth it if you can swing it. Now the cost to upgrade to a balcony room will depend on a number of factors, such as your cruise line, the length of your trip, and the number of people in your booking. But as an example, for a five-night Royal Caribbean cruise in June, the cost for two guests to stay in an interior room is $652. Plenty of family-friendly cruise ships have waterslides, but few have six — or even one that requires a multi-person raft. Turn the journey to your cruise into an enjoyable experience with Brightline's convenient train service.

We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. Most insurance companies list Covid related travel products on their websites. A detailed review of the terms and conditions or frequently asked questions (FAQs) section is often required to determine what is included, or more importantly what’s not included.