Cruise travel insurance is a travel policy that includes (or adds) cover for the risks specific to a holiday at sea: medical treatment in the ship’s private medical centre, evacuation from the ship, missed port departures, cabin confinement and itinerary changes. For UK cruisers it is effectively essential, because your GHIC does not cover treatment on board and several major lines require suitable cover before you sail. In February 2026, average quotes for a 10-night Mediterranean cruise ranged from roughly £31 to £93 for a single trip, depending mostly on age.
Free: download our 2027 Luxury Cruise Calendar →
This guide explains what cruise insurance covers, what the cruise add-ons actually mean, how much to expect to pay and what to check before you buy. It is factual guidance rather than financial advice. Every policy is different, so always read the policy wording and the Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) before you commit.
What does cruise travel insurance cover?
A cruise policy is built on the same core sections as any good travel policy, with cruise-specific extras on top. These are the core sections to look at.
Cancellation
Cruises are usually paid in full well before departure, often 90 days or more ahead, and cancellation charges rise steeply as the sailing date gets closer. Cancellation cover can reimburse non-refundable costs if you have to cancel for an insured reason, such as serious illness, injury or bereavement. Check that the cancellation limit is at least as much as the total cost of your cruise, flights and pre-paid extras, per person.
Emergency medical expenses
This is the most important section. Medical centres on cruise ships are generally run privately, and you will be charged for consultations, tests and medicines, usually straight onto your onboard account. If you need hospital treatment ashore, costs in places such as the USA, Caribbean or Alaska can be very high. Most UK insurers offer medical limits in the millions of pounds. Several lines specify a minimum, so check your cruise line’s booking conditions as well as the policy.
Repatriation and ship-to-shore evacuation
If you fall seriously ill at sea, you may need to be taken off by tender, rescue boat or helicopter, then flown home once you are fit to travel. Check that the policy names ship-to-shore transfers or evacuation specifically, rather than assuming general medical cover includes it.
Cruise interruption
If you have to leave the cruise part-way through, for example because you are admitted to hospital in port, cruise interruption (sometimes called curtailment) can pay back the unused part of the holiday. It may also cover the cost of rejoining the ship at the next port, if that is possible.
Baggage and personal belongings
Baggage cover pays out for lost, stolen or damaged items, usually with a single-item limit and a valuables limit. If your case is delayed on the way to an overseas embarkation port, delayed baggage cover can help with essentials. Some cruise policies also include formal wear hire for the gala nights if your evening clothes go missing.
Is my GHIC enough on a cruise?
No. The NHS Business Services Authority states that a UK GHIC or EHIC does not cover any medical treatment you receive on board a cruise ship, even when the ship is docked. The card may still help with state-provided emergency or necessary treatment if you are taken to a public hospital in a European country, so it is worth carrying. It cannot replace insurance at sea, though, and it does not cover repatriation, evacuation or private treatment.
Can you cruise without insurance?
Travel insurance isn’t a legal requirement, but many cruise lines make it a condition of booking. P&O Cruises says all guests must have suitable travel insurance and may ask for proof. MoneySavingExpert notes that Cunard, P&O and Royal Caribbean are among the operators that require specific cruise cover. Even where a line doesn’t check, sailing uninsured means you would have to pay medical bills, evacuation and the cost of getting home yourself. Those costs can run into tens of thousands of pounds.
The cruise add-ons explained
These are the extras that set cruise insurance apart from a standard policy. They are usually small fixed benefits rather than full refunds, so check the limits in the policy wording.
| Cruise extra | What it usually covers | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Missed port departure | Costs of reaching the ship at its next port if you are late back to the ship (or miss embarkation) because of transport failure, accident or similar | Whether it applies at the start of the cruise, on excursions you booked yourself, or both |
| Cabin confinement | A daily cash benefit if the ship’s doctor confines you to your cabin for medical reasons | Daily amount, maximum days, and whether it needs written confirmation from the doctor |
| Itinerary change / missed port | A fixed payment for each scheduled port missed because of bad weather or other reasons | Many policies exclude missed ports where the line has already paid compensation |
| Unused excursions | Pre-paid shore excursions you could not use because of illness or a missed port | Maximum limit and whether excursions booked independently count |
| Cruise interruption | The unused part of your cruise if you have to leave the ship | How the refund is worked out (per day, or a percentage of cost) |
| Formal wear hire | Hiring evening clothes if yours are lost or delayed | Usually a modest limit |
How much does cruise insurance cost?
Prices depend on age, medical history, destination, trip length, the cost of the holiday and the level of cover. As an indication, MoneySavingExpert’s February 2026 averages for a £2,000, 10-night Mediterranean cruise (no medical conditions, standard limits) were:
| Traveller age | Single trip (average) | Annual multi-trip (average) |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | about £31 | about £43 |
| 60 | about £40 | about £68 |
| 70 | about £93 | about £151 |
Treat these as a rough guide only. Your own quote may be very different. Declaring pre-existing medical conditions usually raises the price, and worldwide cover that includes the USA, Caribbean or Alaska costs more than Europe-only cover.
How to get the right cruise insurance at a fair price
- Buy soon after booking. Cancellation cover only works if the policy is in place before something goes wrong, so it makes sense to arrange cover as soon as you have paid your deposit.
- Choose the right region. A Mediterranean cruise that calls at Turkey, Egypt or Morocco, or a Canary Islands sailing, may need a different area band from an all-EU itinerary. Check how your insurer treats every port on the route, including any flights to the ship.
- Compare single-trip and annual policies. An annual multi-trip policy can work out cheaper if you take two or more holidays a year. However, Which? reported in January 2026, citing Go.Compare analysis of Defaqto data, that 32% of annual policies include cruise cover only as a paid add-on and 14% offer none at all. Check that the cruise section is actually included.
- Check trip-length limits. Most policies with cruise cover cap each trip at about 31 to 59 days, and some are shorter for older travellers. This matters for world cruises, long voyages and back-to-backs.
- Consider a joint or family policy. Couples and families can often insure everyone on one policy, which is usually simpler and sometimes cheaper than separate policies.
- Use comparison sites carefully. Comparison sites make it quick to see prices, but you must select cruise cover and then check the details yourself. Compare excesses, medical limits, cancellation limits and the cruise section, not just the headline price.
- Declare every medical condition. Non-disclosure is one of the most common reasons claims are turned down. Specialist insurers cover many conditions that mainstream policies decline.
If you are still choosing a sailing, our cruise booking tips cover deposits and payment deadlines, which affect when you need cover to start.
FCDO advice, ABTA protection and insurance: how they fit together
FCDO travel advice. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises travellers to get appropriate insurance that covers their itinerary, activities and emergency expenses. Most insurers will not cover you in a country or area the FCDO advises against all travel, or all but essential travel. Check FCDO advice for each port of call before you book, and again shortly before you sail.
ABTA and ATOL. If you book a cruise package with an ABTA member, or a fly-cruise that is ATOL protected, you are protected if the travel company goes bust: you get a refund before travel, or help getting home if you are already away. That protection does not cover medical bills, cancellation for personal reasons or cutting a trip short. Travel insurance covers those, so the two do different jobs and most cruisers benefit from having both.
Supplier failure. If you book parts of a trip separately, such as a scheduled flight to Miami or a hotel before embarkation, check whether your policy covers the failure of those suppliers. Not every policy does.
Practical checklist before you sail
- Pack your policy number and the 24-hour emergency assistance number, and save them on your phone.
- Ask the medical centre for itemised bills and keep every receipt. Insurers usually need them for a claim.
- Get written confirmation of cabin confinement or missed ports from the ship (Guest Services can usually provide this).
- Contact your insurer’s assistance line early in any serious medical situation, before agreeing to an evacuation or hospital transfer where you can.
- Carry your GHIC for land-based care in Europe.
First cruise? Our first time cruise tips cover everything else to sort before embarkation day. If you are still looking for a sailing, see our roundup of cruise deals for 2027.
Ship doctors can charge for even minor treatment, so it is worth reading our guide on how to prevent seasickness on a cruise as well as checking your cover.
FAQs
Do I need special insurance for a cruise?
Usually, yes. Standard travel policies often leave out cabin confinement, missed port departure, itinerary changes and ship-to-shore evacuation, and several lines, including P&O Cruises, Cunard and Royal Caribbean, require suitable cruise cover. Check that your policy includes a cruise section.
Does my annual travel insurance cover cruises?
Not always. Which? reported in January 2026 that about a third of annual policies offer cruise cover only as a paid add-on, and 14% don’t offer it at all. Check your policy wording or ask your insurer.
Does the GHIC work on a cruise ship?
No. According to the NHS Business Services Authority, the GHIC and EHIC do not cover any treatment on board a cruise ship, even in port. They may help with state treatment in a European hospital ashore.
How much is cruise travel insurance in the UK?
As a rough guide, MoneySavingExpert’s February 2026 averages for a 10-night Mediterranean cruise were about £31 to £93 for a single trip, depending on age. Medical conditions and worldwide cover raise prices.
Is ABTA protection the same as travel insurance?
No. ABTA and ATOL protect your money if the travel company fails. Travel insurance covers medical emergencies, personal cancellation and curtailment.
