Cruise holidays are an unforgettable way to see the world - waking up in a new destination each morning, enjoying fine dining and live entertainment on board, and experiencing the very best of travel without the hassle of unpacking more than once.
At ROL Cruise, we believe your journey should be as stress-free as possible from the moment you book to the moment you step back on dry land, but if something does go wrong at sea, costs can quickly add up.
That’s why cruise travel insurance is so important. However, the policy wording can feel like another language. We caught up with our award-winning travel insurance partners Just Travel Cover to help make sense of it all and what you need to look out for.
A guide to travel insurance for cruise travellers
“Travel insurance can be complex, and at Just Travel Cover, we want to make it as simple as possible. Let’s dive straight into the difference between a normal travel insurance policy and one with Cruise Travel Benefit.
A standard travel insurance policy generally covers you for any land-based trip overseas or in the UK and does not automatically include cruise cover. Cruise cover is an add-on or section of a travel insurance policy designed specifically for cruise holidays and includes everything in a standard travel insurance policy, but with the added protection for the unique risks that the open waters bring.
Cruise Specific Benefits:
Missed Port Departure
What it means: Compensation if you miss your cruise departure due to events outside your control, such as flight delays or bad weather. This can help with the cost of rejoining the ship at the next port if your delay is due to something outside your control, like a cancelled train or motorway accident.
Cabin Confinement
What it means: If you’re confined to your cabin by the ship’s medical team due to illness or injury, this element of cruise cover can provide compensation for days you may have missed.
Unused Excursions
What it means: Reimbursement if you have been unable to partake in your prepaid excursion due to cabin confinement.
Itinerary Change
What it means: Compensation if your cruise itinerary changes due to unforeseen events. This can sometimes be referred to as missed port cover with other insurance providers.
Cruise Interruptions
What it means: Will reimburse unused portions of your trip or additional transport costs if you must leave the cruise early due to an emergency, and will cover the costs to return you to your ship if you are deemed medically fit to continue.
It is worth noting that insurers do not always use the same terminology. It is essential to always refer to the policy wording and ensure that it covers your needs, as both terms and limits can differ per insurer.
Tips from Just Travel Cover
Whether you’re embarking on a short European sailing or a world cruise that spans several continents, having the right cover in place is essential.
You can choose single-trip cover for one-off holidays, or annual multi-trip insurance if you’re planning several cruises in a year.
When booking cruise insurance, always confirm that your specific cruise type (e.g. river cruise, ocean cruise, or even world cruise) is included. At Just Travel Cover, we will ask for all the countries you will be visiting on your cruise itinerary. It is important that you provide all countries with a single trip policy, and for annual policies, ensure that you have the right region. There are two worldwide policies, such as worldwide 1 and 2, and the difference between these is one exclusion. USA/Canada and the Caribbean, and the other includes it.
We also offer up to £15 million for emergency medical expenses and repatriation home (including emergency repatriation), cancellation cover, no upper age limit and cover for hundreds of pre-existing medical conditions.”
At ROL Cruise, we believe your cruise should be a time to relax, indulge, and explore - without worrying about what might go wrong. That’s why we recommend Just Travel Cover, specialists in cruise and medical travel insurance, offering tailored policies with robust protection and award-winning service.
Get your quotes today and set sail with confidence.
