Is cruise travel insurance mandatory?

While cruise travel insurance isn’t required by law, many cruise lines expect you to have it before you set sail. P&O Cruises, for example, states that travel insurance is mandatory for every passenger, and your policy must:

• Cover cruise holidays
• Cover your full trip from start to finish
• Include all destinations you’ll visit
• Provide medical and repatriation cover of at least £2 million
• Include cover for any declared pre-existing medical conditions

How travel insurance can help protect your next voyage

Even the best-planned cruise can hit choppy waters. A medical issue could crop up, your baggage could go missing, or an unexpected cancellation could put your plans on hold.

Here’s why it’s worth getting standard travel insurance for your next cruise.

• Onboard medical treatment can be costly. Travel insurance can cover emergency treatment if you fall ill or get injured on a cruise, which can be pricey, especially if you need specialist medical transport.
• Repatriation can cost more in remote locations. If you’re too unwell to sail as planned and need to get home safely, travel insurance can help cover the costs.
• Even the best-planned cruises need a backup plan. If you need to cancel or cut your cruise short due to illness, a family emergency or other unforeseen events, your travel insurance policy can cover eligible costs so you’re not left out of pocket.
• Sometimes baggage doesn’t make it onboard. Travel insurance can step in if you lose your baggage, passport or personal items and help get you back on track to enjoying your cruise.
• Health conditions can flare up. If you declare your pre-existing medical conditions and Staysure accepts them, your travel insurance can cover related flare-ups while you’re exploring the seven seas.

Not all cruise travel insurance policies are created equal

Cruises work differently from a hotel stay or a single-destination break. Your ship follows a planned route, and you may spend several days at sea before reaching the next stop. That can make getting the right travel insurance more important than many people realise.

When comparing travel insurance for a cruise, think about:

• Cruise line requirements: Some cruise lines ask passengers to have specific levels of medical and repatriation cover before boarding.
• Pre-existing medical conditions and your age: Check that your policy covers your pre-existing medical conditions and your age. Not every insurer does, and that could leave you with out-of-pocket costs abroad.
• Medical and repatriation cover limits: Make sure your emergency medical and repatriation expenses limit is generous enough for the places you’re visiting. Costs can vary dramatically from country to country.
• Cancellation and curtailment: Your cover should reflect the full cost of your non-refundable bookings, just in case your plans change and you need to cancel or cut your cruise short.
• Baggage and personal items: Taking less with you could mean choosing a lower baggage limit and help bring your premium down.
• Emergency assistance: Travel insurance with extra on-the-ground medical support, such as a 24/7 emergency helpline, can make it easier to get support when you need it most.
• Excess amount: A higher excess can reduce your premium, but will cost more if you make a claim. Compare policy levels and pick an excess that suits your plans.
• Pre-paid excursions: Shore trips, tours and experiences can be a big part of your holiday spend. Make sure they’re covered on your standard policy or get extra cover if needed.
• Cruise-specific disruption: Missed ports, itinerary changes and cabin confinement may not come as standard on a normal policy.

Why Staysure’s Cruise Plus add-on cover is worth considering

Standard travel insurance is a smart first step, but it may not cover every cruise-related hiccup. That’s where Staysure’s Cruise Plus add-on comes in. It can be added to Comprehensive and Signature policies and offers extra protection for ocean and river cruises, including:

• Missed port departure: A cruise is the only holiday where your bedroom keeps moving, so missed port departure cover matters if you need to catch up with the ship.
• Cabin confinement: If illness means you’re advised to stay in your cabin, Staysure will pay up to £75 for every full 24 hours you’re confined, up to a total of £1,000.
• Unused excursions due to cabin confinement: If you’ve booked and paid for an excursion but can’t go because you’re confined to your cabin, eligible costs can be covered.
• Changes to your itinerary: If your cruise schedule changes and you miss planned stops, you can be compensated for eligible disruption.
• Cruise interruptions: If your trip is disrupted and you need to leave early, Staysure may be able to help with additional costs.

Dream Big and get up to 20% off travel insurance with Staysure

At Staysure, we believe you should Dream Big, whether you’re young or young at heart. That’s why we provide award-winning travel insurance for over 1,300 pre-existing medical conditions, and all ages.*

With us, you can get unlimited cover for emergency medical and repatriation costs,** flexible cancellation protection from £4,000 to £15,000, baggage cover, 24/7 emergency support abroad and 24/7 free access to an English-speaking doctor abroad with Travel Doctor.*** Both our Comprehensive and Signature policies are Which? Best Buys and Defaqto 5-star rated.

With more 5-star Trustpilot reviews than any other provider, there’s never been a better time to set sail with the UK’s favourite travel insurance.