Cruise travel insurance

What is cruise travel insurance?

Typically, 'cruise insurance' isn't an actual standalone policy. Rather, you'll need to buy a normal travel insurance policy, check if it includes cruise cover, and add it as an optional extra if it doesn't include it by default.

Travel insurance for domestic and international cruises

Domestic cruise travel insurance

When organising travel insurance for your cruise, it's suggested you purchase an international policy, even if your cruise isn't leaving Australia. This is because domestic travel insurance policies do not include cover for medical expenses and the medical expenses onboard a cruise ship can be extremely costly.

Importantly, Medicare is unlikely to cover you for any medical care you need onboard the ship, even if you're within Australia. To be covered by Medicare, the onboard doctor would have to be Medicare registered and this is unlikely to occur because the major cruise lines aren't typically owned by Australian companies.

Therefore, those taking off on a cruise around Australia are encouraged to take out an international travel insurance policy because then it'll cover you for eligible medical expenses.

International cruise travel insurance

This one is simple. If you're going on a cruise that takes you internationally, you just need to purchase an international policy and make sure you've got cruise cover either included by default or added as an optional extra.

Is cruise insurance mandatory?

For some cruise lines, purchasing insurance before departure is mandatory. For others, it's not. Whether or not you need this will likely depend on where you're going, the length of your trip and the cruise line. Because of this, there's no rule that's consistent among them all.

Your cruise line or travel agent will let you know if you need to arrange travel insurance before you depart.

Does cruise insurance cover you for the time you spend onshore?

It does, yes. You can be covered in a few ways:

• Your policy inclusions for things like medical cover and personal effects will apply both on land and while you're onboard the ship.
• You can have cover for more specific things like shore excursions by ensuring you pick a policy that covers events such as; trip disruption expenses, trip cancellation expenses, travel delay expenses and rental vehicle excess.

Keep in mind, the above discusses benefits that are typically available. Not all will be included by default, you'll likely have to add some of these benefits as optional extras. Every product disclosure statement is different, be sure to read it thoroughly.

What does cruise insurance cover?

Below is a list of benefits that a travel insurance policy with cruise cover can include. Every provider's policy inclusions differ so be sure to read the PDS to know exactly what you're covered for.

Common cruise woes and how travel insurance can help

Scenario	How cruise travel insurance can help
You get gastro and can't leave your room.	If you have a policy that covers cabin confinement then you could claim for this.
You encounter rough seas, get sea sick and need to visit the onboard doctor.	Onboard medical costs are covered so your visit to the doctor and the cost of the sea sickness anti-nausea injection can be covered.
You have bad weather and can't dock at one of the islands on your trip. This means you can't go to your pre-paid onshore activity.	If you have a policy that includes cover for pre-paid onshore excursions, you can claim for this.

FAQs

• Do you need special travel insurance for a cruise?

  There's no 'special' travel insurance for cruises but you do need to ensure your policy covers cruises. To do this, you can go to purchase a regular travel insurance and then add cruise cover as an optional extra. If cruise cover isn't available as an option, it could be because:

  1. They don't offer cruise insurance. In this case, look for another insurer.
  2. It may be included by default. If you can't find cruise cover in the optional extras, check to see if it's included in your policy by default. You can do this by checking the product disclosure statement (PDS) on the provider's website.

• Will Medicare cover be if I'm onboard a cruise within Australia?

  No, it's highly unlikely that Medicare will cover you if you're onboard a cruise, even if you're travelling within Australia. This is because the doctor would have to be registered with Medicare and that's not likely given that most cruise lines are not Australian owned.