What does cruise travel insurance cover?

Through Asda Money, you can add optional cruise cover to your travel insurance policy. Here’s what’s included when you choose this upgrade:

Missed departure

You can claim for accommodation and travel expenses if you miss your cruise departure point and have to travel to the next docking port. You must have a valid reason for missing the start of your cruise, including:

• A public transport failure – this can include a cancelled or delayed flight
  
  
• An accident or breakdown of the vehicle you’re travelling in
  
  
• An accident or breakdown on the road ahead (motorway or dual carriageway)
  
  
• A strike, industrial action or adverse weather conditions

Cabin confinement

You can claim compensation for any parts of the trip you missed if you’re confined to your cabin due to illness.

Itinerary change

Compensation for missing parts of your cruise if a port visit is cancelled due to adverse weather or timetable restrictions. This must be confirmed by the cruise operator in writing.

Unused excursions

Compensation for any missed excursions if you’ve been confined to your cabin due to illness.

Cruise interruption

If you fall ill on a cruise and need hospital treatment on dry land, your cruise insurance will cover you to reach the next port and re-join the cruise when you’re well enough.

Do you need specialist cruise insurance?

Cruise insurance isn’t a legal requirement, but it can offer additional protection for cruise-specific risks.

While standard travel insurance typically covers things like lost luggage or overseas medical treatment, it may not include situations unique to cruises – such as missing your ship’s departure, being confined to your cabin due to illness, or changes to your itinerary caused by weather.

Some cruise operators may also require you to have comprehensive insurance as part of their booking terms. In some cases, you might not be allowed to board without it.

Adding cruise cover to your travel insurance can help ensure you’re protected for these scenarios.

When should I buy cruise insurance?

If your cruise operator has terms and conditions that require you to have cruise-specific insurance cover, you’ll need to have this in place before you board the ship.

In many cases, arranging your cruise travel insurance as soon as you book can help ensure you’re protected for cancellation costs from the start.

How much does cruise travel insurance cost?

Cruise holiday insurance is an optional add-on for our travel insurance policies, whether single trip or multi-trip. The cost of your travel insurance is likely to be affected by:

• The policy you choose: Opting for a single trip insurance policy might be cheaper, but if you’re planning on travelling three times or more in 12 months, an annual multi-trip policy might work out to be the more cost-effective option.
  
  
• Where you’re travelling to: Medical costs in places like the USA, the Caribbean and Mexico can be much more expensive than Europe for example. Cruise travel insurance that covers these destinations will likely be more expensive.
  
  
• Your age: As we get older, the risk of needing medical treatment while travelling can increase, which may affect the cost of your travel insurance.
  
  
• Pre-existing medical conditions: If you already have medical conditions that may require treatment abroad, this will likely push up the cost of your travel insurance.
  
  
• What you plan to do on your cruise: If you’re planning to hit the golf course at one of the stops on your cruise or hoping to do some extreme sports or water sports, you may need to add specialist cover to your travel insurance policy. This can increase the cost.