Travel Insurance Benefits for Cruises
US Residents Can Protect Their Cruises to Destinations Like the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Antarctica and More
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At a glance
- World Nomads offers four plans that cover cruise trips, with some plans that offer more benefits and higher limits of coverage
- Coverage may apply to cruises visiting a variety of locations – including the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe and even Antarctica
- You may be covered for more than 250+ activities that you participate in onboard your ship or during shore excursions
- Benefits may include trip cancellation, accident and sickness medical expense, medical evacuation and repatriation of remains, baggage delay and more
- An optional ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ upgrade may be available for the Explorer and Epic plans offered by World Nomads (Not available for New York residents.)
- Why should you consider travel insurance benefits for cruises?
- What May Be Covered by Travel Insurance Benefits for Cruises
- Some exclusions that may not be covered
- Maximum Benefit Amounts
- Things to Consider When Choosing Travel Insurance benefits for a Cruise to Antarctica
- Our Recommended Tips for Cruises
- FAQs
Why should you consider travel insurance benefits for cruises?
There are plenty of exciting opportunities for US residents hoping to vacation on the high seas. According to data from the 2025 State of the Cruise Industry Report, Caribbean cruises are the most popular, making up 43% of all cruise passengers*. However, you could also take a river cruise through the wine regions in France or cruise to remote destinations like Antarctica.
Hopefully your cruise will be smooth sailing, but there’s the possibility of unexpected surprises that you can’t plan for. What if there’s an unexpected storm that prevents your ship from sailing? Or perhaps your airline delays your flight to your departure city and your ship leaves without you. Nobody wants to think about getting hurt or sick while on a cruise, but that happens too, and it can get quite costly if you have to evacuate to a hospital. Because of the unanticipated situations that can arise when cruising, you may want to consider a travel protection plan that includes travel insurance benefits for cruises.
What May Be Covered by Travel Insurance Benefits for Cruises
- Unexpected Medical Emergency Expenses
- Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Trip Delay
- Lost, Stolen or Delayed Baggage
- 250+ Adventure Sports and Activities
- Natural Disasters
- Trip Exchange (Included in the Explorer and Epic plans)
- Missed Connections (Included in the Explorer and Epic plans)
- Travel Inconvenience (May be included in the Explorer and Epic plans)
Some exclusions that may not be covered
- Losing track of time while at a port of call and missing your boat
- Activities not listed as covered in your plan
- Any medical bills related to a pre-existing condition, unless you purchased the Epic or Explorer plan during the time-sensitive period and qualified for the pre-existing condition exclusion waiver. Additional terms apply.
- Unattended baggage or personal items
- Injuries that happen while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Maximum Benefit Amounts
| Standard Plan | Explorer Plan | Epic Plan | Annual Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Accident and Sickness Medical Expense: up to a maximum of $125,000 Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains: up to a maximum of $400,000 Get a quote |
Accident and Sickness Medical Expense: up to a maximum of $150,000 Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains: up to a maximum of $500,000 Trip Exchange: up to 50% of Trip Cost, up to a maximum of $2,500 Travel Inconvenience: $250 per each inconvenience, up to a maximum of $500 Get a quote |
Accident and Sickness Medical Expense: up to a maximum of $250,000 Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains: up to a maximum of $700,000 Trip Exchange: up to 50% of Trip Cost, up to a maximum of $5,000. Travel Inconvenience: $250 per each inconvenience, up to a maximum of $750. Get a quote |
Accident and Sickness Medical Expense : up to a maximum of $100,000 per trip Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains: up to a maximum of $100,000 per trip Get a quote |
(See Plan Documents for Complete List of Benefits). Terms and conditions apply, review state specific plan documents for available benefits.
Things to Consider When Choosing Travel Insurance benefits for a Cruise to Antarctica
An Antarctica cruise, and the infamous Drake Passage, offers a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. However, according to the US State Department*, travelers should “exercise increased caution in Antarctica due to environmental hazards posed by extreme and unpredictable weather and limited emergency services.” Their website also clearly states: “We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel.”
There are a few things that you should take into consideration when picking out travel protection plans for your Antarctica cruise, though.
- Cruises to Antarctica are a big investment. Add up how much you’re spending on your cruise. Take that into consideration when you get a quote and compare travel protection plans. You’ll want to make sure you choose the proper plan that is sufficient to cover your investment.
- A cruise to Antarctica isn’t for everyone, and if you think there’s potential that you’ll change your mind, you may want to add-on the optional ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ coverage within the time-sensitive period. (This benefit is only available for those who purchase the Explorer or Epic plan, and is not available for New York residents.)
- This frigid continent is 1.5 times bigger than the United States. It’s a massive place, but very remote – and you won’t find hospitals or doctor’s offices there. Medical emergencies may require evacuation to a country with the nearest suitable facilities that can help you – and that can be a very expensive evacuation when coming from Antarctica. You may want to consider a plan with high maximum limits for medical evacuation, just in case.
- A cruise itinerary that includes Antarctica will usually include a flight to a departure port such as Ushuaia, Argentina. A delayed or canceled flight could cause your ship to leave for Antarctica without you, though. Missed connection benefits are included in the Explorer and Epic plans, and may assist with situations such as this.
World Nomads Travel Insurance offers four plans that include coverage for cruises to Antarctica. Cheaper isn’t always the best option, though, so do your research and pick the plan that is best for you. If you have any questions about what is covered, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Our Recommended Tips for Cruises
As cruise travelers ourselves, we’ve learned a few things along the way during our time on the open seas. Before you set sail, we encourage you to consider getting a travel protection plan that includes travel insurance benefits for cruises. We also want to share a few of our other tips for having a great cruise.
- Arrive at your departure city at least a day before your cruise sets sail.
While cruise travel insurance benefits may help with costs associated with canceled or delayed flights on your way to your departure port, your ship isn’t going to wait on you if you’re running behind. To avoid the possibility of your ship sailing away without you, try to arrive in your departure city with plenty of time to spare. You may even find some fun things to do there before your cruise.
- Book excursions before you leave home.
If there’s a shore excursion that you have your heart set on, make sure you book it early. If you’ve been dreaming of whale watching in Juneau and wait too long to book it, you may be super bummed if you miss out. Excursions can sell out quickly and there may be limited options once you’re onboard.
- Take a carry-on bag.
You’ll be boarding the ship before your luggage reaches your cabin, so take along a small bag that includes medication, phone chargers, and anything else you may need. If you’re planning to head straight to the pool, go ahead and throw your swimsuit and some sunscreen in your bag as well.
- Don’t assume that everything is included in the price of your cruise.
Before your trip, review exactly what is included in your cruise package. Some cruises are all-inclusive, but many have drink packages or certain onboard activities that may cost extra. It’s best to know beforehand so you’re not surprised once you get onboard. Sometimes you can also save money if you purchase those packages ahead of time.
- Save the phone number and plan number for your travel protection plan in your phone.
It’s not a bad idea to have a printed copy of this in your cabin as well, but we know our phones rarely leave us. If something happens on the ship or at one of your ports of call, you’ll be able to easily contact us.
- Sign up for the Department of State’s STEP Program.
If you’re traveling internationally, you can sign up for this service for free. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service that allows US citizens to be contacted quickly in case there is an emergency at any of your destinations.
FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about cover for cruises. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.
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Which plan might you want to consider for a cruise?
Every cruise traveler is different, and only you can determine the suitable travel protection plan for your particular cruise needs.
For US residents, World Nomads offers four options for plans that include travel insurance benefits for cruises – the Standard, Explorer, Epic, and Annual plans. The Standard Plan is the most basic plan, but still offers many travel insurance benefits for cruise travelers.
If you're going to be participating in adventurous excursions, you may want to check out the Explorer or Epic plans, as they may cover more activities. Think about all of the activities that you’ll be participating in on the ship, as well as your shore excursions.
You’ll also see that the Explorer and Epic plans include more benefits, such as trip exchange, trip inconvenience, and missed connection coverage. These plans also offer higher limits of coverage. If you’re purchasing a costly trip, such as a cruise to Antarctica, you may want to consider the Epic plan since it has the highest maximum benefit limits.
If you’ll be going on multiple trips throughout the year (even here in the US), you may want to consider the Annual Plan when you’re doing your comparison of travel insurance coverage options.
We encourage you to compare the coverage side by side when you get a quote. Read the plan documents, and if there’s something you don’t understand, contact us.
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Does my regular health insurance cover medical care on a cruise?
You’ll need to check with your health insurance provider about that. However, it’s possible that your health insurance may only pay a small portion, if any, of your medical expenses onboard your ship, or at any of your ports of call. Because of the unanticipated situations that can arise when cruising, you may want to get a quote for a travel protection plan that includes accident & sickness medical expense coverage.
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What happens if my plane is delayed and my cruise leaves without me?
If your flight is delayed for at least 3 consecutive hours for a covered reason and it causes your cruise to leave without you, the missed connection insurance benefit included in the Explorer and Epic plans may reimburse you for the cost, up to the plan maximum outlined in your plan documents, to join your cruise at their next stop. You may have to catch a flight and board the boat at the next port of call, and your plan may reimburse you for the cost of that additional flight you didn’t plan for. If you miss out on any special activities that you had paid for in advance on the cruise, you may also be reimbursed for those unused, forfeited, prepaid non-refundable payments and deposits for your land or water travel arrangements you made for your trip.
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Are cruises to Antarctica covered by travel insurance?
World Nomads Travel Insurance offers four plans that include coverage for cruises to Antarctica. Since that’s a large investment, pay attention to the levels of coverage when you get a quote for a travel protection plan that includes travel insurance benefits for cruises. The Epic Plan is the most expensive, but it has more benefits than some of the others, covers more activities, and has the highest maximum benefit amounts. If you have any questions about what is covered, don’t hesitate to contact us.
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Can my cruise operator change the dates of my cruise?
Sometimes your cruise may notify you of changes in your itinerary that can affect other elements of your trip. For example, if your small adventure cruise to the Galapagos Islands doesn’t meet the minimum number of people for the cruise, they may move your booking to their next scheduled cruise a week later. In this instance, if you purchased the Explorer or Epic Plans, the trip exchange insurance benefit is included in your plan and may reimburse you for the difference in cost between the original and new plane tickets and pre-cruise hotel rooms. Please note that the travel exchange benefit is not available for residents of Missouri, Montana, New York, and Washington. Terms and conditions apply.
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How much does a cruise travel protection plan cost?
You can easily get a quote for a plan that includes travel insurance benefits for your cruise. It just takes a few minutes to input the specific information for your cruise and see prices. You’ll then be able to compare the coverage and prices side by side to pick the best plan for your particular cruise.
You’ll see the Explorer and Epic plans are pricier than the Standard plan, but they may cover more activities and offer higher maximum benefit limits. If you’ve invested a lot of money into a luxury cruise, or one that goes to Antarctica, you may want to take the maximum benefit amounts into consideration to verify that you may be protected at the level you’re comfortable with.
If you have questions about coverage or pricing, you can contact us and we can help answer any questions you may have.
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Can I cancel my cruise if I decide I don’t want to go?
Trip cancellation insurance benefits are included in all single-trip and annual domestic travel protection plans offered by World Nomads and this gives you the opportunity to cancel your trip before you depart – but only for covered reasons. You may be reimbursed for unused, forfeited, prepaid, non-refundable expenses that you paid for in advance if your situation is one of the covered cancellation events listed in your plan documents.
‘Cancel for any reason’ coverage allows you to cancel for a wider range of reasons (including changing your mind), but it isn’t automatically included. It’s an optional add-on for US residents (not available to NY residents) that’s available if you purchase the Epic or Explorer plan within seven days of paying the first deposit on your trip. This is called the ‘time sensitive period’. With ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ coverage, benefits will be paid for up to 75% of prepaid and non-refundable deposits and payments you made towards your canceled trip. Terms and conditions apply.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Protection
Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
- Standard Plan: $2,500
- Explorer Plan: $10,000
- Epic Plan: $15,000
- Annual Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalized?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Insurance
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
- Standard Plan: $125,000
- Explorer Plan: $150,000
- Epic Plan: $250,000
- Annual Plan: $100,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Evacuation
We'll provide assistance to get you to the hospital or home quickly.
- Standard Plan: $400,000
- Explorer Plan: $500,000
- Epic Plan: $700,000
- Annual Plan: $100,000
Emergency Evacuation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medevac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Covers the loss, theft or damage of your bags, tech and gear.
- Standard Plan: $1,000
- Explorer Plan: $2,000
- Epic Plan: $3,000
- Annual Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
The amounts listed represent the maximum benefit amount.
Protect your health
- 24/7 Emergency Assistance Help Line
- Emergency Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Evacuations
- Bedside Companion Travel
- Emergency Medications
Protect Your Trip
- Trip Cancellation
- Optional Cancel for Any Reason (Explorer or Epic)
- Trip Delay & Trip Interruption
- Missed Connection (Explorer or Epic)
- Rental Car Damage (Explorer, Epic or Annual)
Protect Your Stuff
- Baggage Delay
- Passport and Visa Loss
- Lost or Stolen Bags
- Personal Tech, Equipment & Gear
- Baggage Return After Evacuation
Non-Insurance Services
- Medical & Non-Medical 24/7 Emergency Assistance Line
- Translators Available
- Pre-Departure Telehealth Services
- Portable Health Records
- Delayed or Lost Baggage Tracking and Delivery
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.