What type of travel insurance do I need for a cruise?
Cruise travel insurance policies can include:
- Specialist, cruise-only policies
- General policies that include cruises
- General policies that offer add-on cruise insurance for an extra fee
The type of cruise insurance you require will depend on factors, including:
- Cruise activities, on and off the ship
- If you're travelling before you embark or after the cruise finishes.
- The length of the cruise
- Travelling party
- Your budget
- Your cruise destinations
- Your desired level of cover
Keep in mind that if you're planning an overseas holiday, or cruise, some countries require travel insurance (including medical cover) as a condition of entry.
What does cruise travel insurance cover?
Depending on the level of cover you choose, and the provider's policies, cruise travel insurance can provide cover for:
- Death, disability and funeral expenses
- Emergency extraction from the cruise ship
- Legal liability
- Luggage and personal effects
- Hijack/kidnap
- Overseas medical and hospital expenses
- Repatriation
The provider may also offer add-on insurance for:
- Expensive items, such as camera equipment, golf clubs and mobile phones
- Ski and winter sports
What does cruise travel insurance not cover?
An exclusion is something not covered by an insurance policy. Typical cruise insurance exclusions include:
- Certain pre-existing medical conditions
- Civil unrest or war, terrorist acts
- Dangerous adventure tourism activities that are not usually part of regular cruise entertainment options, such as bungee jumping, skiing or skydiving. You may need an add-on policy to cover these activities.
- Deliberate self-injury
- Government action: this can include having something confiscated at customs, or a government action that results in loss
- Not complying with the conditions of your ticket
- Reckless/irresponsible behaviour, such as acting under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or not exercising common caution, such as leaving items unattended
As there can often be extra exclusions in cruise insurance policies, it's a good idea to check if you're covered for:
- Cancellation or postponement: Check the conditions under which you can claim, and the levels of cover in the event of trip cancellation and postponement.
- On-ship activities: Some cruise ships now include a range of activities that would be considered extreme sports on land, let alone when attempted on rolling seas. For example, waterslides, ziplines, adventure parks and rock climbing. It's a good idea to check what's on offer on your cruise and if the activities are covered under your base policy. You may have to consider adding adventure sports cover.
What is the best cruise insurance in New Zealand?
The best travel insurance for a cruise ultimately depends on your particular needs and preferences, but there are some considerations that can help you narrow down your choices.
Whether or not a cruise travel policy is the best for your needs depends on how closely your policy matches your cover needs and budget.
Think about what you'll be doing on your travels, the risks involved, and if you could manage financially if you encountered a major problem. Here are some general tips for choosing a cruise travel insurance policy:
- Make sure the policy covers the type of cruise you're taking. For example, you may need a certain type of policy if you are staying within New Zealand waters (a domestic cruise), or if you're travelling into international waters, or taking a river cruise in a different country.
- Check the policy limits to make sure they're sufficient for your needs. This includes claim limits and sub limits, which set out the maximum amount you could receive for certain types of claims, such as expensive cameras or lost jewellery.
- Be sure to read the policy's Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) carefully, to learn what is and isn't covered. For example, there could be exclusions around pre-existing health conditions, which could be a problem if you require medical treatment while away. Also, cruises often involve adventurous onboard and onshore activities. So, you may need to purchase add-on cover for any risky activities not listed on your policy.
- Consider purchasing a policy that includes cancellation cover, even if you're confident that you'll not have to cancel your cruise. This can protect you in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
- Compare policies from different insurers to get the best deal.
Can you get cruise travel insurance for seniors?
Yes, few travel insurance providers have cut-off limits for their comprehensive travel insurance packages. Although some do have age-limits for cheaper medical-only policies.
However, if you are an older traveller, you can expect the cost of your travel insurance to increase as you age.
Does cruise travel insurance cover shore excursions?
Levels of cover are policy specific. However, many cruise travel insurance policies do provide cover for medical expenses, lost or damaged luggage, and other incidents that can occur while on a shore excursion. However, there may be exclusions or limitations, such as:
- Some insurers may require you to buy specific, activity-type insurance for high-risk adventure sports, such as winter sports, motorsports, diving, hiking or abseiling.
- Cover may be limited to excursions that are paid in full prior to your trip (pre-paid), or only to excursions provided by the cruise line.
- You may not be covered if you're taking part in a competition, or are participating on a professional basis – such as a professional athlete competing in a tournament during a shore excursion – while on a cruise.
- A predefined list of acceptable onshore activities.
If you're unsure whether or not a particular shore excursion is covered by your insurance policy, it's advisable to contact your travel insurer.
Tips for staying safe during shore excursions, include:
- Choose shore excursions that are organised or provided by the cruise line, or by a reputable tour operator
- Be aware of the risks associated with the activities you participate in and take appropriate precautions
- While onshore, if you choose to explore on your own, let someone know where you're going and when you expect to return
How to find the best cruise travel insurance?
There's no one-size-fits all solution when it comes to the best cruise travel insurance for your trip. Instead, you need to look for the policy that best meets the needs of your budget and your travel plans.
When comparing cruise travel insurance, it's important to think carefully about your specific needs, to ensure you can find a policy that covers them at a price that suits your budget.
How much does travel insurance cost?
The cost of a travel insurance policy depends on a number of factors, including:
- Your travel destination
- Your choice of holiday, for example cruise or winter sports holiday
- The length of your trip
- The ages of those travelling*
- Whether anyone travelling has pre-existing health conditions
- The policy type
*Seniors can pay more for their travel insurance, especially those over 85, as insurers consider that there are more potential health risks associated with older travellers.
How to find cheap travel insurance?
If you're looking for cheap travel insurance, consider the following:
- Use Canstar's comparison table: By clicking the 'Cover rating' or ‘Price guide’, you can compare a range of different policies on both price and cover levels.
- Look for deals: Some providers may offer exclusive deals and discounts to Canstar customers who use our comparison table. There may also be deals that are more broadly available on providers' websites.
- Avoid paying for things you don't need: Cover for adventurous activities such as skiing, snowboarding or white water rafting can make an insurance policy more expensive, so if you don't plan on partaking in these activities, then it doesn’t make sense to have extras like these included on your policy. Consider only what you require (i.e. cover for medical expenses, travel delay and cancellation, lost or stolen luggage etc.) when comparing policies.
- Increase your excess: As with most types of insurance, you'll usually be required to pay an excess when making a claim. You can often reduce your travel insurance premium by increasing your excess amount – if your chosen provider allows for this. It's important to note that you'll need to be able to contribute this higher excess amount when making a claim.
- Check your credit card: Some credit cards come with complimentary travel insurance, which may mean you won’t need to take out a standalone travel insurance policy. This type of travel insurance, however, can come with a host of terms and conditions, such as all (or most) of your travel-related purchases having to be made using the card. The policy itself may also be rigid in what it covers. This feature is also usually only offered by more premium credit cards with higher annual fees and purchase rates, which means it's important to consider these factors and whether they erode any savings you could make in travel insurance costs, before taking out a card such as this.
What else should you do before you travel?
In addition to organising travel insurance, before you leave:
- If you are going overseas, visit the SafeTravel website's Travel Advisories page to ascertain the current risks of travelling to your chosen destination. If a country is flagged with a “Do Not Travel” advisory, be aware that you may not be able to obtain insurance for the trip.
- Regardless of where you are going, register your plans with SafeTravel. Your details will be stored securely and only used to reach you in an emergency.
- Ensure you have all the relevant travel documentation to take with you on your trip, and that a trusted friend or relation in NZ has a copy, too.
- Keep a record of the contact details of the New Zealand Embassy in your country of destination – just in case you need them.
