Cruise Travel Insurance
Set sail with our award-winning Travel Insurance for cruise holidays
What is Cruise Travel Insurance?
Cruise Travel Insurance (often also called Cruise Holiday Insurance) is a type of policy made for cruise holidays that also covers any land-based excursions. It covers for cruise-specific situations that standard travel insurance often doesn't. This includes things like missed port departure, unused excursions, and cabin confinement - All of which are covered in a Holiday Extras cruise insurance policy. Most cruise lines require you to have this kind of specialist insurance, so buying the right cover is an important step when planning your trip.
Absolutely brilliant service! We always use Holiday Extras for our cruise insurance and have never had an issue. More recently, I needed to contact the customer service team, who were fantastic—I could not fault the support given. Thank you!
What do you get with Holiday Extras Cruise Insurance?
Missed-port & itinerary disruption
If your cruise ship is unable to stop at a scheduled port of call — for example, due to bad weather or changes to the ship's timetable — our policy will pay you a set benefit for each missed port. This helps to make up for the loss of time or activities you may have planned at that destination.
Cabin confinement
If you become unwell or injured during your cruise and the ship's medical officer tells you to stay in your cabin, our policy will pay you a benefit for each full 24-hour period you are confined. This is designed to compensate you for the time you miss out on enjoying your holiday.
Unused excursions
If you're told to stay in your cabin by the ship's medical officer and can't go on any pre-booked and pre-paid excursions as a result, our policy will cover the cost of those missed activities. This means you'll be reimbursed for any excursions you're unable to join due to illness or injury that keeps you confined to your cabin.
Emergency medical cover
If you fall unexpectedly ill or need emergency medical help during your trip, our cruise policy covers your medical costs and transport. This includes repatriation from the ship to the nearest hospital, or back to the UK if needed.
Extra baggage & evening wear
Our cruise policy provides increased cover for personal possessions. It also covers the loss, damage or theft of any evening wear by covering the additional costs to repair or clean it. If needed, we'll also pay towards hiring a replacement outfit so you can still enjoy your formal nights onboard.
Cancellation and curtailment
If you need to cancel or cut your trip short due to unexpected events, this policy will reimburse any non-refundable costs. That includes flights, transfers, hotels, and tours. You're also covered if a family member or travel companion falls ill or gets injured, causing you to change your plans.
The above provides a summary of the cruise policy benefits and is subject to terms and conditions. For full details of cover, please refer to your policy documents.
"Whether it's your first cruise or your fifteenth, it's good to know you're sorted if anything unexpected comes up. Our cruise insurance is designed to cover cruise-related things, like missing a port, falling ill, or even losing your evening wear. Our job is to keep things hassle-free, so you can enjoy every moment on board."
Sam Jackson, Holiday Extras Cruise Insurance Expert
Our Cruise Line Partners
We are proud to work with, and be the preferred travel insurance provider for P&O, Cunard, Fred Olsen and Princess cruises.
What's the maximum trip duration with a Cruise Insurance policy?
Holiday Extras Cruise Travel Insurance, like all of our travel insurance policies – including annual and single trip – come with with standard set trip duration limits:
| Policy Type | Cover Level | Max Trip Duration (per individual trip) |
|---|---|---|
| Single Trip Cruise Policy | Bronze, Silver, Gold | 180 days |
| Annual Multi-Trip Cruise Policy | Bronze | 22 days |
| Silver | 31 days | |
| Gold |
31 days Extend to 45 or 60 days with Trip Extension Cover |
Want to stay away longer on a cruise annual policy? No problem.
We get it, 31 days isn't always enough. If you're looking to travel for longer, you can extend your cover to 45 or 60 days by adding our Trip Extension Cover – available exclusively with annual cruise policies.
Let us answer your questions
Do I need cruise-specific travel insurance?
If you are going on a sea-going cruise, it's important that you take out cruise-specific insurance. This is so you are covered for any cruise-related situations that aren't included in standard travel insurance policies. For example, missed port departure, cabin confinement or even evening wear cover.
When you're out at sea, medical treatment can also come at a higher cost if you fall ill and need to be evacuated back to shore. Our cruise insurance offers reassurance in these unexpected circumstances. It's also good to be aware that most cruise companies will not allow you to board without evidence of a cruise insurance policy.
How do I buy my Cruise travel insurance?
Follow the below steps to get cruise insurance quotes and book your policy.
1) Click the purple 'Speedy Online Quote' button at the top of the page.
2) Fill out your trip and traveller details on the form.
3) On the next page, make sure to select 'Yes' for the question 'Are you going on a cruise?'. Continue to fill out your details and declare any pre-existing medical conditions.
4) Follow the on-screen instructions to buy your Cruise travel insurance policy.
Does cruise insurance cover medical conditions?
It's important to get the right level of cover when travelling with a medical condition. At Holiday Extras, we consider all medical conditions, and our team of experts are on hand to help you through the process.
When booking your cruise travel insurance, you will need to declare any pre-existing medical conditions.
Why can cruise insurance be more expensive?
Cruise insurance tends to be more expensive due to the nature of the holiday. For instance, if you were to fall ill on land you could call an ambulance but, if this were to happen at sea a helicopter would be needed to transport you back to land.
That said, it's still possible to find cheap cruise travel insurance if you know what cover you need and compare options carefully. The price of cruise insurance can also vary depending on other factors. For example, where you are travelling to, your medical conditions, the length of your stay and your age.
When should I buy cruise travel insurance?
You'll want to secure your travel insurance as soon as possible after booking your holiday. This means that you will be covered for cancellation in the event of something happening before you go away. We think it's better to look forward to your holiday without worry.
Do I need travel insurance if I'm going on a cruise in the UK?
Yes, even if you're cruising around the UK, travel insurance is still a good idea. While UK residents may be able to access emergency medical care through the NHS, cruise insurance can protect you against a range of cruise-specific issues. This includes things like cabin confinement, missed ports, emergency medical treatment, and baggage problems, all of which can still happen on a UK-based trip.
Some cruise lines might also require you to have insurance in place before you travel, so it's always best to check.
Am I covered for health outbreaks while on a cruise?
If you get unwell on your cruise, you might be able to claim under things like missed port, cabin confinement, or emergency medical treatment, depending on the situation. This is also provided you have taken precautions to protect yourself from becoming ill.
Just so you know, you won't be covered if the illness is part of an outbreak that's officially classed as an epidemic or pandemic.
It's always a good idea to have a quick read through your policy documents so you know exactly what you're covered for.
Can I get cruise travel insurance for the rest of my party?
It's absolutely possible to take out a group cruise travel insurance policy. Whether it's friends or family, booking for others is simple.
When you get to the booking form, and you're asked 'who do you need to cover?', select 'multiple people'. On the next page you can select 'cruise' and choose 'family' or 'group'. Fill in the traveller details below and simply select the '+ traveller' button if you need to add more. You can add up to 9 people to a group policy.
For more information, check out our group travel insurance page.
Am I covered for cancellation?
Our cruise policies provide cancellation of up to £5,000 with the option to purchase an additional top-up of up to £50k.
Whether you are covered for cancellation depends on your reason for cancelling. Some reasons you can claim for cancellation include if you, a close relative, travel companion, or someone you planned to stay with becomes seriously ill, injured, or passes away. This must be certified by a medical professional.
These are just a few of the reasons you may be eligible to claim for cancellation. For full detail, please see your policy documents.
Are there any age restrictions for cruise cover?
Yes – it depends on the type of policy you choose. For annual multi-trip cruise policies, the upper age limit is 85 . However, if you opt for a single-trip cruise policy, there's no upper age limit at all.
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Cruise Insurance with Medical Conditions
It's important to get the right level of cover for your cruise, especially when travelling with pre-existing medical conditions. We believe everyone deserves a hassle-free holiday. That's why we consider all medical conditions.
When booking cruise travel insurance including pre-existing medical conditions, you'll need to declare any conditions that you have. This can be done through our simple online screening. Our friendly UK-based team are also on hand to help, should you need it. To find out more, visit our page dedicated to travelling with medical conditions.
Compare cruise travel insurance
Choose from three different levels of cover, each with its own cover limits. Ranging from a simpler 'Bronze' plan to a higher level 'Gold' plan, you can tailor your policy to suit your needs.
Bronze
| £15,000,000 | Emergency medical and repatriation expenses |
| £1,000 | Cancellation & Curtailment of holiday |
| £100 per port, up to £1000 | Missed port |
| £100 per 24 hours, up to £1,000 | Cabin confinement |
| £500 | Unused excursions |
| £3,000 | Increased personal baggage |
| £300 | Evening wear |
Silver
| £20,000,000 | Emergency medical and repatriation expenses |
| £2,500 | Cancellation & Curtailment of holiday |
| £150 per port, up to £1,500 | Missed port |
| £75 per port, up to £750 | Cabin confinement |
| £750 | Unused excursions |
| £4,000 | Increased personal baggage |
| £400 | Evening wear |
Gold
| Unlimited | Emergency medical and repatriation expenses |
| £5,000* | Cancellation & Curtailment of holiday |
| £200 per port, up to £2,000 | Missed port |
| £200 per 24 hours, up to £2,000 | Cabin confinement |
| £1,000 | Unused excursions |
| £6,000 | Increased personal baggage |
| £500 | Evening wear |
*Or as specified on your schedule
See Full Cover Comparison, and read through the Policy Documents for more detail on cover.
Where can I travel to on my cruise?
Whether you're chasing sunsets in Santorini or setting sail on a Caribbean cruise, it's good to know exactly where your cruise policy can take you. Destinations are split into groups based on the medical costs and risks associated with each area. Some parts of the world are more expensive when it comes to healthcare, and that's reflected in the policy price.
Here's how the destinations are grouped for our Single Trip Policies:
- United Kingdom
Includes England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Perfect for UK coastal cruises. - Europe 1 (excluding Spain, Cyprus, Malta, Greece & Turkey)
Includes destinations such as France, Germany, Croatia, Scandinavia and others – commonly chosen for European river and coastal cruises. - Europe 2 (including Spain, Cyprus, Malta, Greece & Turkey)
Covers the Mediterranean's most popular cruise stops like the Greek Islands, Spanish ports, and Turkey's stunning coast. - Australia & New Zealand
For cruises down under, this option keeps you covered in Oz and Kiwi territory. - Worldwide (excluding USA, Canada, Mexico & the Caribbean)
Covers nearly everywhere else in the world - ideal for long-haul cruise adventures (just not North America or the Caribbean). - Worldwide (including USA, Canada, Mexico & the Caribbean)
Go all-in! This policy covers every corner of the globe, including sun-soaked cruises through the Caribbean.
*It's important to remember that if the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) advises against travel to a location – we can't provide cover for that area. You can always double-check the latest guidance at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
Are you looking for senior Cruise Insurance?
Good news - our single-trip cruise insurance has no upper age limit! For those opting for annual cruise cover, there's an upper age limit of 85. If you're looking for handy tips and advice tailored to senior travellers, take a look at our Seniors Hub. It's full of useful insights to help you prepare for your next adventure.
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Helpful articles for planning your next cruise
*We offer up to £15k cancellation cover on our Cruise policies as standard, with an optional top-up cancellation cover available to the limit of £50k total. This optional cancellation cover can be added by contacting our call centre.
You can get a quote in a couple of minutes online but if you'd prefer to talk to someone our number is 0333 049 9931. Our team are on-hand Mon–Fri 9am to 8pm, Sat-Sun 9am to 5pm. Calls to 03 numbers cost the same as calls to standard UK landlines (01 or 02). That means: From landlines, around 2p–10p per minute - often included in your call package. From mobiles: around 10p–40p per minute, usually included in your bundled minutes too. So in most cases, if you've got inclusive minutes, there's nothing extra to pay.
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Last Updated November 2025
Holiday Extras Travel Insurance is sold and administered by Holiday Extras Cover Limited, registered office address: Ashford Road, Newingreen, Hythe, Kent CT21 4JF.
Holiday Extras Cover Limited is an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, registration number 828848. You can check this on the Financial Services Register by visiting: http://register.fca.org.uk
Holiday Extras™ is a Trading Name of Holiday Extras Cover Limited. The insurance is underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited. Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 13436330 and whose registered office address is 1 Fen Court, London, United Kingdom, EC3M 5BN.
Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm Reference Number 955859. You can check this on the Financial Services Register by visiting: http://register.fca.org.uk