Cruise travel insurance protects against trip cancellations, medical emergencies at sea, and cruise-specific disruptions. Plans cost $91 to $659 for a seven-day cruise based on trip cost and age.
Best Travel Insurance for Cruises
Compare cruise travel insurance plans from 13 providers. BHTP WaveCare starts at $91 for a $2,500 cruise with $750,000 evacuation coverage.
Find the best cruise insurance for seniors and families.
Updated: December 15, 2025
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Key Takeaways
BHTP WaveCare offers the most affordable cruise coverage at $91 for a seven-day, $2,500 cruise (age 30), including $750,000 medical evacuation and $500 cruise disruption benefits.
Seniors pay 49% to 107% more than younger travelers for identical cruise insurance coverage, with age 65 premiums ranging from $148 to $217 for a $2,500 cruise.
Dedicated cruise policies provide essential protections standard travel insurance excludes, including cruise disablement coverage, itinerary change reimbursement and medical evacuation limits up to $1 million.
Best Cruise Travel Insurance Companies and Plans
BHTP WaveCare earned the highest overall score at 92 out of 100, combining exceptional affordability with comprehensive medical evacuation coverage. Nationwide Luxury Cruise ranked second with a 98 medical score and $1 million evacuation protection. Seven Corners Cruise placed third with a 92 cruise coverage score for dedicated cruise-specific protections.
1 | BHTP | WaveCare | 92 | 95 | 88 | 94 | Budget travelers |
2 | Nationwide | Luxury | 89 | 78 | 95 | 98 | Premium protection |
3 | Seven Corners | Cruise | 88 | 82 | 92 | 95 | Medical coverage |
4 | Tin Leg | Cruise | 86 | 86 | 85 | 87 | Mid-range value |
5 | Nationwide | Choice | 85 | 88 | 84 | 88 | Enhanced benefits |
Scores range from 0-100. Overall score weighs cost (40%), cruise coverage (30%), medical protection (25%) and stability (5%).
Best for Budget-Conscious Cruisers
BHTP
Budget-conscious cruisers get comprehensive protection for $91 (age 30, $2,500 cruise). BHTP WaveCare includes $75,000 medical coverage, $750,000 evacuation protection, and $500 cruise disruption benefits. The plan covers 100% trip cancellation and 150% trip interruption with pre-existing condition coverage when purchased within 15 days of deposit. BHTP earned a 92 overall score, ranking first for value at $391 for a $10,000 cruise compared to $450 to $659 from competitors.
Best for Premium Protection
Nationwide
The industry's highest evacuation limit comes with Nationwide Luxury Cruise: $1 million in coverage plus $250,000 secondary medical protection for $124 (age 30, $2,500 cruise). The plan includes $250 itinerary change coverage, $1,000 trip delay reimbursement, and $2,500 baggage protection with 150% trip interruption. Pre-existing conditions receive coverage when purchased within 14 days of deposit. Nationwide earned an 89 overall score with evacuation protection essential for Alaska, South Pacific, or Northern Europe cruises where distances exceed 500 miles.
Best for Medical Coverage
Seven Corners
Primary medical coverage of $250,000 means Seven Corners Cruise pays claims first without requiring coordination with domestic health insurance. The plan costs $136 (age 30, $2,500 cruise) and includes $500,000 evacuation protection, cruise disablement coverage, and $500 missed port reimbursement. The medical limit covers hospital stays, emergency surgeries, ambulance transport, and emergency dental care up to $1,000. Seven Corners earned an 88 overall score with a 92 cruise coverage score.
Best for Mid-Range Coverage
Tin Leg
At $117 for a $2,500 cruise (age 30), Tin Leg Cruise delivers $100,000 primary medical coverage and $250,000 evacuation protection with no medical deductible. The plan covers 100% trip cancellation, 150% trip interruption, and $2,000 trip delay reimbursement after six-hour delays. Pre-existing condition coverage requires purchase within 14 days of deposit. Tin Leg earned an 86 overall score, offering competitive pricing at $384 for a $10,000 cruise with simplified claims through primary medical coverage.
Cruise Travel Insurance Cost Comparison
Cruise insurance premiums scale with trip investment. A $10,000 cruise costs $391 with BHTP WaveCare compared to $91 for a $2,500 cruise because trip cancellation and interruption coverage increases with higher trip costs. Premium plans cost 25% to 35% more than budget options but provide substantially higher medical and evacuation limits.
Seven-Day Cruise, $2,500 Trip Cost, Age 30:
BHTP | WaveCare | $91 | $75,000 | $750,000 |
Nationwide | Universal | $99 | $75,000 | $250,000 |
Nationwide | Choice | $108 | $100,000 | $500,000 |
Tin Leg | Cruise | $117 | $100,000 | $250,000 |
Nationwide | Luxury | $124 | $250,000 | $1 million |
Seven Corners | Cruise | $136 | $250,000 | $500,000 |
BHTP WaveCare offers the lowest premium with $750,000 evacuation coverage. Seven Corners Cruise costs $45 more but provides $250,000 medical coverage.
Seven-Day Cruise, $10,000 Trip Cost, Age 30:
Tin Leg | Cruise | $384 | $100,000 | $250,000 |
BHTP | WaveCare | $391 | $75,000 | $750,000 |
Seven Corners | Cruise | $454 | $250,000 | $500,000 |
Nationwide | Choice | $538 | $100,000 | $500,000 |
Nationwide | Luxury | $659 | $250,000 | $1 million |
Tin Leg Cruise becomes most affordable at $384 for $10,000 cruises. Nationwide Luxury costs $268 more than BHTP but provides $1 million evacuation coverage for remote destinations. Trip length affects premiums less than trip cost, with a 14-day cruise costing 10% to 15% more than seven days at identical trip values.
Cruise Travel Insurance for Seniors
Seniors face steeper premium increases for cruise insurance than standard travel insurance because medical risks increase aboard ships with limited healthcare facilities.
Seven-Day Cruise, $2,500 Trip Cost:
BHTP | WaveCare | $91 | $188 | 107% |
Nationwide | Universal | $99 | $148 | 49% |
Nationwide | Choice | $108 | $171 | 58% |
Tin Leg | Cruise | $117 | $196 | 68% |
Nationwide | Luxury | $124 | $196 | 58% |
Seven Corners | Cruise | $136 | $217 | 60% |
BHTP WaveCare shows the largest age-based increase at 107% but maintains the lowest absolute cost at $188 for 65-year-old travelers. Compare more options with the cheapest travel insurance for seniors.
Essential Cruise-Specific Coverage
Standard travel insurance doesn't cover disruptions unique to sailing. Dedicated cruise policies include protections for risks you'll only encounter at sea.
Missed Port Reimbursement
Prepaid shore excursions get reimbursed when your ship misses scheduled ports due to weather or mechanical issues. Nationwide plans provide $100 to $250 per occurrence, BHTP WaveCare offers $500, and Seven Corners covers up to $500.
Cruise Disablement Protection
Ships without power, food, water, or restrooms for over 24 hours trigger disablement coverage. Seven Corners and Nationwide include this protection in cruise-specific plans. Missouri residents can't purchase this coverage.
Medical Evacuation Coverage
Helicopter evacuations from ships to shore hospitals exceed $100,000, which is why medical evacuation coverage requires higher limits for cruises than land travel. BHTP WaveCare provides $750,000, Nationwide Luxury offers $1 million, and Seven Corners includes $500,000. Standard travel policies typically cap evacuation at $50,000 to $100,000.
Trip Interruption at 150%
Lost prepaid expenses plus additional transportation costs to catch your cruise at the next port or return home fall under enhanced trip interruption coverage. All cruise-specific plans provide this 150% coverage level.
Cruise Insurance vs. Cruise Line Plans
Cruise lines sell protection plans, but third-party travel insurance provides broader coverage.
Covers airfare and hotels | No | Yes |
Covers pre-cruise expenses | No | Yes |
Protects if cruise line goes bankrupt | No | Yes |
Cancel for any reason available | Rarely | Yes (75% reimbursement) |
Purchase window for CFAR | N/A | 7-21 days after deposit |
Full trip investment protection | Cruise costs only | Complete trip |
Third-party policies cover your complete trip investment and protect against cruise line financial default. See what travel insurance covers for complete policy details.
When to Buy Cruise Travel Insurance
Buy cruise insurance if your cruise costs exceed $2,000 per person, you're traveling during hurricane season (June through November), you booked more than six months ahead, you have pre-existing medical conditions, or you're over 60. Medical facilities aboard ships provide only basic emergency care.
Skip cruise insurance only if your cruise line offers free cancellation, your health insurance covers international medical evacuation, and you can afford to lose your trip investment. Flexible booking policies rarely cover medical emergencies or cruise-specific disruptions. Learn more about travel insurance costs.
How to Choose Cruise Travel Insurance
- 1Match evacuation limits to your itinerary.
Caribbean and Mexican Riviera cruises need $250,000 minimum. European, Asian and South Pacific cruises require $500,000 to $1 million because of longer distances to medical facilities.
- 2Consider pre-existing condition waivers if you have chronic health issues.
Nationwide cruise plans, BHTP WaveCare, Seven Corners Cruise, and Tin Leg Cruise include pre-existing coverage when purchased within 14 to 15 days of initial deposit. This eliminates the lookback period that would otherwise exclude claims for conditions treated before purchasing insurance.
- 3Evaluate cruise-specific benefits based on your sailing style.
Shore excursion enthusiasts need itinerary change coverage. First-time cruisers should prioritize medical benefits. Budget travelers might accept lower medical limits for stronger trip cancellation protection. Compare options at best travel insurance providers.
Best Travel Insurance for Cruises: FAQ
Does cruise insurance cover seasickness?
Cruise insurance doesn't cover seasickness treatment unless it requires medical evacuation. Emergency care for severe dehydration or complications falls under emergency medical benefits, but routine seasickness treatment isn't covered.
Can I buy cruise insurance after booking?
You can purchase cruise insurance before departure, but buying within 14 to 21 days of your initial deposit unlocks pre-existing condition waivers and cancel for any reason options.
Does Medicare cover cruise medical emergencies?
Medicare provides no coverage outside the U.S., including aboard ships in international waters. You need cruise travel insurance with international medical coverage like Seven Corners Cruise, which offers $250,000 medical protection plus evacuation benefits.
How We Chose the Best Travel Insurance for Cruises
MoneyGeek evaluated cruise insurance plans from 13 providers using a weighted scoring system. We collected pricing for multiple scenarios, including trip costs ($2,500 to $10,000), trip lengths (seven to 14 days), traveler ages (30 and 65), and destinations.
Each plan received a score from 0 to 100 across four categories:
- Cost (40%): Lower premiums scored higher when coverage remained comparable across trip costs and traveler ages.
- Cruise-Specific Coverage (30%): Dedicated cruise plans outscored adapted general travel policies. We analyzed cruise disruption benefits, itinerary change reimbursement, disablement protection, missed port compensation, and trip interruption limits.
- Medical Protection (25%): Evacuation coverage received heavy weighting because helicopter evacuations from cruise ships routinely exceed $100,000. Emergency medical limits, pre-existing condition waivers, and purchase windows also factored into ratings.
- Financial Stability (5%): Companies with A+ AM Best ratings received maximum points.
Plans with comprehensive cruise-specific protections at competitive prices ranked highest. We prioritized evacuation limits exceeding $500,000 due to the unique challenges of medical evacuations from ships at sea.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.