Do You Really Need
Cruise Travel Insurance?

Why You Need Travel Insurance For Cruise

Cruise holidays are more popular than ever amongst Australians. While the variety of cruise types keeps increasing and excited holidaymakers take to the seas, there’s one thing many people are still forgetting. No, we’re not talking about swimmers or sunblock (although that too is essential!). It seems many cruisers are heading away on holidays without any sort of travel insurance.

A 2017 study by 1Cover Travel Insurance revealed that 30% of travellers did not take out travel insurance on their last cruise.

Why Is Cruise Travel Insurance So Important?

While some may see travel insurance as an unnecessary expense when taking a cruise holiday, it actually couldn't be further from the truth. Cruising is not always smooth sailing; like all forms of travel, it has its risks and accidents can happen. Furthermore, incidents of illness on cruises are always high and medical expenses at sea are very expensive.

Did you know that once you depart Aussie soil on a cruise, Medicare, for the most part, will not cover you? If you get sick and don’t have travel insurance, you'll have to foot the bill. With medical costs on board cruise ships generally charged at private healthcare rates, it’s not surprising people often struggle to pay. A visit to the ship’s doctor can easily cost a couple of hundred dollars, while medical evacuation runs into the tens of thousands.

Cruise Medical

According to 1Cover's survey, 27% of passengers have fallen ill during a cruise, with one in ten requiring medical assistance. But insurance obviously goes beyond medical claims, with 13% of 1Cover cruise claims for lost, stolen or damaged items, and 15% for trip cancellations or trip delays.

Find out more about our cruise travel insurance here.