allianz travel insurance missed port

• Cruise/Travel Insurance

Insurance for missed ports

By sofietucker , January 13, 2022 in Cruise/Travel Insurance

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sofietucker

This is little known, but check to see if your insurance covers missed ports! Allianz does--which we didn't know for years because our old TA never told us/we never reported it to them. But now our TA asks us, or we remember to report it. We have gotten $100pp back several times when ships had rough seas, etc. and couldn't dock or had to divert. Seems to be every time in December in the Caribbean, lol. Keep this info in your back pocket in case you ever need to file.

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• 2 weeks later...

Some Nationwide policies cover this also, but this coverage is not available for every state.

• 4 months later...

What did you submit for proof of missed port?  We just missed  port due to a landslide hitting the cruise dock the morning we were arriving and I would like to try to file.  

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Allianz Travel Insurance Benefits Cruisers Far Beyond Cancellation Protection

Updated : February 14, 2024

Table of Contents

• Reimbursement for cruises cut short and unplanned travel costs
• Compensation for missed port of call
• Protections for precious cargo
• Valuable benefits for medical mishaps
• Expert travel assistance 24/7

Embarking on a cruise offers a tantalizing escape, promising adventure and relaxation amidst the vast expanse of the open sea. Yet, as any seasoned traveler knows, the journey can sometimes take unexpected turns. From inclement weather disrupting meticulously planned itineraries to unforeseen medical emergencies, a cruise vacation can quickly turn from a dream vacation to a challenging ordeal.

While many travelers prioritize coverage for cruise cancellations, the horizon of protection extends far beyond mere reimbursement for interrupted voyages. Allianz Travel Insurance, in partnership with AAA , unveils a treasure trove of benefits designed to safeguard adventurers against unforeseen circumstances. Below are a few of the many ways protecting your cruise with Allianz insurance can give you peace of mind.

1. Reimbursement for cruises cut short and unplanned travel costs

While reimbursement for covered cruise cancellation is usually the most top-of-mind travel insurance benefit for a majority of cruisers, Allianz Travel Insurance offers much more value beyond that. For example, it can provide benefits in case a cruise gets interrupted for many covered reasons—including family medical emergencies back home and certain inclement weather events that were unnamed at the time the plan was purchased. Since safe cruising can be weather-dependent, this is a valuable benefit to have. It can also be extremely helpful if a traveler’s flight to their cruise embarkment is canceled or delayed, causing them to miss part of their cruise. Even if a traveler has a covered travel delay that doesn’t cause them to miss any cruise time, but does necessitate additional meals or extra accommodations while waiting for departure, travel delay benefits can reimburse them for these types of unplanned costs.

2. Compensation for missed port of call

Travelers who purchase Allianz Travel Insurance through AAA are eligible for compensation if a port of call that was on their original cruise itinerary is missed, due to unforeseen circumstances like unsafe weather conditions. Trip cancellation or interruption benefits can also be used when water levels are too high or too low for a cruise to proceed with its scheduled itinerary.

3. Protections for precious cargo

Insured travelers can also feel more secure knowing they have protection for lost, stolen, damaged or delayed personal belongings—meaning they can be reimbursed for replacement items they need to buy if something happens to their belongings while traveling.

4. Valuable benefits for medical mishaps

Another important reason to protect a cruise with Allianz Travel Insurance is the emergency medical benefit and the emergency medical transportation benefit, which can save travelers thousands if they have a medical emergency—whether traveling domestically or internationally. The emergency medical transportation benefit can pay for a ground or air ambulance to the nearest appropriate medical facility, having a loved one transported to the insured traveler’s bedside and for transportation back home after such an event.

5. Expert travel assistance 24/7

Whether or not a cruiser has an emergency while traveling, Allianz Travel Insurance gives them access to round-the-clock expert travel assistance that can support them through most any travel challenge—like replacing a lost passport or forgotten prescription, providing translation services, following up on medical care and much more.

Start planning your next cruise or vacation with more peace of mind. Ask your AAA travel advisor for details on Allianz Travel Insurance plans available through AAA—even if you’ve already booked.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Availability of specific benefits and covered reasons described here varies by product and by state. Products may not include all benefits or covered reasons described here. See your plan for details on what your plan includes. Benefits may not cover the full cost of your loss. All benefits are subject to maximum limits of liability, which may in some cases be subject to sublimits and daily maximums. Be sure to review your plan carefully to understand what limits apply to your plan. Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: 2 Mid America Plaza, Suite 200, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181), rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best’s 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance, TravelSmart, and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through Allianz Global Assistance. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties. Contact AGA Service Company at 800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233.

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Allianz Travel Insurance

AAA Travel partners with Allianz Global Assistance to offer our Members travel insurance.

When you purchase Allianz Global Assistance Travel Insurance*, you will also benefit from several special features: 24 hour emergency assistance hotline staffed with multilingual representatives, who can help replace lost tickets and travel documents, help you get access to cash in an emergency, and who may provide assistance during medical or legal emergencies.  

TripProtect Deluxe

Doubles nearly all the post-departure coverage of the TripProtect Select—including emergency medical and transportation benefits, baggage loss protection, and more.

TripProtect Cancel Anytime

Gives you the extra flexibility to cancel your trip for almost any unforeseen reason that the TripProtect Select does not already cover at 100% and receive 80% of your non-refundable trip cost back.

TripProtect Select

Prepares you for the unexpected with generous levels of protection for domestic and international travel. It’s the ideal travel companion with features like trip cancellation protection, emergency medical benefits, 24-hour emergency assistance, and more.

Your AAA Travel Counselor can help you choose a travel insurance policy that’s right for you. AAA Travel partners with Allianz Global Assistance to offer members the best travel insurance coverage possible.

Outsmart Travel Mishaps with Allianz Travel Insurance

New SmartBenefits™   Protect Your Trip with More Benefits and Fewer Obstacles

Imagine this: your connecting flight has been delayed again. As you flip through your magazine for the third time, a notification pops up on your smartphone. You take a closer look. It’s a message from Allianz Global Assistance, asking how you’d prefer to receive $100 for your covered travel delay. Aside from flipping through your magazine, you haven’t lifted a finger.

Under the new SmartBenefits™ through AAA travel insurance provider Allianz Global Assistance, this is just one example of how easy your claims process can be.

Easier, Faster, More Convenient Reimbursement Options

The last thing you’ll want when you’re inconvenienced is another obstacle–in the form of paperwork. In addition to flight monitoring and proactive payments for qualifying delays, there’s also a new, no-receipts-required reimbursement option for lost or delayed baggage–meaning you’ll have the option to receive a benefit payment without having to itemize everything you bought to hold you over or replace lost items.

More Covered Reasons, Fewer Required Forms

It’s difficult to imagine everything that could interfere with a trip, but more potential scenarios now fall under protection–including employee transfers, mandatory evacuations, and even hurricane warnings on the new TripProtect Deluxe plan. And, while there are now additional reasons for reimbursement, there’s one less step in the claims process: a Physician Statement Form is no longer required for filing most claims.

Payment for Missed Port of Call (AAA Benefit)

Occasionally, cruise ships are forced off their intended courses, missing scheduled stops on their itineraries. With Allianz Travel Insurance through AAA, most plans now include a new SmartBenefit™: Missed Port of Call. If your cruise misses a port or stops change from its scheduled itinerary, you can receive $100 for each missed port, up to a maximum of $300.

Fill out our online form or call us at 1-800-421-4552

*Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Insurance benefits underwritten by either BCS Insurance Company or Jefferson Insurance Company, depending on insured’s state of residence. AGA Service Company is the licensed producer and administrator of these plans. When you opt in and provide flight information, Allianz Global Assistance will monitor flights and send flight status and benefit alerts, including about flight delays that qualify for automated travel delay payment. Standard message/data rates apply to SMS alerts. SmartBenefits automated claims system and payment availability is not guaranteed and is subject to Allianz Global Assistance's sole discretion. All claims subject to policy terms, conditions, and exclusions.

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Cruise travel insurance: What it covers and why you need it

What does cruise travel insurance cover? And does it pay to buy cruise travel insurance?

The answer is not always clear-cut, as we'll discuss in this guide. But consider this: It's not always smooth seas when it comes to cruising. Even the best-laid plans for a cruise vacation can sometimes be thrown off course by an unexpected event.

You might need to cancel a cruise in advance due to the sudden onset of an illness, such as COVID-19 or the flu. Or, maybe you fall ill during the cruise and need emergency medical attention. Maybe your flight to your ship gets canceled, and you miss the vessel's departure. Or your ship is late arriving in port at the end of a voyage, and you miss your flight home.

In all of these situations, you might benefit from having cruise travel insurance — keyword "might."

Cruise insurance policies vary widely, and not every policy covers every type of mishap. That's why it always pays to read the fine print in a travel insurance policy before you purchase it to know what you're getting in advance.

It's also why you should read this introduction to everything you need to know about cruise insurance. It has many details, but the next time something unexpected happens on your cruise vacation, you'll be glad to be educated and covered by a comprehensive travel insurance policy.

What does travel insurance cover when you cruise?

The typical cruise insurance policy covers a wide range of circumstances that can go wrong in conjunction with a vacation at sea — both before and during the sailing.

For starters, policies often will reimburse you for the cost of canceling a cruise due to a last-minute crisis. They will also often cover costs related to an interruption of a cruise (maybe your ship breaks down, requiring you to fly home mid-voyage ). These two elements are known as trip-cancellation and trip-interruption insurance, and they are bundled into a typical travel insurance policy.

Some policies will also cover out-of-pocket costs related to a flight delay or cancellation that results in you missing your cruise departure (for instance, the cost of catching up to the ship at its next port). Expenses related to baggage delays and loss are often covered as well.

But perhaps most importantly, many travel insurance policies will cover medical expenses you incur while on a cruise. Some will even cover the cost of evacuating from a foreign destination if you are in the midst of a medical crisis.

Travel insurance giant Allianz Global Assistance reports that 53% of all cruise-related "billing reasons" for claims are because of illness for the insured person, while 14% are for an injury. Another 8% are for the illness of a family member, 4% for the death of a family member and 4% for the illness of a traveling companion, among other reasons.

Those percentages include illness and accidents that happen to cruisers just before a trip, making travel impossible. But, in many cases, such claims result from illness and injuries that occur during voyages.

"People often take risks during vacation that they might not take back home, whether riding a jet ski, zipping around on a motorized scooter in a city they don't know well or hiking unfamiliar terrain," James Page, senior vice president and chief administration officer of AIG Travel, told TPG .

Some policies also cover the financial default of a travel provider. In such cases, if your cruise line goes out of business before you sail, you could get all — or at least some — of your money back.

Cruise travel insurance policies don't cover everything. For instance, standard travel insurers generally will not reimburse you for the cost of a cruise you cancel due to worries about an outbreak of an illness. That's true even if a U.S. government agency such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues a recommendation that you don't cruise due to an illness outbreak, as it did during the COVID-19 pandemic .

If you want the ultimate flexibility to cancel for such a reason or any other, you'll want to look into a more expensive cancel for any reason travel insurance upgrade.

Related: Avoiding outbreaks isn't covered by most travel insurance policies

Where to find a cruise travel insurance policy

You can buy a travel insurance policy directly from your cruise line when booking your trip or through your travel agent (if you're using one, which often is a good idea when booking a cruise). You also can go directly to a third-party travel insurance provider or a travel-insurance aggregator site, such as InsureMyTrip or TravelInsurance . Your credit card might even give you some travel protections.

Here's what you need to know about each type of cruise travel insurance.

Third-party insurance companies

Third-party insurance companies that specialize in writing travel insurance include AIG Travel, Allianz Travel Insurance, Travelex Insurance and American Express Travel Insurance.

One reason to use a travel agent or a travel aggregator: They can help you find a policy that offers added coverage specific to cruising.

Related: The Points Guy's guide to the best travel insurance companies

"Many plans now offer benefits that will specifically appeal to cruise travelers, such as missed connection, missed port-of-call and cruise disablement coverage," Stan Sandberg, cofounder of TravelInsurance.com, said.

Missed connection coverage reimburses cruisers for a set dollar amount if they need to rebook travel to catch up with their cruise at the next port. Missed port-of-call coverage pays a benefit if the cruise ship misses a scheduled port of call due to weather, a natural disaster or a mechanical breakdown.

Cruise disablement coverage pays a benefit if the traveler is confined on a ship for more than five hours without power, food, water or restrooms.

As noted, policies vary widely. It's a good idea to compare plans and make sure the one you buy has the elements that are most important to you. One size doesn't fit all.

Credit cards with travel benefits

Some premium credit cards offer valuable travel protections comparable to what you might get from a standard travel insurance plan. For example, the travel insurance provided when you pay for travel with select cards can reimburse you for expenses if your baggage is damaged, you're stranded overnight due to a flight delay or cancellation, or you have to return home to handle a family medical emergency.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card, for example, offers trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, emergency medical coverage and even medical evacuation coverage , among other benefits. And yes, cruise lines are considered common carriers just like airlines.

If you're planning to rely on a card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or The Platinum Card® from American Express * (among others) for travel insurance, just be sure to recheck your card's benefits and limits carefully against regular travel insurance. You must pay for at least part — and sometimes all — of the trip with that credit card to take advantage of its protections.

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

Find out if your credit card protection includes travel accident insurance or covers preexisting medical conditions, and figure out when it will pay you back. Other questions to ask: What are the coverage limits? Will you have to pay for a foreign hospital bill upfront and then seek reimbursement later?

Cruise lines

Cruise lines often ask consumers booking a cruise to buy the line's own protection at the time of purchase. If specifics about the coverage are lacking, always ask the line for details in advance, review coverage perks and limits; then, compare those to one or two independent travel insurance policies or your credit card's insurance benefits.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

Cruise line travel insurance policies sometimes have quirks. Many cruise companies will only offer a travel voucher or credit for future use in the event of a covered cancellation, not an outright refund.

Also, financial default may not be a covered event in a cruise line-sold policy, but it's typically covered with plans from third-party travel insurance companies.

Cruise line policies also can be more restrictive.

"Cruise line insurance seems to have become better and has more widespread coverage than in the past, but it typically won't cover air or pre- and post-travel [arrangements] unless those elements are purchased through [the line]," said Debra Kerper, a Cruise Planners travel adviser from Carrollton, Texas, who books travel and sells private insurance. "This is when private insurance coverage becomes so very important."

How much does cruise insurance cost?

Expect to pay anywhere from 4% to 8% of your total prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses for a travel insurance policy. That's a wide range, we know, but it reflects the wide range of products out there.

You'll also find some basic plans that cost even less than 4% of your trip expenses, while some super-premium plans that cover just about any conceivable issue can cost as much as 12% of your trip expenses.

Related: What's included in your cruise fare?

All reputable insurance companies will offer a "free-look period" during which you can receive a 100% refund on your premium. This allows you to review the policy you've selected and return it for any reason within the period allotted — usually for a small administration fee of less than $10.

Under normal circumstances, you don't need to purchase a so-called "cancel for any reason" add-on to your cruise travel insurance policy unless you really need the flexibility. The upgrades are significantly more expensive.

You can receive a quote and purchase a policy online in minutes with any credit card. Although you may think travel insurance should code as "travel" when paid on a credit card and thus be eligible for bonus points on certain cards, that isn't always the case. Your points earnings will depend on the individual underwriter's merchant code. When in doubt, expect the purchase to fall under the insurance category for earnings.

Should I buy travel insurance for a cruise?

Whether you buy travel insurance is a personal decision that will depend on many factors. Would you be willing to absorb the loss of canceling a cruise on short notice due to an illness or accident? Could you afford an evacuation flight from a far-off port if you suddenly became seriously ill? Only you can answer those sorts of questions.

Here are some things to consider as you make that decision.

You might not be covered by regular medical insurance while cruising

If you're a U.S. citizen traveling internationally (which will be the case for most cruises), you may find that most private medical insurance plans in the U.S. won't cover you.

Additionally, Original Medicare only covers people traveling outside U.S. borders in limited circumstances.

While certain Medicare Supplement Plans do have some foreign emergency medical benefits, not all do. Be sure to talk to your Medical Supplemental Plan provider to see if you're covered, what's covered, what the limits are and how the bill is paid.

Also note that, in some countries (particularly those in Central and South America), travelers may not be discharged from a hospital until their bill is paid in full.

Related: Trip wrecked: 7 ways to prepare for any kind of travel disaster

Plus, if you have a medical incident overseas, you could find yourself stuck in a shared hospital room without air conditioning or a private bathroom. The level of care may not be what you expect.

"For people traveling internationally, it's crucial to know beforehand where to go for any treatment … and how they're going to pay for that treatment," Page said.

Getting evacuated for a medical condition is expensive

Most airlines won't accept seriously ill passengers, those carrying bulky medical equipment or those requiring a full medical team.

Even a low-cost weekend getaway on a cruise to the Bahamas out of Miami can turn costly if you suffer a serious accident or illness requiring medical treatment or an emergency medical evacuation.

Related: Do cruise ships have doctors, nurses, medical centers or hospitals?

Being flown back to the U.S. from a far-flung overseas location in a private, medically equipped aircraft, with a professional medical team on board, can run between $70,000 and $180,000, according to Mike Hallman, president and CEO of Medjet, a medical transport membership company.

"Domestic transports, which we cover as well, can cost upwards of $30,000," Hallman said.

Without proof of medical evacuation coverage, foreign providers will also want that money upfront. Hallman said that regular travel insurance will typically get you to an acceptable overseas hospital and even to a higher-level care facility if "medically necessary." Alternatively, medical evacuation coverage means you can fly home to your own hospital, doctors and family — without claim forms, cost caps on transports or surprise bills.

The tandem approach — buying both travel insurance and a separate medevac transport membership — is a good option, Hallman said.

"We always recommend travel insurance, as it covers trip interruption, which is important, as well as medical coverage for the hospital and treatment costs," he said. "We pick up where they leave off."

You can't predict the weather

Cruising is a great way to explore multiple destinations in one trip. But it's good to remember that unexpected delays, interruptions or cancellations due to weather can happen during cruises, particularly during hurricane seasons in places such as the Caribbean and Asia (where hurricanes are called typhoons).

During a typical hurricane season (June 1 to Nov. 30), Allianz pays about 6,000 claims from customers whose travel plans in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and southeastern U.S. are affected by the storms, according to a spokesperson for Allianz Global Assistance USA.

If you're hoping to insure against a storm-related disaster, it's good to buy travel insurance as early as possible. Once a storm or hurricane is named, it's too late to buy travel insurance to cover it.

Of course, cruise lines will move ships away from a weather threat. When the port lineup is adjusted or the cruise shortened, the company will offer the guest an onboard credit, onboard gift or future cruise credit rather than any refund. It depends on the circumstances of that specific voyage. You won't be able to make a claim on your cruise travel insurance policy just for a minor itinerary change .

Related: Everything you need to know about cruising during hurricane season

Costs can mount quickly when things go wrong

Even if the cruise line does provide a full or partial refund or cruise credit for an itinerary change or some other interruption, travelers could have to swallow the cost of other travel elements not purchased through the line. That could include nonrefundable flights , prepaid resort or hotel nights, nonrefundable tour fees and more.

Travel insurance can cover those, plus help with flight delays or cancellations, baggage loss or theft.

If a winter storm causes you to miss your flight to where the ship is boarding , "travel insurance could help you get to the next port to join the cruise, so you don't miss your entire trip," Page said.

In fact, 13% of "billing reasons" for claims to Allianz are for common carrier delays (such as a flight delay), while weather and natural disaster-related claims account for about 3%.

The government probably won't bail you out

While cruise ships have medical facilities, they're usually not equipped to treat serious illnesses. If you experience a serious medical problem on a vessel, you may have to get off the ship in a foreign port to seek treatment at a hospital. In such a case, if you don't have medical evacuation insurance, you may then find yourself stranded in that port awaiting a medical evacuation.

Don't expect Uncle Sam to step in and help foot the bill.

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs clearly states the importance of buying travel insurance.

"The U.S. government does not provide medical insurance for U.S. citizens overseas," the bureau says on the website. "We do not pay medical bills. You should purchase insurance before you travel."

You may need more assistance than you think

If you're injured or become severely ill during a cruise, especially in a foreign country, it may be difficult to access help without the assistance of trained professionals that comes with many insurance plans.

Many travel insurance companies provide around-the-clock assistance with locating overseas clinics and pharmacies, getting to a doctor or hospital, refilling lost or depleted prescriptions, assisting with up-front payments to hospitals, and arranging flight changes so you can get home.

Travel insurance companies also can arrange for an air ambulance, a nurse escort, oxygen and a lie-flat seat on a flight home if your medical condition warrants it.

You want to be careful if you have preexisting conditions

When you cruise, it's important to be fully covered, which means having comprehensive medical coverage that includes any preexisting conditions. Otherwise, if you head into a doctor's office overseas, have any tests completed, or visit an urgent care center or emergency room, you might not be covered.

Here, timing is extremely important. Cruisers seeking coverage of preexisting conditions, as well as cancel for any reason insurance, generally must book within seven to 21 days of the first payment they make for a trip. The timing varies by insurer.

Bottom line

Cruise insurance isn't for every traveler — or even for every sailing. It's not inexpensive. However, it can bring a lot of peace of mind if you're about to head out to sea. Do your homework, compare plans and always assess the risks.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology .

Does Travel Insurance Cover Cruise Excursions? [Comparisons and Exclusions]

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Best Cruise Excursion Travel Insurance for Scuba Excursions: battleface

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A cruise can take you to exciting destinations with adventurous shore excursions, but no trip is immune to unexpected interruptions. Cancellations, delays, missed port calls, or illness can all interfere with your plans. But cruise excursion travel insurance can help if you experience any of these unfortunate setbacks.

Cruise excursion travel insurance covers nonrefundable excursion costs and more , offering financial protection if you’re unexpectedly unable to complete your planned activities.

This guide highlights some of your cruise excursion travel insurance options, what you should expect to pay for it, common coverages, and how to choose the best policy.

The 5 Best Cruise Excursion Travel Insurance Plans

You have many options for cruise travel insurance that covers excursions, but you should customize your coverage based on your needs and planned activities .

Consider these cruise excursion travel insurance plans that offer good value for the coverage provided:

The battleface Discovery Plan covers trip cancellation, though you can add trip interruption coverage. There’s also hurricane and weather coverage, including common carrier delays, mandatory evacuations, and uninhabitable accommodations.

It offers up to $100,000 in emergency medical as primary coverage with a $0 deductible and up to $500,000 in medical evacuation and repatriation benefits . These benefits extend to excursions, including snorkeling and diving up to 40 meters deep, but deep-sea diving, skydiving, bungee jumping, and other extreme activities are excluded. For a 35-year-old cruising the Bahamas with plans to snorkel and scuba dive, our quote was $36.54 .

With the WorldTrips Atlas Journey Preferred plan , you can get covered for trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation and repatriation, and more.

With an adventure sports upgrade, some covered activities include bungee jumping, cave diving, kitesurfing, paragliding, surfing, and diving up to 10 meters deep . There’s secondary emergency medical coverage of up to $100,000 with preexisting conditions covered if you purchase your policy shortly after booking.

Medical evacuation and repatriation benefits are $1 million , along with coverage for travel and baggage delays and loss of baggage or personal items. There’s also a missed connection benefit. Our quote for a 25-year-old cruising Cozumel with plans to paraglide came to $67 for full coverage .

Your cruise and adventurous excursions are covered by the Tin Leg Adventure travel insurance policy. This policy offers trip cancellation and interruption coverage, up to $100,000 in primary medical coverage, and $1 million in medical evacuation coverage.

Although this isn’t a Cancel for Any Reason policy , you can cancel for medical or work reasons to receive full reimbursement. You’re also covered for travel or baggage delays, missed connections, and loss of baggage or personal items. Limited sports and adventure activities are covered, and we confirmed bungee excursions are included in coverage with this policy. We got a quote for a 40-year-old cruising New Zealand with plans to bungee jump that cost $72 .

If you’re concerned COVID-19 could derail your cruise and excursion plans, it’s a good idea to select a policy with COVID-19 coverage, such as the Aegis Go Ready Choice plan . This travel insurance policy covers trip cancellation and has secondary medical coverage of up to $500,000 with COVID-19 coverage , whether you need to cancel or get medical treatment.

There’s also trip interruption coverage and up to $500,000 in medical evacuation benefits, along with benefits for travel or baggage delay, missed connections, and loss of baggage or personal items. There’s limited coverage for excursions and activities, with extreme sports such as bungee jumping, skydiving, cliff diving, and parasailing excluded from coverage. For a 45-year-old cruising Hawaii, our quote came to $54.22 .

Seniors purchasing cruise excursion travel insurance should expect to pay more than younger cruisers, but quotes and coverage are still reasonable.

The Seven Corners Trip Protection Basic plan offers trip cancellation and interruption coverage with up to $100,000 in secondary medical coverage and $250,000 in medical evacuation benefits.

The policy also covers missed connections, baggage and travel delays, and loss of baggage and personal items. Our quote for a 65-year-old cruising Norway came to $89 .

Cruise excursion travel insurance is travel insurance coverage that includes coverage for activities and tours you’re taking on your cruise . Generally, cruise travel insurance covers trip cancellation and interruption, medical emergencies, and travel support 24/7 , but some activities, such as adventure sports, may not be included. That’s where cruise excursion travel insurance comes in, extending cancellation, interruption, and medical benefits to cover your cruise excursions, too.

Is Cruise Excursion Travel Insurance Worth It?

If you’re planning pricey, nonrefundable cruise excursions, it’s generally worth insuring them. You could lose your excursion costs if you cannot get a refund for a canceled, delayed, or missed excursion. 

Cruise excursion travel insurance is often worth it for the medical coverage , too. Your regular health insurance may not extend to the location or activities. That means if you’re injured on a cruise excursion, you might not get any help with medical bills — unless you have cruise excursion travel insurance to cover your activities.

It’s a good idea to get travel insurance. Still, remember that some travel insurance policies cover low-risk activities such as hiking or snorkeling but exclude adventure sports such as diving or ziplining. 

Specific exclusions depend on the insurance policy, but these are some activities that may be excluded from standard travel insurance policies:

• Base jumping
• Bungee jumping
• Martial arts and combat sports
• Motor racing and motorsports
• Mountaineering and rock climbing
• Off-piste skiing and snowboarding
• Paragliding and hang gliding
• Scuba diving and deep-sea diving

You may need to upgrade your plan or add on activities coverage if the excursions you’ve planned aren’t covered by your travel insurance policy.

As with basic travel insurance, you may find your credit card travel insurance lacking coverage for adventurous cruise excursions. Generally, credit card travel protections are limited to basic medical expenses, trip cancellation or interruption, lost baggage, and travel accidents . 

Credit card travel protections often exclude extreme or adventure sports such as diving or ziplining, though you should read the terms and conditions of the benefit to be clear about what is and isn’t covered.

Consider upgrading your travel insurance to include your cruise excursions if you plan to do risky excursions not covered by your credit card travel protection.

Credit card travel insurance may not cover your cruise excursions, so find out the details of coverage and consider paying for travel insurance if your activities aren’t covered.

Cruise excursion travel insurance costs depend on your coverage, activities, and other factors, but you should generally expect to pay about 5% to 10% of your total trip cost for comprehensive travel insurance that covers cruise excursions.

Factors that influence the cost of your cruise excursion travel insurance policy include:

• Destination
• Trip duration
• Traveler age

What Cruise Excursion Travel Insurance Covers

Cruise excursion travel insurance is generally part of a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes trip cancellation and interruption, medical emergency, baggage protection, evacuation and repatriation coverage, and more . 

Coverage specific to cruise excursions includes:

• Excursion Cancellations: You may be reimbursed if your scheduled excursion is canceled by the cruise line or tour operator.
• Excursion Delays: You could get compensation for missed time or an alternative activity if your excursion is delayed.
• Medical Emergencies: Your policy may cover medical emergencies that arise during the excursion.
• Missed Port Calls: If you can’t participate in an excursion because your cruise ship didn’t make the port call, you may be reimbursed.

Getting cruise excursion travel insurance that exclusively covers shore excursions is possible. However, this type of policy isn’t common. Most travelers find it more cost-effective and helpful to choose a comprehensive travel insurance policy that covers general cruise travel and cruise excursions.

As you consider cruise excursion travel insurance policies, you should shop around and get quotes from multiple companies. Consider these factors as you compare your options for cruise excursion travel insurance:

• Add-Ons: Optional coverage, such as Cancel for Any Reason coverage, can expand your protection.
• Cost: Consider each policy’s overall cost compared to its coverage value.
• Coverage for Your Excursions: Read the policy’s terms and exclusions to ensure your specific excursions or activities are included in the coverage. For example, exclusions may include adventure sports, diving, parasailing, and ziplining, though you may have the option to select coverage for these activities.
• Coverage Limits and Deductibles: Compare each policy’s coverage limits and deductibles to ensure they align with the cost of your excursions and planned travel.
• Exclusions: Understand what’s specifically excluded in the policy by reading the terms and conditions that stipulate situations and circumstances that aren’t covered.
• Extensive Coverage: Look for a policy that offers coverage for excursion cancellations, interruptions, delays, missed port calls, medical care, and 24/7 assistance services.
• Provider Reputation: Read reviews to learn about the provider’s customer service, claims process, and other insights into what working with the insurance company is like.

To get cruise excursion coverage, you’ll need to do 2 things:

• Include the cost of your cruise excursions in your total trip cost when you get travel insurance quotes.
• Ensure you select a travel insurance policy that covers cruises and the activities you plan to do , such as adventure sports.

Start by researching and choosing a comprehensive travel insurance policy covering cruises and the specific excursions you’ve planned. Calculate your total trip cost, including all nonrefundable prepaid expenses, such as your cruise fare and excursions. Then, review the policy details, including the terms and conditions, to confirm whether your cruise excursions are covered, specifically looking at exclusions and limitations of the policy.

Once you’ve found a policy that meets your needs, purchase it and retain your documentation, including policy details, coverage, and contact information to get help on your trip if needed.

Cruise excursion travel insurance can be a valuable addition to your cruise plans, protecting you from nonrefundable excursion costs and offering medical coverage for activities. As you shop for travel insurance for cruise excursions, ensure you include the cost of your excursions in quotes and confirm that the policy covers all of your planned activities so your entire cruise is covered onshore and off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my health insurance cover me on a cruise.

Cruise health insurance coverage depends on your health insurance provider and where you’re cruising. Before you set sail, check with your health insurance company to confirm your coverage and any limitations. You may be able to add a cruise supplement if your health insurance doesn’t cover cruises.

Are cruises covered under travel insurance?

Yes, cruises are generally covered by comprehensive travel insurance plans. These plans cover your travel to and from the port, the cruise, and beyond, with trip cancellation and interruption coverage, medical emergency coverage, and coverage for lost luggage, evacuations, and more. You should confirm with the insurer that your policy covers missed port calls and other cruise-related incidents. If you want to cover cruise excursions, be sure to include the cost of excursions in your total trip cost and confirm that your planned activities aren’t excluded from coverage.

What is cruise coverage on travel insurance?

Cruise coverage on travel insurance is specific to cruises, such as missed port calls or onboard medical emergencies.

Is travel insurance worth it for a cruise?

Cruise travel insurance is generally worth the cost. Cruise lines tend to be unforgiving with cancellation policies, so trip cancellation coverage can come in handy. And if you experience an illness or accident on your cruise, travel insurance can help you get and pay for the medical care you need. Covering your excursions makes sense, too, if your excursion costs are nonrefundable.

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About Jessica Merritt

A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little cash as possible.

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Do You Get Compensation For Missed Cruise Ports?

I have been on 50 cruises to date and would say that around 10 have had an itinerary change.

I’ve had itinerary changes both prior to the cruise and during the cruise itself, for a variety of reasons.

During this post, we will discuss why this happens, and how you may be able to get compensation.

No, as a general rule, you don’t get compensation from the cruise line if a port has to be missed.

Cruise lines have it written into their terms and conditions that they reserve the right to change the itinerary at any time.

There are some situations however, in which you may receive some compensation. Factors that are taken into consideration are:

• The reason for the cancellation
• How long before you sail it was cancelled
• How much of the cruise was cancelled
• How much the itinerary you booked has been changed.

Below is a section of Princess Cruises passenger contract:

After departure, Princess does not guarantee that the ship will call at every port on the itinerary or follow every part of the advertised route or schedule or that every part of the Package will be provided. Princess reserves the absolute right to decide whether or not to omit any such port(s) and/or to call at additional ports and/or to change the advertised route, schedule or Package. Princess Cruises Terms and Conditions

Does Your Travel Insurance Provide Compensation If Your Cruise Has Itinerary Changes?

In some cases, you are able to claim on your travel insurance if a port is missed.

If you have bought a cruise travel insurance policy which specifically includes “Missed Port Cover” then you are entitled to make a claim if ports are missed.

It is important to always make sure you buy travel insurance that specifically includes cruise cover.

If you have travel insurance coverage as a perk of your bank account, make sure it covers cruises! Most don’t, but you can add on extra cover by paying an additional fee.

I always take out cruise travel insurance to make sure that I am covered in the event of a medical emergency, cancellation or lost luggage – but the missed port cover is an added bonus too!

You don’t have to include missed port cover when purchasing cruise cover.

Claiming Compensation From Your Travel Insurance

In order to claim compensation from travel insurance, you will need to have something in writing from the cruise line explaining that the port was cancelled and the reasons why.

You can go to the ship’s Reception and ask for a letter to give to your insurance company.

Many other people on your cruise will be making the same request, and the cruise line will produce a standard letter on headed notepaper and deliver it to your cabin.

Some travel insurance policies will only pay out in certain circumstances, it is important to read the terms and conditions of your particular policy to find out exactly what is covered.

My family and I have claimed on our travel insurance a number of times for missing a port.

The last time I claimed was when a scheduled stop at Ajaccio, Corsica was cancelled on our Azamara cruise.

The Captain was predicting twelve-foot high seas on the journey back from Corsica. Avoiding that area altogether was something I was very happy to do – as I do suffer sometimes from seasickness.

We simply asked reception for a letter confirming that we had missed the port, and we were able to claim £100 (around $130) per person in compensation. This more than covered the cost of the annual insurance policy we had taken out!

The Captain of Azamara Onward arranged for us to dock in Genoa instead, where the weather was much better.

I didn’t feel my cruise had been spoilt in any way by the itinerary being changed, and it was a bonus getting some money back on the travel insurance!

Why would a cruise itinerary change?

There are a number of reasons why a cruise itinerary could change. These can either happen before a cruise or during the cruise itself.

Cruise itinerary changes could be made with just a few hour’s notice. When I took a Christmas cruise, our scheduled stop at Madeira was cancelled as the Captain tried to dock but found that the strong winds made it unsafe.

The first thing we knew about it was when he made an announcement into the cabins saying we wouldn’t be docking, and would have another “sea day” instead!

Why would a cruise itinerary change prior to a cruise?

Political unrest.

One reason why your cruise itinerary could change is because of political unrest.

I cruised with Cunard in 2016 and we were expecting several stops in Turkey including Istanbul.

These were all replaced with ports on various Greek islands. Cruise lines do have to put the safety of passengers first.

If a port is going to be cancelled/substituted due to political unrest you will usually be told months in advance, unless it is due to an unpredictable event – like a terror attack.

Why would a cruise itinerary change during a cruise?

Bad weather.

The main cause of last-minute itinerary changes is bad weather. This has happened to me on a number of occasions, and although it can be a little annoying, I do understand why it is necessary. Cruise lines may change the itinerary because:

• They need to avoid a storm
• They need to tender into port (smaller tender boats cannot operate in bad weather)
• The rough seas would make for a less-than-ideal onboard experience

Bad weather may mean that a ship has to change port (either for a substitute port or a sea day). It is also possible to have a cruise cut short due to bad weather.

When I sailed on Norwegian Spirit in 2019, the Captain chose to speed up and return to the port of Civitavecchia early to avoid bad weather brewing in the Mediterranean.

Another time, I took a Christmas Cruise from the Uk to the Canary Islands and came across some very bad weather. Instead of visiting Madeira, we had an extra sea day instead.

This was honestly the last thing I needed, as I was feeling very seasick, and was very keen to get my feet back on dry land!

I was able to claim the missed port of Madeira on my travel insurance policy.

Booking mistake

In exceptional circumstances, your itinerary can change completely . It happened to me!

Recently on board an NCL cruise, I booked my next cruise with a travel agent that they had onboard. Their representatives told me that the cruise would be going to the Bahamas and NCL ’s private island.

When I got home and looked on the NCL website I quickly realised that this itinerary didn’t exist for the date and ship that I had booked.

The Norwegian representative had booked me on a cruise visiting Mexico, Honduras and Belize – not The Bahamas – as promised!

This is a very rare occurrence and I would have been entitled to a refund if I wanted one (but I didn’t).

Are Cruise Lines Able to Change the Itinerary Without a Reason?

Yes ! Cruise lines can change the itinerary without a good reason. It is written into their terms and conditions that they are able to change the itinerary as they see fit.

I’ve heard rumours of cruise lines picking different ports which have cheaper taxes.

When cruising in Norway, I have had changes to ports because the cruise line has decided that there are too many cruise ships in the port on a given day.

What you see is not always what you get with cruise itineraries. Please don’t let this put you off cruising. Think of it as a magical mystery tour!

What happens if my cruise is cancelled completely?

If your cruise is cancelled completely you will be issued with a full refund.

You may also be given ‘credit’ to spend on your next cruise with the cruise line.

This really is a last resort and happens very rarely. It is far more likely that the ports of call will be altered.

Very occasionally there may be a problem with the ship, and the ship might have to go into dry dock or need other repairs. This is very disappointing for the passengers but is beyond the cruise line’s control.

In April 2023, passengers expecting to make a transatlantic crossing on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 were informed on the day of the cruise that it had been cancelled due to “Technical Issues.”

This caused travel chaos for passengers, many of whom were American and expecting to return home to the USA on this iconic ocean liner.

Cunard offered the passengers a full refund and a 20% credit towards another cruise with Cunard. It must have been SO disappointing though!

Can I Get Compensation For Missed Excursions?

If you’ve booked your excursion with the cruise line this will be automatically refunded to you.

Cruise lines do not have to refund you anything for missed excursions booked independently.

If you’ve booked a tour in advance through an independent agent you may lose all your money.

Some “Hop on Hop off” buses offer a full refund guarantee if you cannot use the ticket you booked in advance.

I booked Hop on Hop off tickets for the whole family when we recently visited Lisbon in Portugal. We waited and waited by the bus stop, but no “Hop on Hop off” bus ever arrived!

I was easily able to get a full refund directly from the bus company.

I wouldn’t usually book tours like this in advance, I usually book tours when I get to land. (Unless of course, they have a refund policy that allows you to get a full refund if you don’t make it to that port.)

Before You Go!

It is unusual for cruise itineraries to be changed due to bad weather, and having read this article you may be worrying that you will feel seasick when cruising. I do get motion sick and seasick, but I am rarely ill on a cruise ship.

Find out practical ways of avoiding seasickness, and what you can do to feel better in the article below:

13 Actionable Tips to Prevent and Treat Seasickness on a Cruise

If you do get seasick or have a medical emergency whilst onboard, cruise ships have medical centres, staffed by doctors and nurses. Being treated in the medical centre can be expensive though. Find out all about the medical centres and their charges here:

How Much Does Medical Care Cost on a Cruise? Real Examples (X-Rays, Consultations & More)

It is essential to take out good, cruise-specific travel insurance when booking your cruise! This will cover you for medical cover, lost luggage, cancellations – and some have additional “missed port” cover. Find out why you need insurance and how to get it here:

Cruise Travel Insurance – Why You Need it and How to Get It: (Step by Step Illustrated Guide)

Let Us Help You Book Your Next Cruise

If you are looking at booking your next cruise adventure, my friendly, knowledgeable partner travel agents can help!

If you are not sure which cruise would suit you, they can help you find something that best suits you and your family.

It never costs more than booking directly with the cruise line, you get free, impartial advice, and often a better price or added extras – like onboard credit that you wouldn’t get booking direct.

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Do You Need A Passport To Cruise? (Everything You Need To Know) – Emma Cruises

Thursday 19th of November 2020

[…] Bear in mind that cruise itineraries can and do change frequently. I have another post about why this happens here, including how many times it’s happened to me (lots): Do You Get Compensation For Missed Cruise Ports? Do You Get Compensation For Missed Cruise Ports? […]

HappyTraveller65_12

Tuesday 20th of September 2016

Very interesting!

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• UK Cruisers

Missed Port - Insurance Compensation

By Selbourne , July 27, 2023 in UK Cruisers

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On our recent Britannia cruise we missed a port call (Skagen). It seems that we miss a port on around 1 in every 3 cruises. We have an annual travel insurance policy with Aviva, which is excellent value at £166 given that it covers 4 of us (including our adult children who no longer live with us) and my wife’s medical condition. Aviva consider cruises to be a normal holiday, so it’s not a specific cruise policy, but it does cover all cruise eventualities, such as medical evacuation, on board treatment etc. I am aware that cruise specific policies provide compensation for missed ports and this is the one thing that our Aviva policy doesn’t cover, but I am also aware that some of these policies, especially for people with pre-existing medical conditions, can be very expensive. So my question is this. Can anyone recommend an insurer that is likely to provide annual cover, including pre-existing medical conditions, that will include missed port compensation, that is unlikely to be vastly more expensive than our current policy? Thanks. 

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AndyMichelle

Our Stay sure policy, which covers Michelle's medical condition and is very reasonably priced, allows you to add missed ports as an extra. 

We have a yearly policy that cost £158 for both of us, without the missed port cover. 

3 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said: Our Stay sure policy, which covers Michelle's medical condition and is very reasonably priced, allows you to add missed ports as an extra.  We have a yearly policy that cost £158 for both of us, without the missed port cover.  Andy 

Thanks Andy. Sounds similar to ours. I don’t suppose that you can recall roughly how much extra it was for the missed port cover and what the level of compensation was? I presume that you decided that it wasn’t worth adding?

Nationwide FlexPlus is £40 extra for cruise cover which pays £150 for a missed port (after departure).  It's £156 p.a. and with a joint account covers both of you plus dependent children but i don't believe that would extend to your adult children.  There is a £65 age extension for over 70s - one payment covers both policy holders but over 70s are subject to annual medical screening and may have an additional premium for medical issues. 

It is worldwide cover too and has AA breakdown included. You only need to open an account - it doesn't have to be your primary bank account or have regular deposits or DD coming out of it.  May be one to consider.  

8 hours ago, Selbourne said: Thanks Andy. Sounds similar to ours. I don’t suppose that you can recall roughly how much extra it was for the missed port cover and what the level of compensation was? I presume that you decided that it wasn’t worth adding?

Sorry, can't remember exactly but it didn't seem worth it to us at the time for a 7 night cruise. 

That doesn't mean it was expensive, we just thought we didn't really need it. 

Now more cruises are being booked, we will have another look when renewal is due. 

I’m not sure about the medical condition side as I only take medication for high blood pressure, but an annual policy with Liverpool Insurance (am in mid 60s) just cost me £79 for cover in Europe. Each missed port is £150 compensation. I have other insurances with LV so get a 10% discount.

Bizarrely an annual policy only cost me an extra £15 in comparison to a 7 day policy with them.

Winifred 22

7 hours ago, kruzseeka said: Nationwide FlexPlus is £40 extra for cruise cover which pays £150 for a missed port (after departure).  It's £156 p.a. and with a joint account covers both of you plus dependent children but i don't believe that would extend to your adult children.  There is a £65 age extension for over 70s - one payment covers both policy holders but over 70s are subject to annual medical screening and may have an additional premium for medical issues.    It is worldwide cover too and has AA breakdown included. You only need to open an account - it doesn't have to be your primary bank account or have regular deposits or DD coming out of it.  May be one to consider.  

The added bonus with the Nationwide Current account that goes with it is that there are no foreign charges added for purchases and use abroad. I opened it up solely for cruising and insurance paid the £40 a year supplement. As a usual Cunard cruiser it’s useful because of all the dollar charges onboard. It’s great in port to buy even small items on your card and not be charged extra. 

I personally think these days missed ports supplement is an essential element to me of insurance. It would certainly soften the blow to receive money back to spend on another cruise. 

alpha whiskey

We were also on the Britannia cruise with Skagen as a missed port.

We won't be claiming as we were not out of pocket with any expenses.

Different matter if we had  suffered non refundable independent shore excursions.

Does anyone else think like me, or am I daft? 

My aunt's annual AllClear policy underwritten by Zurich paid out within 5 days on her claim in January.  This included £100 for a missed port and £100 X 4 for cabin confinement when she had a chest infection whilst onboard.

The missed port cover under AllClear is not the highest on offer but their claims procedure was easy. Her policy at 83 for annual European cover alone with absolutely everything including companion insurance was £1,100 - obviously she is rated for her heart and her tribulations in Italy last year.  

Bear in mind all the policies with missed port cover have a limit on how much you can claim (AllClear limits it to £500 for instance).  For an ordinary bog standard cruise the chances of missing 5 ports are remote but on a long cruise not impossible. Most "regular" policies it is £100 per port, a few give £150.

I had a policy with the Post Office with cruise cover and that offered £150 for each port, again limited to £750 and my husband's Avanti one offered £100 per port.  However we chose not to renew these policies as the cost of the Avanti one rose by 30% at renewal and we reverted back to Allianz which comes with our bank account.  No specific cruise cover the same as your current one but a far more reasonable premium.

My husband's health conditions are very expensive to cover even on a non cruise specific policy.  He is 66 with a myocardial bridge, fibromyalga, IBS and depression covered for worldwide travel including cruise and winter sports.  The Avanti policy renewal was £1,300 for him alone - Staysure being the same company was quoting £1,100 but the cover level was much lower at £5,000.  Reverting back to non specific policy we have full worldwide cover including winter sports for £298 so a no brainer cost wise.

As a much healthier individual I declare every year breast cancer more than 20 years ago, depression and in my 5 year history covid, removal of a benign mole and a broken rib.  My Post Office platinum policy renewal for worldwide travel was quote at £329 in June but again I decided to use Allianz to keep it under one umbrella.

The claims process for the major issues was far more important to me at renewal than the cost and add ons.  After the hell my family had with medical claims last year with Good to Go, Staysure and the Holiday Extras I wouldn’t hesitate to say AllClear was head and shoulders above them for claim handling.

9 minutes ago, alpha whiskey said: We were also on the Britannia cruise with Skagen as a missed port. We won't be claiming as we were not out of pocket with any expenses. Different matter if we had  suffered non refundable independent shore excursions. Does anyone else think like me, or am I daft?   

Missed port cover is not about any losses that you may have incurred (that’s a separate issue), it’s a cash payment purely for having missed the port - nothing more. We were issued with letters to provide to insurers but, in my case, I can’t claim anything. Therefore, if we’d had that cover we might have got £150 or whatever. Whether you were bothered about missing the port or not, it’s obviously preferable to receive something rather than nothing in recognition, especially as P&O don’t make any gesture as a result. 

Therefore it’s purely a financial consideration. There’s a calculation to be made about how much more cruise insurance with missed port cover would cost me per year, versus how much I would get back through missed ports, on the basis that we probably miss one port per year. 

4 minutes ago, Selbourne said: Missed port cover is not about any losses that you may have incurred (that’s a separate issue), it’s a cash payment purely for having missed the port - nothing more. We were issued with letters to provide to insurers but, in my case, I can’t claim anything. Therefore, if we’d had that cover we might have got £150 or whatever. Whether you were bothered about missing the port or not, it’s obviously preferable to receive something rather than nothing in recognition, especially as P&O don’t make any gesture as a result.    Therefore it’s purely a financial consideration. There’s a calculation to be made about how much more cruise insurance with missed port cover would cost me per year, versus how much I would get back through missed ports, on the basis that we probably miss one port per year. 

You'd have got £300 as it's per person not cabin.  I must confess I've never claimed as on the occasions I've missed a port I too thought like AlphaWhiskey and when we did buy the missed port cover we never missed a port on that year's cruises!

14 minutes ago, Megabear2 said: My aunt's annual AllClear policy underwritten by Zurich paid out within 5 days on her claim in January.  This included £100 for a missed port and £100 X 4 for cabin confinement when she had a chest infection whilst onboard.   The missed port cover under AllClear is not the highest on offer but their claims procedure was easy. Her policy at 83 for annual European cover alone with absolutely everything including companion insurance was £1,100 - obviously she is rated for her heart and her tribulations in Italy last year.     Bear in mind all the policies with missed port cover have a limit on how much you can claim (AllClear limits it to £500 for instance).  For an ordinary bog standard cruise the chances of missing 5 ports are remote but on a long cruise not impossible. Most "regular" policies it is £100 per port, a few give £150.   I had a policy with the Post Office with cruise cover and that offered £150 for each port, again limited to £750 and my husband's Avanti one offered £100 per port.  However we chose not to renew these policies as the cost of the Avanti one rose by 30% at renewal and we reverted back to Allianz which comes with our bank account.  No specific cruise cover the same as your current one but a far more reasonable premium.   My husband's health conditions are very expensive to cover even on a non cruise specific policy.  He is 66 with a myocardial bridge, fibromyalga, IBS and depression covered for worldwide travel including cruise and winter sports.  The Avanti policy renewal was £1,300 for him alone - Staysure being the same company was quoting £1,100 but the cover level was much lower at £5,000.  Reverting back to non specific policy we have full worldwide cover including winter sports for £298 so a no brainer cost wise.   As a much healthier individual I declare every year breast cancer more than 20 years ago, depression and in my 5 year history covid, removal of a benign mole and a broken rib.  My Post Office platinum policy renewal for worldwide travel was quote at £329 in June but again I decided to use Allianz to keep it under one umbrella.   The claims process for the major issues was far more important to me at renewal than the cost and add ons.  After the hell my family had with medical claims last year with Good to Go, Staysure and the Holiday Extras I wouldn’t hesitate to say AllClear was head and shoulders above them for claim handling.  

Many thanks. I was hoping that you would respond, as I know that you have expertise in this area, but I didn’t want to put you under pressure to do so by asking directly!

As you say, it boils down to a financial calculation. If, for example, in an average year we are only likely to miss one port and receive, say, £200 compensation, then if I can get a comparable policy for £100 more than I’m paying currently then it’s definitely worth doing. However, if the policy would be £200 or more extra then it probably wouldn’t be.  

As you have demonstrated in your examples, the cost of some policies, especially with pre-existing conditions, can be eye watering. We used to have free cover with our bank, but when we needed to add my wife’s health condition the weighting cost more than a separate stand alone policy which included it!

yorkshirephil

51 minutes ago, alpha whiskey said: We were also on the Britannia cruise with Skagen as a missed port. We won't be claiming as we were not out of pocket with any expenses. Different matter if we had  suffered non refundable independent shore excursions. Does anyone else think like me, or am I daft?   

Not daft in my opinion, but then we may both be daft. We never take out missed port add ons, we have missed lots of ports over the years and just accept that these things happen and move on. If it is a port you are rally looking forward to we may feel disappointed but get over it. It is a good excuse to try again another time.

5 minutes ago, Selbourne said: Many thanks. I was hoping that you would respond, as I know that you have expertise in this area, but I didn’t want to put you under pressure to do so by asking directly!   As you say, it boils down to a financial calculation. If, for example, in an average year we are only likely to miss one port and receive, say, £200 compensation, then if I can get a comparable policy for £100 more than I’m paying currently then it’s definitely worth doing. However, if the policy would be £200 or more extra then it probably wouldn’t be.   As you have demonstrated in your examples, the cost of some policies, especially with pre-existing conditions, can be eye watering. We used to have free cover with our bank, but when we needed to add my wife’s health condition the weighting cost more than a separate stand alone policy which included it!

Unfortunately this year insurers are heavily loading their policies so many are finding costs excessive and as a result going for the less than ideal policies on offer through comparison sites.  That's okay until you need to claim as we found with Good to Go not offering any form of companion insurance when I needed to stay in Italy.  With added flights and hotels over the period my aunt was in hospital that added over £3,000 to our loss.

13 minutes ago, yorkshirephil said: Not daft in my opinion, but then we may both be daft. We never take out missed port add ons, we have missed lots of ports over the years and just accept that these things happen and move on. If it is a port you are rally looking forward to we may feel disappointed but get over it. It is a good excuse to try again another time.

With respect, that’s an entirely different issue. We weren’t particularly bothered about missing Skagen as we had been there before and knew that we wouldn’t have been ashore for much more than an hour. The issue is purely a financial consideration between different insurance policies.  

If there were two identical insurance policies costing the same and one would pay out 2 x £100 for a missed port and one wouldn’t pay a penny, then IMHO it would indeed be daft not to buy the one with missed port cover. Whether people are bothered or not about the port that is missed is completely irrelevant, as you get the payment regardless!

I use LV= for my travel insurance and as we are both over 70 and have medical conditions as it was about the cheapest that I could find. The fact that they have £150 missed port cover is a bonus - especially when we missed three ports recently. The payout was £900 (far more than the premium) and was in my bank account within 10 days of returning home.

It is almost impossible to compare one person's insurance quote with another as everyone is totally different (age, medical conditions, actual cover, where you live, etc.)

8 minutes ago, Selbourne said: With respect, that’s an entirely different issue. We weren’t particularly bothered about missing Skagen as we had been there before and knew that we wouldn’t have been ashore for much more than an hour. The issue is purely a financial consideration between different insurance policies.   If there were two identical insurance policies costing the same and one would pay out 2 x £100 for a missed port and one wouldn’t pay a penny, then IMHO it would indeed be daft not to buy the one with missed port cover. Whether people are bothered or not about the port that is missed is completely irrelevant, as you get the payment regardless!

In those circumstances then yes, as long as they actually do pay out and not use T&C's to avoid paying which does happen, most of us bumble along quite happily paying our fees while everything is OK but then try claiming and it is all change. Friends of ours tried to claim for a missed port but because Thompson gave everyone £25 as a gesture of goodwill then their insurer turned down their claim for £200 (£100 pp)

5 minutes ago, yorkshirephil said: In those circumstances then yes, as long as they actually do pay out and not use T&C's to avoid paying which does happen, most of us bumble along quite happily paying our fees while everything is OK but then try claiming and it is all change. Friends of ours tried to claim for a missed port but because Thompson gave everyone £25 as a gesture of goodwill then their insurer turned down their claim for £200 (£100 pp)

A good point. Goodwill gestures affect all claims not just missed port ones.  

Missed port claims are generally paid out immediately but you still need to ensure you have all the paperwork.

cruising.mark.uk

19 minutes ago, david63 said: I use LV= for my travel insurance and as we are both over 70 and have medical conditions as it was about the cheapest that I could find. The fact that they have £150 missed port cover is a bonus - especially when we missed three ports recently. The payout was £900 (far more than the premium) and was in my bank account within 10 days of returning home.   It is almost impossible to compare one person's insurance quote with another as everyone is totally different (age, medical conditions, actual cover, where you live, etc.)

This is what worries me about the 'gift horse' that is missed port insurance payments.  We too have it on our Admiral policy, but have never claimed for it.  It seems to me that missing ports is not a rare occurrence and that many on here who cruise regularly could well find themselves in the same position as you where a missed port claim would result in a payment far above their annual premium.  And that might be the case year after year if people are cruising 50, 60, 70 or more days per year and will, therefore, by the law of averages miss 2 or 3 or 4 ports per year.  The risk is that these payments will become economically non-viable for the insurers and, therefore, that they will do one or more of: removing payments for missed ports altogether or lowering the amount paid; requiring those insured to prove that they are out of pocket because of a missed port (e.g. because they were due to go on a non-ship excursion which has not been refunded); or increasing premiums either for travel insurance in general, for cruise cover as an extra or for missed ports as an extra add on.

Personally, I think it would be entirely fair for them to adopt the second of those options and insist that travellers demonstrate that they have made a financial loss because of the missed port and then recompense that loss.  We've never claimed because we've never been in a position where missing a port has 'cost' us anything and would, therefore, feel uneasy about asking for recompense.

34 minutes ago, Selbourne said: With respect, that’s an entirely different issue. We weren’t particularly bothered about missing Skagen as we had been there before and knew that we wouldn’t have been ashore for much more than an hour. The issue is purely a financial consideration between different insurance policies.   If there were two identical insurance policies costing the same and one would pay out 2 x £100 for a missed port and one wouldn’t pay a penny, then IMHO it would indeed be daft not to buy the one with missed port cover. Whether people are bothered or not about the port that is missed is completely irrelevant, as you get the payment regardless!

Out of interest I've just visited Staysure and compared a quote for my husband with his medical conditions declared for with cruise insurance and without.

Firstly the interesting part is the quotes are considerably lower than for the June renewal, strange as under the new law existing customers should be offered identical terms.  Anyway, the two policies are as follows.

Comprehensive £5,000 cancellation cover

With cruise cover £781.53

Without £729.65

Superior comprehensive £10,000 cover

With cruise cover £915.50

Without £829.63

Based on this it would be reasonable to take the cruise cover as the difference is minimal.

We have Nationwide Flexplus account which as well as worldwide travel insurance for all members of immediate family of account holder also has mobile phone insurance and car breakdown. We paid £40 extra for extra cruise cover i.e. missing ports and also a supplement for pre existing conditions. Compared to other quotes was very good. When on Iona in March we missed a port of call and was given a letter by P&O for reason why. On return home phoned Nationwide took details on a short 5 minute call and within a week £150pp was paid into my bank account. Excellent service.

15 minutes ago, cruising.mark.uk said: This is what worries me about the 'gift horse' that is missed port insurance payments.  We too have it on our Admiral policy, but have never claimed for it.  It seems to me that missing ports is not a rare occurrence and that many on here who cruise regularly could well find themselves in the same position as you where a missed port claim would result in a payment far above their annual premium.  And that might be the case year after year if people are cruising 50, 60, 70 or more days per year and will, therefore, by the law of averages miss 2 or 3 or 4 ports per year.  The risk is that these payments will become economically non-viable for the insurers and, therefore, that they will do one or more of: removing payments for missed ports altogether or lowering the amount paid; requiring those insured to prove that they are out of pocket because of a missed port (e.g. because they were due to go on a non-ship excursion which has not been refunded); or increasing premiums either for travel insurance in general, for cruise cover as an extra or for missed ports as an extra add on.   Personally, I think it would be entirely fair for them to adopt the second of those options and insist that travellers demonstrate that they have made a financial loss because of the missed port and then recompense that loss.  We've never claimed because we've never been in a position where missing a port has 'cost' us anything and would, therefore, feel uneasy about asking for recompense.  

There is also the complication of when is a missed port not a missed port, and how will an insurer deal with it. As several ports are now restricting cruise ships for various reasons will insurers pay out, two examples that spring to mind are Amsterdam and Majorca where people were expecting to cruise there but now are not, is that really a missed port in the eyes of an insurer?

terrierjohn

53 minutes ago, yorkshirephil said: In those circumstances then yes, as long as they actually do pay out and not use T&C's to avoid paying which does happen, most of us bumble along quite happily paying our fees while everything is OK but then try claiming and it is all change. Friends of ours tried to claim for a missed port but because Thompson gave everyone £25 as a gesture of goodwill then their insurer turned down their claim for £200 (£100 pp)

I dont think I would be too worried about whether a claim is fair or not, you can be certain that the insurance companies will not be out of pocket with any claims that are made.

19 minutes ago, yorkshirephil said: There is also the complication of when is a missed port not a missed port, and how will an insurer deal with it. As several ports are now restricting cruise ships for various reasons will insurers pay out, two examples that spring to mind are Amsterdam and Majorca where people were expecting to cruise there but now are not, is that really a missed port in the eyes of an insurer?  

If the cruise line issues a letter, yes.  Guernsey is another you can add.  Basically get a letter whilst onboard you're covered.  How long it will last is another question.  So many now claiming might well start to show up in the balance sheets.  

Before the pandemic a lot of people never read their policies so many didn't even know the cover existed unless they were on forums like this one. Now because of the situation that arose in 2020 most travellers will read their policy with a fine toothcomb and rightly claim every little thing they're entitled to.

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More From Forbes

How artificial intelligence is changing the way you buy travel insurance.

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Artificial intelligence is changing the way you buy travel insurance. Here's how.

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way you buy travel insurance. From shopping for a policy to filing a claim, there's no part that hasn't been touched by AI.

"AI is revolutionizing travel insurance," says Greg Jung, chief growth officer for Seven Corners . "It's making it more efficient and tailored to individual needs."

Words like "efficient" and "tailored" are rare in the one-size-fits-all, bureaucratic travel insurance industry. For years, consumers had limited choices. And when they filed a claim, it took close to forever to get an answer, much less get paid.

Not anymore.

Jung says AI is doing away with that. The benefits to travelers include:

• Personalized coverage. AI can analyze vast amounts of data on traveler profiles, including travel history, preferences, and even risk factors like age and health conditions. That allows insurers to recommend customized travel insurance plans that provide the right level of coverage for each individual's needs.
• Proactive risk management. AI can analyze data to predict potential disruptions or emergencies that could impact a traveler's trip. This allows insurers to offer assistance, such as medical advice or flight rebooking assistance, in case of unforeseen events.
• Faster claims processing. AI can automate much of the claims process, verifying documents, assessing damages, and expediting settlements. Travelers can be reimbursed for covered expenses much more quickly, especially for straightforward claims.

Behind the scenes, travel insurance companies are also using AI to conduct better risk management. And there are parts of the business where travel insurance companies won't talk about how they use AI, such as in efforts to sell policies on their sites. Travel insurance companies are also hush-hush about how they are analyzing data to set rates and identify patterns in fraudulent claims data.

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This story is a long time coming. Travel insurance companies have been generally slow to adopt AI. You can see artificial intelligence in action in a few places, but in the places that matter to you — such as finding the best policy — there are still some gaps. AI won't fix everything in travel insurance, but it promises to make many things better.

What took travel insurance so long?

Why has AI been slow to catch on in the travel insurance industry? Well, it has — and it hasn't. I wrote about how Allianz was using machine learning to improve its products five years ago .

But across the industry, change has been gradual.

"Travel Insurance is highly regulated," explains Tim Dodge, vice president of marketing at Arch RoamRight . "There are strict policy definitions, communications guidelines and adjudication rules to which we must adhere. For AI to be successful in our industry, it has to be implemented carefully; improving the customer experience while maintaining regulatory compliance."

If you file a travel insurance claim and get frustrated with the time it takes to be settled, it's because of the way travel insurance is set up. There's a lot of required documentation to review in support of the claim.

Dodge says AI can potentially facilitate and speed up the claims handling process and reduce claimants' frustrations, and that's what travel insurance companies are now doing.

Where can you see AI in action right now in travel insurance?

Travel insurance companies are not waiting for the future.

Arch RoamRight’s AI chatbot has been integrated into every aspect of its customer experience, from its phone system to its website and travel agent portal. It's even used as a training tool for new hires, according to Dodge.

At Generali Global Assistance , a carefully trained chatbot helps customers obtain instant assistance, receive accurate information, and navigate policy complexities. "This digitalization empowers our agents to provide personalized support promptly," says Christopher Carnicelli, CEO of Generali Global Assistance.

Allianz Travel Insurance has been using AI to help streamline its claims process for years. It just added a new chatbot for customer support, too. "Our chatbot supports the customer during filing in the event the customer has questions or needs further assistance, and uses AI to qualify the customer’s needs to quickly get them the help they need,” explains Maggie Butler, director of customer experience at Allianz Partners USA.

At Faye Travel Insurance , an AI-powered app helps customers file claims for flight cancellations, baggage delays, and medical emergencies. The app speeds up the claims process, ensuring travelers get paid in hours instead of days. "It's part of our commitment to making travel insurance an integral and personalized part of each traveler’s experience," says Elad Schaffer, Faye's CEO.

Over time, the entire travel insurance industry will embrace AI. But there are exceptions.

Can artificial intelligence help you find the best travel insurance?

AI might help you find a better policy, but you have to know where to look. I tested the major AIs to see how they responded to a sample query, "I'm a 28-year-old woman who lives in New York. I am planning a one-week trip to Paris this summer. Please help me find the best travel insurance."

• Gemini offered two options — Generali and Travel Insured International, but did not show rates or a bookable link. The responses appeared to be based on a news article.
• Meta AI generated a succinct response citing the benefits of travel insurance with key coverage areas.
• Microsoft Copilot showed a generic "how-to" story about travel insurance based on an article I had written for Forbes.
• Hugging Face gave a generic response with advice on how to buy travel insurance.
• Perplexity offered several specific options, including Seven Corners, Nationwide and Travelex. However, it based its quotes on a story on a news site and did not offer a link to buy the policies.

Bottom line: You can't really shop for travel insurance using AI — at least, not yet.

AI doesn't work for everything in travel insurance

In the travel insurance industry, like in other places, artificial intelligence isn't the answer to everything.

For example, at INF Visitor Care , a company that sells travel insurance to those traveling to the U.S., AI is helping automate its claims system. INF applies machine learning to identify emerging trends in claims to design policies that cover customers when they need it for unexpected issues.

"It has revolutionized the way we think about pricing and policy coverages," says PK Rao, CEO of INF Visitor Care .

But when it comes to customer service, AI is not always the best solution.

"We find customers enjoy talking to a live person on chat and phone," adds Rao.

The future of travel insurance and AI is promising

Over the long term, AI promises to reshape the travel insurance business into one that works the way customers expect it to — quickly, nimbly and efficiently.

At least that's what Daniel Green, chief technology officer for Faye Travel Insurance , sees.

"Imagine a world where most insurance claims are processed in hours instead of days," he says. "A computer system can go out and collect all the documentation for you and prepare the paperwork perfectly, ready for a human to make a quick decision on whether to approve it or not."

AI also has the potential to insure you for only what you need — to give you the "perfect" policy.

"AI can prepare it in seconds based on being able to tell a computer in your own words what coverage you need, by having it translated into insurance paperwork-speak for you," he adds.

We aren't quite there yet, but we're getting close.

There's one more thing that is potentially keeping AI from changing travel insurance — and that is customers themselves.

Breanne Armstrong, who is director of insurance intelligence at J.D. Power, says most consumers understand that artificial intelligence and machine learning have a lot of potential, "but there is hesitancy."

Armstrong bases her observation on another study that J.D. Power recently conducted on banking customers and AI. Only 28% of respondents said they believe AI will make their lives better in the next three years. Roughly one-third say it will make no difference, and 17% say it will make their lives worse.

All you have to do is engage with any chatbot to understand those 17% of respondents. Talking to an AI about banking or travel insurance — or anything else, really — can quickly end in frustration.

"There are mixed sentiments," adds Armstrong.

That may well describe how people feel about travel insurance and AI. It could be great. But if it isn't implemented carefully, it could be not so great.

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