qantas travel insurance missed ports

• P&O Cruises ( UK )

Positive experience claiming on travel insurance for missed ports on Iona cruise

By SomersetS , July 23, 2022 in P&O Cruises ( UK )

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If anyone needs to claim on their travel insurance for missed ports I thought it might be helpful to post my experience. The most important thing was to get a letter from the P&O reception desk whilst still onboard, detailing the ports missed and the reason (adverse weather in our case). They print out individual letters for each passenger.

We were on the 2-9 July Iona cruise to the Norwegian Fjords and did not stop at Hellesylt or Haugesund which were on our itinerary.

We had a Staysure travel insurance policy with extra cruise cover which included compensation for missed ports. It  was a bit confusing trying to work out which claim form to use but I spoke to their customer service who said to use the one for "Travel Delay".

I was able to complete my claim online and upload copies of the letters from P&O. My claim was approved and processed the same day, with the money being paid into our bank account the following day. The amount paid per missed port was £75 per person per port. I don't know how that compares with other insurance providers.

It was very straightforward but it looks as if you can only claim if you were not compensated in any way by P&O. It was our first P&O cruise so maybe there was better compensation being offered onboard to anyone who complained but we didn't explore that possibility!

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Good result  - nice to hear a positive insurance story for once. 

The amount you got back was far in excess of anything P&O would have given you !

We missed docking in Stavanger on our Iona cruise in May. Fortunately I’d read on here that you need a letter from reception to claim in the insurance so I got that sorted.

We were insured with AllClear and, although it took a fair bit of scanning documents to email the claims company, my husband and I were awarded £100 each for missed port with no excess fees.  It took around 2/3 weeks to receive the money if I remember correctly.

RaspberryCremeBrulee

We claimed for missed port back in September through Staysure and told to use 'Travel Delay' form too, as they don't have form specific to missed port.  All went through quite promptly as I recall but, we had sent in the post rather than doing online.

Last month when we claimed for missed ports using same process, it took over a month to process.  We weren't aware they now use Davies Group to process Staysure claims.  Our request took some time to pass from Staysure address where they previously handled claims to Davies Group.  Initially they advised they hadn't received our communication so we had to resend to email address given and, were subsequently told they still didn't have our claim on their system.  Eventually they sorted things out to ensure our claim was with correct team.

Think it was just unfortunate that we'd submitted claim during their changeover period.

Going forward, if we have a need to claim we will try and complete the claim online as ' SomersetS ' did in #1

johnnylikely

LV insurance - £150 per port

Needed letter of proof from cruisline (they delivered one to each cabin) And proof of invoice/itinerary

I got the impression from the onboard Reception staff on Iona that they only printed out letters for passengers who specifically requested them. I wonder how easy/difficult it would have been to get one after disembarking?

It is interesting to see the range of compensation amounts paid out by different providers. I think the policy recommended by P&O includes payment for missed ports but only if a substitute port has not been arranged. I will definitely read the smallprint for each provider before our next cruise.

Happy afloat

Missed out on Grenada in 2018. Pre-printed letters were available from reception on request.  We got £100 each from insure&go.

How much dearer is cruise cover for missed ports? 

It was £25.90 to extra to add extra cruise cover (which covered missed ports and presumably other things) to our standard travel insurance (around £100) (which included basic cruise cover). This was for a 7-night cruise. I don't know whether this was a particularly competitive price but it turned out to be worth having for Iona because missed ports seem to have been a recurring problem in recent weeks.

Son of Anarchy

2 hours ago, Ardennais said: How much dearer is cruise cover for missed ports? 

Off the top of my head, it was about £120 for the two of us on an annual policy with Staysure.  We got £150 for missing one port.  I think there is limit of £500 over the duration of the policy.

My question is this:

Do Staysure pay out only if the itinerary change port is not replaced with another port (that obviously we had not chosen when booking the cruise)?

Just returned from the Baltic cruise on the Aurora - St. Petersburg changed (after making final payment for the cruise) and Helsinki substituted.

Then on the actual cruise one port missed (strong winds) and another port substituted for it, so we had the same number of ports of call as the original itinerary, but not the same ones that we booked and paid for.

Do we have any likelihood of a successful claim on the "changed itinerary" extra cruise clause that we paid for?

After many cruises over many years I never even knew about additional cruise cover beyond the standard cover for repatriation, emergencies etc. When Covid hit I was drawn in by the 'isolation in cabin benefits' so paid the additional £40 premium for us both. We've now used it twice - unable to dock in Madeira last year, and in June cancellation of ports in the fjords on Iona (a frequent occurrence it seems?!) Yes I'm impressed with Nationwide insurance, the £600 I received notification today about is very welcome! 

I think you can only claim for ports which were on the itinerary when you set sail. I am not sure whether there is a way to claim for itinerary changes before you sail but after you have paid your final balance?

Do the cruise companies have any obligation to offer a full refund if your cruise itinerary changes significantly? Or do they cover themselves for this in the Ts&Cs? 

bbtablet #11

You should be able to claim on Staysure for the missed port once onboard even though it was substituted with another port. As long as you got letter from P&O to confirm before you disembarked.

That happened on our Baltic where we couldn't go to 2 ports owing to weather.

We had numerous port changes advised after final payment, Staysure didn't allow anything for those changes to itinerary.

My understanding is that compensation only relates to ports missed once you have set sail.  

Not sure what you do if the itinerary is changed 24 hours in advance ! (Rhetorical question).

17 hours ago, RaspberryCremeBrulee said: bbtablet #11 You should be able to claim on Staysure for the missed port once onboard even though it was substituted with another port. As long as you got letter from P&O to confirm before you disembarked. That happened on our Baltic where we couldn't go to 2 ports owing to weather. We had numerous port changes advised after final payment, Staysure didn't allow anything for those changes to itinerary.

Thanks for this. No-one on Aurora told us about the letter from Reception - very poor customer service - so I have had to email P&O for it today and it will no doubt take for ever.

My claim with Staysure will wait until I have this document.

Re St Petersberg cancellation, I will argue that as I had the insurance live, premium paid, and had paid for the cruise in full before any departure changes were made by P&O, the subsequent timing of future changes is not relevant, only that they took place. No doubt they will find some small print to counter this!

Gettingwarmer

38 minutes ago, bbtablet said: No-one on Aurora told us about the letter from Reception - very poor customer service -

I’m afraid very  few people have this extra insurance. It’s up to you to know your terms and conditions, not the cruise company. 

We had a missed port on our Iona cruise in March, because they swapped Cadiz for Fuerteventura  didn’t think to get a letter from reception. Only realised could still claim when returned home, contacted them through messenger on the 08/04 letter emailed back on 15/04. Couldn’t fault P&O. Now the time it took the insurance company to pay out…….we’ll that’s a different matter !.

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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)

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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? […]

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• 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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• Best Travel Insurance For Cruises

The journalists on the editorial team at Forbes Advisor Australia base their research and opinions on objective, independent information-gathering.

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Our Pick Of The Best Cruise Travel Insurance

Published: Mar 28, 2024, 11:11am

Cruising was put on pause during Covid, but like most post-pandemic travel, it has since become a popular option for thousands of Australian holiday-makers.

According to Statista, revenue in the Australian cruising market is expected to grow by 9.48% per year, resulting in an expected market value of $US1.25 billion by 2027. And, with airfares remaining high across many international sectors, and increasing number of Aussies are opting for cruises.

A poll by insurance provider InsureandGo in January found that three in four of those surveyed have developed an interest in a cruise vacation, with the 57% of the under-50s now likely to opt for the all-inclusive cruise holiday.

Of course, when cruising in domestic or international waters, travel insurance is vital. What many travellers may not realise, however, is the need for a specific type of insurance to cover the risk factors and events specific to cruising—whether it’s missed ports cover, emergency evacuation or even formal wear cover for missed black-tie events.

That’s why for Australians looking to set sail, we have taken a look at the wider cruise insurance market and picked out our favourite providers of cruise travel insurance based on the cruise-related cover they offer.

Note: The below list represents a selection of our top category picks, as chosen by Forbes Advisor Australia’s editors and journalists. The information provided is purely factual and is not intended to imply any recommendation, opinion, or advice about a financial product. Not every product or provider in the marketplace has been reviewed, and the list below is not intended to be exhaustive nor replace your own research or independent financial advice. For more information on how Forbes Advisor ranks and reviews products, including how we identified our top category picks, read the methodology selection below.

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InsureandGo

Budget direct, southern cross, our methodology, do you need special travel insurance for a cruise, what does cruise insurance cover, covid cover on a cruise, frequently asked questions (faqs).

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Fast Cover Travel Insurance

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Medical cover

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Unlimited, (Trip Disruption $50,000)

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Cover-More Travel Insurance

On Cover-more’s secure website

Unlimited, with a $2000 limit to dental

Yes, amount chosen by customer

Southern Cross Travel Insurance

Medical Cover

Including medical treatment, doctors’ visits, prescribed medication, specialist treatment & medical transport costs

$2,500 with option to increase to unlimited

Cabin Confinement Cover

Covered for covid, missed ports cover.

InsureandGo offers a specific cruise insurance policy to its customers which is available to those aged up to 79 years old on the bare essentials cruise policy and 100 years old for the more comprehensive cover. There is unlimited medical cover on-board (including for diagnoses and treatment related to Covid), and a $5,000 cancellation cover if travellers need to cancel due to contracting the virus. Furthermore, cabin confinement is covered up to a total of $2,500 with $75 towards every completed 24-hour period.

Missed ports cover is also included with $100 for each port up to a total of $1,000, which is paid if your cruise docks at fewer ports than what is scheduled on your original cruise itinerary. There is also compensation for cruise delays, and InsureandGo regularly runs online discounts for consumers to find the best deal.

• Cabin confinement covered up to $2,500
• Unlimited medical including Covid
• Regular online discounts
• No specific cover for formal wear
• No live chat functionality
• Only covered up to 79 on bare essentials cruise policy

To be insured for a cruise via 1Cover, you will need to purchase a cruise pack on top of an existing policy. If you’re cruising in Australia, you’ll need to purchase a domestic policy and if you’re cruising in Australia as well as international waters, you’ll need to purchase a comprehensive policy. You will then need to add a cruise pack to each of these.

While all ages are covered with 1Cover, there is a $3,000 excess for travellers over 80 years old and a maximum coverage length of six months. There is unlimited medical and dental cover while onboard, and cover related to Covid-19 diagnosis, pending certain conditions.

• Missed ports cover
• Covid included in unlimited medical cover
• Positive customer reviews
• No online discounts
• $3000 excess for travellers over 80 years old
• No livechat functionality

Allianz offers its cruise insurance via a cruise pack on both domestic and international policies. All ages are covered, medical cover while cruising is unlimited (including for Covid), and cancellation due to Covid is also recognised. Allianz also covers cabin confinement up to $500 if you are confined for more than a 48-hour period.

Unfortunately, Allianz does not offer any compensation for missed ports, however, there is cover for missed shore excursions. This means if you pre-paid for an excursion on-shore and then are unable to go for either medical reasons or reasons outside of your control (such as not docking at the port), you will be reimbursed up to $1,000.

• Covid is covered under medical expenses
• Cover for missed onshore activities cover
• No missed ports cover
• Must be purchased as an add-on to existing policy

With Budget Direct, you can only take out a cruise insurance policy if you first purchase an international travel insurance policy and then add on the cruise pack. The cruise pack covers all ages, nearly 30 pre-existing medical conditions, and unlimited medical treatment. It also includes dental treatment onboard up to $2,000 and cabin confinement up to $1,500.

Budget Direct also offers compensation for missed ports cover if you cannot dock due to unforeseen circumstances, as well as missed shore excursions for any tours or activities that were pre-paid. At the time of writing, Budget Direct is offering a 15% online discount.

• Unlimited medical cover
• Some poor customer reviews
• No specific formal wear cover

If you purchase a domestic or international travel insurance policy with Bupa, you will have the option to purchase an additional cruise pack, which is available to all ages. It offers unlimited medical cover, including overseas medical and hospital expenses in the event that you are diagnosed with Covid; cancellation cover for Covid; and $500 for cabin confinement in the event that you are confined for more than a 48-hour period.

Unfortunately, there is no missed ports cover with the Bupa cruise pack. However, there is a marine rescue diversion cover which is paid out if your cruise must divert in order to complete a marine rescue. Additionally, there is cover up to $1,000 if you miss a pre-paid on-shore excursion due to unforeseen circumstances.

• Cancellation cover for Covid
• All ages are covered
• Must purchase cruise pack as an add-on
• Cabin confinement capped at $500

While Medibank allows all ages to purchase its cruise pack (when purchased in addition to an international travel insurance policy) it has reduced coverage for those aged over 70. For those under 70, there are 34 pre-existing conditions automatically covered, unlimited onboard dental and medical (including Covid), medical evacuation for Covid and cabin confinement up to a total $1,500 for more than 24 hours ($100 per day).

Missed port cover is also included up to a total of $1,000 for unforeseen circumstances, and missed shore excursions are covered up to $1,000, granted they were pre-paid and are non-refundable. While there is currently a 15% online discount, it is only available to Medibank members.

• Many preexisting conditions automatically included
• Unlimited medical and dental
• $1,500 cabin confinement cover
• Cover is reduced for those over 70
• Discount only available for Medibank members
• Average customer reviews

Cruise cover is available as an add-on to Cover-More’s international travel insurance plan and is available for those aged up to 99 years of age, pending acceptance via set criteria. There are 32 pre-existing conditions that are automatically covered, as well as unlimited medical and dental cover, including for Covid. There is also cancellation cover related to Covid, with the amount depending on whether the cruise has already departed.

Meanwhile, cabin confinement is covered up to $100 per day when the period of confinement is more than 24 hours, up to a maximum cover of $1,500. Missed ports and missed excursions are also covered up to $1,000 each.

• No online discount
• Tougher criteria for older travellers

Whether you are travelling domestically or internationally on your cruise, you will need to purchase the cruise ‘boost’ plan to Freely’s international travel insurance policy. The plan is available up to 99 years of age, with unlimited on-board medical and dental. There is also cover available for Covid, however, an excess applies for medical and cancellation cover related to the virus. Cabin confinement is also covered up to a maximum of $1,500 (if not related to Covid).

Missed ports cover and missed on-shore excursions cover are also insured up to $1,000 each. As Freely is new on the market, it does not have a large amount of reviews online, and has only scored 1.0 stars out of 5 from fewer than 10 reviews, at the time of writing. More reviews would be required to form an accurate picture of Freely’s customer satisfaction levels.

• Cover up to 99 years
• No discounts
• Covid not covered under ‘cabin confinement’
• Small number of reviews

Cabin Confinement

With Southern Cross travel insurance, cruise cover can be added to both the domestic and the international travel insurance policies depending on where you are travelling. Cover is up to age 118, although there are no pre-existing conditions that are automatically covered (assessment is required for all). There is, however, unlimited medical cover with certain sub-limits applying, as well as emergency dental and Covid cover.

Unfortunately, there is no specific cover available for cabin confinement, nor is there any cover for missed ports or missed on-shore excursions. There is cover for special events under cancellation cover, although this again requires meeting certain criteria.

• Positive online reviews
• Cover up to 118 years old
• Preexisting conditions not automatically included
• No cabin confinement cover
• No missed ports or onshore excursions cover

In order to choose our top picks for the best travel insurance for cruises, Forbes Advisor Australia looked at and analysed nearly 30 different travel insurance providers. In doing so, we found the top nine ranking providers after carefully considering a range of factors.

These factors, and the details of such, were:

• The underwriter: who underwrites the insurance policy;
• Cruise cover type: if it is a standalone policy or an optional add-on;
• How the cruise insurance needs to be purchased: whether you need to purchase a domestic or international policy before you can add cruising, or if it can be purchased individually;
• Maximum age covered: what ages are covered by the policy, and if there are any conditions for travellers above a certain age (such as a higher excess);
• Pre-existing conditions: how many, if any, pre-existing conditions are automatically covered, and what requirements are necessary to have other pre-existing conditions covered;
• Onboard medical and dental treatment: whether or not the onboard medical cover is unlimited and, if so, whether dental is included within that medical treatment or if it has its own sublimit;
• Medical Covid cover: if Covid is included within the unlimited medical cover, or any conditions that would make it void;
• Cabin confinement cover: whether or not you are compensated for cabin confinement due to medical reasons or unforeseen circumstances, as well as how long the confinement must be to qualify and the total compensation amount;
• Emergency evacuation: if you are covered for emergency evacuation due to a worsening medical condition onboard when not nearby to a port;
• Stolen items cover: cover for any stolen items such as laptops or phones;
• Formal wear cover: cover for any damage or theft of formal wear, due to the popularity of black tie events on cruises;
• Lost luggage cover: general lost luggage cover, including sub-limits of items;
• Missed ports cover: whether you’re covered if your cruise misses a port if you are unable to dock due to unforeseen circumstances;
• Missed on-shore excursions cover: whether or not there is any compensation and reimbursement for activities and excursions that are pre-paid and missed, whether due to medical reasons or due to not being able to port;
• General cancellation cover: any general cancellation cover available, such as if you have to cancel the trip prior to embarking or due to Covid;
• Average consumer rating: what the average consumer rating out of 5 is from customers via Australia’s independent review site, ProductReview;
• Online discounts: any online discounts available at the time of writing, and whether there are conditions in order to receive such discount (such as being a customer of the insurer already); and
• Customer service: the customer service capabilities of the company, including any emergency lines and ease of making claims.

About Star Rankings

You will note that we have included a star rating next to each product or provider. This rating was determined by the editorial team once all of the data points above were considered, and the pros and cons of each product attribute was reviewed. The star rating is solely the view of Forbes Advisor editorial staff. Commercial partners or advertisers have no bearing on the star rating or their inclusion on this list. Star ratings are only one factor to be considered, and Forbes Advisor encourages you to seek independent advice from an authorised financial adviser in relation to your own financial circumstances and investments before you decide to choose a particular financial product or service.

It depends on the insurer. As there are certain events unique to cruises, as well as certain risks associated with travelling by sea, many travel insurance companies offer cover that’s tailored to cruising. Others simply cover cruising as part of their comprehensive plans, addressing the terms and conditions of cruising in the pds.

Among those who offer cruising as separate from other travel insurance, there are two main ways to ensure you’re covered for cruising: some providers allow you to directly purchase a distinct cruise policy, while others require you to purchase an add-on or a ‘cruise pack’ as an adjunct to one of their pre-existing policies.

When analysing the above policies, we also looked at how these were offered by each provider, and considered what the cruise pack was called (if it was an additional add-on), and the level of difficulty for the consumer in understanding their cruise cover.

Domestic Cruise Cover

If you are cruising in Australian waters, you may think that an Australian domestic policy would cut it: but that isn’t necessarily the case. While some policies will allow you to add a cruise pack to a domestic policy if only travelling in domestic waters, it is common for insurance providers to offer the international policy instead—and then ask you to pick ‘domestic cruise’ as the cruise destination under the international policy.

This is because once your ship leaves the port, you’re no longer covered for hospital or medical expenses by Medicare–meaning you won’t be covered for any expenses incurred on-board the ship even if you are travelling in Australian waters. You’re also not covered by Medicare or private health when you’re on land for cruise excursion even if you’re in an Australian state or territory–instead you will need to pay for the onboard medical staff who are not Medicare registered GPs and often very expensive.

This is why a domestic travel insurance policy isn’t enough coverage; you need, at the very least, international comprehensive insurance, with unlimited medical cover.

Travel insurance is encouraged when travelling overseas, and cruising is no exception. With a different travel style comes different travel needs, so here is a brief outline of some of the common events and coverage unique to cruise insurance.

Weather can be unpredictable at the best of times, and can play havoc with cruising schedules. While your itinerary will have planned ports to stop at, allowing you to go onto land and visit different destinations, changes may be made to your itinerary due to unforeseen circumstances, such as weather restrictions, natural disasters or mechanical failures.

If you are unable to dock at your designated port or ports, some insurers may offer compensation–known as missed ports cover. Commonly, there is an amount of cover for each port missed (such as $250, for example) and a total maximum cover. This is commonly $750 across the insurance market.

You will usually need a written statement from the cruise company confirming the reason for missing the port, and proof that the port was part of your original itinerary, in order to make a claim with most insurance providers.

Missed On-Shore Excursions

Similar to missed ports cover, missed on-shore excursion cover is for excursions and activities that you cannot attend at a port: whether because the port was missed, or due to other unforeseen conditions.

These unforeseen conditions included cabin confinement, medical reasons, circumstances outside of your control or other unexpected events as covered under the particular policy.

There is usually a limit to the amount of cover the insurer will provide (commonly around $1000), and it can only be put towards the nonrefundable cost of a pre-paid excursion.

Stolen or Damaged Formal Wear

It’s a common occurrence on cruises to have formal evenings, including Great Gatsby-themed nights and black tie events. Because of this, the majority of cruise-goers often have formal attire in their luggage, from tuxedos and evening gowns to expensive jewellery.

As with all insurance policies, the details of the formal wear cover will vary from provider to provider. Commonly, you’ll have a monetary value of cover if your formal wear is stolen, accidentally damaged or permanently lost, however, some other providers may provide cover if your formal wear is delayed before the time of vessel departure and also cover the cost to hire or replace the formal wear in the meantime.

Some policies do not have formal wear cover specifically, but rather include formal wear as a sub-limit with the general lost luggage cover included in the policy.

As we learnt during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, cruise ships can be a breeding ground for infections. The Ruby Princess was a clear indicator of this, with the Australian cruise ship playing host to more than 850 infected passengers.

Cruise ships have since had to adapt–as have cruise insurance policy providers–to ensure travellers are protected should an outbreak of a Covid happen again (or of any other virus, for that matter).

Commonly, cruise providers will offer a cabin confinement allowance if you are confined to your cabin or in a medical facility for a certain period, up to a maximum amount. This can cover a daily stipend for you to use on room service or for any needs you require while confined.

The maximum cover is usually around $1,500, so anything around that ballpark is considered a good cabin confinement offer.

Most cruise insurance policies offer unlimited medical cover while on board the ship, and most ships have extensive medical facilities to help protect you should you fall ill or injure yourself. But in this day and age, Covid is something all travellers would want to be covered for, too.

Of the top nine cruise insurance providers Forbes Advisor Australia chose, all of them offered Covid cover. Any insurer that didn’t offer this specification was ranked lower, due to the increased need for Covid cover in general–but especially while sailing at sea.

The level of cover for Covid varies across providers, but it is expected that travellers are covered for hospital and medical needs under the unlimited medical cover. Some providers may have certain excess requirements for certain Covid-related claims, and may also cover cabin confinement should you fall ill with the virus.

More premium providers will also include Covid as a reason for cancellation prior to embarking on your trip, and a reason to be able to claim missed ports cover or missed on-shore excursions. There may be excess requirements with these claims, or certain sub-limits depending on the provider.

It’s essential that you read the product disclosure statement before taking out a cruise insurance policy so you know exactly what you’re covered for, Covid-related and otherwise.

Should you have travel insurance for a cruise?

Yes, if you are going on a cruise, you should purchase travel insurance. In fact, most cruise companies will not allow you to embark on the cruise without a travel insurance policy. As cruises have different requirements for travel insurance, you will need to ensure your international comprehensive cover includes cruising, purchase a policy that is specific to cruising, or an add-on a cruise pack to your regular policy. You can find out how to purchase the policy through your travel insurance provider, as they each have different processes.

What type of insurance do you need for a cruise?

To travel on a cruise you need a cruise-specific travel insurance, travel insurance which offers cruise cover as an add-on or comprehensive travel insurance that includes cruising.

Which companies offer cruise insurance?

There are many different insurance companies that offer specific cruise insurance, including health insurance companies, such as Medibank and Bupa, to newer insurance startup companies focused on travel insurance, such as Freely.

Is there specific travel insurance for cruises?

Yes, there is specific travel insurance available for a cruise, which is sometimes called a ‘cruise pack’ and can be added onto your travel insurance, as well as dedicated cruise cover that is all-encompassing. Some insurers don’t offer special cruise policies or packs, but simply include it in their comprehensive policies.

Do I need cruise travel insurance on a domestic cruise?

Yes, you do. This comes as a surprise to many, but even if you are only cruising in Australian waters, once your ship leaves the port, you’re no longer covered for hospital or medical expenses by Medicare. Furthermore, even during shore excursions in Australia, you are not coveerd by Medicare or private health entitlements, and instead must rely on privately funded onboard medical staff. That is why cruise travel insurance is important.

Sophie Venz is an experienced editor and features reporter, and has previously worked in the small business and start-up reporting space. Previously the Associate Editor of SmartCompany site, Sophie has worked closely with finance experts and columnists around Australia and internationally. Sophie grew up on the Gold Coast and now lives in Melbourne.

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Australian travel insurance red flags: missed connections, stolen luggage and preexisting conditions

Travel insurance can be a complicated business for consumers, with caps and exclusions buried deep in fine print. Here’s how to know what you are really covered for

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“Concerning” survey results from the Australian government website Smarttraveller this month show one in six Australians travelled without any insurance on their last overseas trip. Even those who had insurance may not have been sufficiently covered, as over 80% of travellers did not properly read their policy product disclosure statement (PDS), an essential step for understanding what is and is not covered.

In a statement, the Insurance Council of Australia’s CEO, Andrew Hall, said these results mean “Australians are putting themselves at risk,” and that “personal responsibility plays a big part in your travel plans and it’s important to read the details of your policy, so you know you are covered”.

But insurers do not always make it easy for consumers to understand their coverage. There are frequently differences between the top line payout numbers in travel insurance sales documents and the exceptions, exclusions, caps and other icebergs submerged in the fine print of a PDS.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Asic) identified exactly this issue last year, when Allianz and AWP pleaded guilty to making false statements about travel insurance between 2016 and 2018.

So whether you’re buying a policy for your next trip, or already have one, it’s essential to read the PDS before you depart – no matter how many mind-numbing pages of legalese it contains.

Why the PDS matters

Calling and asking a potential insurer questions may not help. While reporting this story, Guardian Australia contacted several travel insurance company call centres to ask for clarification of payment guidelines. On multiple occasions call centre staff gave inaccurate responses that overstated likely payouts while also stating that any advice was general in nature and that only the PDS would be legally binding.

Consumer advocacy group Choice recommends specifically checking:

A PDS’s table of benefits, which summarises your coverage.

The policy cover section, which is split into “what we will pay for” and “what we won’t pay for”.

General exclusions.

Preexisting conditions.

The word-definition table.

The paperwork you need for claims

The Covid-cover section, and;

The 24-hour emergency assistance information.

Mind the connecting flight times

Two in five Australians had a flight delayed or cancelled in the last 12 months , so delays and missed connections are a likely scenario for most travellers.

If the flight cancellation or delay is caused by an airline, then you will have to look to that airline for any compensation. Generally, airlines will offer to rebook you on a later flight or give you credit. Travel insurance customers can only seek to lodge claims if the cancellation or delay was due to circumstances outside the airline’s control, such as bad weather or strikes.

But many airlines are not giving reasons for cancellations or delays. In these cases, you must provide details of your request to the airline and offer your insurer a reasonable explanation for why this information was not supplied – which may prove impossible or at least onerous.

Insurers also differ on how they cover airline delays not caused by airlines. Cover-More, for instance, does not cover missed connecting flights if the scheduled transit time is less than 90 minutes, even if the airline itself scheduled a tighter connection. World2Cover will only consider claims for flight delays longer than six hours.

If flight delays or cancellations prevent you from boarding a cruise, a pre-paid flight or multi-night tour, most travel insurance will cover additional transportation and accommodation costs to enable you to make your pre-booked connection or catch up with your itinerary – minus whatever the travel provider covers.

Be wary of stolen luggage exclusions (and minimise your risk)

Be sure to read the meaning of “unattended” in the word definitions in the PDS, specifically as it relates to luggage stolen from cars, stowed in the luggage area of a train or checked in at an airport. Different insurers also have varying item limits for laptops, cameras, smartphones and tablets.

Luggage stolen from cars is worth examining in detail if you’re taking a driving holiday. With most policies, luggage must be stolen from a locked boot or concealed storage compartment during daylight hours, there must be forced entry to the car and you must make a police report if you want any chance of getting a payout. So if a theft occurs from an unlocked car, the luggage was in full sight, or was left in a car overnight, you will not be covered.

There may be extra caps for luggage stolen from cars too. Cover-More, for instance, reduces its payment for stolen luggage to $2,000 per vehicle , minus the chosen excess. With all other payments for stolen luggage, their per person payment ranges from $5,000 to $25,000, depending on the level of cover chosen.

Travel insurance has a much lower loss ratio (payment of claims as a percentage of total premiums) than other insurance types like car or home contents. A review by the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority found that for every €100 spent on travel insurance, total payments averaged only €14. The loss ratio for car or home insurance is generally 60-75%.

While this can partially be explained by higher administration costs, limited underwriting, and a thick band of commission-earning on-sellers (think Flight Centre, Qantas, and state car associations), caps and exclusions for the most likely worst-case-scenarios are also a factor.

Be careful with preexisting conditions

Generally speaking, it is best to declare your preexisting conditions when buying travel insurance, but know that this could increase your premiums or even hurt your ability to get insurance for those conditions at all. You may still be able to get coverage for lost luggage, delayed or cancelled flights and other mishaps.

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This is a complicated, confusing area not only for older travellers, who may have more medical conditions, but also for pregnant women. Insurance companies vary in the number of weeks allowed in their coverage for pregnant travellers. In general, assume that they are in the business of limiting pay-outs.

Basically any health issues you know about, or have ever been treated for, can count as a preexisting condition. These will not be covered by travel insurance unless you declare those conditions for evaluation or they appear on the list of dozens of preexisting conditions (which include high cholesterol, bunions, asthma, and type 1 and 2 diabetes) that most insurance companies cover under their general policies. However, beware of all the provisos and always read the PDS.

If, for instance, you do not declare that you have a heart stent and have a heart attack while travelling, you will not be covered.

Some travel insurance policies will not cover people over 80 years of age. Others charge higher premiums, higher excess and give restricted conditions to “older” travellers – which in some cases may be defined as young as 50.

Some travel insurance companies also adjust their pricing and coverage based on the traveller’s destination. For example, there is some hesitancy to cover people with some preexisting conditions if they are travelling to the United States, due to the exorbitant medical costs there, as well as to many countries with scant medical facilities.

Policies differ regarding mental illness too. According to Choice, many travel insurers won’t provide cover for hospitalisation, medication or missed travel caused by a mental health condition. Others will provide cover if you declare a mental illness as a preexisting condition and pay a higher premium. Insurers are unlikely to pay a mental health-related claim if it was undisclosed and preexisting.

If you have to delay or change plans due to an immediate family member’s illness, expect a similar rigmarole if their medical issues were caused by a preexisting condition. Be sure and check the definition of “immediate family member” as well.

See a doctor if you get Covid (and prepare to pay more)

Cover-More was the first Australian travel insurance company to offer Covid cover. Today, the company adds an extra $500 deductible for reimbursements made when a traveller contracts Covid-19.

World2Cover offers Covid cover only with their most expensive policy. It covers unlimited overseas medical and hospital costs, as well as $3,500 per adult for additional Covid-related expenses.

No insurance company will provide coverage if the country or countries you are travelling to are locked down because of Covid, nor will they pay for travel delays due to general pandemics of any kind.

In order to make a claim you will need to show proof of a Covid diagnosis, by a qualified medical practitioner; a positive Rat test will not be sufficient.

Once again, it all comes down to reading the insurance company’s PDS, asking loads of questions and keeping a detailed record of the answers you receive, in case you have to dispute a claim later on. Like all insurance, if you buy it, just hope you don’t have to use it.

Who are you going to call?

Travel insurance offered through Cover-More is also distributed through Medibank, Commonwealth Bank , NRMA, Flight Centre and Travel Associates and is underwritten by the Zurich Insurance Group. They have call centres based in Australia and offshore.

Travel insurance offered through World2Cover is also offered through the state car associations, except NRMA, and is underwritten by Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co. Their call centres are based in Australia.

Travel insurance offered through Qantas is underwritten by AIG Australia. Qantas travel insurance call centres are based in Australia. AIG call centres are offshore.

Travel insurance offered through Westpac, ANZ and NAB credit cards is underwritten by Allianz. The Allianz call centre is offshore.

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