cruise insurance worth it

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

Is Cruise Travel Insurance Worth the Cost?

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Table of Contents

What is cruise travel insurance?

What does cruise travel insurance cover typically, how much is travel insurance for a cruise, do i need it if i have other travel protections, is cruise travel insurance worth it.

Cruise travel insurance covers the cruise itself, not related travel.

It's usually purchased through the cruise operator, typically before booking.

Check to make sure your credit card doesn't offer similar insurance before buying cruise insurance.

Cruising is one of America's favorite travel experiences. According to a 2021 report from Cruise Lines International Association, an industry trade association, 82% of cruisers will cruise again. As well, 62% of non-cruisers are open to the idea.

And why not? Cruises often give travelers the chance to experience multiple destinations plus enjoy onboard entertainment, activities and dining for a set, all-inclusive price . Cruises simplify budgeting in a year when travel prices have been hard hit by inflation .

But what happens if something goes wrong with your ship, or you can’t make it onboard because of health concerns? Cruise travel insurance might be the answer. It protects your payment and covers you against illness or injury.

Before you pay for a cruise travel insurance policy, here's a look at what it is, how it works and if it's worth it.

Cruise travel insurance is add-on insurance coverage that — just like travel insurance — will reimburse you for delays, interruptions, medical situations or other problems during the cruise.

Depending on which cruise line you're traveling with, you might be able to buy a travel insurance policy when booking your trip (through the cruise line directly) or at a later date (either through the cruise line or separately from a third party).

Protecting travel costs can be a smart money move. A September 2022 survey of 737 past cruisers by InsureMyTrip found that the average trip cost for an insured cruise vacation so far this year is $6,367, an increase of nearly 15% from before the pandemic.

Can you buy travel insurance after booking a cruise? It depends. Some cruise lines require the purchase of a travel insurance policy before the final payment date when charges become nonrefundable. Others require the purchase of coverage a certain number of days before departure. Read the fine print to find out the deadline to purchase and the specifics of its coverage.

Circumstances covered by cruise travel insurance vary by policy and by issuer. Many cruise lines partner with an insurance company to underwrite its policy benefits.

Some common benefits available as part of travel insurance from a cruise line include:

Trip cancellation and interruption . If you cancel your trip or unexpectedly cut it short for an eligible reason, such as severe weather or illness, you'll get back some or all of the upfront costs, depending on the policy.

Cancel For Any Reason . This coverage tends to be more flexible, forgiving and expensive at time of purchase. Policyholders can cancel for any reason not listed in the policy and still receive a portion of their trip cost back, either as cash or as a future cruise credit (assuming they meet other eligibility requirements).

Trip delay . Cruise delay insurance protection protects expenses if your trip is delayed beyond a set number of hours.

Baggage protection . This insures your luggage if it is lost, stolen, damaged or delayed, and gives money to buy necessary items until bags are recovered.

Medical coverage . If you get sick or injured during the trip, the policy covers treatment and related expenses up to a limit.

Emergency evacuation . When emergency evacuation is necessary, the policy covers the transport cost up to a limit.

COVID coverage . If your trip is canceled or interrupted due to COVID, the policy covers the unused prepaid expenses, medical treatment and emergency evacuation, up to policy limits.

When comparing policies, choose a policy that includes all of the benefits, protections and coverage limits that are important to you. While you may be tempted to choose the lowest-priced option, that policy may not have the coverage you need.

We examined cruise insurance prices for a seven-day trip in February 2023 from the U.S. to Mexico. The example traveler was 35 years old, from Georgia, and planned to spend $2,500 on the trip, including airfare.

The average price of each company’s most basic coverage plan was $124. These policies didn't include optional add-ons, such as Cancel for Any Reason coverage or coverage for pre-existing medical conditions .

Separately, we looked at five different cruise insurance add-ons for a similar trip. With this option, the average cost of basic coverage was cheaper than a standalone policy at $111.20. Keep in mind that cruise insurance policies offered by cruise lines typically cover the cruise portion of the trip only, but do include some Cancel For Any Reason coverage.

If you already have a standalone travel insurance policy or a credit card with travel protections, you may wonder if you need to purchase a cruise travel insurance policy.

Credit card travel insurance

Many travel credit cards include travel protections such as trip cancellation, interruption, delayed or lost luggage reimbursement, and emergency evacuation benefits. Before buying a cruise travel policy, compare the coverage benefits and limits to determine if you already have coverage with a credit card.

One benefit that cruise travel insurance policies offer that credit cards don't is the ability to cancel for any reason. Although you may not get back 100% of the cruise price, these policies allow you to cancel for any reason and get a portion of the price back as a credit toward a future trip. If the policy is priced low enough, it may be worth buying the insurance offered through your cruise line for that benefit alone.

Travel insurance policy

Standalone travel insurance policies can be purchased to cover one person or a family for a specific trip or multiple trips within a period of time. These policies are available at a variety of price points to meet a traveler's budget. When comparing policy options, you can balance price versus coverage options.

If you're traveling multiple times within a short period of time, it may be more economical to buy a more comprehensive travel insurance policy instead of separate policies for each trip.

Cruise travel insurance can be worth it to address your concerns about traveling and protect your investments. These policies offer numerous protections that will cover your expenses in case your trip is canceled, interrupted or delayed, or if you get sick during the trip.

Before buying this coverage, compare your options against your credit card benefits. You might also shop for general travel insurance policies to see if you can get a better deal than what’s offered through your cruise line.

If you’re not covered by your credit card, cruise travel insurance can be worth the added cost. It will give you peace of mind before setting sail, when signing up for that adventurous land excursion and when clicking "Book" for an expensive vacation in the COVID travel landscape.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

• Port Overview
• Transportation to the Port
• Uber & Lyft to the Port
• Dropping Off at the Port
• Cruise Parking
• Cruise Hotels
• Hotels with Parking Deals
• Uber & Lyft to the Ports
• Things to Do
• Cozumel Taxi Rates
• Free Things to Do
• Restaurants Near the Cruise Port
• Hotels & Resorts With Day Passes
• Closest Beaches to the Cruise Port
• Tips For Visiting
• Shore Excursions
• Cruise Parking Discounts
• Hotels with Shuttles
• Which Airport Should I Use?
• Transportation to the Ports
• Dropping Off at the Ports
• Fort Lauderdale Airport to Miami
• Inexpensive Hotels
• Hotels near the Port
• Hotels With Shuttles
• Budget Hotels
• Carnival Tips
• Drink Packages
• Specialty Restaurants
• Faster to the Fun
• More Articles
• CocoCay Tips
• Norwegian Tips
• Great Stirrup Cay
• Harvest Caye
• How to Get the Best Cruise Deal
• Best Time to Book a Cruise
• Best Websites to Book a Cruise
• Cruises Under $300
• Cruises Under $500
• Spring Break Cruise Deals
• Summer Cruise Deals
• Alaskan Cruise Deals
• 107 Cruise Secrets & Tips
• Tips for First-Time Cruisers
• What to Pack for a Cruise
• What to Pack (Alaska)
• Packing Checklist
• Cruising with Kids
• Passports & Birth Certificates
• Bringing Alcohol
• Cruising with a Disability
• Duty-Free Shopping
• Cruise Travel Insurance
• Things to Do on a Cruise Ship
• What Not to Do on a Ship
• News & Articles

Should I Buy Cruise Insurance? Complete Guide to Coverage

A step-by-step guide to cruise insurance, what it covers, and if you need it..

Note:   Cruzely.com nor the author is an insurance professional. Be sure to review any policy and ask your insurance company any questions you might have.

We are an affiliate of InsureMyTrip, linked below. We receive a small commission if you buy travel insurance through the links included in this article, at no cost to you.

Most people don’t like to think about the bad things that can happen when you are on vacation. But the truth is that accidents, cancellations, theft and other mishaps can occur, even while you’re on your dream trip. For example:

• You get sick after eating the local food, leading to two days in the hospital.
• You get pickpocketed in a crowded market, and the thief takes your passport.
• You miss a connecting flight, meaning you have to unexpectedly pay full price for a hotel room until you can reach your destination.

The list is endless of what could happen. But they all share one major theme. They can ruin your vacation and potentially cost you hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars. These mishaps can be compounded when you are on a cruise. With a cruise ship’s tight schedule, any delays could cause you to miss the boat. Of course, that means having to purchase lodging, transportation, meals, and more while you try to make arrangements to get back home.

Worst yet, medical emergencies aboard a cruise can rack up serious bills. What happens if a major illness hits while the ship is in the middle of the ocean? While cruise ships do have doctors to administer first aid, the expenses of emergency transport for serious emergencies can be astronomical.

It’s for these reasons that cruise insurance has become a major interest among passengers. To be absolutely clear, the vast majority of cruises go off without a hitch. Still, there is something to be said for having a little peace of mind and not having to worry just in case something does go wrong.

Travel & cruise insurance is made exactly for that purpose. By purchasing this coverage you are covered for a wide range of events (many detailed below) that could otherwise cost you significant money without insurance.

Of course, in exchange for that coverage you have to pay a premium — money out of your pocket for a service that you might not ever use. That leads to a big question: Should you buy cruise insurance? Is it worth it?

To decide if it’s the right choice for you, we’ve researched all the ins and outs of cruise insurance to help you out…

( See how affordable travel insurance can be. Get a free quote from InsureMyTrip. )

What does cruise insurance cover?

Every policy is slightly different; there is no set requirement of what is covered. That’s why its important to review the terms of any plan you purchase. That said, you’ll find most cruise insurance covers the same basic things. Here are the major items that you’ll want to make sure your policy covers.

Trip Cancellation – The most basic coverage with cruise insurance, trip cancellation protection allows you to get your money back that you’ve paid for your trip if you cancel for specific, predetermined reasons . This coverage doesn’t allow you to get repaid if you just decide to cancel because you don’t want to go (though there are policies that can do that).

The specific reasons will be laid out in your policy. In general, they fall into several major groups:

• Major illness or injury to you, traveling companion, or family member
• Death of you, traveling companion, or family member
• Birth of child
• Traffic accident
• Divorce (from traveling companion)
• Being fired/laid off
• Travel delays

Trip Interruption – Similar to trip cancellation, this coverage pays you for an interruption for specific reasons like the ones mentioned above after your trip has already started or when travel is delayed. In addition to being reimbursed for the remainder of what you’ve paid for your cruise, you’ll often also be reimbursed for expenses like flight and hotel to get back home.

Emergency Medical – If you’re worried about getting sick or injured while on your cruise, then know that most plans offer emergency medical coverage. This is exactly as it sounds. It provides medical insurance for serious illness or injury. Many plans also offer some dental coverage.

Emergency Evacuation – Nearly every plan will have some sort of emergency evacuation coverage. This is coverage to get the person to the most appropriate medical treatment (often as defined by the insurance company). So if you break your leg while on an excursion in Mexico and have to be transported to a larger city for the correct care, then your expenses are covered. Emergency evacuation coverage also can pay for you to get you home if you are in a medical facility away from home.

Lost/Stolen Luggage – Most of the time lost or stolen luggage isn’t so much about the money as the pain of having to replace everything. Even so, cruise insurance should provide some reimbursement expense for your loss, taking some of the sting out of losing your bags. Understand that most times this coverage has special limits for things like laptops or electronics that may not fully replace the lost item.

Pre-Existing Condition Coverage – Most of us know that insurance is hesitant to cover pre-existing conditions. Travel insurance can offer pre-existing condition coverage in certain circumstances (but not always!), which is especially helpful if believe you’ll need some sort of coverage while in a foreign country for an on-going illness. If this is important to you, make sure you double check the specific policy, which will make it very clear if pre-existing conditions are covered or not.

What doesn’t cruise insurance cover?

Cruise insurance actually covers more things and offers more benefits than just what is listed above. But it doesn’t cover everything and policies are pretty specific about what they will and won’t pay.

The most notable exception is that you can’t just cancel your cruise for any reason and get reimbursed for any money you lose . Instead, the only way the policy will pay is if you cancel for one of the specific reasons cited in your policy for cancelling your cruise. Keep in mind these reasons you are allowed to cancel may be more than what’s listed above.

You also won’t be compensated for inconveniences on your trip. For instance, if your trip doesn’t go as planned, but you don’t suffer an actual loss, then you won’t be able to make a claim. If it pours rain an entire day that you are in port and you can’t even get off the ship, your travel insurance won’t cover the loss of a day of vacation. Weather is not covered unless it causes an actual interruption to the cruise.

Also, it’s important to understand that your benefits are less any refunds you might receive otherwise. So if your cruise is cancelled and the cruise line refunds your fare, you won’t be able to claim the cruise fare as a loss.

Addendums to coverage

Some policies allow you to add coverage to your insurance that allow more flexibility and benefits.

The most popular addendum is known as “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage . This addendum allows you to cancel your trip and receive reimbursement, no matter why.

So if you simply decide that you don’t want to get out of bed the morning of your cruise and call the whole trip off (not sure why you would do such a thing!), then you can cancel and get your money back.

One important thing to note is that these policies rarely give 100% of your entire trip fare back. It usually ranges from 50-75%. Still, considering that you get nothing back if you cancel for a non-covered reason, this additional coverage is often worth the cost.

Many cruise travel insurance policies will also offer an addendum for rental car coverage. Obviously most cruise passengers won’t opt for this coverage since it’s rare to rent a car given that you are in port only for a day at a time.

What about insurance sold by cruise lines?

When buying a cruise, you’ll be offered an option to purchase insurance from the cruise line. This coverage takes on many different names. You might have seen one of the following if you’ve already bought your cruise:

• Carnival Vacation Protection
• Royal Caribbean Travel Protection
• Princess Vacation Protection
• Norwegian Cruise Line Booksafe Travel Protection Plan
• Celebrity CruiseCare Travel Insurance Program

These plans are quite popular because of their ability to be sold right alongside the cruise, which means they are convenient to buy. However, that doesn’t automatically make them a good purchase.

While convenient, these plans can often offer much lower coverage rates than traditional travel insurance, for a similar price. So while traditional travel insurance might offer $50,000 in medical coverage, a cruise line might only offer $25,000.

The one advantage that cruise line plans have is that they typically offer cancel for any reason coverage included. Royal Caribbean’s plan, for example, will reimburse you 90% of what you’ve paid for your cruise if you cancel for any reason. Just know that the refund is applied as a future cruise credit — not a cash payment as you’d get with the coverage from a traditional travel insurer.

For these reasons, we suggest sticking with traditional travel insurance from a third-party instead of the policies offered by cruise lines. But any coverage is better than no coverage.

What time period does the insurance cover?

While you should check with your specific insurance policy, they usually go into effect at midnight of the day after you purchase them. They then stay in effect until you return home from your trip.

Example: You buy cruise insurance at 6 p.m. on December 1 for a cruise that departs December 20 and returns December 27. Your coverage would be from in effect from midnight on December 2 until you return home from your cruise.

How do I Buy Cruise Insurance?

As mentioned earlier, if you are buying through the cruise line, you can purchase coverage at the same time that purchase your trip. You can also purchase at a later date by visiting the links below.

For third-party travel insurance, you can get a free quote and purchase directly through the provider. We’ve listed the major companies and their websites here:

Generali: https://www.generalitravelinsurance.com/ Travelex Insurance: http://www.travelexinsurance.com/ AXA Travel Insurance: https://www.axatravelinsurance.com/

For most people, however, we suggest looking at a site like InsureMyTrip.com . This site searches many companies at once to find the right insurance for you and your trip and bring you all your choices. Whether you are looking for affordability or the best coverage, all your options are laid out for you.

You can get a free quote here , see how much coverage might cost, and see everything it covers.

When should I buy cruise insurance?

The best time to buy is as soon as you’ve purchased your cruise. This allows you all the cancellation benefits immediately should something come up between the time you purchase and the time you actually travel.

One thing to note is that you can’t purchase after you already have an event that will lead to a loss. For example, say you get hurt in an accident that means you won’t be able to go on your vacation. You can’t purchase insurance and then try to be reimbursed for your trip. This is insurance fraud and the company won’t provide reimbursement.

How much does it cost?

Ah, the most important question. After all, every type of insurance is basically a bet between you and the insurance company whether something will happen on your trip.

Prices will vary based on company, trip length, cost, who is being covered, and the sort of coverage you choose. Most companies also offer different levels of plan that have different limits and thus, higher or lower prices.

As a general rule of thumb, traditional cruise insurance offered by a third-party will run about 5%-7.5% of your trip cost . So for a $5,000 trip, expect to pay around $250-$375 for coverage. That can vary widely, however.

Should I buy cruise insurance?

If you want to have some peace of mind on your trip, then yes. However, the vast majority of cruise passengers will never use their insurance.

The problem is that for issues that do come up, the expenses can be large and unknown. For instance, there is no price list of having to be evacuated medically from a cruise ship. The cruise insurance offers valuable peace of mind.

If you do decide to purchase, we highly suggest that you shop around for prices and also read your plan carefully (comparing two or three of the most well-known providers). And while every cruise line strongly recommends purchasing some sort of insurance for your cruise, we don’t recommend purchasing insurance offered through them, as traditional plans can offer better coverage for a similar price.

Get a free quote at the link below

Again, for cruise travel insurance, we suggest looking at a site like InsureMyTrip.com . This site searches many companies at once to find the right insurance for you and your trip and bring you all your choices. Whether you are looking for affordability or the best coverage, all your options are laid out for you.

Disclaimer: Cruzely.com is an affiliate with the travel insurers mentioned in the article above. We receive a small commission if you get a quote or purchase through the links included in this article at no extra cost to you.

Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of)

Read next: park & cruise hotels for every port in america, popular: 107 best cruise tips, secrets, tricks, and freebies, related articles more from author, here’s when new cruise ships are worth the higher fares, 8 things definitely worth it on a cruise…and 3 places to save your money, when is a balcony cabin worth it on a cruise, catalina on a cruise: what to know, do, and see during your visit, reviewed: carnival cruise wi-fi service (speed, reliability, cost, and more), 57 must-have tips, advice, and info for first-time cruisers.

If a cruise is not leaving Australian waters, a passport is not needed. Will your private health insurance / medicare still be applicable on a domestic cruise?

Not familiar with Australian insurance rules. I’d suggest contacting the cruise line.

I believe Medicare doesn’t cover you overseas. That is why we get it

do you have insurace for canadians travelling on a cruise fro new york to bermuda

Any travel insurer should be able to cover you. You can go to a site like InsureMyTrip.com or AIG Travel Guard to see your options.

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

25+ Miami Hotels Near the Cruise Port With Shuttles (Free & Paid)

Hotels with cruise shuttles for every major port in america, 107 best cruise tips, tricks, secrets, and freebies, 39 useful things to pack for your cruise (including 17 you’d never think of).

• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions

Do You (Really) Need Cruise Travel Insurance?

Here’s everything you need to know about what kind of insurance coverage is truly worth the investment when you book a cruise..

• Copy Link copied

One way to make sure your cruise is smoother sailing? The right travel insurance.

Photo by Shutterstock

When you book a cruise either online or through a travel agent, one of the options you’ll be offered is cruise travel insurance. The question is: Do you really need cruise insurance? A lot depends on what kind of traveler you are and whether you feel you need to protect the investment you have made in your cruise vacation.

Think of cruise travel insurance as a safety net. We learned during the COVID-19 pandemic that the best-laid travel plans can change. Chances are your cruise vacation will go off without a hitch. But what if it doesn’t?

For myself, a frequent cruise traveler, peace of mind counts. My personal rule of thumb: If I am spending more than $1,000 per person for a cruise, I will buy cruise travel insurance to protect it in case the trip must be canceled—so that I can get most or all of my money back.

And I always buy international medical coverage.

Here’s what to know about buying travel insurance for a cruise and what the options are for cruise travel insurance policies.

Should you buy insurance through the cruise line?

Individual cruise lines make it easy to buy travel insurance simply by checking a box when you are completing your cruise booking, and your travel agent can also sell you the cruise line’s policy, which is administered by an outside travel insurance company.

It’s a convenient way to buy cruise travel insurance, but the prices won’t be the lowest you can find. Since they aren’t in the insurance business, cruise lines don’t typically sell policies with many options in terms of what you get. What you are buying is a one-size-fits-all bundled policy. And it may be more insurance than you need. Cruise travel insurance typically costs 4 percent to 10 percent of your total trip cost. Expect the policy from the cruise line to be on the high side of that range.

A cruise line insurance policy usually includes trip cancellation insurance, which covers common reasons for cancellation such as an unexpected weather event or illness. Included as well is trip interruption/trip delay insurance, which reimburses you if you need to start the cruise late or return home early or need emergency medical or dental care or an emergency medical evacuation; it also offers delayed and lost baggage protection and 24-hour customer support.

There will likely also be the option for a cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage upgrade. While standard insurance will protect against unforeseen risks, once an event such as a hurricane becomes a known event or a named hurricane, it will no longer be covered by standard trip cancellation coverage—only by CFAR coverage. But CFAR coverage does not necessarily mean you will get 100 percent of your money back, so travelers need to weigh the cost benefits.

Be aware that the policy offered by the cruise line may not cover pre- or post-cruise expenses— meaning any airline, hotel, or transportation costs that you did not book through the cruise line. Additionally, with cruise line policies, if your cruise is canceled or disrupted, your “reimbursement” may be in the form of future cruise credit rather than cash. Make sure to read the fine print and weigh the convenience, price, and inclusions when considering the cruise line’s plan.

But wait—first check if you already have travel insurance

Before you buy cruise insurance—or any travel insurance for that matter—do an inventory on what is already covered under your existing insurance plans (such as through your health insurance provider) and through your credit cards . Otherwise, you may over-buy coverage.

Any lost luggage may already be covered under your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, for instance. And if you have a premium credit card such as a Chase Sapphire Reserve® or The Platinum Card® from American Express, you will already have a large amount of coverage for things such as trip cancellation and disruption—assuming you paid for your vacation with the card.

Medical coverage is important to look into because many health insurance policies do not cover international travel. Medicare, for instance, does not. And you will want coverage for medical emergencies. As a baby boomer who travels a lot, I purchase annual plans (such as the basic AllTrips plan with Allianz , more on this below) for both medical coverage while traveling internationally and for medical transport (the latter through Medjet ) should I need to be evacuated to a hospital of my choice.

Buying cruise insurance through independent travel insurance companies

Considering all the above, you may want to shop around, looking at basic to premium cruise insurance policies based on your own needs.

There are plenty of reputable travel insurance companies that can insure your cruise, including:

• Travel Guard from AIG
• Berkshire Hathaway

You can go to the insurance companies directly or, better in my opinion, compare policies using an aggregator website such as InsureMyTrip.com , SquareMouth , or TravelInsurance.com . Regardless of whether you go directly to an insurer or search on one of the aggregator sites, you can plug in filters for the specific coverage you are looking for and omit coverage that you already have. This will save you money and get you more quickly to the exact coverage plan you need.

Do I need travel health insurance for a cruise?

Medical insurance that provides coverage when you travel is something that should definitely be considered—that became abundantly clear during the pandemic. Even with the end of the COVID public health emergency, travelers can still get sick or hurt while away, without warning. If you do fall ill or have an accident, you’ll want your medical expenses in another country and while cruising covered, especially if you need to be evacuated or require a costly hospital visit.

And with COVID-19 still circulating along with other communicable diseases, make sure to consider having contingencies not just for medical care but also to cover expenses if, for instance, you will need to isolate at a hotel for a time before you fly home.

As I mentioned, because I travel a lot internationally, I have an annual, basic AllTrips plan with Allianz that includes emergency medical/dental coverage and emergency medical transportation. I also have an annual plan through Medjet that covers evacuation for medical or security reasons.

That may sound like a lot, but again, it’s all about personal peace of mind.

Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage

As noted above, standard insurance will protect against unforeseen risks, but once an event such as a hurricane becomes a known event, it will no longer be covered by standard trip cancellation coverage—only by an optional cancel for any reason (CFAR) upgrade . CFAR will also cover you in case, for instance, you simply change your mind about your cruise vacation. It adds considerably to the standard policy cost—as much as 40 percent—but for some people it could be worth the upgrade.

If you are taking the whole family to the Caribbean during hurricane season , for instance, the add-on may be something that you want to consider. Personally, I don’t tend to splurge on this. Whatever coverage you choose, think of it as a safety net. In the best-case scenario, you won’t need it, but it’s good to know it’s there.

Advertiser Disclosure

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 .

Smooth Sailing Ahead: Your Guide to Cruise Travel Insurance [2023]

Jessica Merritt

Editor & Content Contributor

92 Published Articles 505 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 4 U.S. States Visited: 23

88 Published Articles 69 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 54 U.S. States Visited: 36

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

35 Published Articles 3243 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 47 U.S. States Visited: 28

Table of Contents

The 5 best cruise travel insurance policies, what is cruise insurance, is cruise insurance worth it, cruise insurance costs, what cruise insurance covers, how to get cruise insurance, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Taking a cruise is one of the easiest ways to travel, but cruising isn’t immune to unexpected hiccups. Sudden illness, travel delays, or other unforeseen events could cancel or interrupt your cruising plans — you might even need medical coverage. 

With cruise insurance, you’re covered for unexpected issues that can interfere with your travel plans . Read on to learn what cruise insurance is, how to get it, and how to find the best cruise insurance policies, whether you’re buying directly from the cruise line or a third-party insurance company.

The right cruise insurance policy offers the coverage you need at a good price, but policies aren’t one-size-fits-all. We’ve run quotes for various coverage scenarios — from seniors to adventure tours — to find the best cruise insurance policies . 

Consider these travel insurance policies for your next cruise:

Best Cruise Travel Insurance for Seniors: Seven Corners

Seniors cruising the world can get comprehensive coverage from Seven Corners Travel Insurance . We were quoted $89 for a 70-year-old cruising Mexico . The Seven Corners Trip Protection Basic policy offers trip cancellation and interruption, medical coverage, and medical evacuation, along with COVID-19 cancellation and medical coverage.

Comprehensive travel insurance, regardless of your age, is widely available and relatively affordable. Check out our complete guide to travel insurance for seniors .

Best Cruise Travel Insurance With COVID-19 Coverage: battleface

If you’re concerned about COVID-19 derailing your cruise travel plans, getting cruise travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage is essential. The battleface Discovery Plan covers COVID-19 cancellation and medical expenses, along with regular trip cancellation, medical evacuation, and medical emergency coverage. We were quoted $36.54 for a 35-year-old cruising Italy on this plan.

Best Cruise Travel Insurance for Young Travelers: Aegis

Young travelers often have the lowest-priced travel insurance policies. We got a quote for just $30.27 from Aegis for a 22-year-old cruising the Bahamas . The Aegis Go Ready Choice policy covers COVID-19 medical and cancellation, trip cancellation and interruption, medical evacuation, and medical expenses.

Best Cruise Travel Insurance for Adventure Tours: IMG

Are you planning adventurous excursions on your cruise? IMG’s iTravelInsured Travel Lite , with options for winter, adventure, and extreme sports, can give you the coverage you need. We were quoted $58.87 for a 40-year-old traveler cruising to Costa Rica with plans to zipline . It covers trip cancellation and interruption, medical expenses, medical evacuation, and adventure sports with some exclusions, such as diving and adventure races.

Your travel insurance might not cover everything you want to do — particularly if you plan on adventure activities. Here’s our complete guide to adventure and extreme sports travel insurance .

Best Cruise Travel Insurance, Cancel for Any Reason Coverage: John Hancock Insurance Agency

If you’re especially concerned you may need to cancel your cruise, Cancel for Any Reason coverage allows you to cancel your trip and receive partial reimbursement for nonrefundable trip expenses, even if you cancel for reasons not normally covered by trip cancellation coverage. We were quoted $100.50 for a 55-year-old cruising Alaska for John Hancock Insurance Agency’s Silver plan , which reimburses up to 75% of your trip cost under Cancel for Any Reason coverage. It also offers coverage for COVID-19 medical and cancellation, trip cancellation and interruption, and medical expenses and evacuation with primary coverage.

Cruise insurance is travel insurance that covers cruises . It can help you manage all the what-ifs on your cruise. What if you need to cancel your booking? What if your flight is late? What if you get sick or hurt? Travel insurance for cruises can cover you for all of these things. 

Many travel insurance policies cover cruises, but cruise insurance may be tailored to the risks of cruises, covering transportation, accommodations, and activities. Getting travel insurance for cruises can offer peace of mind if you’re concerned about losing nonrefundable trip payments, travel delays, or covering emergency medical care.

Cruise bookings can be unforgiving, and cruise insurance can help you minimize your risk of losing the money you’ve paid for your trip. Travel insurance coverage is often a good idea if you’re concerned about losing nonrefundable prepaid travel expenses or covering emergency medical expenses . 

Because cruises are often less flexible than other types of travel, it’s generally a good idea to get cruise travel insurance. For example, you might be able to rebook a flight or hotel room, but if you cancel your cruise, you could lose your deposit or more. Often, cruise lines won’t offer any refunds if you cancel within a certain period before your cruise, such as 14 or 30 days .

Additionally, you shouldn’t expect your U.S.-based health insurance plan to cover you on your cruise, especially if you’re on an international cruise. And it’s exceptionally expensive if you need to be evacuated for a medical condition.

While everyone hopes for smooth sailing, the reality is a lot of unexpected issues could pop up on your cruise. Your flight to the cruise port could be delayed, you might get sick or injured on your cruise, or you might have to cancel the whole thing if illness or obligations prevent you from going on your cruise. A hurricane could interfere with cruising in storm hotspots such as the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. 

Cruise insurance can offer financial support for many unexpected problems you might experience with a cruise. And with a 24-hour travel assistance hotline , you can get knowledgeable help whether you need to find a local pharmacy or coordinate the replacement of lost travel documents such as your passport.

That said, you might have travel insurance coverage available with a credit card . Some credit cards offer travel insurance benefits such as trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical treatment and evacuation, and travel delay coverage. Still, you should check the details of your credit card’s coverage to ensure it’s enough for your needs. 

Looking for a credit card with travel protections? Read our guide to the best credit cards for travel insurance coverage and protection.

Generally, expect cruise insurance to cost between 5% to 10% of the total cost of your cruise . For a $3,000 cruise, you’ll typically pay between $150 to $300 for comprehensive travel insurance coverage. But keep in mind several factors influence the cost of cruise insurance, including:

• Add-ons, such as CFAR 
• Coverage options 
• Cruise cost 
• Deductibles and limits 
• Destination 
• Group policies 
• Traveler age 
• Trip duration

Learn more about travel insurance costs in our guide to the average cost of travel insurance .

Each travel insurance policy is unique, but travel insurance for cruise coverage typically includes:

• 24/7 Assistance: You can get 24/7 support for itinerary changes, rebooking, medical emergencies, and more.
• Baggage Protection: Your luggage is covered for loss, theft, or damage on your flight or during your cruise.
• Cabin Confinement: You may get reimbursement if you have to stay in your cabin during your cruise, such as a required quarantine due to COVID-19.
• Cancel for Any Reason: Usually available as an add-on, CFAR travel insurance allows you to cancel your cruise for any reason and receive a partial reimbursement of your nonrefundable travel expenses.
• Itinerary Changes: You can get covered for changes in your cruise’s itinerary, missed port calls, or extended delays beyond your control.
• Missed Connections: If you miss your cruise departure due to a flight delay or other covered reason, you can get reimbursed for your nonrefundable travel expenses.
• Medical Emergencies: Cruise insurance can cover medical treatment on the cruise and may offer coverage for medical evacuation.
• Trip Cancellation or Interruption: You can get reimbursed for your nonrefundable travel expenses if you cancel your cruise or end your trip early due to covered reasons such as illness or injury. You’re typically covered if the cruise line cancels due to mechanical issues, weather, or other unforeseen events.

Cruise-specific travel insurance may also offer reimbursement if your cruise ship is disabled. And if you want to cover shore excursions, be sure to include the cost of excursions in your total travel cost when you get quotes for cruise insurance.

While these coverage types are common among cruise insurance policies, checking the terms and conditions to confirm all coverage areas is a good idea.

Types of Cruise Insurance

There are many options for travel insurance, and you can generally choose as little or as much coverage as you’d like. You can opt for a comprehensive travel insurance policy, which may offer Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage, or you might prefer to limit your costs and choose just the coverage you need. For example, you might choose standalone trip cancellation insurance or a travel medical insurance policy but decide you don’t need coverage for missed connections or baggage.

What To Look for in a Cruise Travel Insurance Policy

Consider these factors as you compare the best cruise travel insurance policies:

• Cancellation Window: Understand how many days before your cruise departure you must cancel to qualify for reimbursement.
• Coverage Availability: Travel insurance policies typically offer cruise coverage, but it’s best to confirm that a policy specifically covers cruises before you purchase it. Also, consider availability for coverages that may be important to you, such as CFAR or adventure sports. 
• Customer Reviews and Reputation: You can get insight into the insurance provider and how claims and customer service work by reading customer reviews and ratings.
• Eligibility Criteria: Cruise insurance policies may have eligibility criteria such as limits on age or trip duration and preexisting conditions. For example, some travel insurance policies max out at 90 days.
• Exclusions and Limitations: Read the policy to understand what’s excluded or limited specifically to cruise-related coverage, such as reimbursements for port closures, itinerary changes, or medical incidents on the cruise.
• Policy Cost: Get multiple quotes and compare each cost and coverage value to ensure you get a good value for your cruise insurance policy.
• Purchase Timeline: You’ll usually need to purchase your cruise insurance within a certain period of booking your trip, so be sure you’re buying your policy within that timeframe.
• Reimbursement Structure: Review the cruise insurance policy to confirm how much you can be reimbursed for under qualifying circumstances, such as if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip.

You can buy cruise insurance from the cruise line when you book, or a travel agent may offer cruise insurance plans. You also have the option to purchase cruise trip insurance independently. It’s a good idea to get multiple quotes to compare your costs and coverage and get the best deal on cruise insurance.

You should buy cruise insurance when you make your first deposit so you’re immediately covered for trip cancellation. Here are some of the options and coverages if you purchase cruise insurance directly from the cruise line:

Before you purchase cruise insurance from a cruise line, compare your third-party options. You can get quotes from multiple travel insurance companies at once using a travel insurance aggregator such as Squaremouth .

Even a meticulously planned cruise can run into unforeseen disruptions — and cruise insurance can come in handy for the unexpected.

Cruise insurance covers you for sudden illnesses, travel delays, and more, offering financial protection so you’re safeguarded against uncertainties. Whether you get cruise insurance from the cruise line or third–party insurance providers, understand your coverage and how it protects your investment in cruise travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my health insurance cover me on a cruise.

Some health insurance policies offer limited coverage on cruises, but coverage often depends on where you’re cruising and your planned activities. Check with your insurance provider about coverage before you depart on your cruise. Find out if supplemental cruise insurance is available if you want to use your existing health insurance coverage.

Are cruises covered under travel insurance?

Cruises are typically covered under travel insurance , so you don’t necessarily have to buy specialized cruise insurance, such as coverage from the cruise line. Travel insurance can cover trip cancellations and interruptions, medical emergencies, lost luggage, and more on your cruise trip.

Can you buy cruise insurance after booking?

You can buy cruise insurance after booking. It’s generally best to purchase cruise insurance as soon as possible after making your initial trip deposit — when you have money on the line. The sooner you purchase cruise insurance, the sooner you’re covered for trip cancellations.

Can you buy medical insurance for a cruise?

You can buy medical travel insurance to cover your medical expenses on a cruise, offering coverage such as medical emergencies, illnesses, and injuries.

How do I add travel insurance to my cruise?

You can add travel insurance to your cruise when you book with the cruise line or a travel agent. Alternatively, you can purchase travel insurance directly from travel insurance agencies.

Was this page helpful?

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.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE ™

Get the  latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's  privacy policy   and  terms of service   apply.

UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation  calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

• Best Extended Auto Warranty
• Best Used Car Warranty
• Best Car Warranty Companies
• CarShield Reviews
• Best Auto Loan Rates
• Average Auto Loan Interest Rates
• Best Auto Refinance Rates
• Bad Credit Auto Loans
• Best Auto Shipping Companies
• How To Ship a Car
• Car Shipping Cost Calculator
• Montway Auto Transport Reviews
• Best Car Buying Apps
• Best Websites To Sell Your Car Online
• CarMax Review
• Carvana Reviews
• Best LLC Service
• Best Registered Agent Service
• Best Trademark Service
• Best Online Legal Services
• Best CRMs for Small Business
• Best CRM Software
• Best CRM for Real Estate
• Best Marketing CRM
• Best CRM for Sales
• Best Free Time Tracking Apps
• Best HR Software
• Best Payroll Services
• Best HR Outsourcing Services
• Best HRIS Software
• Best Project Management Software
• Best Construction Project Management Software
• Best Task Management Software
• Free Project Management Software
• Best SEO Services (2024 Rankings)
• Best Mass Texting Services 2024
• Best SEO Software 2024
• Best Email Marketing Software 2024
• Best Personal Loans
• Best Fast Personal Loans
• Best Debt Consolidation Loans
• Best Loans for Bad Credit
• Best Personal Loans for Fair Credit
• HOME EQUITY
• Best Home Equity Loan Rates
• Best Home Equity Loans
• Best Checking Accounts
• Best Free Checking Accounts
• Best Online Checking Accounts
• Best Online Banks
• Bank Account Bonuses
• Best High-Yield Savings Accounts
• Best Savings Accounts
• Average Savings Account Interest Rate
• Money Market Accounts
• Best CD Rates
• Best 3-Month CD Rates
• Best 6-Month CD Rates
• Best 1-Year CD Rates
• Best 5-Year CD Rates
• Best Jumbo CD Rates
• Best Hearing Aids
• Best OTC Hearing Aids
• Most Affordable Hearing Aids
• Eargo Hearing Aids Review
• Best Medical Alert Systems
• Best Medical Alert Watches
• Best Medical Alert Necklaces
• Are Medical Alert Systems Covered by Insurance?
• Best Online Therapy
• Best Online Therapy Platforms That Take Insurance
• Best Online Psychiatrist Platforms
• BetterHelp Review
• Best Mattress
• Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
• Best Mattress for Back Pain
• Best Adjustable Beds
• Best Home Warranty Companies
• American Home Shield Review
• First American Home Warranty Review
• Best Home Appliance Insurance
• Best Moving Companies
• Best Interstate Moving Companies
• Best Long-Distance Moving Companies
• Cheap Moving Companies
• Best Window Replacement Companies
• Best Gutter Guards
• Gutter Installation Costs
• Best Window Brands
• Best Solar Companies
• Best Solar Panels
• How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?
• Solar Calculator
• Best Car Insurance Companies
• Cheapest Car Insurance Companies (May 2024)
• Best Car Insurance for New Drivers
• Same-day Car Insurance
• Best Pet Insurance
• Pet Insurance Cost
• Cheapest Pet Insurance
• Pet Wellness Plans
• Best Life Insurance
• Best Term Life Insurance
• Best Whole Life Insurance
• Term vs. Whole Life Insurance
• Best Travel Insurance Companies
• Best Homeowners Insurance Companies
• Best Renters Insurance Companies
• Best Motorcycle Insurance

Partner content:  This content was created by a business partner of Dow Jones, independent of the MarketWatch newsroom. Links in this article may result in us earning a commission.  Learn More

Top 6 Best Cruise Insurance Plans of June 2024

Alex Carver is a writer and researcher based in Charlotte, N.C. A contributor to major news websites such as Automoblog and USA Today, she’s written content in sectors such as insurance, warranties, shipping, real estate and more.

Kelly is an editorial leader and collaborator with over 13 years of experience creating and optimizing data-driven, reader-focused digital content. Before joining our team, Kelly was the cross-niche editor and Branded Content Lead at personal finance and fintech site Finder.

Key Takeaways

• Based on the MarketWatch Guides industry-wide review of the travel insurance policies, Nationwide, Faye and Allianz offer the best cruise insurance.
• Cruise insurance can help protect your vacation by reimbursing prepaid, nonrefundable expenses in unexpected situations such as emergency medical bills and costs related to baggage loss.
• Our team evaluated 64 cruise plans to identify the top options for your next cruise. We score plans based on cruise-specific options, average cost, policy coverage, medical coverage and evacuation limits.

Why Trust MarketWatch Guides

Our editorial team follows a comprehensive methodology for rating and reviewing travel insurance companies. Advertisers have no effect on our rankings.

Companies Reviewed

Quotes Collected

Rating Factors

The Best Cruise Insurance Plans for 2024

To determine the best cruise insurance options for our review, we collected several sample quotes, carefully examined policy and coverage details, and evaluated providers with specialized cruising plans. Our thorough research found that the following travel insurance companies provide the best cruise insurance plans in the industry.

Here are our top picks for the best cruise insurance companies:

• Nationwide Travel Insurance: Luxury Cruise
• Allianz Global Assistance: OneTrip Prime
• AIG Travel Guard: Preferred Plan
• Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection : WaveCare ®
• Travelex Insurance : Travel Basic
• Trawick International : Safe Travels Voyager

How We Picked the Best Cruise Insurance Companies

To recommend the best providers to our readers, we looked for the following factors when evaluating coverage options for cruise insurance:

• Cruise-specific plan options: Our team sought out travel insurance providers that offer cruise-specific plans with coverages not found on standard policies, such as shipboard service disruption coverage, prepaid excursion reimbursement and more.
• Medical coverage: This protection helps pay for medical care at a local facility if you’re injured on your cruise. Companies with more generous medical coverage limits ranked higher in our roundup.
• Medical evacuation: We prioritized companies offering higher medical evacuation coverage, which can benefit you depending on how long and far you are from a port while on the cruise ship.
• Coverage maximums: We considered whether a provider offered higher-value coverage options for travelers planning longer trips or opting for an all-inclusive luxury package.
• Cost: We requested sample quotes from dozens of travel insurance providers and compared price and coverage options to determine the insurer offering the best values.

Nationwide Travel Insurance

Why We Picked Nationwide for Cruise Insurance

After earning 4.6 out of 5 stars when rated using our travel insurance methodology, we chose Nationwide as one of the best cruise insurance options for these reasons:

• Nationwide offers plans specifically for cruises with benefits such as shipboard service disruption, prepaid excursion reimbursement and missed connection benefits.
• Cruise-specific policies include medical and non-medical evacuation coverage.
• Nationwide covers up to 100% of your total trip costs for a covered cancellation and up to 150% of your total costs for trip interruption.

Pros and Cons

Allianz global assistance.

Why We Picked Allianz for Cruise Insurance

Allianz earned 4.1 out of 5 stars when rated using our travel insurance methodology, and we chose it as one of the best cruise insurance options for these reasons:

• Allianz extends free coverage for children 17 and under when you choose the OneTrip Prime plan, which can be ideal for families cruising together.
• Epidemic coverage includes trip cancellation, interruption, travel delays, emergency medical care and emergency transportation.
• Trip change protector coverage can reimburse you the fees or extra expenses incurred if you need to change your cruise itinerary for a reason listed in your policy.

AIG Travel Guard

Why We Picked AIG Travel Guard for Cruise Insurance

AIG Travel Guard earned 4.6 out of 5 stars when rated using our travel insurance methodology, and we chose it as one of the best cruise insurance options for these reasons:

• If you or your traveling companion lose your life or limbs during your cruise, AIG Travel Guard offers non-flight accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• AIG’s Preferred Plan includes one free child aged 17 and under with each paying adult on your policy.
•  You’ll find an array of policy add-ons with AIG such as CFAR coverage, adventure sports coverage, pet coverage and more that can offer you additional protection.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

Why We Picked Berkshire Hathaway for Cruise Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway earned 4.6 out of 5 stars when rated using our travel insurance methodology, landing a spot on our best cruise insurance due to the following:

• WaveCare® covers up to 100% of your total trip costs for covered cancellations and 150% of your total trip costs for covered interruptions.
• Berkshire Hathaway’s cruise-specific plan offers coverage beyond the norm, including cruise disablement, cruise diversion and river cruise diversion coverage.
• WaveCare® provides coverage for emergency evacuation and repatriation up to $750,000.

Why We Picked Travelex for Cruise Insurance

Travelex earned 4.7 out of 5 stars when rated using our travel insurance methodology — the highest score out of all providers we’ve reviewed. It landed a spot on our best cruise insurance list for the following reasons:

• Travelex offers some of the most affordable plans of the providers on our list, and allows parents to extend coverage to their children for a slightly higher rate.
• Add-on coverages available through the Travel Basic plan include car rental collision coverage and flight accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D).
• The Travel Basic policy has no deductible and is considered a primary coverage plan.

Trawick International

Why We Picked Trawick International for Cruise Insurance

We awarded AXA Assistance USA a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. We’ve included it on our list of the best cruise insurance providers for these reasons:

• The Safe Travels Voyager plan, marketed as Trawick’s most popular cruise insurance coverage, includes 30 covered reasons for trip cancellation.
• Trawick offers various optional add-on benefits, such as CFAR coverage, 24-hour AD&D, trip interruption for any reason (IFAR) coverage and more.
• Trawick provides a stipend for a hospital companion to evacuate with you during a medical emergency.

What To Look For in Cruise Insurance

According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) 2023 State of the Cruise Industry Report , cruising continues to be one of the fastest-growing sectors of tourism, with a projected 36 million people choosing a cruise vacation in 2024. While purchasing travel insurance to cover your cruise vacation is a personal decision, there are some coverages to look for that can enhance your policy.

• Travel medical insurance : If you’re worried about illnesses or potential injuries during your cruise, travel medical insurance covers medical expenses up to a maximum amount.
• Emergency medical evacuation coverage : If you suffer a medical emergency and require transport to a hospital while at sea, emergency medical evacuation coverage can help cover expenses associated with transport.
• Trip cancelation insurance : If you’d like to recoup any prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses if you need to cancel your trip, trip cancelation insurance can reimburse you if the event is covered under policy terms.
• Trip interruption insurance : If your trip is cut short for a reason covered with your travel insurance policy, trip interruption coverage can provide reimbursement for any unused travel expenses.
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage : If you’re concerned about canceling your trip for a reason not listed under a policy’s coverage terms, consider cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage , which allows you to cancel your trip for virtually any reason.

Travel medical insurance is especially worth considering if you’re cruising abroad, as domestic healthcare may provide limited to no coverage out of the country.

If you’re looking at plans explicitly marketed for cruises, you may find unique benefits like cruise diversion, disablement and prepaid excursion reimbursement. Other benefits to look for with a cruise insurance policy include travel delay coverage, baggage insurance and missed connection coverage. If you’re worried about coverage for pre-existing conditions or COVID-19, check if a plan offers these protections as you shop around.

Compare The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

See the table below for a direct comparison of our picks for the top cruise insurance plans, including average costs, our recommended plan and CFAR coverage amounts.

What Is Cruise Insurance and How Does It Work?

Cruise insurance is synonymous with travel insurance, and it can be any policy that offers the coverage you’re looking for to protect your trip expenses. While some providers offer plans marketed toward cruisegoers, many standard, comprehensive travel insurance policies provide coverages worth considering for cruise protection.

A cruise insurance policy works just like travel insurance. Your policy will cover you for the duration of your cruise and can cover a single person or a whole family. When a covered event occurs, you’ll file a claim with your chosen provider for reimbursement of expenses or financial losses. Note that all cruise insurance policies have exclusions, so read the fine print of your plan before you purchase it.

What Does Cruise Insurance Cover?

Depending on your choice of plan, cruise insurance can provide the following coverages:

Created with Sketch Beta. Medical expense coverage : Travel medical insurance can cover your medical bills if you get ill or injured on your cruise and need medical attention.

Created with Sketch Beta. Emergency medical evacuation coverage : Emergency medical evacuation coverage can provide transportation or evacuation to a medical facility from your cruise ship.

Created with Sketch Beta. Trip cancellation protection : Trip cancellation coverage can compensate you for non-refundable expenses if you cancel your trip for a reason covered by your policy.

Created with Sketch Beta. Trip interruption coverage : If you need to cut your cruise short, trip interruption coverage can provide reimbursement for any unused, non-refundable expenses.

Created with Sketch Beta. Trip delay protection : If your travel carrier delays your trip, you can receive reimbursement up to a set amount as outlined in your policy. 

Created with Sketch Beta. Baggage loss and delay coverage : If your baggage is damaged, stolen, missing or delayed during your trip, baggage loss and delay coverage can reimburse you for the items you packed in your luggage.

In addition, some cruise insurance plans offer coverages exclusively tailored to cruisegoers, such as cruise disablement coverage, prepaid excursion reimbursement, missed connection benefits and non-medical evacuation coverage. 

According to our research, you’ll also likely have access to a 24/7 hotline for travel emergencies — we’ve found this is a standard provision among travel insurance companies. If you’re looking for pre-existing condition coverage, many providers offer a waiver if you buy your coverage within a specific time frame from your initial trip deposit.

Is Cruise Insurance Required?

While cruise insurance isn’t typically legally required, it can be worth considering if you don’t want to risk your investment in your cruise booking. However, it’s best practice to check with your specific cruise line about any outstanding requirements around travel insurance. Even if travel insurance isn’t required, having coverages such as travel medical, trip interruption and trip cancellation cruise insurance can give you the peace of mind to enjoy your cruise fully.

When You Should Buy Cruise Insurance

If you plan on purchasing cruise insurance, it’s worth considering as soon as possible. For example, if you’d like emergency medical coverage through your cruise insurance policy to cover any pre-existing conditions, most travel insurance providers require you to purchase a policy within a certain number of days from when you make your first payment toward the cruise. You may not qualify for this waiver if you wait until the last minute to purchase your plan.

If your cruise is fast approaching and you’d still like to buy a policy, our research has found that some providers offer plans that can be purchased as late as 24 hours before your trip.

How Much Does Cruise Insurance Cost?

According to our analysis, the average cost of cruise insurance is $242. However, we found that the cost ranges from $81 to $500 and heavily depends on the total trip cost and age of the traveler.

The cost of cruise insurance can vary between customers. Your age, trip length, trip cost, plan type, number of travelers and destination all impact the overall premium you will pay. According to our research, trip cost, and age impact cost the most, with older travelers typically paying much more than younger travelers for the same trip.

The best way to determine what you will pay for your coverage is to get a quote. According to data from Berkshire Hathaway, you can expect to pay between 5% and 10% of your total cruise vacation price for insurance.

To help you get a better idea of what you might pay for cruise insurance, we requested multiple quotes from the providers in our review using various sample traveler profiles. The table below summarizes our findings:

To calculate costs, we collected quotes for each of the following trips and traveler profiles:

• 70-year-old couple taking a $3,000, seven-day cruise in Mexico
• 65-year-old taking a $1,200, five-day cruise in the Bahamas
• 34-year-old couple taking a $6,000, seven-day cruise in Greece
• 21-year-old taking a $900, five-day cruise in the Caribbean

How To Buy Cruise Insurance

You can purchase cruise insurance online and at your convenience. If you’d like to speak with a customer service representative about any questions or concerns about a policy, most travel insurance companies provide a phone number and contact information at the top of their website.

To start gathering quotes, head online to the quote portal of the company of your choice. For this example, we’ll walk you through getting a quote with Nationwide, our top pick for cruise insurance. We were asked to provide some trip details and personal information right away, such as our cruise line, destination, travel dates, total trip costs and more.

Once you’ve provided the information needed, you’ll be taken to your plan choices and their associated costs. Like many other cruise insurers, Nationwide offers a sample plan contract for you to read through, as well as coverage details to help you fully understand what’s covered or excluded with your policy.

After making your plan choice, you’ll need to provide more information on you and your traveling companions. From there, you’ll be able to finalize your purchase and be ready to cruise with protections in place that can help you navigate unexpected situations. While every cruise insurer’s purchasing process won’t look exactly the same, most follow the same format and will require the same information to purchase a policy.

Can You Buy Cancel For Any Reason Insurance for Cruises?

In short, yes, you can purchase travel insurance with cancel for any reason (CFAR) add-ons for a variety of travel insurance companies and plans. Cancel for any reason, coverage often time won’t cover the full value or price of your trip, but if you need to cancel for whatever reason, it is better to have some degree of coverage and get a partial refund than have to lose out on a trip and the monetary value behind it. Below is a list of CFAR coverage amounts for our recommended cruise travel insurance providers.

Is Cruise Insurance Worth It?

Determining whether cruise insurance is worth it is a personal decision. Cruises can get expensive quickly, so if you’re embarking on a 14-day international cruise that you’ve spent months saving up for, you may prefer to protect your investment. Spending a fraction of your total cruise expenses on insurance can help prevent you from forfeiting the entire cost of a non-refundable trip should the worst happen.

Angela Borden, a product marketing specialist at Seven Corners, noted that “When you’ve made a financial investment in your trip or need to protect your health when you travel, travel insurance is 100% worth it.” She also pointed out that coverage can help you recoup your expenses if the unexpected happens. 

“Travel insurance can also reimburse you if your belongings are lost, stolen, or damaged and you need to replace them during your trip,” she added. “Again, that’s a financial savings you would have missed out on if you didn’t have travel insurance.”

If you are unsure whether cruise insurance is worth it, we recommend getting a quote from our highlighted insurance providers before you set sail.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cruise Insurance

What should cruise insurance cover.

Cruise insurance should provide you with 100% coverage for trip cancellation and at least 100% trip interruption coverage. Your policy should also include baggage loss, trip delay coverage, medical care and emergency evacuations. 

When should I buy trip insurance for a cruise?

While your trip insurance cost might not increase if you buy a policy at the last minute, it’s best to buy coverage as soon as you make your initial trip deposit. Most insurance companies only allow you to add CFAR coverage a few days after you make your first trip payment. If you’re considering this insurance add-on, buy coverage as soon as possible. 

Do I need special insurance for a cruise?

Whether you need travel insurance specifically for cruises depends on the provider. While some travel insurance companies specify that policies provide coverage even if you’re on a cruise, others may exclude cruises from standard travel plans. For this reason, it’s best to check the terms of your coverage before purchasing a policy. 

Some companies, like Nationwide and Berkshire Hathaway, offer cruise-specific protection plans in addition to standalone travel insurance policies.  

What are the benefits of cruise insurance?

There are multiple benefits to investing in a cruise insurance policy. Cruise insurance provides you with money back for nonrefundable trip expenses, which can help you recoup a portion of your costs if you need to cancel at the last minute. Cruise insurance also provides protection when you’re on a boat and visiting international ports of call, with medical insurance coverage and compensation for travel expenses if you’re forced to evacuate during your vacation.

Does cruise insurance include COVID-19 coverage?

Travel insurance policy purchases have spiked since the COVID-19 pandemic. Most travel policies consider COVID-19 the same as any other illness, which means you may be entitled to use your insurance benefits if you’re hospitalized or cannot travel due to COVID-19. However, this also means that the fear of catching a new COVID strain will not entitle you to use your cruise insurance. 

If you’re concerned about the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on your vacation plan, consider upgrading to CFAR coverage.

More Travel Insurance Guides

• Best COVID-19 travel insurance companies
• Best travel insurance companies
• Cheapest travel insurance
• Best group travel insurance companies
• Health insurance for visitors to USA
• Best senior travel insurance
• Best travel insurance for families
• Best student travel insurance plans
• Travel insurance for parents visiting the USA
• Best travel medical insurance plans
• How much does travel insurance cost?

If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at  editors@marketwatchguides. com .

More Resources:

• Best Travel Insurance 2024
• Cheapest Travel Insurance
• Trip Cancellation Insurance
• Cancel for Any Reason Insurance
• Seniors' Travel Insurance
• Annual Travel Insurance
• Cruise Insurance
• COVID-19 Travel Insurance
• Travel Medical Insurance
• Medical Evacuation Insurance
• Pregnancy Travel Insurance
• Pre-existing Conditions Insurance
• Mexico Travel Insurance
• Italy Travel Insurance
• France Travel Insurance
• Spain Travel Insurance
• Canada Travel Insurance
• UK Travel Insurance
• Germany Travel Insurance
• Bahamas Travel Insurance
• Costa Rica Travel Insurance
• Disney Travel Insurance
• Schengen Travel Insurance
• Is travel insurance worth it?
• Average cost of travel insurance
• Is airline flight insurance worth it?
• Places to travel without a passport
• All travel insurance guides
• Best Pet Insurance 2024
• Cheap Pet Insurance
• Cat Insurance
• Pet Dental Insurance
• Pet Insurance That Pays Vets Directly
• Pet Insurance For Pre-Existing Conditions
• Pet Insurance with No Waiting Period
• Paw Protect Review
• Spot Pet Insurance Review
• Embrace Pet Insurance Review
• Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review
• Pets Best Insurance Review
• Lemonade Pet Insurance Review
• Pumpkin Pet Insurance Review
• Fetch Pet Insurance Review
• Figo Pet Insurance Review
• CarePlus by Chewy Review
• MetLife Pet Insurance Review
• Average cost of pet insurance
• What does pet insurance cover?
• Is pet insurance worth it?
• How much do cat vaccinations cost?
• How much do dog vaccinations cost?
• All pet insurance guides
• Best Business Insurance 2024
• Business Owner Policy (BOP)
• General Liability Insurance
• E&O Professional Liability Insurance
• Workers' Compensation Insurance
• Commercial Property Insurance
• Cyber Liability Insurance
• Inland Marine Insurance
• Commercial Auto Insurance
• Product Liability Insurance
• Commercial Umbrella Insurance
• Fidelity Bond Insurance
• Business Personal Property Insurance
• Medical Malpractice insurance
• California Workers' Compensation Insurance
• Contractor's Insurance
• Home-Based Business Insurance
• Sole Proprietor's Insurance
• Handyman's Insurance
• Photographer's Insurance
• Esthetician's Insurance
• Salon Insurance
• Personal Trainer's Insurance
• Electrician's Insurance
• E-commerce Business Insurance
• Landscaper's Insurance
• Best Credit Cards of 2024
• Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
• Best Instant Approval Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
• Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
• Best College Student Credit Cards
• Best 0% APR Credit Cards
• Best First Credit Cards
• Best No Annual Fee Cards
• Best Travel Credit Cards
• Best Hotel Credit Cards
• Best American Express Cards
• Best Amex Delta SkyMiles Cards
• Best American Express Business Cards
• Best Capital One Cards
• Best Capital One Business Cards
• Best Chase Cards
• Best Chase Business Cards
• Best Citi Credit Cards
• Best U.S. Bank Cards
• Best Discover Cards
• Amex Platinum Card Review
• Amex Gold Card Review
• Amex Blue Cash Preferred Review
• Amex Blue Cash Everyday Review
• Capital One Venture Card Review
• Capital One Venture X Card Review
• Capital One SavorOne Card Review
• Capital One Quicksilver Card Review
• Chase Sapphire Reserve Review
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Review
• United Explorer Review
• United Club Infinite Review
• Amex Gold vs. Platinum
• Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Capital One Venture vs. Venture X
• Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Capital One SavorOne vs. Quicksilver
• Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Capital One Venture
• Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Gold
• Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum
• Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve
• How to Get Amex Pre-Approval
• Amex Travel Insurance Explained
• Chase Sapphire Travel Insurance Guide
• Chase Pay Yourself Back
• CLEAR vs. TSA PreCheck
• Global Entry vs. TSA Precheck
• Costco Payment Methods
• All Credit Card Guides
• Citibank Savings Account Interest Rate
• Capital One Savings Account Interest Rate
• American Express Savings Account Interest Rate
• Western Alliance Savings Account Interest Rate
• Barclays Savings Account Interest Rate
• Discover Savings Account Interest Rate
• Chase Savings Account Interest Rate
• U.S. Bank Savings Account Interest Rate
• Marcus Savings Account Interest Rate
• Synchrony Bank Savings Account Interest Rate
• Ally Savings Account Interest Rate
• Bank of America Savings Account Interest Rate
• Wells Fargo Savings Account Interest Rates
• SoFi Savings Account Interest Rate
• UFB Direct Savings Account Interest Rate
• Best Savings Accounts & Interest Rates
• Best High Yield Savings Accounts
• Best 7% Interest Savings Accounts
• Best 5% Interest Savings Accounts
• Savings Interest Calculator
• Emergency Fund Calculator
• Pros and Cons of High-Yield Savings Accounts
• Types of Savings Accounts
• Checking vs Savings Accounts
• Average Savings by Age
• How Much Should I Have in Savings?
• How to Make Money
• How to Save Money
• Compare Best Checking Accounts
• Compare Online Checking Accounts
• Best Business Checking Accounts
• Compare Best Teen Checking Accounts
• Best Student Checking Accounts
• Best Joint Checking Accounts
• Best Second Chance Checking Accounts
• Chase Checking Account Review
• Bluevine Business Checking Review
• Amex Rewards Checking Account Review
• Best Money Market Accounts
• U.S. Bank Money Market Account
• Money Market vs. Savings Account
• Best CD Rates
• Best 1-Year CD Rates
• Best 6-Month CD Rates
• Best 3-Month CD Rates
• 6% CD Rates
• Synchrony Bank CD Rates
• Capital One CD Rates
• Barclays CD Rates
• E&O Professional Liability Insurance
• Best Savings Accounts & Interest Rates
• Travel Insurance

Best Cruise Insurance Plans for 2024

On This Page

• Key takeaways

Our picks for the best travel insurance for cruises

Is cruise insurance worth it, do i need a dedicated cruise travel insurance plan, what makes cruise travel insurance unique, types of insurance you need for a cruise, what is not covered by cruise travel insurance, how much coverage do you need for a cruise, how much does cruise travel insurance cost, when to buy travel insurance for a cruise, tips for buying cruise insurance, cruise insurance faq.

• Recommended articles

Related topics

• Based on our analysis, the best cruise travel insurance plans come from  TinLeg, IMG, Travel Insured International, John Hancock, & Faye .  ( Skip ahead to view these plans )
• Some cruise operators may require you to have travel insurance before allowing you to board the ship.
• Cruise trip insurance offered through the cruise lines is often rather limited and can lack important coverage for the rest of your trip – like flight and hotel coverage.
• At a bare minimum , your cruise travel insurance plan should offer emergency medical assistance and medical evacuation coverage – with high enough limits for both.
• We also recommend buying protection for travel delays, storms, missed tours and connections, and any other aspect of your trip you deem important.
• Using a comparison tool is the quickest way to filter through the best cruise insurance comparisons, as it offers you multiple quotes from several providers in one place.

We chose these plans from a long list of the best-selling travel insurance plans over the past year based on sales data from Squaremouth. Therefore, all plans have high customer satisfaction ratings.

We filtered this list to identify plans specifically well-suited for cruises. We focused on the most common issues cruisers face to ensure every plan offers adequate coverage. 

At a minimum, all plans listed on this page include coverage for the following:  

• Trips that involve a cruise
• Emergency medical expenses
• Emergency medical evacuations
• Missed connections while traveling
• Hurricanes & inclement weather disruptions
• Unexpected travel delays 
• Cancellations for medical reasons
• COVID illness treatment/cancellation

Cruises present unique risks that other types of vacations don’t:   What happens if you are out at sea and suddenly need urgent medical intervention that the on-board infirmary cannot cope with? –   That’s where cruise insurance comes in.  

Below, we cover our top picks for cruise insurance for 2024. ( Skip ahead to view these plans )

Our top picks for the best cruise insurance

• Tin Leg: Best Coverage for Cruises Overall
• IMG: Great Value & Great for Senior Travelers
• Travel Insured International: Great Coverage for Cancellations & Interruptions
• John Hancock Insurance Agency, Inc.: Covers Pre-Existing Conditions
• Faye Travel Insurance: Many Customizable Add-ons & Amazing App

Best Coverage for Cruises Overall

Why We Like It

Editor's take

Tin Leg Adventure provides one of the best cruise policies on the market. This policy covers important cruise-related factors such as cancellation, providing 100% of the trip cost and 150% of the trip cost for trip interruptions. In the enclosed environment of a cruise, you are far more susceptible to illnesses such as COVID-19 and Tin Leg Adventure offers coverage for cancelations due to COVID-19 sickness.

On top of this, Tin Leg Adventure offers $100,000 worth of medical coverage and a comforting $1,000,000 worth of medical evacuation coverage. For those who are worried about missing their connection, $500 per person is offered up and covers you after just a 3-hour delay.

Read our full review

• Higher than average medical evacuation coverage
• Coverage for pre-existing conditions
• Cancelation & interruption coverage
• Coronavirus-related medical expenses covered
• Lower medical coverage
• No “interruption for any reason” upgrade available

Great Value & Great for Senior Travelers

This plan is great for travelers of any age and offers extremely robust coverage for a low price. Depending on your trip parameters, this plan can work out to be hundreds of dollars cheaper than similar plans while still offering great coverage and a 10-day money-back guarantee.

As an example, you will be covered for up to $500,000 of primary emergency medical coverage, meaning you won’t have to pay first and wait to be reimbursed should you need unexpected medical treatment while traveling. IMG will pay the bills for you up to $500,000. You also get travel cancellation, interruption, and travel delay coverage as well as protection for baggage delays and baggage loss comes standard. All of this makes IMG an ideal provider for insuring your next cruise.

• 10-day money back guarantee
• Generous limits for trip delays, emergency evacuation, and more
• 24/7 emergency travel assistance included
• Rental car coverage included
• Recently developed pre-existing conditions may not be covered
• CFAR and IFAR coverage only available as an add-on with premium plans

Great Coverage for Cancellations & Interruptions

Travel insured international.

The Worldwide Trip Protector plan is a fantastic choice, based on the superior coverage it provides. This plan covers 100% of the insured trip cost due to cancellation, 150% of the insured trip cost due to interruption, as well as $1,500 for trip delays and $500 for baggage delays after only 3 hours. It also includes $100,000 worth of medical coverage, $1 million worth of evacuation coverage, and $150,000 worth of non-medical evacuation coverage.

Being primary coverage, you will be free from spending any of your own money, with the insurance provider covering all costs upfront. With hurricane and weather coverage, The Worldwide Trip Protector plan is perfect for taking cruises throughout more volatile regions.

• Travel delay coverage kicks in after just six hours
• Generous $150,000 non-medical evacuation coverage
• CFAR and IFAR coverage not included
• Baggage delay coverage only kicks in after 12 hours
• No rental car coverage

Covers Pre-Existing Conditions

John hancock insurance agency, inc..

John Hancock’s Gold plan is a fantastic insurance plan for those with pre-existing conditions looking to take a cruise. Automatically included in the coverage, this plan allows travelers to be free from the stresses of pre-existing conditions that may hinder them with other providers. Alongside this perk, the Gold plan also offers both trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage worth up to 100% and 150% of the trip cost.

John Hancock’s Gold plan provides top-of-the-range coverage when it comes to all things medical. This plan offers medical emergency coverage worth up to $250,000 and $1 million in coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains - some of the highest across the market.

• Travel delay coverage kicks in after just three hours
• Generous coverage for emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains
• Optional CFAR upgrade available
• Baggage insurance comes with generous limits of up to $2,500
• Terror attack coverage included
• Baggage delay coverage requires a 12-hour waiting period

Many Customizable Add-ons & Amazing App

Faye Travel Insurance

Faye is a new travel insurance disruptor that offers an innovative solution to travel insurance with a digital-first approach. What sets them apart is their user-friendly solution to a traditionally bureaucratic system. With Faye, users can manage everything online or via the Faye app – including the entire booking and claims process. Although it’s a newer provider in the travel insurance industry, Faye is already rising as a fan favorite among young, tech-savvy travelers and digital nomads who want quick, convenient, and reliable travel insurance without having to go through an agent.

Apart from their online-first approach, Faye is easy to use and caters to all types of travelers including those who may want help via phone support.

Another feature that sets Faye apart from the competition is their plan offerings. Faye offers one base plan with an array of comprehensive coverage and optional add-ons to customize your plan.

Potential Add-ons include:

• Rental car care
• Cancel for any reason
• Vacation rental damage
• Adventure & extreme sports

If you are looking for a convenient and cost-effective way to insure your vacation, consider opting for Faye travel insurance. *Note: Coverage limits and availability may vary by state of residence.

• Friendly agents
• Easy-to-use mobile app
• Fast reimbursements for eligible claims
• Prompt replies to questions
• Long wait times for reimbursement
• Difficulty reaching Faye outside of email & virtual chat

Cruise insurance is completely worth the expense – if you buy it through a travel insurance company.  

Note: Plans sold by the cruise line often offer limited coverage and may not be worth it.

The nature of travel insurance is that if you never use it, it may seem like a total waste. That said, if you don’t have travel insurance when something goes wrong on your trip,  you will wish you had bought it . 

Moreover, cruise holiday insurance doesn’t have to be expensive! There are many cheap travel insurance plans that will cover cruise vacations. 

Apart from being able to help save your life  if you require emergency evacuation for a medical intervention onshore, medical cruise travel insurance is a godsend for your finances  when/if something goes wrong on your trip and you are forced to pay to fix it. A good insurance plan will reimburse you.

Therefore, having  travel insurance is worth it. You get financial and medical protection from a range of issues that could easily ruin your vacation, and you get the peace of mind that comes with knowing you are protected while you travel.

When buying trip insurance for a cruise, you must look for travel insurance that covers vacations involving a cruise, as certain plans may not cover cruises. Caveat aside, most travel insurance plans will cover cruise vacations .

On another note, buying cruise insurance through the cruise operator is not recommended as these plans often lack important coverage types for the rest of your trip to and from the cruise ship.

Instead, we recommend buying a comprehensive travel insurance plan that also covers cruises .

You may find some travel insurance plans that are specialized for cruises or have “cruise” in the name, like the Cruise Choice plan from Nationwide or any other specialized cruise insurance plans from Nationwide . These are also solid options.

The most important thing to focus on when buying insurance for your cruise is that the plans cover the most common travel scenarios related to cruises. We cover these in the next section.

For example, not all travel insurance plans on the market will reimburse you for expenses if you miss the boat. That’s why it’s good to focus on the plans listed on our page.

Unlike a standard vacation, a cruise has numerous unique scenarios you must consider throughout your trip. From the initial journey to port and boarding your cruise ship, to the variety of activities you will experience both on and off land.

Cruises have varied and unique itineraries, so it’s important to purchase a comprehensive cruise travel insurance policy that covers you for every eventuality.  

• Missed connections: The first scenario cruise holidaymakers will encounter is the initial journey to catch your cruise liner. Although you will do everything within your power to make it on time, protecting yourself against a possible missed connection or travel delay at the start of your vacation is important. Ensure your cruise travel insurance policy covers you for missed connections and travel delays.
• Risk of illness at sea: Cruise vacations place you in a unique situation; while out at sea, you are far from emergency medical treatment and hospitals. Famously, cruise ships can be a hotbed of illness should a few people become ill. Therefore, having emergency medical coverage and emergency evacuation coverage is paramount for any cruise insurance plan.
• On-shore excursions: By its very nature, a cruise vacation allows you to visit multiple destinations, and experience a wide range of on-shore activities. As the window for missing the ship is multiplied by the constant on-shore excursions, a comprehensive insurance plan that covers travel delays, missed connections, and cancellations is crucial . Excursions can also come with their unique risks; whether this is hiking a nearby trail or surfing along a Caribbean beach, having a fully comprehensive cruise travel insurance plan can cover you for every eventuality.

Travel insurance is usually comprehensive meaning a single plan will include multiple types of coverage. Therefore, it’s important to think of the types of travel coverage you need when buying travel insurance for cruises.

At a minimum, here is a list of what you should include when buying cruise insurance:

• Cruise coverage:  not all travel insurance will cover cruise vacations
• Medical treatment coverage :  in case you need to be treated for injuries or illnesses
• Medical Evacuation coverage :  in case you need to be repatriated or sent to shore for medical intervention
• Travel delay coverage:  in case you are delayed while traveling to the ship
• Missed connections coverage:  in case you miss an excursion or the boat leaves without you
• Hurricanes & inclement weather coverage:  in case a storm cancels or interrupts the trip
• COVID illness coverage :  cruises are hotbeds for COVID

All plans listed on our page include coverage for the above scenarios.

Optional coverage to consider when buying cruise insurance:

• Action sports & adventure coverage:  not all plans cover every type of excursion (i.e. SCUBA or snorkel)
• Trip interruption coverage:  coverage for this varies from plan to plan (i.e. storms)
• Trip cancellation coverage :  coverage for this varies from plan to plan
• Cancel for any reason coverage :  in case you need extra coverage to allow you to cancel for any reason at all
• Baggage delay coverage: not always included, but great to have
• Personal items coverage:  Not always included, but great for theft, damage, or loss

Keep in mind, some travelers may benefit from more specific types of travel insurance including seniors travel insurance or plans that cover pre-existing conditions .

Here are some of the situations and circumstances that are typically not covered by a cruise insurance plan.

• Pre-existing conditions (unless listed as covered)
• Travel expenses associated with medical tourism
• Extreme, high-risk sports (unless listed as covered)
• Financial losses due to war
• Losses due to nuclear radiation or radioactive contamination
• Losses incurred while breaking the law
• Losses incurred while drunk or under the influence of drugs
• Losses incurred while causing bodily harm, including a suicide attempt

Cruise ship travel insurance policies tend to include a list of exclusions highlighting what is not covered by the plan in question, and coverage exclusions can vary depending on the plan and the company. Therefore it’s important to take a look at the fine print and see what is not covered by each plan before making any decisions.

Due on the cost of treatment abroad, expensive repatriation and evacuation costs to the US, and the rising cost of trips for Americans , it’s important to have high enough coverage limits on your travel insurance policy.

Based on these factors, we recommend the following coverage amounts for cruise insurance policies:

• At least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage
• At least $250,000 in medical evacuation coverage
• Coverage for COVID-19 included
• 100% reimbursement for trip cancellation
• 150% reimbursement for trip interruption
• $1,000 in protection (or more) for lost or delayed baggage
• CFAR coverage (optional)

The average cost of cruise insurance varies from company to company and plan to plan.

That’s because each cruise insurance plan has a list of included benefits with different policy limits, and some plans offer more types of coverage overall.

To give you an idea of the cost of travel insurance for a cruise, we used data from the travel insurance provider Squaremouth to get quotes for several unique trip options.

First off, we got quotes for a 7-night Alaskan cruise in August of 2024 with a total trip cost of $8,000.

The travel insurance quotes we received were for two individual cruisers, both aged 45.

Next, we opted to get quotes for a 14-night luxury cruise in Northern Europe in August of 2024.

The quotes we received were for two individuals aged 65, and for a total trip cost of $15,000.

Finally, we wanted to get cruise insurance cost quotes for a budget Caribbean cruise taking place in October of 2024.

The quotes we received were for two 35-year-olds on a seven-night cruise with a total trip cost of $2,500.

Many companies will let you purchase cruise insurance up until the day before departure.

However, you’ll get the best pricing and the best selection of plans if you purchase your policy right away , even as soon as the day you put down an initial deposit on your cruise.

Also, note that some types of coverage must be purchased earlier in your trip-planning journey. For example, most providers who offer cancel for any reason (CFAR) protection make you purchase this add-on coverage within 14 to 20 days of putting down your first trip deposit.

For those who travel and might even go cruising several times a year, it is worth also comparing annual travel insurance .

Use a comparison tool

Comparison tools do all the leg work for you and allow you to compare multiple plans and providers and easily see the best deals. If you want to make your research as painless as possible, use a cruise insurance comparison service like Compare Deals to research plans. This tool lets you enter your trip details before seeing a range of travel insurance plans that are available to you.

Check included coverages and limits

Make sure any travel insurance policy you’re considering has the types of protection you want and limits that make sense. Generally speaking, it’s better to opt for a plan that has higher limits than you need if you can afford it.

Consider the unique characteristics of your destination

If you are planning to take a cruise, around the  Caribbean , northern  Canada , the  Philippines,  or the Mediterranean, it makes sense to have insurance that covers everything that could go wrong based on your specific destination. For example, there may be countries you visit on a cruise that  require travel insurance by law.  Additionally, inclement weather (including hurricanes) in places such as the  Dominican Republic  could also cause your cruise to be canceled or your itinerary to be changed.

Do cruises come with insurance included?

Cruises don’t typically come with travel insurance included. However, in some cases, you may be able to buy travel insurance through your cruise line.

That said, there is no major benefit from buying travel insurance through your cruise operator versus through another provider. In fact, plans sold through the cruise line may be more expensive, have less coverage, and offer less customization. In the end, it’s another way for the cruise line to upcharge customers.

Therefore, we recommend looking at third-party insurers as plans can be cheaper and offer more comprehensive coverage.

See third-party plans here

What if I miss my cruise?

If you miss your cruise due to a covered reason outlined in your travel insurance policy, you may get reimbursement for some or all of your prepaid travel expenses.

How is cruise insurance different from other travel insurance?

Cruise insurance can offer coverage that’s specific to cruises, such as reimbursement for itinerary charges and missed ports-of-call, coverage for cruise ship disablement, and more.

Can I bundle cruise insurance and flight insurance?

If the flight insurance package is sold directly by the airlines, you likely can’t bundle them with your cruise insurance. Often, these flight insurance plans aren’t worth it due to limited coverage and flexibility. If you are looking to have both your airfare and cruise covered, a traditional travel insurance policy is a great option. You might want to consider a “Cancel For Any Reason” plan or add-on if you are looking for the most flexibility.

Does cruise insurance cover COVID-19?

Most cruise insurance plans cover and treat COVID-19 as if it were any other illness. However, you should read over the policies you’re considering so you know for sure.

Can you get cruise insurance after booking?

Your insurance company may let you purchase cruise insurance up until the day before your departure.

Can I cancel a cruise without insurance?

You can cancel a cruise any time you want, but whether you get your money back depends on the cruise line’s policy for cancellations.

How do I know what parts of my cruise to insure?

The important coverages for cruises include travel health insurance, coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, medical evacuation coverage, insurance for lost and delayed baggage, and more.

Why do I need cruise insurance?

You need cruise insurance if you want reimbursement for aspects of your trip that go awry, or if an event beyond your control prevents you from traveling.

Does credit card travel insurance cover cruises?

Your credit card may have some basic protections that apply to cruises, such as coverage for trip cancellation or trip interruption, as well as baggage delay coverage.

Holly D. Johnson is an award-winning personal finance writer who covers topics like insurance, investing, credit and family finance. As a leading voice in the travel and loyalty space, Johnson has traveled with her family to more than 50 countries over the last decade.

The author has also written extensively on the power of household budgeting, and she even co-authored a book on the topic. Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You’ll Love was originally published in 2017, and it teaches families how to use zero-sum budgeting to reach their financial goals. She is also the co-owner and founder of the family finance and travel website, ClubThrifty.com.

Johnson’s 10+ years of writing have focused on helping families make important financial decisions at each stage of their lives. The author also applies the financial principles she teaches to her own life, and she is currently on track to retire in her late 40’s with her partner. She currently lives in Central Indiana with her husband and children, and she is a regular contributor for Bankrate, CNN, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report Travel and many other notable publications.

Explore related articles by topic

• All Travel Insurance Articles
• Learn the Basics
• Health & Medical
• Insurance Provider Reviews
• Insurance by Destination
• Trip Planning & Ideas

Best Travel Insurance Companies & Plans in 2024

Best Medical Evacuation Insurance Plans 2024

Best Travel Insurance for Seniors

Best COVID-19 Travel Insurance Plans for 2024

Best Cheap Travel Insurance Companies - Top Plans 2024

Best Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) Travel Insurance

Best Annual Travel Insurance: Multi-Trip Coverage

Best Travel Medical Insurance - Top Plans & Providers 2024

• Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

Is Flight Insurance Worth It? | Airlines' Limited Coverage Explained

Guide to Traveling While Pregnant: Pregnancy Travel Insurance

10 Romantic Anniversary Getaway Ideas for 2023

Best Travel Insurance for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions May 2024

22 Places to Travel Without a Passport in 2024

Costa Rica Travel Insurance: Requirements, Tips & Safety Info

Best Spain Travel Insurance: Top Plans & Cost

Best Italy Travel Insurance: Plans, Cost, & Tips

Best Travel Insurance for your Vacation to Disney World

Chase Sapphire Travel Insurance Coverage: What To Know & How It Works

2024 Complete Guide to American Express Travel Insurance

Schengen Travel Insurance: Coverage for your Schengen Visa Application

Mexico Travel Insurance: Top Plans in 2024

Best Places to Spend Christmas in Mexico this December

Travel Insurance to Canada: Plans for US Visitors

Best Travel Insurance for France Vacations in 2024

Travel Insurance for Germany: Top Plans 2024

Best UK Travel Insurance: Coverage Tips & Plans May 2024

Best Travel Insurance for Trips to the Bahamas

Europe Travel Insurance: Your Essential Coverage Guide

Best Trip Cancellation Insurance Plans for 2024

What Countries Require Travel Insurance for Entry?

Philippines Travel Insurance: Coverage Requirements & Costs

Travel Insurance for the Dominican Republic: Requirements & Tips

Travel Insurance for Trips Cuba: Tips & Safety Info

AXA Travel Insurance Review May 2024

Best Travel Insurance for Thailand in 2024

Travel Insurance for a Trip to Ireland: Compare Plans & Prices

Travel Insurance for a Japan Vacation: Tips & Safety Info

Faye Travel Insurance Review May 2024

Travel Insurance for Brazil: Visitor Tips & Safety Info

Travel Insurance for Bali: US Visitor Requirements & Quotes

Travel Insurance for Turkey: U.S. Visitor Quotes & Requirements

Travel Insurance for India: U.S. Visitor Requirements & Quotes

Australia Travel Insurance: Trip Info & Quotes for U.S. Visitors

Generali Travel Insurance Review May 2024

Travelex Travel Insurance Review for 2024

Tin Leg Insurance Review for May 2024

Travel Insured International Review for 2024

Seven Corners Travel Insurance Review May 2024

HTH WorldWide Travel Insurance Review 2024: Is It Worth It?

Medjet Travel Insurance Review 2024: What You Need To Know

Antarctica Travel Insurance: Tips & Requirements for US Visitors

Travel Insurance for Kenya: Recommendations & Requirements

Travel Insurance for Botswana: Compare Your Coverage Options

Travel Insurance for Tanzania: Compare Your Coverage Options

Travel Insurance for an African Safari: Coverage Options & Costs

Nationwide Cruise Insurance Review 2024: Is It Worth It?

Travel Insurance for Hurricane Season: All You Need To Know

• Travel Insurance for Seniors
• Cheap Travel Insurance
• Cancel for Any Reason Travel Insurance
• Travel Health Insurance
• How Much is Travel Insurance?
• Is Flight Insurance Worth It?
• Anniversary Trip Ideas
• Travel Insurance for Pre-Existing Conditions
• Places to Travel Without a Passport
• Christmas In Mexico
• Europe Travel Insurance
• Compulsory Insurance Destinations
• Philippines Travel Insurance
• Dominican Republic Travel Insurance
• Cuba Travel Insurance
• AXA Travel Insurance Review
• Travel Insurance for Thailand
• Ireland Travel Insurance
• Japan Travel Insurance
• Faye Travel Insurance Review
• Brazil Travel Insurance
• Travel Insurance Bali
• Travel Insurance Turkey
• India Travel Insurance
• Australia Travel Insurance
• Generali Travel Insurance Review
• Travelex Travel Insurance Review
• Tin Leg Travel Insurance Review
• Travel Insured International Travel Insurance Review
• Seven Corners Travel Insurance Review
• HTH WorldWide Travel Insurance Review
• Medjet Travel Insurance Review
• Antarctica Travel Insurance
• Kenya Travel Insurance
• Botswana Travel Insurance
• Tanzania Travel Insurance
• Safari Travel Insurance
• Nationwide Cruise Insurance Review
• Hurricane Travel Insurance

Policy Details

LA Times Compare is committed to helping you compare products and services in a safe and helpful manner. It’s our goal to help you make sound financial decisions and choose financial products with confidence. Although we don’t feature all of the products and services available on the market, we are confident in our ability to sound advice and guidance.

We work to ensure that the information and advice we offer on our website is objective, unbiased, verifiable, easy to understand for all audiences, and free of charge to our users.

We are able to offer this and our services thanks to partners that compensate us. This may affect which products we write about as well as where and how product offers appear on our website – such as the order in which they appear. This does not affect our ability to offer unbiased reviews and information about these products and all partner offers are clearly marked. Given our collaboration with top providers, it’s important to note that our partners are not involved in deciding the order in which brands and products appear. We leave this to our editorial team who reviews and rates each product independently.

At LA Times Compare, our mission is to help our readers reach their financial goals by making smarter choices. As such, we follow stringent editorial guidelines to ensure we offer accurate, fact-checked and unbiased information that aligns with the needs of the Los Angeles Times audience. Learn how we are compensated by our partners.

This is the announcement bar for Poornima to test the Close Button.  It will expire May 31 2024.

• Pre-Cruise FAQ
• Onboard FAQ
• Post-Cruise FAQ
• Cruisetours FAQ
• Special Offers Sign Up
• Cruise Deals

You have been logged out

Your window will update in 5 secs

Should You Buy Cruise Insurance and Is It Worth It?

One of the most common questions we hear from our guests is, “Should I buy cruise insurance?” If you want to spend more time relaxing and less time worrying, the answer is yes. Cruise travel insurance offers some peace of mind for travelers. That’s why we offer Princess Vacation Protection (PVP), a simple way to ease your worries before setting sail. This travel protection includes the Cancellation Fee Waiver, a non-insurance feature provide through Princess Cruises, travel insurance benefits underwritten by Nationwide®, and non-insurance emergency assistance services. Available in both a Standard and Platinum plan, choose the plan you want based on the coverage and plan price that works best for you. Captain's Circle members who have achieved Ruby, Platinum or Elite status who elect to purchase Standard PVP automatically receive a complimentary upgrade to PVP Platinum; we'll pay the difference in plan cost on your behalf. Here are some additional benefits of our travel protection plan — Princess’ form of cruise insurance.

Trip Delays

Delayed flights and missed connections; they happen to the best of us. Here at Princess, we understand that some things are out of your control. That’s why Princess Vacation Protection may reimburse you up to $500 for expenses not arranged through Princess — such as hotels and meals — if you are delayed in getting to your trip or up to $1,500 if you are delayed getting home.*

*The Trip Delay benefit is a maximum of $1,500 if you experience both pre-cruise and post-cruise delays.

Trip Interruptions

If you prepaid for land and sea arrangements through Princess — such as a hotel reservation or shuttle — and missed them due to a covered reason like illness or injury, the plan will reimburse up to the total trip cost. In such event, if you need to start your vacation late or end it early, the plan may instead cover the cost of one-way airfare to get your vacation back on track.

Problems with Personal Belongings?

While the possibility of lost, delayed or damaged luggage and other personal items on your vacation is uncommon, it’s wise to be prepared. Princess Vacation Protection covers up to $1,500 with Standard PVP or up to $3,000 under PVP Platinum if your belongings are lost, stolen or damaged during your trip. Princess Vacation Protection also covers up to $500 toward the purchase of necessary personal effects if your luggage is delayed 24 hours or longer en route to your vacation. To help prevent problems, be sure to attach nametags to each of your bags and be sure to keep valuables and important items such as passports and medications with you.

Medical Coverage

Of all the reasons to buy cruise insurance, medical coverage while traveling, especially outside the country, is one of the most important. Enjoy some peace of mind knowing that Princess Vacation Protection can reimburse most medical expenses that may arise on your trip. The Standard plan covers up to $10,000 if you become injured or sick during travel. If you require emergency medical transportation during your trip, the Princess Vacation Protection plan covers up to $25,000 of expenses that are outlined in the PVP policy . Under PVP Platinum, these coverage limits are doubled.

24/7 Support

Nothing says support quite like anytime, anywhere assistance. With just the click of a button, connect with one of the agents of LiveTravel, the emergency assistance provider, who can answer questions and ease your concerns about finding medical care, legal services, passport replacement etc.

There are a lot of things that are out of our control when we travel. Choosing to protect your vacation isn’t one of them. Still wondering: Is cruise insurance worth it? We certainly think so! Travel protection from Princess can help you make the most of your vacation. Before making your purchase of Princess Vacation Protection, please review the terms, conditions and exclusions of the plan by visiting our Princess Vacation Protection page .

• Twitter / X
• Readers' Choice
• Food & Drink
• Arts & Culture
• Travel Guides

USA TODAY 10Best

Is travel insurance for a cruise worth it? What it covers, and why you should consider it

January 11, 2024 // By Joanne and Tony DiBona

By Joanne and Tony DiBona Travel Photography Experts January 11, 2024

Ocean and river cruises have significantly gained in popularity among all age groups over the past few years. And it's no wonder: It’s a delight to unpack once and watch the world float by from the comfort of your stateroom on the best new cruise ships .

Because of the relaxing nature of a cruise vacation, many people might not think of purchasing travel insurance. But there are many compelling reasons why cruise insurance should be included in your cruise expenditures.

Here are some expert tips to ensure smooth sailing.

Advertisement Advertisement

What is covered by cruise insurance?

It is important to review travel insurance coverage advertised by a cruise line or an independent travel insurance company to understand what it does and does not cover. Reading the fine print is paramount. Here’s what to look for.

Trip cancellations

Trip cancellation insurance is a pre-departure benefit that can reimburse a traveler’s trip cost if they need to cancel their trip for a covered reason. Along with the most common reasons travelers cancel their trip (i.e., a medical emergency), most plans offer a wide variety of scenarios that are also covered under this policy. Be sure to verify what, if any, penalties will be applied if you have to cancel your trip.

Cancel for any reason (CFAR)

Cancel for any reason is separate from trip cancellation. This coverage protects the insurer if they have to cancel the cruise for any reason. Policies vary with each insurance company, so make sure you discuss the details with your agent before purchasing signing on the dotted line.

Pre-existing conditions

It is important to check with your travel insurance to know what coverage may be available for a sudden recurrence of a pre-existing health condition, as it might be less than what is covered for a new injury or illness.

Medical coverage

Depending on whether you are sailing nationally or internationally, it’s important to speak to your designated insurance agent to determine the best plan to address your current health issues.

Lost and delayed luggage

Baggage delay coverage allows you to purchase essential items you need for your personal comfort while you are waiting for your bags to arrive at your destination. Most plans offer reimbursement for purchased clothing and essential items if your baggage is lost or stolen, but check beforehand.

What type of insurance do you need for a cruise?

According to Suzanne Morrow, senior vice president of InsureMyTrip , travel health insurance can come in handy for a cruise.

For older folks, it’s important to know that Medicare does not cover health care services when the ship is more than six hours from a U.S. port. Even if you're young and in excellent health, travel health insurance covers a wide range of issues and accidents that can arise — especially while embracing that carpe diem vacation spirit. Polar bear plunge in the freezing waters of Antarctica? Sure! Count me in!

If your medical emergency is serious, it may require an airlift off the cruise ship to the nearest hospital. A medical evacuation alone can cost as much as $100,000 or more. Travel health insurance can greatly reduce this cost.

Opt for CFAR coverage

Morrow also recommends that cruisers purchase travel insurance with CFAR coverage. If you need to cancel a cruise for any reason, CFAR may reimburse you up to 50% to 75% of your prepaid, nonrefundable costs.

Don't assume your policy covers an unexpected trip cancellation unless explicitly defined in your contract. If you aren't sure what is covered, speak with a representative before you elect coverage.

"There may be benefits under travel delay coverage, but that would only reimburse expenses up to the policy max, such as accommodations or food that is purchased during the delay," says Meghan Walch, also of InsureMyTrip.

Does travelers insurance cover flight cancellations?

Last-minute flight cancellations are happening more and more these days. On a recent cruise to Iceland , we were disembarking the ship when we received a text alerting us that our flight home was canceled. Apparently, some flight crew members didn’t report for duty that morning.

We ended up rebooking a direct flight home — at our expense — because the airline’s only offer to stranded passengers was a grueling 27-hour flight itinerary back to the United States.

We had travelers’ insurance, but we discovered — after enduring months of correspondence with the insurance commission after the fact — that insurance companies aren’t liable for canceled flights due to crew not showing up.

Other scenarios are covered by travel insurance, such as weather and mechanical issues, but not this particular situation. This was an important, and costly, lesson learned.

Who offers travel insurance for cruises?

There are dozens of cruise insurance companies out there, so you’ll have to do your homework to find the right one for your situation. To get the maximum value from any travel insurance plan, buy it within 14 days of paying your trip deposit. The earlier you buy cruise insurance, the sooner you are protected.

More cruising tips for smooth sailing

In addition to purchasing cruise travel insurance, there are things you can do before you embark on your dream cruise to ensure smooth sailing.

Arrive at your cruise home port a day in advance

An early arrival at your cruise ship's home port should definitely be on your itinerary. While it may mean using an extra day or two of vacation time, and the expense of overnight accommodations in your cruise port, in this new world of frequent flight delays and cancellations, it can seriously make all the difference as to whether or not you will “miss the boat.”

Cruise with carry-on luggage only

Most cruise lines offer free laundry facilities on each deck, or you can use the sink and bathroom drying lines in the bathroom (one good reason to put clothespins on your cruise packing list ), so it’s smart to pack light and take advantage of these amenities. It will save you time and trouble not having to check bags.

If you must check bags, travelers’ insurance can come in handy should your luggage never make onto the ship.

We experienced this scenario when an aunt and niece on a Seine river cruise lost their luggage on their flight from the Midwest to Paris. They were finally reunited with their luggage — weeks later at home.

Cruise insurance would have paid for replacement clothing, either bought on board or in the port towns along the cruise route.

About Joanne and Tony DiBona

With hundreds of cruises under their belt, Joanne and Tony DiBona always purchase cruise insurance prior to any voyage.

Read more about Joanne and Tony DiBona here.

Connect with Joanne and Tony via: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest

Protect Your Trip »

Is travel insurance worth it yes, in these 3 scenarios.

These are the scenarios when travel insurance makes most sense.

Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

Getty Images

Travel insurance can be useful, but it's not always necessary.

The key to knowing if you need travel insurance is figuring out your specific risks for any given vacation, then deciding if you can buy coverage that adequately protects you from any financial losses and pitfalls that might occur.

While insurance can be invaluable no matter the traveler and trip, these are the scenarios where it's especially useful:

• You're concerned about flight disruptions: Flight cancellations and delays are commonplace, especially during the holiday and summer travel seasons. Most trip insurance will reimburse you for incidental expenses that occur while you wait for your flight to depart or for your checked luggage to arrive. Examples include meals and hotel stays if your flight is delayed overnight, or clothing and toiletries you have to buy while you wait for your bags to show up at your destination. Limits apply to this coverage, but it can still pay off if you have to use it.
• You need the option to cancel your trip: Do you have a medical condition that might suddenly prevent you from traveling? What about young children who are prone to illness, or the possibility of your beach vacation getting rained out during hurricane season ? These are just some of the instances when cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage can help. Offered as an add-on to many insurance policies, this coverage lets you cancel your trip for a reason not covered within a typical trip cancellation benefit. If you need to use this coverage, you'll typically get 50% to 80% of your prepaid travel expenses refunded.
• You're traveling internationally: U.S. health insurance policies typically don't cover medical care or emergencies overseas, which is why so many people seek out travel medical insurance . According to Allianz Travel Insurance, the average costs of international medical evacuation can range from $15,000 in Mexico all the way up to $220,000 in Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Fortunately, many travel insurance policies offer up to $500,000 in medical evacuation coverage or potentially more.

The best travel insurance options

If one of the above applies and/or you're still curious about travel insurance, you can find the top-rated policies in a variety of categories below.

Any rates listed are for illustrative purposes only. You should contact the insurance company directly for applicable quotes.

What does travel insurance cover?

You'll quickly notice that each travel insurance policy is different from the next. Most plans offer coverage for trip cancellations and interruptions, lost or delayed baggage, medical emergencies, and other common perils; some let you add optional coverage for a rental car , sporting equipment and more.

To give you an overview of the way different travel insurance policies work, the chart below shows the included benefits in several plans from a travel insurance company called Travelex:

Compare Travelex plans and get a quote .

What does travel insurance not cover?

It's important to note that travel insurance policies cannot possibly cover every unexpected bill you encounter before, during or after a trip. That's because travel insurance is not meant to be used like other types of insurance, including traditional medical coverage you have for routine health care expenses.

According to Allianz Travel Insurance , travel insurance "does not cover losses that arise from expected or reasonably foreseeable events or problems." Here are some of the most common exclusions found in travel insurance policies:

• Civil unrest
• Epidemics (except COVID-19)
• Extreme, high-risk sports
• Government-issued travel bulletins or warnings
• Natural disasters
• Nuclear reaction, radiation or radioactive contamination
• Preexisting conditions (unless specifically covered by your plan)
• Pregnancy-related medical expenses that aren't an emergency (including regular labor and delivery)
• Terrorist events
• Travel to participate or train for a sporting event

Tips on Trips and Expert Picks Newsletter

Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

When should you skip travel insurance?

While the cost of a travel insurance policy can be worth it in the end, there are plenty of travel scenarios where you may not need to purchase a plan. Consider the following situations where buying insurance may not be worth the trouble:

• You're planning a short road trip within the U.S.: If you're planning a short trip within the U.S. where your own health insurance coverage will apply, you may not need trip insurance for medical expenses. The fact that you're not flying also means you don't have to worry about flight cancellations, and that your luggage will likely remain in your possession the entire trip.
• You plan to use credit card travel insurance: There may be instances where credit card travel insurance coverage is sufficient for your plans, although only you can make this decision. For example, the popular Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with trip cancellation and interruption coverage worth up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip; primary rental car coverage for damage or theft worth up to $75,000; lost luggage reimbursement worth up to $3,000 per passenger; emergency evacuation and transportation coverage worth up to $100,000; and more.
• You bought insurance from your travel provider: There may be instances where the travel insurance coverage from your airline or cruise line is good enough. If you're flying within the U.S. to see a family member and staying in their home for free, for example, you'll likely just need protection against flight cancellations, eligible trip delays, and lost or delayed baggage.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is an award-winning writer who has extensive experience when it comes to researching and buying travel insurance for her own trips to more than 50 countries around the world. Johnson has interviewed top executives from many of the best travel insurance companies and has successfully filed several travel insurance claims for trip delays and trip cancellations over the years. Johnson also works alongside her husband, Greg, who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states, in their family media business.

You might also be interested in:

• The Easiest Way to Renew Your Passport
• Is a Travel Agent Worth It? The Pros & Cons
• TSA Precheck vs. Global Entry

Tags: Travel , Travel Insurance

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

You May Also Like

Top things to do in florida.

Gwen Pratesi May 31, 2024

The Best Travel Neck Pillows

Timothy J. Forster and Amanda Norcross May 30, 2024

Road Trip Essentials

Alissa Grisler and Amanda Norcross May 29, 2024

The Best Whale Watching in Santa Barbara

John Rodwan and Suzanne Mason May 29, 2024

The Best Underseat Luggage

Rachael Hood May 28, 2024

Top Pride Parades and Celebrations

Suzanne Mason May 28, 2024

The Best Miami Boat Tours

Gwen Pratesi May 28, 2024

The Best Travel Purses

Rachael Hood May 24, 2024

The Best Beach Games

Gwen Pratesi May 24, 2024

The Best Branson Shows

Carrie A. Back May 23, 2024

Should you get travel insurance if you have credit card protection?

Editor's Note

Some credit cards offer built-in travel insurance as a cardholder benefit. And it may be tempting to rely on credit card travel protections instead of buying travel insurance. But, the entire point of travel insurance is to be covered if something goes wrong. So, you may be wondering whether you should buy travel insurance even if your credit card offers travel protection.

There isn't one answer that fits every traveler or situation. So in this guide, we'll explore some aspects you should consider, and I'll discuss my take on this topic. Let's dive in so you can make an informed decision for yourself.

Travel insurance you can buy

At a high level, you can pay a relatively small premium (compared to the total cost of your trip) to buy a travel insurance policy that may provide reimbursement or coverage for unexpected issues that affect your trip.

Many different types of protections fall under the term "travel insurance." Standard, comprehensive insurance policies typically include broad coverage across various potential issues.

But there are also policies that offer specific coverage. For example, it's possible to purchase travel insurance that only provides medical protection for international travel (such as GeoBlue ). Likewise, you can also purchase policies that allow you to select the protections you need (such as the build-your-own option with American Express Travel Insurance ).

We've previously compared the best travel insurance policies and providers . So, check out that guide to find the provider and policy that fits your needs best. You can also check a travel insurance aggregator to compare different policies quickly.

Most travel insurance policies exclude any loss incurred due to a preexisting medical condition. However, many policies include a process to obtain a waiver of the preexisting condition exclusion if you meet specific requirements. These requirements typically include purchasing the policy shortly after the first nonrefundable trip payment or deposit and being medically able to travel when you buy the policy. Some companies also require you to insure your trip's full, prepaid, nonrefundable cost to be eligible.

Likewise, all travel insurance policies have several exclusions. For example, most plans exclude medical benefits for injuries during adventure activities such as skydiving or skiing outside maintained trails.

Related: 7 things to look out for when buying travel insurance, according to an expert

Credit card travel protections

Some cards don't provide any special travel protections. But, many of the best travel rewards cards offer travel protections. Here's a look at our guides about some of the most common credit card travel protections:

• Trip delay reimbursement
• Baggage delay reimbursement
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Travel accident and emergency evacuation insurance

Check out our guide to the best cards that offer travel protections for more details on what card might be best for you. I also recommend reading the guide to benefits for your specific cards, as these documents will detail exactly what protections you can expect when you purchase travel with your card.

Note that some benefits require you to enroll — and virtually all require a formal claim process, with no reimbursement guarantee.

Related: Getting credit card travel insurance to cover the change fee on my Disney cruise

When to purchase travel insurance

Even if you have a credit card that offers travel protection, you may still want to purchase travel insurance for some trips. Here are some scenarios and trips for which it may make sense to purchase travel insurance.

Travel protections aren't offered

As discussed above, not all travel credit cards provide extensive travel protections when you book travel using the card. So, if you're using a card without travel protections or a card that only offers limited travel protections, you may want to purchase travel insurance .

Related: The best credit cards for booking flights

Some travelers aren't covered

Just because a card offers travel protections doesn't mean everyone traveling with you will be covered. In particular, travel protections usually only extend to select relatives of the cardholder. Your credit card's travel insurance may not cover friends, employees and all relatives.

Related: Who is covered by your credit card travel insurance?

Adventure activities

If you plan to partake in an activity that most insurance policies exclude, you may want to purchase a travel insurance policy that explicitly includes your activity of choice.

For example, many policies exclude adventure sports like base jumping, sky diving, free soloing, diving, mountaineering and paragliding. You may want to consider purchasing insurance from an association involved in your adventure activity, such as Divers Alert Network (DAN) if you're a diver or German Alpine Group (DAV) if you partake in alpine sports.

You're concerned about preexisting conditions

Most credit card trip interruption and cancellation insurance benefits exclude cancellations or interruptions caused by a sudden recurrence of a preexisting condition. So, you'll want to purchase travel insurance — and ensure you satisfy the provider's preexisting condition exclusion waiver conditions — if you want trip cancellation and interruption insurance that covers preexisting conditions.

Related: 7 times your credit card's travel insurance might not cover you

Nonmedical evacuation insurance

If you want evacuation insurance for nonmedical reasons, you should purchase travel insurance that offers this coverage even if you have a credit card with evacuation insurance .

Read the benefits guide closely, as evacuation benefits may not cover every evacuation you might need. For example, some policies don't cover evacuation from an area with a travel warning when you booked your trip or evacuation from a place suddenly inaccessible due to a landslide or other environmental incident.

Related: A Medjet medical transport membership is different from travel insurance

Cancel for any reason

Suppose you are uncertain whether you'll be able to take your trip, and you're worried that applicable credit card trip protections won't reimburse you if you decide to cancel or interrupt for a reason that isn't covered. In that case, you may want to purchase cancel for any reason trip insurance .

Related: 6 truths and myths about cancel for any reason travel insurance

You want peace of mind

Some travelers prefer to buy travel insurance — for each trip or via an annual travel insurance plan — for the peace of mind that having a travel insurance policy brings. Especially given the issues travelers have faced with a specific credit card insurance provider , it may be worth buying a travel insurance plan if you don't feel confident your credit card travel insurance and individual health insurance will combine to provide enough coverage during your trip.

Related: Here's why I buy an annual travel insurance policy, even though my credit cards offer travel protections

When credit card travel protections may be enough

Suppose you don't fall into any of the categories above and use one of the best credit cards with travel insurance when making travel purchases. In that case, you may determine that credit card protections are enough for some (or all) of your trips. However, I only recommend relying on credit card protections if you also have health insurance that will provide adequate coverage at your destination.

Below is a collection of reasons you can rely on credit card protections instead of purchasing independent travel insurance. If some (or most) of these reasons apply to your trip, it may be reasonable for you to rely on credit card protections instead of buying travel insurance:

• You have personal health insurance that will cover you on your trip, even if treatment is out of network at your destination
• You book your trip with a credit card that provides travel insurance
• You have a credit card that provides medical evacuation benefits during your trip
• You make refundable travel plans that you can cancel for little or no fee
• You tend to change your plans frequently or book travel at the last minute
• You have an emergency fund that can cover unexpected expenses if needed
• You have airline miles or transferable points you can use to leave the area or return home if needed.
• You avoid especially high-risk activities and destinations

The decision of whether to buy travel insurance is complex and personal. If you don't feel confident that your credit card protections and individual health insurance will provide adequate coverage, it's likely worth buying travel insurance.

Related: Why you might want to get a premium credit card instead of purchasing travel insurance

Why credit card travel insurance is usually enough for me

After researching the best travel insurance policies and providers , I purchased travel insurance for one specific trip because I wanted political evacuation coverage.

But for most of my trips, credit card protections and individual health insurance provide enough coverage for me. After all, my travel usually looks like the following:

• My flights are often award flights that I can cancel and redeposit free of charge — or ones that carry minimal change and cancellation fees
• My lodging can almost always be canceled without a penalty until shortly before my stay
• If I book a tour or activity, it's usually within a few days of said tour or activity (or offers free cancellation)
• My health insurance provides out-of-network coverage outside the U.S., so travel insurance would only pay for my deductible. In addition, my out-of-pocket maximum for out-of-network care is low enough to cover using my emergency fund
• I book flights and pay for the taxes and fees for award flights using the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card , which provides excellent travel protections for a $95 annual fee card
• I have ample airline miles and transferable points that I can use to cover last-minute one-way flights if needed

As you can see, the benefits of purchasing travel insurance would be minimal for most of my trips. The travel protections I use most are trip delay protection and baggage delay protection , both of which the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card provides when I use it to pay for my flights.

Related: Why the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Ink Business Preferred combo is perfect for couples who travel

Bottom line

As you book trips, you may wonder whether you should purchase travel insurance. One way to decide is to consider whether you'd be adequately covered without purchasing travel insurance if the worst happens.

If you're willing and able to cover the costs in this situation — or you feel confident you'd be adequately covered by your credit card's travel protections and health insurance — then you may want to proceed without buying travel insurance. Otherwise, I recommend purchasing a travel insurance policy shortly after you make the initial payment for your trip.

You are about to leave geico.com

When you click "Continue" you will be taken to a site owned by , not GEICO. GEICO has no control over their privacy practices and assumes no responsibility in connection with your use of their website. Any information that you provide directly to them is subject to the privacy policy posted on their website.

Travel Insurance

Get a travel insurance quote and protect your next trip

For flight insurance protection:

Aircare Flight Quote

For all-in-one trip insurance protection:

ExactCare Travel Quote

Manage Your Travel And Flight Insurance

Manage your policy online

Need a travel insurance quote?

Existing policyholder?

Take the worry out of your travels with affordable flight or trip insurance.

Looking to plan the vacation of a lifetime or flying home for the holidays? Trip insurance and flight insurance can provide the peace of mind you need for your next journey. The GEICO Insurance Agency, with Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP), offers comprehensive travel insurance coverage, with prompt service and global assistance. Get an online travel insurance quote today and confidently protect your next adventure.

AirCare Flight Insurance

If you only need to protect your travel costs for a flight, AirCare may be what you need. With affordable coverage for both domestic and international flights, AirCare flight insurance helps you plan with peace of mind.

ExactCare Travel Insurance

If you want to cover your flight and other trip arrangement's ExtraCare can help. An ExactCare Travel Insurance policy can help with the unexpected like:

• Trip Cancellations/Interruptions/Delays
• Lost/Stolen travel documents
• Unexpected medical expenses

What's the difference between flight insurance and travel insurance?

The main difference is that a flight insurance policy only covers your airfare. On the other hand, a travel insurance policy helps protect your flight as well as other parts of your trip. While you're planning your next trip, think about where you're going and what you'll be doing. Once you have that, it'll be easier to choose which policy works best for your trip.

What does a flight insurance policy cover?

AirCare Flight Insurance has a variety of benefits including emergency travel assistance, 24/7/365. Some common flight coverages are:

• Airfare incase flights are cancelled or you miss a connection
• Personal items like lost or delayed luggage
• Flight delays in your departure (at the gate or on the tarmac)

AirCare Quote

What does a travel insurance policy cover?

ExactCare Travel Insurance provides all-in-one travel protection, with family friendly pricing and worldwide emergency travel assistance 24/7/365. Common things covered by travel insurance are:

• Trip cancellation or interruption
• Personal items like passports and luggage
• Medical costs like hospital and doctor expenses, medical evacuations, and more

ExactCare quote

What is not covered by travel insurance?

Your coverage is based on the plan you choose. However, in general some things that aren't normally covered by travel insurance are:

• Action and team sports, for example auto racing, pro sports travel, or other extreme sport activities
• Travel to get medical care
• Trip Cancellation because you changed your mind

For more information, please check your policy.

Is travel or trip insurance worth the cost?

Travel insurance can help protect your vacation or trips from unexpected things happening. You can travel without trip insurance but doing so brings greater risk if something goes wrong or you encounter unexpected delays. Flight insurance or trip insurance coverage can include things like flight cancellation, lost luggage, trip cancellation, emergency medical transportation, and more. Learn more about travel insurance and why you should get a travel insurance quote today!

How much does travel insurance cost?

Travel insurance typically costs 5 to 10 percent of your total trip cost, though that can be influenced by several things.

• The cost of the trip
• The length of your trip and destination
• The amount of coverage selected
• The number of travelers covered under the policy

Worldwide service and claims information.

It's easy to manage your travel insurance..

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) has made it easy to manage your travel insurance. You can:

• Visit Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection's website
• Email [email protected]

Is travel insurance worth it?

Yes. Things happen that are out of your control. Whether it's your flight being cancelled or delayed to a family emergency. Life happens and that's how travel insurance can help. Plan for the unexpected with a travel insurance policy so you can rest easy knowing you're covered.

Travel Insurance: Get the answers you're looking for.

• What travel insurance plans are available? BHTB offers AirCare (flight only) and 3 main plans: ExactCare Value, ExactCare, and ExactCare Extra. ExactCare Value provides great traveling insurance coverage for budget minded travelers. You can rest easy knowing you're covered for things like trip cancellation, trip interruption, and medical expenses. The main difference is the maximum amount that will be covered. ExactCare and ExactCare Extra's insurance cover the same things as ExactCare Value and add coverage for missed connections and accidental death & dismemberment. The overall amount covered is also increased for each plan respectively.
• Can I get trip insurance for an extended overseas stay? Yes. We can help you with getting insurance for overseas. Please visit our overseas insurance page for information about all the options we have for you!
• Is there travel insurance that can cover my vehicle while traveling to Mexico? Your US auto insurance policy won't cover your vehicle when you drive into Mexico. We're here to help you find the Mexico car insurance you need to insure your car.
• Tips for saving money on your next vacation. No one wants to overpay things. We're here to help. Check out our 5 ways to save your money on your next family vacation.
• Where you're going
• Number of days you're traveling
• Cost of your overall trip
• Coverage you pick
• Number of people covered under your policy

If you choose to get a rate quote or service your policy online, you will be taken to the Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection website which is owned by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, not GEICO. Any information that you provide directly to Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company on its website is subject to the privacy policy posted on their website, which you should read before proceeding. GEICO assumes no responsibility for their privacy practices or your use of their website.

ExactCare is provided through Berkshire Hathaway Global Insurance Services, LLC. ExactCare and AirCare are underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company. Both coverages are secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, LLC.

Benefits may vary by jurisdiction. Please contact a representative to confirm availability.

Please note:

The above is meant as general information and as general policy descriptions to help you understand the different types of coverages. These descriptions do not refer to any specific contract of insurance and they do not modify any definitions, exclusions or any other provision expressly stated in any contracts of insurance. We encourage you to speak to your insurance representative and to read your policy contract to fully understand your coverages.

Colorado Language Preference

Are you a resident of or looking for insurance in the State of Colorado?

We are temporarily unable to provide services in Spanish for Colorado residents. You will now be directed to an English experience.

Estamos encantados de ofrecer nuestra nueva version del sitio web en Español. Apreciamos su paciencia mientras seguimos mejorando su experiencia.

FinanceBuzz

8 Reasons It’s Worth It To Buy Travel Insurance (And 6 Times To Skip It)

Posted: July 12, 2023 | Last updated: April 7, 2024

Life is full of unexpected events and complications, and that doesn’t stop just because you’re traveling. If anything, travel may have even more surprises than your day-to-day life at home.

Travel insurance can help you avoid wasting money if you have to cancel a trip due to illness, need medical coverage while you’re traveling, or send you home for medical reasons.

However, it may not always be necessary and can sometimes be a waste of money. Keep reading to learn when you should and shouldn’t opt for travel insurance.

Compare the best travel credit cards for nearly free travel

Safety net for international travel

The number one reason people buy travel insurance is to cover an expensive trip. And if you’re traveling overseas, chances are your travels will cost a lot of money.

In addition, there are potential complications when it comes to international travel, from losing luggage during connecting flights, missed or canceled flights, sickness, and more.

And if something catastrophic happens in a foreign country, travel insurance provides evacuation so you can get home safely.

Want to learn how to build wealth like the 1%? Sign up for Worthy to get ideas and advice delivered to your inbox.

Medical coverage

Getting sick or injured is unpleasant enough when you’re in the comfort of your home, but it’s a new beast entirely when you’re abroad.

Generally, you can expect basic medical expenses to be covered through your travel plan, often including dental. Medicare will not cover medical expenses in a foreign country. If you’re traveling overseas, travel insurance for potential medical costs is worthwhile.

Cover rental car mishaps

Renting a car is a great way to get around when traveling because you can explore a place on your own. Using taxis or ride-share services may cost more money. However, even the best drivers make mistakes, and no one can protect themselves from reckless drivers.

Your U.S. car insurance won’t cover you when driving in a foreign country. So choosing the car-rental insurance option when you buy travel insurance may be a good move.

Be aware that most travel insurance rental-car plans cover collisions and may not cover medical expenses, damages to other cars or property, or personal property damage or loss.

7 Nearly Secret Things to Do If You Fly Southwest

Pre-existing conditions often aren’t covered

Unfortunately, as with many health insurance plans, travel insurance often won’t cover pre-existing conditions. Travel health insurance is usually meant for unforeseen illnesses or injuries instead of complications due to an existing medical issue.

Even travel insurance companies that cover pre-existing issues often only cover physical maladies and exclude mental conditions and typical pregnancy-related symptoms and complications.

Protect lost luggage

A big fear for travelers is losing their luggage, either having it not arrive at the destination or stolen during their trip. Most airlines will offer reimbursement for luggage they lose, but it can take quite a while for this to process.

Travel insurance will cover the cost of replacing your clothing and other items while you wait for your luggage to be located and can also cover theft and damage.

Cover valuable items and gear

You should consider buying travel insurance if you’re traveling with valuables, including expensive jewelry, art, or even pricey sporting or adventure gear.

You’ll need to talk to the insurance agency specifically about covering your valuables, as they may need to be insured separately. Depending on your homeowners insurance policy, your jewelry may be covered even when you travel.

Sporting goods, including golf clubs, will not be covered by your homeowners insurance if you’re traveling, so you will need travel insurance to replace them if they’re lost, damaged, or stolen.

Pay no interest until nearly 2025 with these credit cards

Emergencies happen

While we do our best to prepare for the worst-case scenario, we can’t stop life from happening. Things like medical emergencies, a death in the family, or other catastrophes can halt your travel plans.

If you have travel insurance, rescheduling or cancellation fees will be covered, allowing you to deal with the emergency at your own pace. You won’t have to worry about losing the money spent on the trip and subsequent fees.

Natural disaster coverage

Are you planning a fall trip to the Gulf Coast or Florida? Consider your travel destination and the time of year you're going.

If you’re visiting someplace prone to natural disasters, especially seasonal occurrences like tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, and such, travel insurance can help you recoup your money should these events interrupt your travel plans.

Similarly, if a natural disaster occurs during your trip, often, insurance will pay to move you to a more secure location.

Extreme adventures may not be covered

Your insurance will most likely cover typical travel-related injuries but don't expect your medical bills to be covered if your itinerary involves extreme adventures or dangerous exploits.

Surfing, sailing, kayaking, bungee jumping, scuba diving, skiing, snowboarding, and other extreme sports do not fall into everyday illnesses or injuries. For these activities, consider getting a specific plan for adventure activities.

Earn up to 5% cash back when you shop with these leading credit cards

Shaky travel companies

If you booked your trip through a travel company and it goes bankrupt, travel insurance may provide a safety net to ensure you get your money back.

Airlines, cruise ships, travel companies, and other travel-related businesses suffered during the pandemic, and many may not be on solid financial ground yet.

This may not be covered in a basic insurance plan, so make sure your agent adds financial default coverage if you are concerned about the health of your travel provider. 

In the situation any company or organization closes or is otherwise inoperable during your trip, you’ll be covered.

Now let’s look at times you may not need travel insurance.

Your credit card offers travel protections

Before purchasing travel insurance, consider which credit card you have. Many of the top credit cards  offer travel protections.

Some protections you may already have include lost luggage, rental car insurance, trip delay, and trip interruption or cancellation.

Credit card programs often don’t cover medical or other interruptions, so consider your priorities before choosing this option.

You have a domestic trip

If you’re traveling within the U.S. and its territories, travel insurance may not be necessary. For example, you won’t need medical coverage as your health insurance should be honored nationwide.

Domestic travel is also usually much less expensive. If you’re taking a cheap, last-minute, or nonstop flight and staying at an inexpensive hotel or rental, the cost of travel insurance may not be worth it.

One exception might be a family trip to Disney World. The estimate for a trip for a family of four in 2023 is more than $6,000, so travel insurance might be money well spent in this case.

5 Signs You’re Doing Better Financially Than the Average American

Don’t add expense to cheap trips

Not all travel is planned. Whether traveling for work, a family emergency, or just a last-minute vacation, you likely don’t need insurance in these circumstances. Odds are, you’re packing light, and both your flight and hotel are relatively inexpensive.

In these scenarios, the things insurance covers won’t be relevant, including baggage loss, flight cancellations, hotel issues, and so on. 

Not only will these costs likely be minimal, but they can be disputed with your airline or hotel, although it may take a little while to get your money back.

The airline has a flexible rebooking policy

If you’re buying travel insurance to cover the cost of rescheduling a flight, you’re better off purchasing a refundable ticket at a higher price. And some airlines have more flexible policies now.

Many airlines allow last-minute ticket changes and will even help you reschedule your flight within a specific timeframe. The timeframe and policy vary by airline, and you may be subject to a nominal cancellation or rebooking fee, but it will be significantly less than insurance.

Insurance will not cover political unrest

One emergency situation insurance probably won’t cover is war or political unrest. If you’re visiting a location with political tensions and your trip is canceled as a result, don’t expect your insurance to cover the costs.

Insurance companies generally follow the travel advisories the U.S. State Department issued for medical and political situations.

Similarly, insurance won't cover these costs if you have to leave your trip early for safety concerns. Consider your destination's political environment before booking your travel or buying insurance.

9 Things You Must Do Before The Next Recession

Your hotel may cover cancellations

Many hotel cancellation policies have tiers depending on the booking you make. For example, some may have free cancellation within a specific period, while others charge different rates for rooms booked as non-refundable or partially refundable.

If your sole reason for purchasing insurance is hotel flexibility, consult with the hotel before you book. They may have a policy as flexible as your insurance or can work with you should something unexpected arise.

Penalty-free cancellations for major hotels tend to be around 24-48 hours prior to arrival.

Bottom line

Travel insurance may be pricey, but it’s a lifesaver in many situations. However, in others, it’s overkill and a waste of money.

Every travel situation is different, so consider your specific needs when purchasing. And, if you want more money to cover your insurance, consider these ways to make extra cash for travel funds.

More from FinanceBuzz:

• 7 things to do if you’re barely scraping by financially.
• 12 legit ways to earn extra cash.
• Can you retire early? Take this quiz and find out.
• 9 simple ways to make up to an extra $200/day

More for You

The Best And Worst Hot Dogs At The Grocery Store, Ranked By Nutritionists

22 Older Adults Revealed What They're "Tired Of" At This Point In Their Life, And I Appreciate The Brutal, Older-And-Wiser Honesty

'Big Bang Theory' Fans Congratulate Kaley Cuoco as She Announces Career Milestone

This Woman Withdrew From the Interview Process After Being Told She Was the Strongest Candidate. The Reasons Are Instructive for Any Hiring Manager

Man loses 450 pounds after reaching 'rock bottom.' 1 key diet change helped

"Mr. Miyagi" From 'Karate Kid': Pat Morita's Tragic Death

Chinese Tesla rival BYD says its new hybrid cars can go 1,250 miles without stopping for gas or charging

10 Fast-Food Sandwiches From the ’80s That Have Vanished

6 Things A Doctor Wants You To Do Before Getting A Blood Test

Federal judge shoots down ‘orchestrated campaign’ to remove Trump-appointed judge in classified documents case

'Have a paper trail': This employment lawyer says these are the 3 things he would never do at work — and explains how they could permanently damage your career

Why Florida’s Retirees Are Fleeing — And Where They’re Going Instead

Mother who ignored her kids at half-marathon finish line speaks out against critics

China threatens two US bases - experts call for urgent action in stack warning

Personal Trainer Shares Three Things She Does To Burn Belly Fat

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova calls out WNBA players after hard foul on Caitlin Clark

Common over-the-counter medicine linked to increased dementia risk

Here is the true value of having a fully paid-off home in America — especially when you're heading into retirement

Mike McDaniel: Tua Tagovailoa's weight loss brings Fins QB another 'competitive advantage'

Why Aren't More People Driving Electric Cars? An EV Expert Weighs In

Stay in the know

Sign up to our free newsletter to get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox.

• #FaithWorks Inspirational faith-based highlights, articles, features, and inspirational quotes along with a monthly poll.
• Daily eBlast Sign up for coverage on Black communities from the media company who has been doing it right for over 130 years
• Word In Black Newsletter Stories about real people in our communities, news from around the nation, guest op-eds, and action items in your inbox.

Get your AFRO A CARD today!

Help us Continue to tell OUR Story and join the AFRO family as a member. Members will receive exclusive journalism, and directly support the future of the AFRO. You can choose from three membership plans below.

In order to proceed to the payment details page, please set up an online email account that you would like this subscription tied to.

Print + Digital Access

• Full access to AFRO.
• Home delivery of our print edition.
• Premium newsletters, including our digital edition.
• Exclusive virtual event access
• Partner discounts.
• Shoutout a loved one with a birthday, anniversary or other announcement on our website and social media.
• Save 17% when signing up for an annual subscription

Digital Access

• Enjoy full access to AFRO.
• Exclusive discount from our partners access

AFRO American Newspapers

The Black Media Authority

Is Travel Insurance Worth Having?

Share this:

Photo: goshadron via 123RF

Traveling is an enriching experience that allows travelers to explore new cultures, indulge in adventures, and create lasting memories. However, unforeseen circumstances can disrupt even the best-planned trips. This is where travel insurance comes into play, offering a safety net for travelers. Let’s explore how travel insurance works and whether it is worth the additional money. 

What Is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance provides protection for travelers against unexpected events, emergencies, and financial losses that may occur before or during a trip. It typically covers a range of scenarios, including trip cancellations, medical emergencies, lost or delayed baggage, and other unforeseen events.

Benefits of Travel Insurance

Trip Cancellation Coverage.  Travel insurance provides reimbursement for nonrefundable trip expenses in case of cancellations due to covered reasons, such as illness, death in the family, or other emergencies.

Emergency Medical Coverage.  Travel insurance often includes coverage for medical emergencies, ensuring that travelers receive necessary medical attention without incurring exorbitant expenses.

Lost or Delayed Baggage Protection.  Travel insurance can compensate for necessary items and expenses if your luggage is lost, stolen, or delayed until your belongings are recovered or replaced.

Travel Assistance Services.  Many policies offer 24/7 assistance services, providing help with medical emergencies, travel arrangements, and other unforeseen challenges.

Coverage for Travel Delays.  Travel insurance can compensate for expenses due to unexpected travel delays, such as accommodation, meals, and transportation.

What to Look for When Selecting Travel Insurance

Cost.  One of the main drawbacks of travel insurance is its cost. Premiums can add a significant expense to your overall travel budget.

Exclusions and Limitations.  Policies often have exclusions and limitations, so it’s vital to understand the terms and conditions thoroughly. Plans may exclude preexisting medical conditions and certain high-risk activities.

Redundancy with Existing Coverage.  Some travelers may already have coverage through credit cards, health insurance, or other policies. In such cases, additional travel insurance may be redundant.

Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR).  Consider this optional add-on or upgrade to travel insurance policies. CFAR provides travelers with greater flexibility by allowing them to cancel their trip for reasons not covered under standard trip cancellation policies.

Relevance to Different Travel Experiences

International Travel.  Travel insurance is highly recommended when going abroad due to the increased likelihood of encountering unforeseen events in unfamiliar environments. Medical coverage, in particular, becomes crucial when facing potential health care costs abroad.

Adventure Travel.  Travelers engaging in adventurous activities like hiking, skiing, or scuba diving should strongly consider insurance. Coverage for emergency medical evacuations and injuries sustained during adventurous pursuits can be invaluable.

Photo: petrunina via 123RF

Where to Find Travel Insurance

Compare Online Travel Insurance Platforms.  Utilize online travel insurance comparison platforms that allow you to input your trip details to compare quotes and coverage from different providers to find the one that best meets your needs. Websites like  InsureMyTrip ,  Squaremouth , and  TravelInsurance.com  are popular options.

Check with Your Existing Insurance Providers.  Start by checking with your existing insurance providers, such as health insurance, credit card companies, or homeowner’s insurance. Ask your current insurance providers about travel-related coverage. Review your credit cards for travel insurance benefits. 

Consult a Travel Agent.  Travel agents often have access to travel insurance options and can provide guidance based on your needs. They can help you navigate the details and find a policy tailored to your travel plans.

Directly Visit Insurance Company Websites.  Visit the websites of highly rated  travel insurance companies  and explore their travel insurance offerings. Many insurance providers offer online quotes, allowing you to customize coverage based on your requirements.

Consider Annual Policies.  If you travel frequently, consider purchasing an annual or multitrip policy. These policies can offer cost savings compared to buying individual plans for each trip.

Ultimately, whether travel insurance is worth having depends on various factors, including the type of trip, personal risk tolerance, and existing coverage. While it may seem like an added expense, the peace of mind and financial protection travel insurance provides can prove invaluable when faced with unexpected challenges. Before embarking on your next journey, carefully assess your needs, compare policies, and make an informed decision to ensure a worry-free travel experience.Copyright © 2024 Distributed Media Lab

Sponsored by JPMorgan Chase

Leave a comment.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

We've recently sent you an authentication link. Please, check your inbox!

Sign in with a password below, or sign in using your email .

Get a code sent to your email to sign in, or sign in using a password .

Enter the code you received via email to sign in, or sign in using a password .

Subscribe to our newsletters:

Sign in with your email

Lost your password?

Try a different email

Send another code

Sign in with a password

By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.

• Auto Insurance Best Car Insurance Cheapest Car Insurance Compare Car Insurance Quotes Best Car Insurance For Young Drivers Best Auto & Home Bundles Cheapest Cars To Insure
• Home Insurance Best Home Insurance Best Renters Insurance Cheapest Homeowners Insurance Types Of Homeowners Insurance
• Life Insurance Best Life Insurance Best Term Life Insurance Best Senior Life Insurance Best Whole Life Insurance Best No Exam Life Insurance
• Pet Insurance Best Pet Insurance Cheap Pet Insurance Pet Insurance Costs Compare Pet Insurance Quotes
• Travel Insurance Best Travel Insurance Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance Best Cruise Travel Insurance Best Senior Travel Insurance
• Health Insurance Best Health Insurance Plans Best Affordable Health Insurance Best Dental Insurance Best Vision Insurance Best Disability Insurance
• Credit Cards Best Credit Cards 2024 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards Best Rewards Credit Cards Best Cash Back Credit Cards Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards Best 0% APR Credit Cards Best Business Credit Cards Best Credit Cards for Startups Best Credit Cards For Bad Credit Best Cards for Students without Credit
• Credit Card Reviews Chase Sapphire Preferred Wells Fargo Active Cash® Chase Sapphire Reserve Citi Double Cash Citi Diamond Preferred Chase Ink Business Unlimited American Express Blue Business Plus
• Credit Card by Issuer Best Chase Credit Cards Best American Express Credit Cards Best Bank of America Credit Cards Best Visa Credit Cards
• Credit Score Best Credit Monitoring Services Best Identity Theft Protection
• CDs Best CD Rates Best No Penalty CDs Best Jumbo CD Rates Best 3 Month CD Rates Best 6 Month CD Rates Best 9 Month CD Rates Best 1 Year CD Rates Best 2 Year CD Rates Best 5 Year CD Rates
• Checking Best High-Yield Checking Accounts Best Checking Accounts Best No Fee Checking Accounts Best Teen Checking Accounts Best Student Checking Accounts Best Joint Checking Accounts Best Business Checking Accounts Best Free Checking Accounts
• Savings Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Best Free No-Fee Savings Accounts Simple Savings Calculator Monthly Budget Calculator: 50/30/20
• Mortgages Best Mortgage Lenders Best Online Mortgage Lenders Current Mortgage Rates Best HELOC Rates Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders Best Home Equity Loan Lenders Best VA Mortgage Lenders Mortgage Refinance Rates Mortgage Interest Rate Forecast
• Personal Loans Best Personal Loans Best Debt Consolidation Loans Best Emergency Loans Best Home Improvement Loans Best Bad Credit Loans Best Installment Loans For Bad Credit Best Personal Loans For Fair Credit Best Low Interest Personal Loans
• Student Loans Best Student Loans Best Student Loan Refinance Best Student Loans for Bad or No Credit Best Low-Interest Student Loans
• Business Loans Best Business Loans Best Business Lines of Credit Apply For A Business Loan Business Loan vs. Business Line Of Credit What Is An SBA Loan?
• Investing Best Online Brokers Top 10 Cryptocurrencies Best Low-Risk Investments Best Cheap Stocks To Buy Now Best S&P 500 Index Funds Best Stocks For Beginners How To Make Money From Investing In Stocks
• Retirement Best Roth IRAs Best Gold IRAs Best Investments for a Roth IRA Best Bitcoin IRAs Protecting Your 401(k) In a Recession Types of IRAs Roth vs Traditional IRA How To Open A Roth IRA
• Business Formation Best LLC Services Best Registered Agent Services How To Start An LLC How To Start A Business
• Web Design & Hosting Best Website Builders Best E-commerce Platforms Best Domain Registrar
• HR & Payroll Best Payroll Software Best HR Software Best HRIS Systems Best Recruiting Software Best Applicant Tracking Systems
• Payment Processing Best Credit Card Processing Companies Best POS Systems Best Merchant Services Best Credit Card Readers How To Accept Credit Cards
• More Business Solutions Best VPNs Best VoIP Services Best Project Management Software Best CRM Software Best Accounting Software
• Debt relief Best debt management Best debt settlement Do you need a debt management plan? What is debt settlement? Debt consolidation vs. debt settlement Should you settle your debt or pay in full? How to negotiate a debt settlement on your own
• Debt collection Can a debt collector garnish my bank account or my wages? Can credit card companies garnish your wages? What is the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act?
• Bankruptcy How much does it cost to file for bankruptcy? What is Chapter 7 bankruptcy? What is Chapter 13 bankruptcy? Can medical bankruptcy help with medical bills?
• More payoff strategies Tips to get rid of your debt in a year Don't make these mistakes when climbing out of debt How credit counseling can help you get out of debt What is the debt avalanche method? What is the debt snowball method?
• Manage Topics
• Investigations
• Visual Explainers
• Newsletters
• Abortion news
• Coronavirus
• Climate Change
• Vertical Storytelling
• Corrections Policy
• College Football
• High School Sports
• H.S. Sports Awards
• Sports Betting
• College Basketball (M)
• College Basketball (W)
• For The Win
• Sports Pulse
• Weekly Pulse
• Buy Tickets
• Sports Seriously
• Sports+ States
• Celebrities
• Entertainment This!
• Celebrity Deaths
• American Influencer Awards
• Women of the Century
• Problem Solved
• Personal Finance
• Small Business
• Consumer Recalls
• Video Games
• Product Reviews
• Destinations
• Airline News
• Experience America
• Today's Debate
• Suzette Hackney
• Policing the USA
• Meet the Editorial Board
• How to Submit Content
• Hidden Common Ground
• Race in America

Personal Loans

Best personal loans

Auto Insurance

Best car insurance

Best high-yield savings

CREDIT CARDS

Best credit cards

Advertiser Disclosure

Blueprint is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service focused on helping readers make smarter decisions. We receive compensation from the companies that advertise on Blueprint which may impact how and where products appear on this site. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Blueprint. Blueprint does not include all companies, products or offers that may be available to you within the market. A list of selected affiliate partners is available here .

Credit cards

Southwest credit card benefits guide 2024

Julie Sherrier

Allie Johnson

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Robin Saks Frankel

Updated 7:44 a.m. UTC May 30, 2024

• path]:fill-[#49619B]" alt="Facebook" width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 18 18" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
• path]:fill-[#202020]" alt="Email" width="19" height="14" viewBox="0 0 19 14" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">

Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

Eric Mischke, Getty Images

Unlock the coveted Companion Pass and other perks with Southwest credit cards

From anniversary bonus points to complimentary EarlyBird check-in’s and more, the benefits offered by Southwest credit cards escalate in value along with the cost of the annual fees. But know that even the lowest-annual-fee Southwest card still packs a punch with an array of perks and protections that make it a perfect travel companion for regular Southwest flyers.

Southwest credit card overview

Southwest, in conjunction with Chase, offers three consumer cards and two business cards. Here’s a summary of each one:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card * The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. : For an annual fee of $69, it earns 2 points per $1 on Southwest purchases, on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases, local transit and commuting (including rideshare), internet, cable, phone services and select streaming and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card * The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. : For an annual fee of $99, it earns 3 points per $1 on Southwest purchases, 2 points per $1 on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), internet, cable, phone services and select streaming and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental purchases and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card * The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. : For an annual fee of $149, it earns 3 points per $1 on Southwest purchases, 2 points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental purchases, local transit and commuting (including rideshare), internet, cable, phone services and select streaming and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card * The information for the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. : For an annual fee of $99, it earns 3 points per $1 at Southwest, 2 points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental purchases, local transit and commuting and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card * The information for the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. : For an annual fee of $199, it earns 4 points per $1 at Southwest, 3 points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, 2 points per $1 on local transit including rideshares and commuting, social media, search engine advertising, internet, cable and phone services. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

Major Southwest credit card benefits

Here are the major benefits of the three Southwest consumer credit cards and the two Southwest business cards:

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card * The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

• Earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
• Get two EarlyBird check-ins every year.
• 3,000 bonus points on your account anniversary every year.
• Earn a 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card * The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

• Get two EarlyBird check-ins each year.
• 6,000 points every account anniversary.
• Get 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points annually.
• Earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) toward A-List status each time you spend $5,000 on the card.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card * The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

• Four upgraded boardings (A1-A15) annually, when available.
• Earn 7,500 points every account anniversary.
• 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points awarded annually.
• Get a $75 Southwest annual travel credit every year.
• Earn 1,500 TQPs towards A-List status every time you spend 5,000 on the card.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card * The information for the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

• Earn 60,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
• Two Early-Bird check-ins every year.
• Receive 6,000 points every account anniversary.
• Earn 1,500 TQPs toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent on the card.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card * The information for the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

• Earn 80,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
• Get 9,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 1,500 TQPs towards A-List status for every $5,000 spent on purchases annually.
• Up to 365 $8 inflight WiFi credits annually.
• $100 statement credit every four years for either Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS applications.

Additional benefits worth noting

No foreign transaction fees.

All Southwest credit cards, except for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card * The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , waive foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad. 

Lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay insurance

All Southwest cardholders are protected for up to $3,000 in lost luggage insurance as well as up to $100 a day for three days for delayed bags.

Extended warranty and purchase protection

Each Southwest card offers extended warranty coverage for an extra year on eligible warranties of three years or less, plus purchase protection for 120 days if an item is damaged or stolen for up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.

Complimentary DoorDash membership

New Southwest cardholders are offered a free one-year membership to DashPass when activated by Dec. 31, 2024, which includes DoorDash and Caviar, with unlimited deliveries, no delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders.

$500 fee credit when transferring points to other Rapid Rewards members

While this benefit is limited to just the two Southwest business cards, it allows you to save on fees when transferring points to another Rapid Rewards member, up to $500 in statement credits every anniversary year.

25% back on in-flight purchases

With the exception of the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card * The information for the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , cardholders will receive 25% off inflight purchases made with Southwest cards.

Our favorite Southwest credit cards

Since all of the Southwest credit cards come with somewhat modest annual fees compared to some other travel rewards cards , you can easily select the card that fits best with your budget.

All of the consumer Southwest cards are currently offering the same welcome bonus, but offer different levels of anniversary points and TQPs that are tied to the escalating annual fees. If you’re looking to earn a high welcome bonus, you’d be better off looking at the business cards.

Since all Southwest passengers get two free checked bags automatically, you may want to check out other airline credit cards that do offer a free checked bag benefit to save on paying those fees.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Southwest has an open seating policy with no pre-assigned seats. Passengers select where they sit on a first-come, first-served basis. So, while all Southwest cardholders don’t get priority boarding, those who have achieved A-List or A-List Preferred do. Some Southwest cards, however, do offer upgraded boarding opportunities when available for A1 to A15 seats.

Yes, your Southwest card will work abroad. All of the Southwest consumer and business cards, except the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus, also don’t charge foreign transaction fees for purchases made overseas.

Both the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card require a good-to-excellent credit score for approval. 

To get the Southwest Companion Pass , you must either fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying points in a year.

While point valuations can vary depending on the type of fare you choose and the routes and dates you travel on the airline, Southwest points generally average about 1.4 cents cents per point.

*The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card and Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Julie Stephen Sherrier is a personal finance writer and editor based in Austin, TX. She is the former senior managing editor for LendingTree, responsible for all credit card and credit health content. Before joining LendingTree, Julie spent more than a decade as the managing editor and then editorial director at Bankrate and CreditCards.com. She also served as an adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Texas at Austin.

Allie is a journalist with a passion for money tips and advice. She's been writing about personal finance since the Great Recession for online publications such as Bankrate, CreditCards.com, MyWalletJoy and ValuePenguin. She's also written personal finance content for Discover, First Horizon Bank, The Hartford, Travelers and Synovus.

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.

Secured vs. unsecured credit cards: What’s the difference?

Credit cards Michelle Lambright Black

Amex Green Card benefits guide 2024

Credit cards Tamara Aydinyan

Here’s how to avoid my embarrassing rookie Chase Sapphire Preferred travel redemption mistake

Credit cards Natasha Etzel

Ramp credit card review 2024: A corporate charge card that streamlines accounting

Credit cards Sarah Brady

Americans’ travel habits and behavior in 2024

Credit cards Dawn Papandrea

American Express Platinum CLEAR® Plus benefit guide 2024

Credit cards Juan Ruiz

Citi Strata Premier vs. Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card

Credit cards Jason Steele

Is the Citi Diamond Preferred Card worth it?

Credit cards Julie Sherrier

Best credit cards for fair credit of June 2024

Credit cards Sarah Sharkey

Why did my credit card issuer just increase my credit limit?

Cash vs. credit: Which should I use?

Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred

Credit cards Yury Byalik

Capital One Venture X benefits guide: Packed with premium perks for a lower fee than its peers

Credit cards Carissa Rawson

Credit card application rules by issuer

Credit cards Lee Huffman

Why the Chase Ink Business Unlimited is part of my core credit card setup

Credit cards Eric Rosenberg

How much is Chase’s new travel card welcome bonus? 

About chase’s premium travel cards, how can i redeem the new 75,000-point bonus, do i qualify for the new chase welcome offer, the chase sapphire preferred just increased its bonus. earn 75,000 points with cnet’s favorite travel card.

This limited-time welcome bonus is one of the higher offers we've seen -- but it won't last for long.

Dashia Milden

Dashia is a staff editor for CNET Money who covers all angles of personal finance, including credit cards and banking. From reviews to news coverage, she aims to help readers make more informed decisions about their money. Dashia was previously a staff writer at NextAdvisor, where she covered credit cards, taxes, banking B2B payments. She has also written about safety, home automation, technology and fintech.

Evan Zimmer

Staff Writer

Evan Zimmer has been writing about finance for years. After graduating with a journalism degree from SUNY Oswego, he wrote credit card content for Credit Card Insider (now Money Tips) before moving to ZDNET Finance to cover credit card, banking and blockchain news. He currently works with CNET Money to bring readers the most accurate and up-to-date financial information. Otherwise, you can find him reading, rock climbing, snowboarding and enjoying the outdoors.

The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.

If you couldn’t tell by the sweltering temperatures across the country, summer’s nearly here. And if you’re plotting out a warm weather getaway, the newly elevated welcome bonus on two Chase premium travel credit cards could help you save some money.

You can earn a 75,000-point welcome bonus if you open a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® and spend $4,000 within three months. 

“This is a strong bonus on an excellent card,” said Jason Steele, a credit card expert and CNET Expert Review Board member. “It’s not the highest ever, but it’s better than the standard offer on cards that should be in the wallets of anyone who wants to earn travel rewards.” 

The standard welcome bonus for these cards is 60,000 points, and we’re not sure when this offer will expire. But history tells us it won’t last long. Here’s what to know if you’re on the fence about whether either of these cards are right for you.

Starting now, if you spend $4,000 on qualifying purchases within the first three months of opening a Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve card, you’ll receive 75,000 points. That means you’ll need to spend at least $1,334 per month to earn the bonus. 

That’s a 15,000-point increase from Chase’s typical 60,000 bonus with the same spending requirement and timeframe. 

“While we’ve seen slightly higher offers on the CSP in the past, there’s never a guarantee those will return, or if they do, when that will happen,” said Mark Reese, a credit card expert and member of the CNET Money Expert Review Board . With summer vacation around the corner, this is a great opportunity to save hundreds on an upcoming trip.

To earn this bonus, you can pay your bills with your credit card to reach the bonus faster. Or you may be able to earn the bonus if you have a big purchase coming up that you already have the money set aside for, such as home renovations or travel. 

Never overspend to earn a credit card welcome bonus. If you’re not able to pay off your balance in full each month, the interest you accrue could quickly wipe out any value you earn in rewards. If you can’t comfortably spend $1,334 per month, it’s not worth trying for this bonus.

The Sapphire Preferred is already our top travel credit card pick. Beyond the welcome bonus, these two popular travel cards have some useful perks for booking a flight or taking a road trip. Have a plan in place for how you want to use the card before applying. 

“Both of these cards have excellent travel insurance and purchase protection benefits,” Steele said. “The CSR even has paid roadside assistance and emergency evacuation coverage. Both have primary automobile insurance, along with trip delay and trip cancellation coverage.”  

But there are big differences, such as the annual fee, cardholder credits and rewards rates -- which can all make a big difference in the long run. Here’s a quick look at both cards and a comparison to help you determine which one is best for you. 

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Read more: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve: Which Is Better?

This boosted welcome bonus could help you earn a free flight, hotel stay or other travel accommodations just in time for an end-of-summer trip -- if you earn the bonus before the three-month period ends. 

If you redeem the rewards for travel using Chase Travel℠, you’ll redeem points at a boosted rate of 1.25 cents per point with the Sapphire Preferred and 1.5 cents per point with the Sapphire Reserve. That means it could be worth $937 to $1,125.

Beyond the Chase portal, you may also be able to redeem your points at an even higher rate with Chase’s travel partners .

You can also redeem the points toward other purchases, gift cards and statement credits but at a lesser value.  

Read more: 6 Reasons the Chase Sapphire Preferred Should Be Your Next Credit Card

Chase’s travel cards usually require good to excellent credit -- so a FICO score of 670 or higher. There are also a few other factors that would disqualify you: 

• You cannot be a current Sapphire cardholder. 
• You cannot have earned a Chase Sapphire bonus in the past two years. 
• You must not have exceeded Chase’s 5/24 rule, which means you cannot have applied for five cards within the past 24 months from any issuer. 

If you’re unsure, it’s best to call Chase’s customer service line at 1-800-432-3117 for questions and assistance.

Recommended Articles

Pairing the chase sapphire preferred card and chase freedom unlimited to level up your rewards, chase trifecta: how to use multiple credit cards to maximize your rewards, save on food, travel and more: how to maximize the chase sapphire preferred card, 5 common questions people ask me as a credit card editor.

CNET editors independently choose every product and service we cover. Though we can’t review every available financial company or offer, we strive to make comprehensive, rigorous comparisons in order to highlight the best of them. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. The compensation we receive may impact how products and links appear on our site.