Cruise travel insurance: How to save money no matter your age or health condition

Words by Harriet Mallinson

Cruise travel insurance might not be the most glamorous part of planning your holiday at sea but it’s one of the most important. The right policy protects you if things go wrong – from illness or theft to cancelled cruises or missed ports – and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Whether you need cheap cruise insurance, cover for over 70s or a policy that includes pre-existing medical conditions, there are smart ways to save money while still getting the protection you need.

We’ve compiled a handy guide to help you navigate the thorny subject.

Are cruises covered under travel insurance?

No, cruise travel insurance is generally purchased as an add-on to your standard travel insurance. The latter will cover you for loss or theft of goods and medical costs while you’re on a cruise but not more specific ship shenanigans, if you will.

A cruise travel insurance add-on will cover you for: missed departures; unused cruise excursions, cruise itinerary changes and cabin confinement.

The best way to find the right cruise holiday insurance is to shop around and get a quote from a comparison site, however, Sailawaze spoke to the experts to make sure travellers don’t face soaring costs no matter what their age or health.

– READ MORE: Complete guide to buying cruise insurance –

Why is cruise insurance so expensive?

First up you should know that cruise insurance can often be slightly more expensive than insurance for land holidays – so if cover for a sailing around the Caribbean costs more than a stay at that St. Lucia hotel, that’s why.

As a spokesperson from travel insurer Avanti explained: “There are extra costs associated with becoming ill while on a ship. For example, having to leave the ship due to a medical emergency would be a significant cost that wouldn’t occur on a land-based holiday (e.g having to be airlifted off the ship to a hospital).”

Tip: Use a specialist cruise insurance comparison site first. That way you can quickly see which providers include extras like missed port cover or cabin confinement without having to dig through policy documents.

Can you get travel insurance if you are over 70?

It’s worth facing the harsh truth – as you get older your travel insurance price will be higher; those over 70 are statistically more at risk of injury and illness.

As Alan Dean, managing director of multi-award-winning travel insurer, Cedar Tree and CoverForYou explained: “The largest claims in the travel insurance sector are for medical expenses incurred abroad. Those of us who are over 70 are more likely to incur a medical claim, and this is the main reason why premiums are higher, they reflect the increased risk that underwriters face.”

To save money, older travellers should compare specialist providers like Saga, Avanti or Staysure, and consider annual multi-trip cruise insurance if sailing more than once a year.

He went on: “Once a policy has been bought, clients are at risk for cancellation claims which can arise from being hospitalised, yet another reason for the increase in premiums.”

What’s more, economic influences are also pushing premiums up sharply as the value of the pound falls against USD or euros (in which medical claims are paid).

To older readers looking to not break the bank, this might well be alarming. Indeed, horror stories are out there of cases when cruise insurance costs almost as must as the getaway itself.

However, Dean assures this would only occur in “extreme” situations “where the traveller has complicated pre-existing medical conditions and has no other option but to seek specialist travel insurance to ensure they’re covered.”

How to get cruise travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions

If this is you and you’re worried, “always talk to a specialist insurer that caters for people with pre-existing medical conditions so they can tailor the cover to their specific needs,” advises Avanti.

Cruise travel insurance with medical conditions will work exactly the same as regular insurance but also covers the cost of care for any medical condition you may have had in the past or you suffer from currently.

If your condition is deemed less serious, say, mild asthma, you might be able to simply take out a standard policy or only have the cost marginally increased. However, each insurer will have its own list of conditions it considers as more serious, generally including heart conditions, certain joint conditions and cancer to name a few.

Getting a quote from Medical Travel Compared is a good place to start as the specialist comparison site works with a wide range of insurers, recommends Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert website. AllClear, Avanti and Staysure all offer good cover and another specialist to look at is MIA Online. With all the above in the current climate, do make sure to check the level of coronavirus cover provided.

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association website is also a great resource for finding a specialist broker that can help you source an affordable cruise holiday insurance policy.

Tip: Be honest when declaring conditions – omitting details can void your policy. You’ll usually still find affordable cruise travel insurance for pre-existing conditions if you shop specialist.

How much is cruise insurance?

Cruise insurance can cost from 5 to 10 percent of your total trip cost, with most older cruisers able to “find the right cover for them at affordable price points,” says Dean.

“For example, travellers aged 70 plus can expect comprehensive cruise cover for a European cruise to start at around £75.50 with Cedar Tree.”

The following factors will impact cost no matter what your age: length of cruise (the longer the trip the higher the insurance costs), price of the cruise (expensive cruises cost more to insure), what you’re taking with you (for example, valuable gadgets), your destination (North and Central America, China and Hong Kong and EU countries such as Greece, Malta, Spain and Cyprus all have a high level of private health care, so it costs more to receive medical treatment there), and activities you’ll be taking part in (for instance watersports or extreme sports).

It’s worth noting that family or group policies are based on the jetsetter deemed the highest risk so to keep costs down it can be worth buying separate cruise insurance cover to avoid everyone paying more.

To cut costs, strip out extras you don’t need (such as gadget cover if you’re not taking expensive tech) but keep cruise-specific cover like missed ports or itinerary changes.

Cruise travel insurance: How to save money

The trick to finding cheap cruise travel insurance that still protects you is to shop around and compare cruise-specific cover carefully.

Dean recommends: “My advice to anyone taking a trip is to research exactly what you know you need, then critically what you might need if things don’t go quite according to plan – that’s when you could find yourself hugely out of pocket, all for a matter of avoiding a few extra pounds of cover. Take a look at which insurers offer the best value for the level of cover you need.”

It’s also helpful to read the reviews submitted by previous policyholders to build a picture of what sort of service you would receive with that travel insurance for cruise.

“Choose a policy that is rated either four or five stars from an independent ratings agency,” urged Dean. “Cutting corners to save a few pounds is never a good option as medical costs abroad can be extortionate! Especially in the USA.”

Another tip is to carefully consider how much you’ll be going away in the coming year. “To keep costs down, it’s important to purchase cover that matches your travel plans,” explains Dean.

“If you’re travelling multiple times throughout the year on European cruise and flight-based holidays, an Annual-Multi Trip policy, including optional Cruise cover, is your best bet.”

He continues: “If you are only travelling once or twice in a year, then obtaining Single Trip cover for each trip is likely to be more cost-effective, especially where you have medical conditions.”

Another nugget of wisdom from the travel insurance expert is to choose “an insurer that provides loyalty discounts for repeat purchases to keep your costs down.”

Similarly, you might want to check if you’re already covered via your bank account as a packaged bank account (which charges a monthly fee for extra benefits such as travel insurance) could see you pay less or get cover where you’ve been refused elsewhere.

Cruise travel insurance: Dos and don’ts

Don’t lie: It might be tempting to omit your pre-existing medical conditions at the time of travel insurance for cruise purchase in a bid to save money but this is a big no-no and could seriously cost you down the line. “An omission could mean the whole policy is invalid as the underwriter is not fully able to assess the risk,” warns Dean.

Don’t forget your EGIC/GHIC card: If you’re going to Europe it can help with medical costs.

Don’t delay: No matter what kind of travel insurance you’re going for always be sure to buy it as soon as you can after purchasing your holiday so it can cover cancellation or pre-trip illness.

Do read the details: Once you’ve found the cruise insurer for you, you must always read the insurance provider’s policy documents carefully. “Depending on the provider, cruise-specific perils such as cover for cabin confinement or itinerary changes aren’t always included as standard, so travellers need to be fully aware of what they are/aren’t covered for,” an Avanti spokesperson pointed out.

Do ask for help: “Always speak to the insurer if you’re unsure of anything and declare all medical conditions and any medication you’re taking to ensure your policy is tailored to you,” said Avanti.

Do update your information: If your medical history changes between buying the cruise insurance cover and departure, contact your insurer so they can update your policy.

Remember: the cheapest cruise insurance isn’t always the best – but with comparison sites, loyalty discounts and annual cover options, you can keep prices down without losing protection.