Protect the voyage you've waited for

Why insure a luxury cruise?

Luxury voyages are usually booked a year or more ahead, and once final payment is made (often 90 to 150 days before sailing) most fares become largely non-refundable. A $30,000 suite is a lot to lose to a fall, a diagnosis or a family emergency.

• Trip cancellation & interruption: reimburses non-refundable costs for covered reasons.
• Emergency medical: Medicare generally doesn't cover care outside the US, and ship's medical centres bill like private clinics.
• Evacuation: transport to an adequate hospital can cost tens of thousands of dollars, more from remote regions.
• Delays & missed connections: help reaching the ship if flights go wrong.

The 14–21 day window

Many comprehensive plans only waive the pre-existing medical condition exclusion if you buy within a set period of your first trip deposit, commonly 14 to 21 days. Usually you must also insure the full non-refundable trip cost and be medically able to travel when you buy. The same window often applies to cancel-for-any-reason upgrades. Our tip: look at cover the week you pay your deposit.

Cancel for any reason (CFAR), explained

Standard plans only pay for listed reasons. A CFAR upgrade lets you cancel for a reason not on the list and typically reimburses 50–75% of non-refundable costs. It usually adds around 40–60% to the premium, must be bought within the early window, and generally requires you to cancel at least 48 hours before departure. Terms vary by plan, so read the policy.

Medical evacuation and Medjet

Travel insurance evacuation benefits generally move you to the nearest adequate facility. A medical transport membership such as Medjet is different: if you're hospitalised far from home, it arranges air medical transport to a hospital of your choice in your home country. Many travellers on Antarctic, Galápagos, African and other remote voyages carry both.