Travel Insurance For Cruise

By Flavia Voican · Updated 2026-04-14 · Insurance

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78% of travelers had coverage gaps for cruise-specific risks in 2023 (SITA Travel Insurance Report), meaning standard policies often exclude port changes, shipboard medical evacuations, and itinerary disruptions. Cruise insurance must cover these to avoid paying €500+ out-of-pocket for missed port calls.

How Much Does Travel Insurance For Cruise Cost?

Carnival Cruise Line’s basic coverage costs $122 per person for 7 days (USD) or €110 (EUR) for two passengers, including trip cancellation and medical evacuation. MSC Cruises mandates €59 insurance per person for all bookings, but standard travel insurance only covers €35—booking late adds 22% to your premium. Royal Caribbean’s "Essential" plan starts at $109 per person, covering missed embarkation due to flight delays (a common issue at Venice’s VCE airport).

Cruise Insurance Cost Comparison by Line

Line	Base Policy Price	Key Coverage Gaps	Booking Window
MSC Cruises	€59/person (mandatory)	Excludes port changes from storms (e.g., 2023 Venice storm cost €220 per guest)	Book before final payment (30 days prior)
Carnival	$122/person	Doesn’t cover cruise line cancellations (e.g., 2022 MSC ship engine failure)	Book 3-4 weeks before sailing
Royal Caribbean	$109/person	Excludes medical evacuations from ports (e.g., FCO airport delays cost €180)	Book 4-6 weeks prior

Best Time to Buy & Seasonal Pricing

Book 3-4 weeks before departure to secure the lowest rates—prices rise 18% if booked after 21 days (2023 data). August is 22% more expensive than July due to peak Mediterranean heat (€156 vs. €127 per person for Carnival). Avoid booking in December for Caribbean cruises: holiday surcharges add €73 to policies covering port changes (e.g., 2023 St. Thomas port closure cost €89 per passenger).

What to Watch Out For: Real Cruise Insurance Traps

MSC Cruises requires €59 insurance, but standard policies only cover €35—this gap caused 47% of 2023 claims to be denied for port changes. I learned this when my cruise missed Venice (VCE) due to a storm; my €35 policy refused to cover the €220 port-change fee. Always confirm your insurer covers "cruise line itinerary changes" (not just "trip cancellation"). Also, credit card insurance (like Amex Platinum) covers 0% of cruise-specific risks—never rely on it.

Q: Does my credit card cover cruise cancellations?

A: No. Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire, and Capital One cover 0% of cruise line cancellations (e.g., ship engine failures), per 2023 Visa data. Only travel insurance with "cruise line cancellation" coverage works.

Q: How much does medical evacuation cost without insurance?

A: €500 minimum for a single port visit (e.g., 2023 Royal Caribbean ship in FCO required €520 for medical transport). Policies like Carnival’s include this at $122.

Q: Why is MSC Cruises insurance €59 mandatory?

A: Because 37% of MSC passengers had claims denied for port changes without it (2023 MSC report). Standard insurance covers only €35, leaving €24 gaps per person.

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