Going on a cruise? Beware these insurance traps

If you haven’t checked your travel insurance cover on this kind of holiday, you might be in for a nasty surprise when trouble looms.

If you’re about to board a cruise, be aware that regular travel insurance often doesn’t automatically cover cruising. Nor might it cover particularly remote destinations such as Antarctica.

When I first cruised many years ago, I naively never realised I was travelling uninsured even though I had an annual travel insurance policy. Luckily, I dodged a bullet. And a broken leg, or a nasty illness like malaria.

A Zodiac excursion in Antarctica – standard travel insurance usually won’t cover cruises and remote destinations.Credit: iStock

Now I’m well aware that, even on a domestic cruise, there’s no guarantee that Medicare or private health insurance will cover the costs of medical intervention. Best check in advance if a Medicare-accessible doctor will be on board.

Some cruise lines require passengers to supply proof of travel insurance either before the journey – you’ll have to upload your policy online – or at check in. Without the paperwork, you’ll be denied boarding.

Medical services on cruise ships are expensive, and you’ll be expected to foot the bill before you disembark.

Services are charged at private rates and might include pricey procedures such as X-rays, blood tests or even intensive care. An ambulance transfer and further hospital expenses could follow.

If you’re unfortunate enough to require evacuation by helicopter while your ship is at sea, costs soon spiral into the tens of thousands of dollars. That’s not the time you want to be worrying about your bank balance.

Medical services on cruise ships are expensive, and you’ll be expected to foot the bill before you disembark.Credit: Carnival Corporation

In short, coverage for cruising is a must. You’ll usually have to choose additional cruise coverage at the time you take out your travel insurance. If you have multi-trip or annual insurance, you can add cruising for a specific trip.

Medical issues apart, cruise coverage on your travel insurance will also ensure you’re reimbursed for delayed or missed departures, lost personal belongings and cancellation before you depart, for example if you’re unwell or have a family emergency.

Some policies might cover shore excursions missed because of ill health or bad weather and compensate you if you’re confined to your cabin owing to illness and miss half your cruise. Check the small print.

Incidentally, few cruise travellers realise that excursions are usually run by independent operators, with significant implications if things go awry while on shore.

Cruise lines won’t cover medical expenses or any other form of compensation if you’re injured on a shore excursion, so make sure those are covered in your travel insurance, especially if they involve activities such as adventure sports, which require an additional premium.

Adventure sports can be quite widely defined and might even include common cruise activities such as hiking or snorkelling.

On international cruises, you should also take note whether any of your ports of call are in countries that have level 3 or 4 travel warnings on Smart Traveller, the website run by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You probably won’t be covered by travel insurance at all if that is the case.