Do I need medical insurance on a cruise ship?

Cruise ships can treat a wide range of illnesses and injuries on board. Some onboard medical facilities look like urgent care centers, while others are more like doctor's offices. Health insurance often does not cover medical care on cruises, but travel insurance might.



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If you receive treatment or medicine from ship physicians, the cost will be charged to your cabin folio. If you are medically disembarked and sent to a shoreside hospital, you will likely need to pay in cash. Travel insurance can help mitigate the costs and alleviate any worries you have before starting your cruise.

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When shopping for cruise insurance, make sure to look for coverage that offers the following:
  • Trip delay and cancellation.
  • Medical expenses, including emergency evacuation.
  • The option to cancel for any reason (including COVID-19).
  • Adventure activities if you're planning certain onshore excursions.


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If your trip doesn't involve any nonrefundable reservations, you may not need travel insurance. For instance, if you've booked only airplane tickets and a hotel stay for your vacation, and they're both governed by flexible cancellation policies, the trip cancellation benefit may not be necessary.

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You can purchase cruise travel insurance immediately after booking your trip until just before your departure. But the best time to take out coverage is as soon as you have made your booking. This way, you will have a longer coverage window for trip cancellation.

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Paying for Medical Care While Cruising When you get sick or worse and need treatment or emergency services, you will pay for it, typically out of pocket.

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In general cases, cruise medical centers can prescribe and administer medications, perform minor surgeries and stabilize patients with more serious medical conditions. If your medical condition is treatable on board the ship, you will be given the relevant treatment or condition.

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You'll pay an additional cost for all kinds of extras, including bar drinks, meals at specialty restaurants, specific activities and even specialty coffees. Of course, a few luxury, small-ship and expedition cruise lines do bundle more amenities into their fares.

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Once an accident occurs, an injured cruise passenger and prospective plaintiff has a duty to notify the cruise line of the accident. This can be done by going to the medical center or front desk or by contacting security. All cruise lines have an incident report form that they ask injured passengers to complete.

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6 Best Cruise Insurance Companies of 2023
  • Nationwide Travel Insurance: Our pick for cruise travel.
  • Faye: Our pick for all-online experience.
  • Travelex Insurance: Our pick for budget travelers.
  • Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection: Our pick for luxury travelers.
  • AXA Assistance USA: Our pick for leisure travelers.


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Where to find a cruise travel insurance policy. You can buy a travel insurance policy directly from your cruise line when booking your trip, or through your travel agent (if you're using one, which often is a good idea when booking a cruise).

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As long as you haven't yet departed, it's not too late—but your plan choice may be limited. When you get an online quote for travel insurance and enter today as your day of departure, you'll see just a few plans that are available for last-minute travel. Your single-trip plan option is OneTrip Emergency Medical.

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It's the best time to buy cruise insurance – as soon as you make your initial trip deposit, while it's still fresh in your mind.

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Important: While travel insurance policies may be more comprehensive than credit card protections, there are limitations. They typically won't cover non-essential medical expenses, high-risk sports or activities, or pre-existing conditions — at least without paying for add-on coverage.

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