What is cruise cover?

Cruise cover extends the benefits of our normal policies which provide cover for air and land trips, to include cover while you are on a cruise ship. This means that a cruise travel insurance policy can provide cover for the land, sea and air portions of your trip.

Is cruise cover automatically included with my policy?

Only our Frequent Traveller Saver policies automatically include cover for cruising.

Note: It is not possible to remove cruise cover from your Frequent Traveller Saver policy.

If you are not taking out a Frequent Traveller Saver policy, you must answer 'Yes' when asked if you are going on a cruise when you get your quote, otherwise you will not have cover under any benefits for events related to your cruise.

When do I need to take out a cruise policy?

You should take out a cruise policy if the cruise ship that you are going on, satisfies our:

  1. Definition of a cruise ship: a commercially operated ocean-going vessel that is licensed to carry paying passengers, has on-board accommodation and a trained medical practitioner or staff trained and accredited in advanced first aid (or the equivalent level in the country that you are travelling in).
  2. Requirements regarding the number of nights you will be sleeping on the cruise ship:

For travel in Australia (Domestic), New Zealand and the South Pacific Regions:

If you are sleeping on the cruise ship for one or more nights, you will need to purchase Cruise cover. 

For travel in the Asia, Europe or Worldwide Regions:

If travelling in the Asia, Europe or Worldwide Regions and you are sleeping on the cruise ship for four or more nights, you will need to purchase the Cruise cover.

Example 1: if you will be cruising for 7 days around the Greek Islands, Croatia or Halong Bay, you must answer 'Yes' to Cruise and pay the additional premium to have cover for this type of cruise.

Example 2: If you will only be cruising around the Greek Islands, Croatia or Halong Bay for 3 nights or less, you should answer 'No' to the cruise question, as this is covered under our non-cruise policies.

Can I add cruise cover after I have started my holiday?

Yes - if you don’t have a cruise travel insurance policy, and you decide to go on a cruise – you can contact us to add cruise cover to your policy. Please note that for your cruise cover to be valid, you must add cruise cover to your policy BEFORE you board your cruise.

What is not considered a cruise?

You can answer 'No' when asked if you are going on a cruise for the following types of cruising:

  • Day trip on a cruise ship and you are not sleeping on the ship.
  • River cruise.
  • Two separate 3 day cruises in the Asia, Europe or Worldwide regions.
  • Sailing on a yacht (see the Sailing FAQ for further terms and conditions that apply).
  • Catching a ferry between islands and you are not sleeping on the ferry.
  • Cruising on a cargo ship
  • Cruising on a house boat
  • Deep sea fishing where the boat that you are on does not satisfy our definition of a cruise ship (see the Sailing FAQ for further terms and conditions that apply)

What is covered under cruise cover?

All of our cruise policies include unlimited overseas medical cover, just in case you are unexpectedly sick or injured on your trip.

Other benefits depend on the policy that you have chosen for your trip, and may include cover for:

  • Cancellation expenses
  • Trip disruption expenses, including cover for any pre-booked shore excursion that you are not able to go on, due to unexpected and unforseen events like bad weather, illness or injury.
  • Lost, stolen or damaged luggage and personal effects

Can I add cruise cover after I have started my domestic holiday?

Yes - if you don't have a cruise travel insurance policy, and you decide to go on a cruise, you can contact us to add cruise cover to your policy. Please note that for your cruise cover to be valid, you must add cruise cover to your policy BEFORE you board your cruise.

What isn't covered under cruise cover?

As with all types of insurance, you can't be covered for every situation that occurs. Some things that we can't cover you for while you're on your cruise holiday include:

  • Missed ports: Sometimes it happens - bad weather may prevent your cruise ship from being able to dock at a port. While there is no cover on your cruise travel insurance policy for missing a port, you can put a claim in for any shore excursions that you've already paid for at that destination.
  • Cabin confinement: Unfortunately, if you're confined to your cabin because there's a viral outbreak on-board your cruise ship, there's no cover for you not being able to enjoy everything that the cruise ship has to offer. If you do unexpectedly contract a virus, however, and need to see the doctor, you can put in a claim for the medical expenses you incur, and also for any shore excursions that you’ve already paid for, and are now not able to participate in.
  • Unsupervised belongings: You must take care to reasonably protect and secure your luggage and personal effects at all times. Make sure that you have your belongings with you, or keep them locked up in your cabin. The level of care required is relative to the value of the itself. If you take a dip in the pool, leave your phone on a banana lounge, and someone takes it, it would be considered to have been left unsupervised. There is no cover on your cruise policy for unsupervised items.
  • Planned or precautionary medical expenses: Our policies only provide cover for unexpected situations. There is no cover if you're not sick, but you get the sea sickness injection as a precaution.

Cover is subject to the policy terms, conditions, limits and exclusions in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

Please note: any advice is general advice only and has not taken into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider the PDS prior to deciding whether this policy is right for you.

Read more about cruising holidays: