At LocalsInsider.com, we like to provide value and insight to our readers, and for this article, we’ve done extensive research into the world of cruise travel insurance to answer some key questions:
- What should you look for in cruise travel insurance?
- Is it better to buy from a cruise line or a third-party provider?
- How much does cruise insurance cost on average?
- Which are the best companies for cruise travel insurance?
Read on to find answers to these important questions and begin your research into the top cruise travel insurance providers in 2025.
What to look for in cruise travel insurance
Everyone looks for something slightly different when it comes to insurance coverage. But there are a few non-negotiables you should search for when looking at cruise travel insurance:
- Trip cancelation coverage
- Delay coverage
- Medical expenses and emergency evacuation
- Cancelation options
- Adventure activities for off-ship excursions
- Baggage protection for lost or damaged luggage
If you have an annual travel insurance policy with your bank or a leading insurance company, you might find that cruise holidays are covered as standard.
However, tailoring the insurance package to your cruise makes sense if you buy a one-off policy for an upcoming trip.
Cruise lines or insurance companies: Which is best?
There are two main ways to get cruise travel insurance. The first and most convenient way is to buy a policy through the cruise line.
Disney, Norwegian, Carnival, Princess, and Royal Caribbean all offer insurance coverage as an optional extra when booking through their websites.
These add-ons are often less comprehensive and more expensive than buying travel insurance through a third-party provider, so it’s worth doing some extra research.
Also, when you buy insurance from a cruise company, it only covers the cruise itself. It won’t help if your flights are delayed or canceled or you have an accident on a quad bike excursion while visiting a port in the Caribbean.
Top insurance companies like Nationwide, Generali, AXA, WorldTrips, and Berkshire Hathaway all provide travel insurance that can be tailored for a cruise while offering comprehensive coverage for everything related to your trip.
The cost of cruise travel insurance in 2025: Comparing six of the best policies
Using Insuremytrip, we ran some numbers to discover the best cruise travel insurance providers in 2025.
We set our destination as the Caribbean and opted for a two-week trip in July 2025. The coverage is for a 33-year-old male with no pre-existing medical conditions, and the cruise price is $3,000.
The table below shows the price of a policy from some of the top US insurance providers with details of the medical limits, cancellation coverage, and price of each policy:
| Company | Cost | Medical Limits | Trip Cancellation |
| Nationwide (Essential) | $83.00 | $75,000 | $3,000 |
| Generali (Preferred) | $110.00 | $150,000 | $3,000 |
| AXA (Platinum) | $127.00 | $250,000 | $3,000 |
| WorldTrips (Comprehensive) | $92.00 | $100,000 | $3,000 |
| Berkshire Hathaway (Comprehensive) | $110.00 | $25,000 | $3,000 |
| HTH Worldwide | $127.00 | $250,000 | $3,000 |
Nationwide
Prices from $83 to $140 for a two-week Caribbean cruise
Our recommendation: Luxury Cruise plan
More information: nationwide.com/personal/insurance/travel
Nationwide offers several options for cruise insurance, starting with its Essential plan, which costs $83.00 for a two-week cruise. The medical limits of $75,000 mean we would be tempted to upgrade to the “Choice Cruise” plan, which increases the premium to $122.00 and provides medical coverage of up to $100,000.
The “Luxury Cruise” option from Nationwide covers $250,000 medical limits and provides up to $1,000,000 for medical evacuation. The premium is $140.00 for our trip, but it’s worth it if you want a fully comprehensive option.
Generali
Prices from $110 to $164 for a two-week Caribbean cruise
Our recommendation: Preferred plan
More information: generalitravelinsurance.com
Like Nationwide, Generali offers at least three packages for cruise travel insurance. The cheapest option is the “Standard” plan, which covers medical up to $50,000 for a premium of $110.00.
Depending on where you’re traveling, $50,000 might not cover medical bills in an emergency, so we’d be tempted to upgrade to either the “Preferred” or “Premium” plans at $124.00 and $164.00, respectively. The latter offers coverage of up to $250,000 for medical emergencies.
One drawback we noticed with Generali’s policies is that medical evacuation is listed as “secondary.” This means that it will only be paid after any other primary collectible insurance has been paid out, leading to potential delays in funds if you make a claim.
AXA
Prices from $107 to $127 for a two-week Caribbean cruise
Our recommendation: Platinum plan
More information: axatravelinsurance.com
Two AXA plans offer good coverage for anyone going on a cruise – the “Gold” and “Platinum” policies. Both plans cover everything from trip interruption to baggage delays, but the main difference is the level of medical coverage.
The Gold plan covers you for expenses up to $100,000, while Platinum increases it up to $250,000. For our trip, the Gold plan has a premium of $107.00, while the Platinum is priced at $127.00. So, for an extra $20.00, the Platinum option is worth it.
WorldTrips
Prices from $92 to $106 for a two-week Caribbean cruise
Our recommendation: Atlas Journey Premier
More information: worldtrips.com/atlas-journey-trip-insurance
WorldTrips’ Atlas Journey travel insurance is a good option for anyone on a cruise. If you’re happy with $100,000 medical coverage, the “Preferred” policy is sufficient, available at a premium of $92.00 for our trip.
For more comprehensive medical coverage up to $150,000, go for the “Premier” package, which costs $106.00 for a two-week cruise. Trip interruption, cancellation, and delay coverage are also included.
Berkshire Hathaway
Prices from $97 to $111 for a two-week Caribbean cruise
Our recommendation: ExactCare Value
More information: bhtp.com
Though a big name in the insurance industry, Berkshire Hathaway’s cruise coverage doesn’t represent the best value for money. Its “ExactCare” and “ExactCare Value” packages only cover medical limits on a secondary basis up to $25,000, which is significantly lower than all the others on this list.
Though it has a 180-day lookback period (compared to 60 days at most other companies), we think better value lies elsewhere, given that the ExactCare policy starts at $97.00 for a two-week trip.
HTH Worldwide
Prices from $127 to $170
Our recommendation: Trip Protector Classic plan
More information: hthtravelinsurance.com
Our final recommendation is one of the best. HTH Worldwide offers two comprehensive policies for cruise travelers with extensive coverage at a reasonable price. The “Trip Protector Classic” policy, at $127, has medical coverage of $250,000 and medical evacuation of $1,000,000.
The “Trip Protector Preferred” increases the medical coverage to $500,000, though the premium of $170 is the highest on this list.
HTH is our top recommendation if the high premium doesn’t bother you.
Book cruise travel insurance today
Cruise travel insurance is essential whether you’re going to the Caribbean or around Europe. We recommend HTH Worldwide and Nationwide of all the providers, as they offer excellent coverage for cruise travelers and reasonable premiums.
You’re now ready to book cruise travel insurance for your 2025 trip. Be sure to check the key details of the coverage and ask the customer service agents any questions before paying the premium.
