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Cruise Line Insurance Plan Comparison

When it comes to providing cruise insurance, Allianz Global Assistance is not the only boat in the harbor.

Cruise lines also offer their own travel insurance plans, and most travelers have an opinion about which they like best.

But opinions are like lifejackets during a cruise ship muster drill—everyone has one. So, let’s stick to the facts by comparing cruise insurance plan features, head to head. Here, you can peruse plans offered by the major cruise lines, as well as one of our favorite Allianz Travel Insurance plans: OneTrip Prime.

Why buy cruise insurance?

It’s absolutely essential to buy travel insurance for a cruise. The nature of cruising means that small travel mishaps can rapidly become big problems. A delayed flight can make you miss the ship. A lost bag can mean having to buy a whole new wardrobe. Medical emergencies may require an expensive evacuation from the ship to the nearest hospital. And if you have to cancel your trip last-minute, you probably won't get any money back.

Some key benefits to look for in a cruise insurance plan include:

Generous emergency medical and emergency medical transportation benefits. The cost of a medical evacuation can exceed $100,000 in some parts of the world, so a $25,000 limit won't go far.¹
A broad range of covered reasons for trip cancellation/interruption. If you cancel for a reason that's not covered, some cruise line protection plans will give you credits toward a future cruise, but you won’t be fully reimbursed for your lost trip expenses.
Robust trip delay coverage. If your flight into Miami is delayed and you miss your cruise ship's sailing, it may cost you quite a lot to catch up with the ship at its next port of call. Trip delay benefits can reimburse you for those costs.

Sailing soon? Don’t wait to buy insurance! Get a quote for travel insurance for your next cruise.

Cruise insurance plan comparison

Now, let's compare some popular insurance plans for cruises. (While most cruise protection plans are a combination of insurance and waiver programs, for consistency we'll use the term "cruise insurance” to refer to these plans.) All information is current as of early 2024. Before purchasing insurance, be sure to check the limits and read your plan documents thoroughly.

	Allianz Travel Insurance (OneTrip Prime Plan)	Carnival Cruise Insurance²	Disney Cruise Insurance³	Holland America Line Cancellation Protection Plan Standard / Platinum ⁴	Princess Cruise Insurance Standard / Platinum ⁵	Viking Cruises Travel Protection Plan⁶
Trip cancellation (for a covered reason)	Up to $100,000	Up to 100% of nonrefundable costs	Up to 100% of trip cost ($20,000 limit)	Up to 80% of trip costs/Up to 90% of trip costs; cancel for any reason	Up to 100% of nonrefundable costs	Up to 100% of nonrefundable costs
Cancel Anytime coverage	Available; reimburses 80% of costs in cash	Included; 75% of costs in cruise credits	Included; reimburses up to 75% of pre-paid nonrefundable costs in cruise credits	Included; reimburses up to 80% of trip costs/up to 90% of trip costs	Included; reimburses up to 75%/100% of cruise-retained cancellation fee in cruise credits	Included; reimburses up to 100% of nonrefundable costs in travel vouchers
Trip interruption (for a covered reason)	Up to $150,000	Up to 100% of nonrefundable costs	Up to 100% of trip cost ($20,000 limit)	$0/Up to 150% of nonrefundable costs	Up to 150% of nonrefundable costs	Up to 150% of trip costs
Change fee	Up to $500	Not available	Not available	Not available	Not available	Included
Emergency medical and dental	Up to $50,000	Up to $10,000	Up to $20,000	$0/Up to $20,000	Up to $10,000/Up to $20,000	Up to $100,000
Emergency medical transportation	Up to $500,000	Up to $30,000	Up to $30,000	$0/Up to $75,000	Up to $50,000/Up to $75,000	Up to $250,000
Lost/damaged baggage	Up to $1,000	Up to $1,500	Up to $3,000	$0/$1,000 (plus up to $500 in additional baggage liability, for both plans)	Up to $1,500/Up to $3,000	Up to $3,000
Delayed baggage	Up to $300. Can opt for payment of $100 per person, per day, without receipts	Up to $500	Up to $500	$0/Up to $1,000	Up to $500	Up to $1,000
Travel delay	Up to $800. Can opt for payment of $100 per person, per day, without receipts	Up to $500	Up to $500	$0/Up to $500	Up to $500 pre-cruise/$1,500 post-cruise	Up to $1,500
Assistance	24-hour assistance and concierge services included	Assistance only	Assistance only	Not included/Assistance only	Assistance only	Assistance and concierge services included
Pre-existing medical condition coverage	Available	Limited	Limited	Available	Limited	Available

Cruise line insurance vs. third-party travel insurance

So, what’s the best option to protect your cruise: a protection plan provided by the cruise line, or one you buy on your own? That’s really up to you!

Are you a frequent cruiser who’s loyal to a favorite cruise line? You may like the insurance provided by that cruise line, because you can easily use any cruise credits you receive as reimbursement. Travelers who cruise less frequently, or who often switch cruise lines, may prefer the flexibility granted by a third-party insurer that provides cash reimbursements for cancel anytime coverage.

Here’s a quick overview of the options summarized in the table above.

Carnival Cruise Insurance

Marketed as Carnival Vacation Protection^™, this travel insurance plan offers standard benefits as well as 24/7 travel assistance. The plan also includes the ability to cancel a trip for any reason and receive 75% back in credit toward a future Carnival cruise.

Disney Cruise Insurance

Similar to the other cruise travel insurance plans, Disney Cruise Line’s Vacation Protection Plan allows travelers to cancel their trip for a non-covered reason. They’ll then receive 75% of the cancellation fee amount to use toward a voyage over the next year. Disney also offers 24/7 global assistance, which is a must-have for travelers cruising with small children in tow.

Holland America Cruise Protection

Holland America offers two levels of cruise protection: Standard and Platinum. Both allow you to cancel your trip for any reason. With the Standard Plan, you get a refund of up to 80% of your cruise costs, as long as you cancel before 24 hours prior to departure. The Platinum Plan refunds up to 90% of your costs, and you can cancel anytime prior to departure.

Princess Cruise Insurance

The Princess Vacation Protection program offers two tiers of coverage—Standard and Platinum—with the latter offering higher payout amounts for select benefits. For example, while the Standard “Any Reason” Cancellation Enhancement benefit provides a future cruise credit for 75% of the cancellation fee amount, the Platinum plan increases this benefit to 100%. Both coverage tiers come with 24/7 assistance.

Viking Cruises Travel Protection Plan

The protection plan from Viking, which is best known for its river cruises, reimburses up to 100% of nonrefundable costs if you cancel your cruise for a covered reason. Cancel for a reason that’s not covered, and you’ll get 100% of your cruise cost in the form of credits toward a future cruise.

Allianz Travel Insurance

OneTrip Prime, one of our most popular travel insurance plans for cruises and overseas vacations, includes:

Whole-trip protection: It’s not just your cruise that’s covered, but all your non-refundable pre-paid trip costs: airfare, hotel stays, excursions, etc.

Many covered reasons: OneTrip Prime includes a long list of covered reasons for trip cancellation/interruption, giving travelers the confidence that they’re protected from the most common travel mishaps.

“Cancel Anytime” cash reimbursement: When you cancel a cruise for a reason that’s not covered in your plan, cruise lines may reimburse a percentage of your lost costs in the form of credits for a future cruise. The Cancel Anytime upgrade from Allianz Travel reimburses up to 80% of your trip costs in cash when you cancel for a reason that’s not covered in your plan.

Kids covered free: When a parent or grandparent purchases OneTrip Prime, children aged 17 and under who are traveling with them can be protected for free (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents).

SmartBenefits®: Available as an upgrade to select plans, SmartBenefits give you the option of receiving a fixed inconvenience payment of $100 per insured person, per day, for a covered travel delay or baggage delay (up to the maximum no-receipts limit). No receipts are required — just proof of a covered delay! If your eligible expenses exceed $100 per day, you can file a claim for the remainder (up to your plan maximum).

Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions: Some cruise protection plans exclude losses resulting from a pre-existing condition, with some limited exceptions. OneTrip Prime can cover pre-existing medical conditions, as long as certain conditions are met. Learn more.

Generous emergency medical/transportation coverage: OneTrip Prime includes high limits for emergency medical and emergency medical transportation, so you know you’ll be well taken care of if you experience a medical crisis.

Optional upgrades: Customize your plan with extra protection, such as OneTrip Rental Car Protector and Required to Work, in case the boss sends you to Topeka when you were planning to cruise to Tahiti.

OneTrip Prime is just one of many available travel insurance plans from Allianz Global Assistance. These include annual AllTrips plans, which are ideal for those planning two or more trips in the next 365 days. Find the best plan for your next adventure!

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Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: 2 Mid America Plaza, Suite 200, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181), rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best's 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through AGA Service Company. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties. Contact AGA Service Company at 800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233 or customerservice@allianzassistance.com.