Cruise cover is an optional travel insurance add-on that gives you extra protection for cruise-specific situations such as onboard medical care and missed shore excursions.** Whether cruise cover is something to consider depends on whether you’re taking a river cruise or an ocean cruise.
Any product information on this page is a summary only. Review each section of the combined PDS/FSG for terms, conditions, exclusions, limits, sub-limits, and any general exclusions that apply.
From intimate river journeys to luxurious ocean escapes, find your perfect cruise with RACV and save.
If you’re going on an ocean or sea cruise for more than one night – in Australia or overseas – you can add Cruise Benefits to your RACV Travel Insurance policy.**
River cruises are automatically included with all RACV Domestic and International Travel Insurance policies – no add-on, no extra cost.ǂǂ
Cruise cover works alongside your RACV Travel Insurance policy to cover you for the situations unique to life onboard.**
Include all countries you're visiting on your cruise. For multi-night cruises in Australian waters, select 'Australian Cruise' as your destination.
Select 'Yes' to Cruise Benefits under 'Choose your options'. Choose which days you need cruise cover for and only pay for those days.
Select Basics, Essentials or Comprehensive. Review the limits before purchasing. Cruise Benefits is also available on Annual Multi-Trip policies.
Cruising is one of Australia's most popular holidays for older travellers. RACV Cruise Benefits can be added to all International single trip policies for travellers up to 110 years of age.
RACV automatically covers 38 medical conditions – if yours isn't on the list, you can apply for cover via a medical assessment at quote time.~ Members save 15% regardless of age.*
Standard travel insurance policies don't usually include cruise-specific cover. While a policy may cover some situations that occur during a cruise – such as cancellation or lost luggage – onboard medical care, cabin confinement and missed ports typically require a dedicated cruise add-on.
RACV Travel Insurance offers a cruise cover add-on for ocean cruises, both in Australia and overseas.** River cruises are covered automatically under eligible RACV Travel Insurance policies without needing the add-on.ǂǂ
Cruise travel insurance isn't strictly mandatory, but some cruise lines require you to hold a policy as a condition of boarding. Even where cruise cover isn't required, most operators strongly recommend it – neither Medicare or standard travel insurance will cover onboard medical care, and you won’t be protected for costs associated with missed ports, cabin confinement and emergency evacuation.
RACV Travel Insurance's cruise cover provides cover for these situations and more.** Add it to your Travel Insurance policy at the quote stage.
While it's not required, travel insurance is strongly recommended for any domestic cruise, although the type of cover you need depends on whether you're joining a river or ocean cruise.
RACV Travel Insurance's Cruise cover includes cover for onboard medical expenses, cabin confinement, missed ports and excursions and more. Select the Cruise add-on during your online quote to ensure you have onboard cover.**
In most cases, river cruises are covered under a standard travel insurance policy without needing a dedicated cruise add-on. This is because river cruises operate closer to shore and have easier access to land-based medical facilities than ocean cruises.
With RACV Travel Insurance, river cruise cover is included automatically under eligible policies, meaning you don't need to select the cruise add-on during the online quote process.ǂǂ This applies to both domestic and international river cruises.
Medicare doesn’t cover medical treatment received onboard a cruise ship, even in Australian waters.
Onboard medical facilities are privately operated, which means any treatment, consultations or emergency care will be charged at private rates – and these costs can be substantial. For this reason, travel insurance with cruise cover is strongly recommended for any Australian ocean cruise.
RACV Travel Insurance's cruise cover includes cover for onboard medical expenses.** Select the Cruise add-on during your online quote and only pay for the days you're actually cruising.
Travel insurance can cover cruise cancellations in certain circumstances, but the details depend on the reason for cancellation and the type of policy you hold.
Generally, cancellation cover applies when the reason is outside your control, such as:
Cancellations made at the discretion of the cruise operator for commercial or business reasons typically aren’t covered. Neither are changes of mind or cancellations due to undeclared medical conditions.
RACV Travel Insurance includes cruise cancellation cover for circumstances outside your control, as long as you’ve added cruise cover to your policy.** The maximum benefit available depends on the level of cancellation cover selected at the time of purchase.
Whether you're covered for a missed cruise departure depends on the reason you missed it. If the cause was outside your control – such as a serious accident, illness or a significant delay to connecting transport – you may be covered for additional expenses to rejoin your cruise or for the non-refundable costs of the missed departure.
If you missed your departure due to something within your control, such as arriving late to the terminal, cover is unlikely to apply.
RACV Travel Insurance includes cover in eligible policies for emergency expenses incurred due to events outside your control. The level of cover available depends on the plan selected.
The cost of cruise travel insurance can vary depending on a number of factors. Understanding what influences the price can help you find the right level of cover for your trip.
Key factors that affect the price include:
For a price based on your specific trip and circumstances, get a quote for RACV Travel Insurance online. RACV Members save 15% year-round.*
For older travellers, travel insurance options will depend on several factors. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a cruise cover:
RACV Travel Insurance offers $unlimited cover for medical costs^, cancellation cover (on select policies) and automatic cover for 38 pre-existing medical conditions – if yours isn't on the list, you can apply for cover via a medical assessment at quote time.~ RACV Members save 15% regardless of age.*
** Refer to the combined PDS/FSG to determine if Cruise cover is required for your trip. Terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply.
* RACV Member discount applies to the premium only (not applicable taxes).
ǂǂ Cruise Benefits section does not apply to river cruising. Refer to the combined PDS/FSG for full details.
^ ‘Unlimited’ means there is no cap on the maximum dollar amount which may be paid out for this benefit, noting that how much is payable for a benefit depends on the specific cover in the relevant section of the Policy Wording and any applicable exclusions. Medical, hospital, dental or any ancillary benefits or expenses incurred more than 12 months from the time treatment for the injury or illness was first received will not be covered. Terms, conditions (including eligibility criteria), limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply. Refer to the combined PDS/FSG for full details.
ǂ Daily limits apply.
++ Dependant means any of your children, stepchildren, foster children or grandchildren who are 25 years of age or under at the time you purchase your policy, financially dependent on their parents or grandparents, not working full time, travelling with you for your entire trip and listed on the Certificate of Insurance as your Dependant. Dependants can be covered at no extra cost if they have not disclosed any medical conditions requiring assessment. Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits apply. Refer to the PDS for full details.
Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) Limited (ABN 44 004 060 833, AR No. 1243563) (RACV) is an authorised representative of the RACV Travel Insurance insurer Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (ABN 80 000 438 291 AFSL 246 548) (Tokio Marine). Tokio Marine Management (Australasia) Pty Ltd (ABN 69 001 488 455, AR No. 1313066) is an authorised representative of Tokio Marine, and administers RACV Travel Insurance as the managing agent on behalf of Tokio Marine.
Terms, conditions (including eligibility criteria), exclusions, limits and sub-limits apply. Any advice is general advice only, and does not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation or needs. Before you purchase, please consider the Combined Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) / Financial Services Guide (FSG) and Target Market Determinations (TMDs) available on RACV’s website, or on request from RACV.
