According to Squaremouth's "2026 Cruise Insurance Cost Report," the average cost of a cruise in 2026 is nearly $8,000. For roughly between 5 percent and 10 percent of that total, cruisers can protect their trip with a comprehensive cruise insurance policy, with the average cost around $741. With these costs in mind, cruisers may question whether insurance is worth the added expense.

To help cruisers understand if cruise insurance is worth it for them, the experts at Squaremouth break down the most costly out-of-pocket expenses they may face without a comprehensive cruise insurance plan, and how it can cover them:

A Medical Emergency or Evacuation: Most domestic health insurance plans, including Medicare, won't cover you abroad. This can leave you stuck paying for onboard medical costs, which can reach $20,000, depending on the situation. And if your illness or injury is more severe, emergency transportation from a cruise ship to a proper medical facility can cost up to $100,000 or more. A comprehensive cruise insurance plan typically includes Emergency Medical and Medical Evacuation coverage, offering protection during potential medical emergencies. It's recommended that you purchase a cruise insurance plan with at least $100,000 in Emergency Medical coverage and at least $250,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage.
Needing to Cancel or Shorten Your Cruise: It's common for cruises to have a number of prepaid expenses, such as flights, the cruise itself, and excursions. Trip Cancellation insurance can protect 100 percent of your non-refundable expenses if you need to cancel for a covered reason, like an illness or a hurricane preventing you from traveling. For even more flexibility, add-on benefits like Cancel for Any Reason or Interruption for Any Reason allow you to cancel or cut your trip short for any reason.
Missing Your Cruise Departure: Travel delays on your way to the port, including flight cancellations, severe weather, or traffic, can cause you to miss your cruise departure and leave you stuck paying for meals and a hotel. Travel Delay coverage can reimburse these additional costs you incurred. Missed Connection coverage can help cover the costs associated with catching up with your cruise at the next port if your reason for missing it was caused by a covered delay.