Cruise Travel Insurance

Linda’s First-Time Experience with Atlas Journey

Before 2024, Linda had never purchased travel insurance. But when she booked a trip to Antarctica, it was required due to the high cost of emergency medical evacuations. She chose Atlas Journey because of its emergency medical evacuation benefits, trip cancellation protection, and travel medical coverage—all important benefits for such a remote destination.

That first experience led her to purchase Atlas Journey for two more trips that year: a European adventure with her granddaughter and an Iceland/Norway cruise with her elderly aunt.

“I originally got travel insurance for medical coverage, but it turned out that the biggest benefit was trip interruption and cancellation. I never imagined I'd need it, but when I did, it made all the difference.” Now, Linda travels with Atlas Journey to protect her vacations.

Real Travelers, Real Protection

Kyleigh and Joe planned a long-awaited trip to Scotland, but after multiple flight cancellations, they had to abandon their plans. Thanks to their Atlas Journey Preferred travel insurance and assistance services, they were reimbursed for their lost flights and rental car—quickly and without hassle.

"It was the easiest thing I’ve ever done with insurance," Kyleigh shared. "Now, I can’t imagine traveling without it. For $140, we got coverage. It was worth every penny, especially considering how much we would have lost without it."

Atlas Journey’s trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits helped them recover eligible costs when their travel plans fell apart.

Not everything goes smoothly when cruising. Here are some common issues we see cruise goers deal with.

Unexpected Weather

Unfortunately, cruise delays due to bad weather or fog are fairly common, and there's no guarantee your cruise line will compensate you for the meals and accommodations you may have to pay for during a long delay (5+ hours).

Sudden Illness

Illnesses are prone to spread in confined spaces. Nearly 300 passengers on Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess cruise ship fell suddenly ill with gastrointestinal issues between February 26 and March 5, 2023. The likely cause of the infection was norovirus, according to the cruise line.

Injury From Offshore Activities

As you explore each port, you may choose to take part in activities like hiking, beach volleyball, or biking. While enjoyable, even low-risk activities such as snorkeling, or sightseeing tours can carry the potential for injury, especially in unfamiliar surroundings.

Insufficient Cruise Insurance

Travel medical policies offered through your cruise line may reimburse you for missed departures or weather delays, but coverage for important benefits like Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation of Remains or Emergency Accident and Sickness Medical Expenses may be limited—or excluded entirely.

Coverage in International Waters

If you don't have international health coverage as you travel abroad, you could be solely responsible for medical expenses you incur on your cruise. That's why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends travel medical insurance to those traveling on open waters.

Trip Cancellation

Trip cancellation coverage is a key benefit of many cruise travel insurance options, and may reimburse you for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses—up to your policy maximum—if you have to cancel your cruise due to a covered reason.

Here are some scenarios that are covered under one of our plans:

Prior to departure, you fall ill or are unexpectedly injured, and your physician insists that you should not go on your cruise
Your traveling companion or non-traveling family member falls ill, becomes injured, or dies unexpectedly and you have to cancel your trip
Inclement weather causes the destruction of your accommodations, a delay of your common carrier for more than twelve (12) hours, or a cancellation from your common carrier, causing you to cancel your trip
You or your traveling companion are directly involved in an accident that causes you to miss your cruise ship's departure
A terrorist incident occurs in a city listed on your cruise itinerary and your cruise line is unable to modify its route (must occur within the 30 days prior to your scheduled departure date)
A natural disaster occurs unexpectedly in your destination and renders it uninhabitable
A last-minute legal obligation, such as jury duty, requires you to remain in your home country

Note that these situations must occur after your policy goes into effect to be eligible for reimbursement.

Example of the Trip Cancellation Benefit in Use

You and two close friends are driving to Miami to board your cruise ship to Mexico when a truck runs a red light and slams into the front end of your car. Thankfully, none of you suffer life-threatening injuries, but paramedics insist on taking you to the hospital to check for internal injuries.

You're disappointed you won't make your cruise, but you're thankful you have a Trip Cancellation benefit in your plan. You may get reimbursed for the nonrefundable payment you previously made for the cruise.

PRO TIP: Be sure to review the full list of eligible scenarios and exclusions in the policy documents for your plan.

Trip Interruption

The Trip Interruption benefit can reimburse you if you are unable to continue your cruise due to one of the same situations covered under the Trip Cancellation benefit explained above.

Unlike the Trip Cancellation benefit, Trip Interruption can provide you with reimbursement if one of the covered situations occurs after you depart on your cruise.

Example of the Trip Interruption Benefit in Use

Say you've just set foot on Paradise Island when you receive the devastating news that your father has passed away. Depending on the circumstances, you may wish to return home immediately.

Under the Trip Interruption benefit, you could be reimbursed for your unused, prepaid, and nonrefundable land or sea expenses. You could also be reimbursed for the additional transportation cost for you to reach your cruise ship's scheduled return port early.

Travel Delay

This benefit can reimburse you for your covered expenses—up to the maximum benefit of your policy—if you are delayed five or more hours due to a defined hazard.

Example of the Travel Delay Benefit in Use

Imagine heavy fog causes your initial cruise departure to be delayed until the following morning. Not only do you now need to find a last-minute hotel room and transportation, but you also have to pay for meals you hadn't accounted for when making your budget.

Luckily, your Travel Delay benefit can reimburse you for the reasonable cost of accommodations, local transportation, meals, and telephone calls when you are delayed for five (5) hours or more.

Emergency Accident & Sickness Expense

The Emergency Accident and Sickness Medical Expense benefit provides coverage for medical treatment resulting from unexpected injuries and illnesses incurred abroad.

Depending on your plan, a benefit like this could cover eligible expenses such as:

Ambulance transportation to a hospital
Physician consultations
Emergency room and surgical costs
Prescribed medications and onboard medical fees
Charges for anesthetics, X-rays, and labs

Example of the Emergency Accident and Sickness Medical Expense Benefit in Use

While touring your cruise ship's first destination, you are involved in a car accident and taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital for emergency care.

At the hospital, doctors perform X-rays and determine that surgery is necessary. You are admitted for treatment and required medical care.

If your accident qualifies as a covered injury, your Atlas Journey plan will reimburse eligible expenses, including the emergency room visit, ambulance transportation, physician consultation, X-rays, surgery, and hospital room and board.

There are limits on coverage for pre-existing conditions. Learn more here.

If the need arises, here’s how you can use your trip protection policy. Full details are available in your welcome packet and fulfillment document.

Book your travel and purchase an Atlas Journey plan.
Review your policy details.
Sign up for your Member Portal.
Contact WorldTrips’ customer service team for help with travel emergency assistance services, your policy, or questions.
If you need to use your Trip Protection Plan, retain all receipts and supporting documents. Submit your claim with supporting documentation through the Member Portal.
- Our claims team will review your claim.
- Wait for a determination of your claim.
- Upon finalization, payment will be issued for eligible expenses.

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WorldTrips' Atlas Journey, Atlas Cruiser, and Atlas On-The-Go trip protection insurance products are underwritten by Tokio Marine HCC's U.S. Specialty Insurance Company (USSIC). USSIC is a Texas-domiciled insurance company operating on an admitted basis throughout the United States. Coverage is available to U.S. residents of the U.S. states and District of Columbia only. This plan provides insurance coverage that only applies during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home, and automobile insurance policies. Coverage may not be available in all states.

In the State of California, operating as WorldTrips Insurance Services. California Non-Resident Producer License Number: 0G39705