Why Cruise Insurance Is Going Up in 2026: New Report Reveals $538 Average

Cruising without the right travel insurance is taking a big risk.  But paying for that extra peace of mind also means a higher final bill. 

Some have noticed higher premiums for cruise travel insurance lately and a recent report reveals why.

A new report released today by Squaremouth explains why cruise vacation insurance is on the rise.

But not every insurance plan is the same.  Some cruisers are paying over 400% more than others depending on how they choose to protect their trip.

Here is the breakdown of why premiums are rising and what the data says about the current state of things.

The Price Gap

The biggest takeaway from the Squaremouth data is the difference between “just being safe” and “being fully covered.”  After all, everyone has a different risk-tolerance.

Those who only want medical coverage pay an average of $101.  This can include an onboard doctor visit or a helicopter evacuation.  A medical evacuation can be one of the biggest expenses you can face while on a cruise, so this is a bare minimum for some travelers.

However, most cruisers prefer “comprehensive” plans that include trip cancellation (for covered reasons). This type of protection costs an average of $538, which is a 433% jump over medical-only plans.

For those who want the ultimate package in travel insurance, adding a “Cancel For Any Reason” upgrade pushes the average cost to $807.  As the name suggests, you can cancel the trip over the slightest inconvenience, with the only inconvenient part being the cost.

Why the Price Hike?

It isn’t just insurance companies raising rates.  It’s that cruises themselves are getting more expensive, equal to the current demand. Squaremouth found that the average cruiser is now spending $7,706 on their cruise.

Because insurance is usually calculated as a percentage of your total trip cost, your premium is rising simply because the cruises themselves are getting a tad pricier.

Since comprehensive insurance usually costs between 4% and 10% of your total trip price, as cruise fares go up, insurance premiums must also go up. In fact, for luxury sailings over $9,000, insurance premiums are now averaging more than $1,100.

This is from looking at the data of over 25,000 cruise vacations.

How Cruise Duration Impacted Insurance Rates

The length of a cruise was also a big factor in the final cost of cruise insurance.  Squaremouth broke down these average prices by the length of a cruise.

• 4-7 day cruise: $224
• 8-14 day cruise: $462
• 15-30 day cruise: $876

The Age Factor

Age continues to be the biggest reason for insurance costs going up. If you are under 50, you can expect to pay between $188 and $255 for the average policy.

But once you reach 70 and above, those prices pop to an average of $874. This is due to the higher medical risks associated with seniors, yes.  But it’s also in the data that this demographic often takes longer, more expensive cruises.

Bottom Line

Cruise travel insurance isn’t something most seasoned cruisers simply ignore when booking a cruise.  About 2 out of 3 cruise travelers are now choosing comprehensive plans. Sure, the costs are rising alongside trip prices, but the risk of an uninsured medical evacuation (which can cost $100,000 or more) makes that $500 premium a little easier to swallow.