When it comes to cruise travel insurance, finding the right policy is crucial for protecting your holiday investment. Whilst both Compare Your Cruise Insurance and Coverwise offer travel protection, they serve very different needs for cruise passengers. Here’s our comprehensive comparison to help you choose the best cruise travel insurance for your next voyage.
Compare Your Cruise Insurance: The specialist choice
Compare Your Cruise Insurance stands out as a dedicated cruise insurance comparison platform that specialises exclusively in cruise travel protection. This focused approach delivers several key advantages for cruise passengers.
Comprehensive cruise-specific coverage
The platform offers extensive cruise-specific benefits that are essential for sea-going holidays:
- Missed Port Coverage: Compensation when the captain alters the itinerary, resulting in missed ports
- Cabin Confinement: Compensation for missed cruise activities if confined to your cabin due to illness (like Covid or norovirus)
- Missed Excursions: Covers costs of pre-booked excursions you can’t attend due to cabin confinement
- Cruise Interruption: Travel and accommodation expenses to reach your next port if requiring hospital treatment on land
- Emergency Medical Expenses: Coverage for medical emergencies and treatments whilst at sea
- Repatriation: Expenses for bringing you home following a medical emergency
User experience and reviews
Compare Your Cruise Insurance has earned excellent customer reviews with a 4.8-star rating on Trustpilot. Customers consistently praise the platform for its user-friendly experience, with forms taking less than 5 minutes to complete. The service allows users to select their specific cruise from a comprehensive list, including dates and destinations, ensuring accurate coverage.
The platform’s strength lies in its specialist approach – customers appreciate the clear presentation of cruise-specific options, prices, and coverage details that help them make informed decisions. Many reviewers report significant savings compared to other insurance options, particularly when dealing with pre-existing medical conditions.
Get a Quote from Compare Your Cruise Insurance
Coverwise: Budget option with limitations
Coverwise has built a reputation as a budget-friendly travel insurance provider with a 4.7-star rating on Trustpilot. It is also regularly recommended by Money Saving Expert’s Martin Lewis. The company offers good value for basic travel needs and has been our previous recommendation for cheap city breaks.
Sorting insurance is incredibly quick and easy – I’ve purchased Coverwise policies at the last moment on the road to the airport.
Basic cruise coverage
Whilst Coverwise policies do provide some cruise cover as standard, their offering is significantly more limited compared to specialist cruise insurers:
- Standard Coverage: Basic cruise protection under normal policy terms and conditions
- Medical Coverage: Up to £20 million emergency medical expenses coverage
- Geographic Coverage: Must include all cruise destinations in your selected travel area
Critical limitation: No missed port coverage
The most significant drawback of Coverwise for cruise passengers is explicitly stated in their policy documentation: “Please note that we cannot provide cover for missed ports”. This is a crucial limitation for cruise passengers, as missed ports are one of the most common cruise-specific issues that can occur due to weather, mechanical problems, or itinerary changes.
Better suited for city breaks
Coverwise remains an excellent choice for city breaks and general travel, offering competitive pricing from as little as £6.88 for European travel. Their strength lies in providing affordable basic coverage for shorter trips and city breaks, where cruise-specific risks don’t apply.
Key differences: Specialist vs general coverage
| Feature | Compare Your Cruise Insurance |
Coverwise |
|---|---|---|
| Missed Port Coverage | ✅ Comprehensive compensation | ❌ Not covered |
| Cabin Confinement | ✅ Daily compensation available | ❌ Limited standard coverage |
| Cruise Interruption | ✅ Travel costs to rejoin cruise | ❌ Basic coverage only |
| Missed Excursions | ✅ Pre-booked excursion costs | ❌ Limited coverage |
| Medical Coverage | ✅ Cruise-specific medical needs | ✅ Up to £20 million |
| Specialist Focus | ✅ Cruise-only comparison | ❌ General travel insurance |
| Price Range | Varies by provider | From £6.88 |
Industry context: Why cruise insurance matters
Cruise holidays present unique risks that standard travel insurance often doesn’t adequately cover. These specialist needs include potential airlift evacuations from ships, missed ports due to weather or mechanical issues, and cabin confinement due to illness. The high costs associated with cruise-specific emergencies make specialist coverage particularly important.
Cruise insurance is typically not automatically included in standard travel insurance policies and usually requires additional premiums. Many policies specifically exclude cruise-related claims unless cruise cover is explicitly added.
Our recommendation
For cruise holidays, Compare Your Cruise Insurance is the clear winner due to its comprehensive cruise-specific coverage, particularly the crucial missed port protection that Coverwise cannot provide. The platform’s specialist focus ensures you get the right protection for your cruise investment.
For city breaks and general travel, Coverwise remains an excellent budget option, offering competitive pricing and solid basic coverage. However, for cruise travel, the limitations become apparent, particularly the lack of missed port coverage which is a common cruise claim.
Get protected today
Don’t let your cruise holiday investment sail away unprotected. Choose the right coverage for your needs:
Compare Cruise Insurance Quotes Now – For comprehensive cruise-specific protection with missed port coverage
Get Coverwise Travel Insurance – For budget-friendly city breaks and general travel (not recommended for cruises)
Remember, whilst Coverwise used to be our insurer of choice for cheap city breaks, it simply isn’t the best option for cruise holidays because essential protections like missed ports are not covered. When it comes to cruise travel insurance, specialist providers like those found through Compare Your Cruise Insurance offer the comprehensive protection your cruise holiday deserves.
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