Travel Insurance for Antarctica Cruises
Secure the Right Cover For Your Antarctica Cruise
As with any cruise or holiday, having specialist Cruise Travel Insurance is important to protect you financially should anything unexpected occur while you’re out at sea.
This includes a cruise to Antarctica, which requires extra consideration for insurance due to:
- Geographical Differences: Antarctica is a continent, meaning it doesn’t appear in the list of destinations for standard Travel Insurance policies.
- Emergency/Medical Risks: The region’s remoteness and limited medical facilities mean specialist attention is required when arranging cover.
- Insurer Variances: Many insurers class Antarctica as “expedition” or “adventure” travel, requiring specialised, ‘high-risk’, or add-on cover since standard policies usually exclude such activities.
Because of these factors, you may find you’re unable to get an instant online quote for insurance right away. It’s important not to guess or select the wrong destination, as you could risk purchasing a policy that does not fully cover you. If you’re unsure, our expert team is here to help. Just give us a call and we’ll guide you through the process, making sure you have the right cover for every part of your journey.
Cruise Travel Insurance: What’s covered?
Substantial Cancellation Cover: For an additional premium, top-up cancellation cover is available up to £50,000 per person upon referral, providing extensive protection for high-value cruises.
Cancellation Cover: Cancellation cover up to £12,500 as standard
Emergency Medical Expenses: Up to £15,000,000, including repatriation, ensuring substantial cover for any medical emergencies and associated expenses.
24/7 Medical Assistance: Access to round-the-clock medical support for peace of mind throughout your journey.
Baggage Cover: Up to £3,500, protecting your belongings against loss or damage.
No Age Limit (Certain Schemes): Cover for European and worldwide cruises with no age limit, (max days depends on age)
Additional benefits available: varies by insurers
Missed Port Departure: Up to £2,000 for additional travel and accommodation expenses if you miss your departure due to unforeseen circumstances.
Cabin Confinement: Up to £2,000 on our gold policies if you are confined to your cabin due to illness.
Unused Excursions: Up to £1,000 for pre-booked excursions you cannot attend due to cabin confinement.
Itinerary Change: Up to £2,000 if your cruise ship cancels part of the itinerary due to adverse weather or other reasons.
Cruise Interruption: Up to £1,500 if you require hospital treatment on dry land and are cleared to rejoin the cruise.
What Cruise Lines Go To Antarctica?
If you are looking for an Antarctica cruise, there are lots of options to choose from with many expedition and luxury cruise lines covering the continent. Expedition and adventure-focused options include Quark Expeditions, HX Expeditions, and Aurora Expeditions, while you can also use mainstream cruise lines like Celebrity and Viking Cruises. Premium options include Silversea and Atlas Ocean Voyages, if you’re looking for a combination of luxury and expedition cruising.
Whichever you choose, make sure to arrange your Cruise Travel Insurance as soon as you book your trip (ASAB). This means your cancellation cover will start immediately, and you’ll be able to recover non-refundable costs should you need to cancel your cruise unexpectedly. If you’ve booked a luxury cruise, we would recommend our Top-Up Cancellation cover, which adds up to £50,000 cover per person. This gives you added protection and peace of mind when booking a higher-value holiday where the costs exceed standard cancellation limits.
Some further information to help plan your Antarctica cruise:
- Ships: Most Antarctica cruises (particularly expedition cruises) use smaller, purpose-built ships to allow for more frequent landings and close wildlife encounters.
- Ports: Most cruises generally depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, or Punta Arenas, Chile, meaning travel to/from the port will need to be factored into your travel plans.
- Seasonality: The cruising season for Antarctica usually runs from November to March, which will influence packing and preparation. However, at Just Travel Cover you can still arrange insurance for your cruise as far in advance as you like to benefit from maximum cancellation cover in the lead-up to embarkment.
Travel Insurance for Antarctica Cruises FAQs
Why isn’t Antarctica listed as a country on your quote form?
This is because Antarctica is not a country; it is a continent. This means you won’t see it listed as an option online when arranging Travel Insurance for your cruise, so we suggest giving us a call, and one of our insurance experts will be happy to help.
Can I still get insurance if I’m cruising to Antarctica?
Yes. You can get insurance if you are cruising to Antarctica. Since it is not a country and is treated differently by every insurer, you may wish to give us a call to explore all your options and get the specialist cover you need.
What if my cruise also visits Argentina, the Falklands and South Georgia?
If your Antarctica cruise includes visits to Argentina, the Falklands, and South Georgia, you’ll need to make sure that all destinations on your itinerary are covered, not just Antarctica. Give us a call and a member of our expert team will be happy to help with this.
You’ll also need to check that any planned activities are included in your policy. Some excursions may require additional cover, such as selecting Activity Pack B.
Having the right cover in place ensures you’re protected for medical treatment, emergencies, trip disruptions, personal belongings and the activities you plan to enjoy.
Do I need to declare Antarctica even if it’s not on the form?
Yes, you do. Antarctica is a continent, not a country, so it may not appear as an option when completing your quote online. That does not mean it is automatically covered.
Because Antarctica is treated differently by many insurers, it needs to be declared specifically as part of your cruise itinerary. Simply selecting worldwide cover or listing other destinations may not automatically include the Antarctic region.
If you are unsure, please give us a call and our team will make sure your policy includes the right level of cover for your entire cruise.
What insurance do I need for a polar expedition cruise?
For a polar expedition cruise, you’ll need Travel Insurance that includes sufficient cover for medical and repatriation expenses. Insurance is mandatory in these cases to cover more specialised cruise risks, particularly expeditions which are not normally covered under standard policies. At Just Travel Cover, our cruise insurance offers up to £15 million cover for emergency medical expenses, as well as cover for repatriation, cancellation, curtailment, and additional cover benefits like missed port departures and cabin confinement.
