Celebrity CruiseCare Review: Is It Worth It?

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Key Takeaways

• Celebrity CruiseCare is an optional travel protection plan bundled with your Celebrity cruise booking, administered by Aon Affinity and underwritten by Arch Insurance Company.
• CruiseCare includes solid Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption coverage for cruise-related expenses, but does not protect flights, hotels, or excursions booked elsewhere.
• Celebrity increased medical coverage limits for their CruiseCare plan on June 1, 2026, and now offers up to $100,000 in Emergency Medical coverage and $500,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage
• Celebrity offers Cancel For Any Reason coverage that pays 90% back as a future cruise credit, not cash. This credit expires after one year. 
• Cruise insurance plans on Squaremouth often match or beat CruiseCare’s coverage limits at a lower price, and cover your entire trip, not just the cruise fare.
• Not everyone has access to CruiseCare coverage, as the policy is only available in certain states.

Celebrity CruiseCare Pros & Cons 

Pros

• Offers up to $100,000 in Emergency Medical coverage and $500,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage
• Includes 24/7 emergency assistance (known as CareFree Travel Assistance)
• Very convenient, can be added directly at booking 
• Backed by Arch Insurance Company, a reputable underwriter

Cons

• No coverage available for pre-existing medical conditions
• Only covers Celebrity cruise costs, not your flights, hotels, or excursions
• CFAR cancellations are reimbursed with cruise credit, not cash
• Not available in all 50 states
• Aon Affinity’s claims process has a poor customer satisfaction record

What Is Celebrity CruiseCare?

Celebrity CruiseCare is an optional travel protection plan available to U.S. residents when booking a Celebrity cruise. It’s designed to provide cruisers with a convenient way to protect themselves financially against common cruise disruptions, such as delays, cancellations, illness, and more. 

CruiseCare is underwritten by Arch Insurance Company and administered by Aon Affinity, making it a solid option backed by globally-recognized insurance brands. 

What Does Celebrity CruiseCare Cover?

CruiseCare is made up of several in-demand benefits designed for the unique risks and challenges of cruise travel. 

Celebrity has made recent enhancements to its plan, and this breakdown includes the limits that went into effect on June 1, 2026. 

Trip Cancellation

If you need to cancel your cruise for a covered reason, CruiseCare reimburses up to 100% of your non-refundable Celebrity cruise costs. This includes your cruise fare, taxes, food & drink packages, and other prepaid add-ons.

Covered cancellation reasons include:

• Illness or injury of you, a traveling companion, or a close family member
• Death of a travel companion or immediate family member
• Natural disaster affecting your home or destination
• You or your travel companion is forced to serve jury duty 

Trip Interruption

CruiseCare will reimburse up to 150% of your unused cruise expenses if you can’t start or finish your cruise vacation because of a covered reason. 

The additional coverage is intended to cover expenses incurred to book new travel arrangements back home if you are forced to cut your trip short. 

Real-World Scenario: Leaving Your Trip Early Due to Family Illness

You are forced to leave your cruise unexpectedly to tend to a sick relative back home. Trip Interruption will reimburse you for the remainder of your cruise, as well as the costs to transport you home from a port city on your itinerary. 

Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR)

CruiseCare’s CFAR benefit allows you to cancel your cruise for any reason, even if it’s not covered by Trip Cancellation. In return, you’ll receive 90% of your prepaid, non-refundable Celebrity cruise costs as a future cruise credit. 

That credit must be used within one year of cancellation. It’s non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash. This benefit is offered directly by Celebrity, rather than through the main CruiseCare plan. 

Trip Delay

CruiseCare will cover up to $2,000 ($250 per day) in out-of-pocket catch-up expenses in the event you’re delayed while en route to, during, or returning from your cruise by at least three hours. 

Covered expenses typically include hotels, meals, and local transportation while delayed. The plan will also cover any unused land or water travel arrangements you missed as a result of the delay. 

Emergency Medical

CruiseCare provides up to $100,000 for accident medical expenses and up to $100,000 for sickness medical expenses. This is a significant upgrade to the $20,000 limits included in this policy before June 1, 2026, and is competitive with popular third-party cruise insurance plans. 

However, it’s important to note that pre-existing medical conditions are not protected by this plan. If you do have an existing health issue that could flare up during your cruise, we highly recommend finding a policy that includes a pre-existing condition waiver. 

Medical Evacuation

If you need to be evacuated to a nearby medical facility or repatriated back home for medical reasons, CruiseCare will cover transportation expenses up to $500,000. This is standard for cruise insurance plans, as getting airlifted from a cruise ship can be extremely costly. 

Baggage Protection

Lost, stolen, or damaged bags are covered up to $3,000 total ($500 per item limit). If your bags are delayed six or more hours, you’re covered up to $500 to purchase necessary personal items.

In comparison, this combination of high coverage limits and low delay threshold makes the CruiseCare baggage protection very appealing. 

24/7 Emergency Assistance (CareFree Travel Assistance)

Like all top travel insurance plans, CruiseCare includes 24-hour emergency assistance to all policyholders called CareFree Travel Assistance. 

This concierge-like service can be helpful when visiting foreign countries, assisting with: 

• International medical referrals 
• Coordination of evacuations 
• Emergency cash transfers 
• Lost luggage assistance
• Translation support

What Does Celebrity Cruise Insurance Not Cover?

• Non-Cruise-Related Expenses: CruiseCare only covers costs paid directly to Celebrity. Anything booked through a third party, like flights, pre-cruise hotels, or private excursions, will not be protected.
• Pre-Existing Medical Conditions: Medical expenses relating to a medical condition that existed before you purchased CruiseCare will not be eligible for reimbursement. 
• Cancel For Work Reasons: CruiseCare does not cover cancellations due to employer-required work obligations, such as revoked PTO. 
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment: CruiseCare does not include AD&D coverage, which is included in most third-party cruise plans.

How Does Celebrity CruiseCare Compare to Third-Party Cruise Insurance?

CruiseCare holds its own on a few key metrics, which cannot be said for most plans purchased directly from a travel supplier. However, there are a few categories in which it falls short of other third-party plans. 

See how it stacks up against some of the top-selling cruise insurance plans on Squremouth: 

*Pricing is based on a 55-year-old couple booking a $3,333 7-day Grand Cayman Celebrity cruise with an all-inclusive drinks package included. Actual pricing may vary based on age, cruise length, state of residence, and other factors. 

Where CruiseCare Stands Out

• The most convenient option, as it can be added with just a click during checkout 
• Medical coverage is on par with other top-rated cruise policies 
• At $3,000, CruiseCare offers among the best baggage protection on the market
• Highest reimbursement rate for covered delays compared to other featured cruise plans

Where CruiseCare Falls Short

• The most expensive option for cruisers compared to other top plans
• Provides no coverage for expenses made outside of your cruise booking
• $300 Missed Connection is the lowest of any plan featured
• CFAR issues expiring cruise credits, rather than cash reimbursement

How Much Does Celebrity CruiseCare Cost?

CruiseCare pricing is primarily based on your Celebrity cruise cost, not your age. That makes it attractive for older travelers, since third-party premiums typically increase with age. 

We pulled sample pricing data from top-selling Celebrity cruise routes to give you an idea of what to expect. We found premiums ranging from roughly 7% to 10% of the total cruise cost, or between $40 and $71 per day.

Comprehensive travel insurance typically costs 4-10% of your insured trip costs. CruiseCare premiums generally fall in the higher end of this range.  

If you cruise more than once per year, consider Annual Trip Insurance. These plans offer year-round protection for an unlimited number of trips, making it a cost-effective option if you plan to travel at least three times within 12 months. 

How Hard Is It to File a Claim With Celebrity CruiseCare?

CruiseCare claims are filed through Aon Affinity’s online portal, and the process is relatively straightforward. Before you submit, have the following ready:

• Proof of trip payment, including your booking confirmation and payment receipts
• Supporting documentation, such as cruise line cancellation alerts, policy reports, or medical records
• Itemized receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses you’re claiming

Important Note: Aon Affinity has a significant number of consumer complaints on record. If something goes wrong with your claim, you’re on your own. 

Policies purchased through Squaremouth come with a Zero Complaint Guarantee. If a provider denies a claim that Squaremouth believes should be paid, Squaremouth will intervene and advocate on your behalf, at no cost to you. 

Is Celebrity CruiseCare Worth It?

CruiseCare is by no means a bad plan; it has genuine strengths. But it’s fairly limited in scope, and only protects your cruise expenses and any incidents that happen while your cruise is in motion. 

Given its high price tag, this can be a deal breaker for most passengers, especially those who have to travel to their departure port. 

For most travelers, a third-party cruise insurance plan offers more complete protection, often at a lower price.

When CruiseCare May Be Worth Considering

• You’re booking a short, lower-cost Celebrity cruise 
• You do not have any outside expenses, like hotel bookings or airfare
• You want the convenience of adding protection in a single click at checkout
• You’re an older traveler whose age significantly increases third-party premiums
• You don’t have any pre-existing medical conditions

When a Third-Party Plan Is the Better Choice

• You booked flights, hotels, or excursions outside of Celebrity 
• You want CFAR as a cash refund, not an expiring cruise credit
• You value affordability over convenience
• You want a better claims experience than what AON Affinity offers

Better Travel Insurance Options for a Celebrity Cruise

If you want more complete protection for your Celebrity vacation, these Squaremouth-recommended plans are worth comparing. 

IMG iTravelInsured Choice Cruise

Why We Prefer It: iTravelInsured Choice Cruise is one of the top-rated cruise plans on Squaremouth. It matches CruiseCare’s medical and evacuation coverage, while also covering all of your travel expenses. IMG’s plan was also more than 35% less expensive than CruiseCare at the time of writing. 

Tin Leg Cruise

Why We Prefer It: When it comes to customer satisfaction, few providers offer a superior experience to Tin Leg. This policy may not beat CruiseCare in every category, but it does offer well-rounded protection for cruise-related benefits. Most notably, Tin Leg – Cruise also offers excellent coverage for adventure activities, making it a great option if your cruise includes scuba diving, zip-lining, or other high-risk excursions. 

Seven Corners Cruise

Why We Prefer It: Seven Corners’ Cruise plan offers the highest Emergency Medical coverage of any plan in this article, providing up to $250,000 in reimbursement per person. It also includes the option to add CFAR coverage, which reimburses you in cash rather than future cruise credit. 

See the Best Cruise Insurance

FAQs: Celebrity Cruise Travel Insurance

Is Celebrity CruiseCare the same as travel insurance?

Yes, Celebrity CruiseCare is generally the same as a travel insurance policy you would purchase directly from a provider or from a travel insurance marketplace. The main difference is that it only protects a specific type of expense (your cruise booking). 

Does Celebrity CruiseCare cover flights?

No, CruiseCare only covers cruise costs paid to Celebrity. If you booked flights independently or through a third party (not Flights by Celebrity), they are not covered. 

Travelers who want to insure their full trip, including airfare and hotels, should purchase a third-party policy that covers all prepaid, non-refundable trip costs. Third-party coverage is particularly recommended if you are traveling a long distance to make it to your port of departure. 

Can I cancel my Celebrity cruise for any reason with CruiseCare?

Yes, but the refund comes as a 90% cruise credit, not cash. The credit must be used within one year of cancellation and cannot be transferred or redeemed for cash. 

When do I need to buy Celebrity CruiseCare?

CruiseCare can be added at booking or any time before making your final cruise payment. However, to qualify for CFAR coverage, it must be purchased within 14 days of your initial deposit. For the best coverage, add it as early as possible. CruiseCare is refundable within 10 days of purchase.

Is Celebrity’s medical coverage enough?

Yes. In general, we recommend cruisers find a policy that offers at least $100,000 in Emergency Medical coverage and $250,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage. CruiseCare meets these recommendations thanks to a policy update on June 1, 2026.