Norwegian Cruise Line Travel Insurance: What You Need to Know Before Setting Sail
Searching for the right cruise requires lots of time, energy, and money. Unfortunately, cruises also present unique logistical challenges that can lead to travel delays, weather disruptions, needing medical evacuation to shore, and more, which can derail your vacation if you aren’t adequately prepared.
Travel insurance can cover unexpected events, safeguard your investment, and give you the peace of mind to enjoy your journey fully.
In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about Norwegian Cruise Line’s travel insurance policy as well as how it compares to third-party travel insurance plans on the open market.
Anticipating Potential Risks on Your Cruise:
- Medical Coverage: If your cruise is outside of the United States, it’s important to understand that your standard health insurance likely won’t be accepted. Traditional health insurance typically only works in the United States with in-network providers. This is where travel insurance can bridge the gap for you by providing access and payment for medical care abroad. Additionally, medical treatment on board the cruise ship is limited, and you may need to travel to shore if you experience a medical emergency while at sea. Ensuring you have coverage in place to arrange and pay for this in an emergency is key.
- Trip Cancellations or Interruptions: Apart from medical concerns, understanding what might happen if you need to cancel your cruise is an important consideration. Cancelling your cruise could end up costing thousands if you don’t have the proper cancellation coverage lined up. Travel insurance can cover you for cancellations due to illness, job loss, severe weather, or other unexpected life events. Some third-party plans even let you cancel for any reason at all for an added fee.
- Missed Connections: It’s not uncommon for people to run into issues before or during their cruise that cause them to miss the ship when it comes time to board. We’ve read horror stories of people struggling to meet back up with their NCL ship and being left with no access to funds or support. Travel insurance can offer missed connection coverage to pay for unexpected costs, such as last-minute flights or hotel stays, to help you get back to the cruise ship, as well as offer 24/7 assistance and support.
- Lost or Delayed Luggage: Imagine the airline loses your luggage and you start to set sail, bouncing from port to port with no fixed destination for the airline to deliver your luggage to. This, combined with spotty cell signal at sea, makes for a nightmare scenario for some. Travel insurance can pay you for lost & delayed luggage by offering a daily stipend to buy necessities, as well as covering the cost of your lost items if they never appear.
Does Norwegian Cruise Line Sell Travel Insurance?
Yes, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) offers its own travel insurance plans backed by Nationwide. As of 02/03/2025, NCL has done away with its Booksafe Travel Protection Plans and has released 2 new versions called:
Here is a look at what each covers:
| Coverage Category | Travel Protection Plan | NorwegianCare Travel Protection Plan |
| Medical Care | $20,000 | $50,000 |
| Medical Evacuation | $25,000 | $250,000 |
| Repatriation | $5,000 | $25,000 |
| Trip Cancellation | None | 100% of trip costs |
| Trip Interruption | None | 150% of trip costs |
| Trip Delay | $500 | $1,000 |
| Baggage and Personal Effects | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Baggage Delay | U$750 | $500 |
| 24/7 Assistance | Yes | Yes |
Is Norwegian Cruise Line Travel Insurance any good?
Norwegian’s travel insurance plans are standard when it comes to trip cancellations and interruptions, but they are inferior when considering medical, evacuation, and repatriation coverage. These benefits are arguably the most important coverage for cruise insurance plans, and the medical limits alone are too low to pay for expensive emergency medical interventions abroad, in our opinion.
Norwegian Cruise Line Insurance vs. Third-Party Travel Insurance
Deciding if a cruise travel insurance plan with Norwegian Cruise Line is a good choice comes down to its benefits versus alternatives on the market. Here is a look at how NCL’s travel insurance benefits stack up to common limits with other companies:
- Medical Coverage: Norwegian offers up to $20,000 – $50,000 for covering medical expenses, which is well under the top limits offered by other providers, which can reach up to $500,000.
- Coverage for Trip Cancellation or Interruption: covering up to 100% and 150% of your total trip costs, respectively, is standard. However, some third-party companies can cover up to 200% of your total trip costs for interruptions.
- Baggage Protection: NCL’s baggage loss limit of $1,500 for baggage loss is average. Some plans cover $2,000-$3,000 or baggage coverage, which is a safer bet if you are a heavy packer or have expensive items you plan to bring with you.
- Travel Delays: NCL’s $500-$1,000 travel delay limits are alright, but you can find other providers that offer up to $2,000 of travel delay protection.
With third-party plans, you’ll find options for higher limits, greater flexibility, and more types of coverage benefits available to you, like Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage, than you would with Norwegian Cruise Line’s travel insurance plans.
When Should You Buy Travel Insurance for Your Norwegian Cruise?
Certain benefits, like pre-existing conditions coverage or CFAR coverage, require you to buy your travel insurance policy within 14-21 days of making your initial trip booking. For this reason, we always recommend getting travel insurance as soon as possible. The sooner you book, the more benefits you are likely to qualify for. That said, cancellation coverage is another factor to consider because the sooner you buy travel insurance, the sooner you are able to receive coverage for unexpected cancellations.
How Much Does Travel Insurance for a Norwegian Cruise Cost?
On average, a comprehensive travel insurance policy costs 4-10% of your total trip cost. That said, the cost of travel insurance varies from person to person depending on a few details:
- The Age of the Travelers: Senior travelers tend to pay more for travel insurance, particularly medical coverage.
- The Length of the Cruise: Longer cruises typically require higher premiums due to being covered for a longer period.
- The Total Trip Cost: The more expensive your trip is, the higher your coverage limits will need to be, which will impact the price of your travel insurance policy.
We recommend using a quote tool to view prices from several providers at once to ensure you find the best deal.
Best Travel Insurance Options for Norwegian Cruises
Nationwide, Tin Leg, and IMG all offer well-established cruise insurance plans at affordable prices. For details on these plans and more, have a look at our list of the best cruise insurance polices of 2025 for more information.
Bottom Line: Although Norwegian Cruise Line’s travel insurance policies may offer adequate coverage for some travelers, the medical coverage may not be enough for far-flung cruises and certain travelers prone to needing costly medical care.
We recommend comparing third-party travel insurance plans to ensure you find the best coverage for your individual needs.
FAQs: Norwegian Cruise Line Travel Insurance
How can I get assistance via NorwegianCare while traveling?
CareFree Travel Assistance™ is the Emergency Assistance Provider for NorwegianCare. You can call their 24/7 help line for assistance with things like medical care, transportation, lost documents, cash transfers, and more.
Does NorwegianCare cover me if I have to cancel my trip?
If you cancel due to a reason covered by NorwegianCare’s policy, you can receive up to a 100% refund. Otherwise, if the cancellation is due to a reason not covered by your policy, you may be eligible for a credit to use for a future booking on Norwegian.
Can I cancel my NorwegianCare Travel Protection plan for a refund?
You can cancel a NorwegianCare plan within 10 days of buying it, but rules vary based on your state of residence, so it’s best to consult the fine print directly in your policy.
What if my flight is delayed and I miss the ship?
If your flight is delayed and you miss the ship. Your NorwegianCare policy can reimburse you for up to $1k of hotels, meals, and transport costs. If it’s due to an issue caused by the common carrier and you booked your airfare via NCL, you may be eligible for up to a 100% reimbursement.
What happens if I lose my job and cannot go on my cruise?
If you’ve worked at the same company for at least 1 year and lose your job involuntarily after buying NorwegianCare, cancellation coverage applies.
Are my air and hotel covered by NorwegianCare?
These costs are only covered by NorwegianCare if your airfare and hotel were booked through Norwegian Cruise Line.
What happens if an “act of God” or natural disaster occurs?
If your home is made uninhabitable due to an act of God, such as a fire, flood, earthquake, or hurricane, the trip cancellation and interruption benefits may apply. If it’s due to simple bad weather that causes a trip delay, your NorwegianCare policy can reimburse you for up to $1k of hotels, meals, and transport costs.
When can I buy NorwegianCare Travel Protection?
You must buy NCL’s travel protection plan before your final cruise payment date. It’s best to book as soon as you buy your cruise to ensure you receive full coverage benefits. Cancellation protection starts once your payment is received, and all other coverage starts once your cruise departs.
Note: Third-party travel insurance plans let you buy coverage up until the day of your trip.
Can Canadians buy NorwegianCare?
Yes, eligibility is based on your residence status, not your citizenship. If you are a Canadian citizen residing in the United States, you can buy NorwegianCare. If you reside in Canada, you must purchase a Canadian plan.