Going on a short cruise outside Australian waters where Medicare is not available? A Pacific cruise? An around-the-world ocean cruise? A river cruise in Europe or Asia?
Wherever you plan to cruise, our Travel Insurance policies have you covered. You must pay an additional premium to add Cruise Cover to your Comprehensive, Essential or Basic plan for cruise-specific coverage.
You do not need to add Cruise cover for one night cruises, ferry trips or for Domestic plans available for cruising in Australia or in Australian coastal waters.
Choose Your Cruise Insurance Policy
You can add Cruise Cover on our International Comprehensive, Essential and Basic Travel Insurance policies.
Our most extensive international travel insurance policy will provide cover for our full list of benefits and entitles you to our maximum benefit amounts.
- $Unlimited* overseas medical expenses benefit, including COVID-19 related medical expenses. Cover will not exceed 12 months from onset of the illness, condition or injury.
- Overseas dental expenses – Up to $2,000
- If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 – self-isolation expenses if you are too sick to travel – Up to $2,500^^
- Amendment or cancellation costs due to COVID-19**^^
- Amendment or cancellation costs (e.g. for non-refundable prepaid travel and accommodation expenses) – Up to $10,000 (or the amount you choose) per policy
- Luggage and personal effects – Up to $10,000 (sub-limits apply)
*Where ‘$Unlimited’ is used here, it means that there is no capped dollar sum insured.
Our critical level of protection at a cheaper price for international travel provides cover for essential benefits and entitles you to generous benefit amounts.
* Where ‘$Unlimited’ is used here, it means that there is no capped dollar sum insured.
** Cover is available to buy via options to vary cover. Additional premium applies.
^^ A special excess applies.
Our basic level of cover at our cheapest price for international travel provides cover for an $unlimited amount of overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses.
- $Unlimited* overseas medical expenses benefit, including COVID-19 related medical expenses. Cover will not exceed 12 months from onset of the illness, condition or injury.
- Overseas dental expenses – Up to $500
- If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 self-isolation expenses if you are too sick to travel – Up to $2,500^^
- Amendment or cancellation costs due to COVID-19**^^
- No cover for any travel amendment or cancellation costs
- Luggage and personal effects – Up to $2,000 (sub-limits apply)
* Where ‘$Unlimited’ is used here, it means that there is no capped dollar sum insured.
** Cover is available to buy via options to vary cover. Additional premium applies.
^^ A special excess applies.
Medical cover will not exceed 12 months from onset. Terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply. Please check the Combined Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement for further details.
Compare all insurance
Compare all Budget Direct travel insurance before you buy and get the cover you want.
What's covered by Cruise Cover?
- Onboard medical costs (including if you're diagnosed with COVID-19) - $Unlimited*. Cover will not exceed 12 months from onset of illness, injury or condition.
- Onboard dental costs - Up to $2,000
- Ship-to-shore medical cover - $Unlimited
- Sea sickness cover - $Unlimited
- Cabin confinement ($100 per day) - Up to $1,500
- Missed port (embarkation) - Up to $1,000
- Missed shore excursions - Up to $1,000
* Where ‘$Unlimited’ is used here, it means that there is no capped dollar sum insured.
What's not covered by Cruise Cover?
- Cabin confinement from or caused by COVID-19
- Any medical, dental or hospital expenses in Australia
Medical cover will not exceed 12 months from onset. Terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply. Please check the Combined Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement for further details.
Benefits Included in Cruise Cover
Onboard medical and dental costs
We cover $unlimited overseas medical expenses (for up to 12 months from onset of the illness, condition or injury) when you receive treatment onboard a cruise ship outside Australia on the advice of a qualified medical practitioner. “$Unlimited” means no dollar capped sum insured. Cover will not exceed 12 months from onset of the illness.
We also provide limited cover for emergency dental treatment received on board a cruise ship.
Ship to shore medical cover
We cover the $unlimited cost of emergency transport provided outside Australia to evacuate you to the nearest onshore medical facility on the advice of a qualified medical practitioner. “$Unlimited” means no dollar capped sum insured.
Sea sickness cover
If you suffer from sea sickness while on board a cruise ship we'll cover the cost of medical treatment you receive outside Australia on the advice of a qualified medical practitioner.
Cabin confinement
Cover for up to $100 per day (up to $1,500) if you are confined to your cruise cabin due to injury, sickness, or disease. If you are confined for at least 24 hours, you can receive this benefit.
Keep in mind this benefit does not cover cabin confinement due to COVID-19 (regardless of whether you are diagnosed with COVID-19).
Missed port cover and missed shore excursions
If you miss your cruise departure to or from Australia, we will pay the costs you incur (up to $1,000) for you to take alternative public transport to catch up with your itinerary.
And if you miss a prepaid shore excursion, we’ll pay for the non-refundable cost of the unused, prepaid ticket (up to $1,000).
Keep in mind this benefit does not cover claims caused by COVID-19 (regardless of whether you are diagnosed with COVID-19).
Terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply.
For full details, please read the Combined FSG & PDS.
Find out more
The information on this page is a summary only. For more details about Budget Direct Travel Insurance, including the terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions that apply, please read the Combined FSG & PDS.
Travel Insurance FAQs
Can I get travel insurance for cruises?
Yes, you can add Cruise Cover to all of our international travel insurance policies for cruises overseas or outside Australian Territorial Waters. An additional premium applies.
Does travel insurance cover medical costs while I'm on a cruise?
Yes – when you add Cruise Cover, Budget Direct's International plans provide $unlimited onboard medical coverage (for up to 12 months from onset of the illness, condition or injury) as well as up to $2,000 worth of dental cover. “$Unlimited” means no dollar capped sum insured.
Can I get travel insurance if I have an existing medical condition?
You can still get cover for travel insurance, if you have an existing medical condition.
Budget Direct travel insurance covers a range of existing medical conditions automatically (subject to the criteria).
For others, you can complete a health assessment at the same time you get your quote. If approved, an additional premium may apply.
Check the Combined FSG & PDS for more information about existing medical conditions and what the policy covers.
Does travel insurance cover trip cancellation?
All Budget Direct travel insurance plans except Basic plan can cover the cost of cancelling (or amending) your trip due to circumstances outside Your control and unforeseeable at the Relevant Time.
“Relevant Time” in respect of:
a) Single Trip policies means the time of issue of the policy.
b) Annual Multi-Trip policies means the first time at which any part of the relevant trip is paid for or the time at which the policy is issued, whichever occurs last.
Does travel insurance cover mechanical breakdown?
Yes – if your aircraft or sea vessel is delayed for at least 6 hours, you can claim:
travel delay expenses for additional accommodation expenses (excluding Basic policy). We do not pay for other costs such as food, drinks, groceries, laundry etc.
