Virgin Voyages travel insurance compared: the line's own protection plan vs a third-party policy, what to insure on an all-in voyage fare, and what it costs.
VisitorsCoverage
Start hereUS marketplace that compares cruise-specific plans from several insurers in one quote, including medical-only and cancel-for-any-reason options.
EKTA
Online travel insurer for international travelers with medical, evacuation and trip-cancellation cover, bought in minutes before departure.
Policies are priced on the trip cost you insure and the oldest traveler's age. Enter the total you would lose if you canceled (cruise fare, flights, hotels, excursions paid upfront).
Typical premium
$205 – $328
About 5–8% of the trip cost for 2 travelers. Real quotes depend on your state or country of residence, trip length and the plan's medical limits; a medical-only plan without cancellation cover is usually far cheaper.
Virgin Voyages is adults-only and sells one all-in "voyage fare" that already includes tips and basic drinks. That shapes how you insure it: the number you protect is the whole voyage fare, and it looks higher than a bare cruise fare on other lines because more is inside it. In our price data the median cheapest fare is €1,777 per person for a 7-night voyage, and the cheapest we hold is €1,023, for a four-night trip from Miami.
When you book, Virgin Voyages offers the line's own travel protection plan as an optional extra. Like most cruise-line plans, it typically works this way:
Check the plan document for what is covered, what is excluded and how refunds are paid. Do not assume any detail from another line's plan applies here.
A third-party travel insurance policy is bought from an insurer or comparison site rather than from the line. It gives you choices a line plan does not:
For US residents, remember that Medicare does not cover you at sea or abroad. The ship's medical center charges for treatment and bills you, even on a short Bahamas trip.
Watch out: Medical evacuation from a ship can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Check the evacuation limit in any plan or policy, not only the medical one.
| Question | Cruise-line plan | Third-party policy |
|---|---|---|
| How is it priced? | Typically per fare band | Typically by trip cost, age and cover level |
| When can I buy it? | Usually up to final payment | Any time before departure; waivers and CFAR need early purchase |
| How is a cancellation refunded? | Often partly as future cruise credit | Usually cash, up to the insured trip cost |
| Can I choose medical limits? | No, they are set by the plan | Yes |
| Flights booked separately? | Often not covered | Can be included |
| Cancel for any reason? | Check the plan document | Often available as an add-on |
| Pre-existing conditions? | Check the plan document | Waiver possible if bought early |
The trip cost you declare should be what you would lose if you had to cancel: the voyage fare, plus flights and hotels you booked yourself. On Virgin Voyages there is no separate gratuity charge to add, because tips are in the fare, and basic drinks are too.
What is not part of the trip cost is money you plan to spend on board, such as cocktails, spa treatments or shore excursions you pay for as you go. If you prepaid excursions or extras before sailing, check whether they are refundable before adding them to the insured amount.
The industry rule of thumb is that a comprehensive policy costs about 4–10% of the insured trip cost, more for older travelers and with CFAR.
In our price data, Virgin Voyages' median cheapest fare is €1,777 per person for a 7-night voyage. For a couple flying to Miami:
So a couple would pay roughly €175 to €435 for a comprehensive policy on that trip. The estimator above runs the sum for your own numbers.
Buy soon after the deposit. Waivers and CFAR usually need early purchase, and the line's own plan typically has to be added before final payment, so compare both before that date.
Tip: Know the fare before you insure it. A price alert tells you when a voyage fare drops; if your booking is repriced, update the insured trip cost.
If you live in the US, compare cruise plans at VisitorsCoverage, which quotes several insurers at once. EKTA sells to travelers from most other countries, including the UK and Europe. Both are in the boxes above. Policies differ by country of residence and insurer, so read the plan document before buying.
More reading: the Virgin Voyages cruise line guide, adults-only cruises, the cruise insurance hub, best cruise insurance and what cruise insurance costs.
No. The Virgin Voyages fare includes tips and basic drinks, but not travel insurance. The line offers its own travel protection plan as an optional extra when you book, and you can buy a third-party policy instead.
Insure the whole voyage fare you paid, plus any flights and hotels you would lose if you canceled. Because tips and basic drinks are already in the fare, there is no separate gratuity charge to add, but money you spend on board is not part of the trip cost.
Cruise-line plans typically cover cancellation for listed reasons, some medical and evacuation costs, and baggage. They are usually priced per fare band, must be added before final payment and may refund part of a cancellation as future cruise credit. Check the plan document for the exact terms.
Even a four-night Bahamas trip leaves US waters, and Medicare does not cover you at sea or abroad. The ship's medical center charges for treatment and bills you, and an evacuation from a ship can cost tens of thousands of dollars, so medical cover is worth having on any length of voyage.
Buy soon after you pay the deposit. Pre-existing condition waivers and cancel-for-any-reason cover usually have to be bought within a set window after the first deposit, and the line's own plan typically has to be added before final payment.
Updated 13 Oct 2026 · data refreshed nightly
Yes, a third-party policy can include flights and hotels you booked yourself, as long as you add their cost to the insured trip cost. A cruise-line plan often covers only what you booked through the line, so check the plan document.
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