Cruise travel insurance claims reveal costly medical realities for Australians, says SCTI

As the peak cruising season winds down, Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) has released new insights revealing the real cost of cruise-related medical claims, highlighting why insurance is essential for Australian travellers heading out to sea.

Between May 2024 and April 2025, SCTI data shows that travellers from Tasmania are the most likely to make a cruise-related claim, with 16% of policyholders from the island state filing a claim. Victoria (11.2%) and Queensland (10.1%) followed, while Australian Capital Territory (ACT) residents were the least likely to claim, at just 5.6%.

SCTI, which operates in both Australia and New Zealand, also noted a 42% higher likelihood of Australians making a cruise claim compared to their Kiwi counterparts.

Medical expenses remain the primary source of claims, with costs on board cruise ships often far exceeding those on land. One SCTI customer was charged over AU$8,500 for medical services, including consultation, catheterisation and tests. Additional costs included AU$878 for medical supplies and AU$1,222 for medication.

Another cruise-related claim surpassed AU$11,000, with telehealth consultations costing AU$900 and medical monitoring over 17 hours adding up to more than AU$1,600.

The average cruise claim came in at AU$1,329 – only slightly below the average overseas travel insurance claim of AU$1,359 – but the outlier costs underscore the financial risks of going without cruise-specific cover.

Jess Strange, Chief Customer Officer at SCTI, said the figures serve as a reminder that cruise insurance is not optional.

“We’ve seen claims for prescription paracetamol on US-flagged cruise ships sometimes in the region of US$200, so it definitely pays to have travel insurance,” she said.

“Australians are a nation of cruise enthusiasts, and while cruising is a fantastic way to travel, medical care can be expensive – especially when ships are in remote locations, or if repatriation or air ambulances are required.”

The ITIJ team recently took a close look at whether existing cruise insurance policies keeping pace with the changing market.