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Travel insurance for river cruising

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From the mighty Murray to the wilds of Kakadu, Australia’s rivers are rich in history and full of natural wonders, backed by breathtaking landscapes.

Whether you’re planning to float down one of the world’s longest navigable rivers—the Murray River stretches more than 2,500kms—or marvel at the craggy ochre cliffs steeped in 50,000 years of Indigenous history in Kakadu, if things get choppy along the way, it helps to know you may be covered.

Do you cover river cruises in Australia and abroad?

Cruising is one of the most-fun ways to experience a new—or favourite—destination. That’s why our travel insurance can cover you for both domestic and international river cruising.

Our domestic travel insurance plans provide cover for inland river cruises within Australia, however, if ocean cruising beckons to you like a siren, you should consider our international travel insurance plans—even when cruising just off the coast of Australia.

While we hope your cruise holiday is smooth sailing, at nib, we’re no stranger to cruise-related mishaps like unexpected delays, lost luggage, and medical evacuation. That’s why we’re here to help you navigate your way if things get choppy.

Grab your nib travel insurance today.

Why you should consider travel insurance for your river cruise holiday

When you take a nib travel insurance policy with you on your holiday, we can help get you back on track if the unexpected takes you off course. Such as:

You suddenly become unwell
Suddenly realise all that rocking back and forth turns your tummy? Travel insurance can help when Medicare can’t. Like when you need on-board medical treatment while cruising Australia’s spectacular coastline.

If the weather impacts your cruise
Whether you can’t go on a pre-paid shore excursion because of severe weather, or your cruise is delayed because a cyclone has other plans for your itinerary, weather can impact a cruise in all sorts of ways.

If you’re impacted by COVID-19
Since the pandemic, boats are notorious hotspots for an outbreak of COVID-19. Our plans offer cover for a range of coronavirus-related events (excl. Cancellation and Additional Expenses Plan); however, the benefits and limits vary depending on the level of cover you choose.

If you need medical evacuation
Our plans cover medical evacuation and repatriation if you need to disembark early because it’s medically necessary.

With Comprehensive and Essentials Plans, you can compare and choose the cover that’s right for your cruising holiday.

What’s not covered

Our travel insurance plans are there to help when the unexpected happens while you’re on holiday. But they’re not designed to cover everything. Some things we don’t cover include:

  • Medical treatment on-board an ocean-based cruise if you’ve chosen a domestic travel insurance policy, even if you’re just off the coast of Australia
  • Changing your mind: If you decide not to travel because you’ve changed your mind
  • If your luggage is lost or stolen because you left it unattended, or did not take reasonable care to look after it
  • Any medical, hospital, dental or ambulance expenses you incur in Australia if you’ve purchased an international plan
  • Any existing medical condition where your plan does not include it, or an additional premium has not been paid

It’s always a good idea to run over the terms and conditions with a fine-toothed comb, so you’re comfortable with your level of coverage.

Get a quote

Sound like your trip would benefit from some protection? Get your nib travel insurance quote today.

Already cruising? You can still purchase travel insurance while travelling.


Need to know more?

If you’re still unsure which travel insurance policy is right for you, or you’re unsure what to do if things go wrong while you’re on your cruise, we’re here to help. Get in touch and we’ll answer your questions.

In case of emergency, the experienced Emergency Assistance Team is available 24/7 to help you out with any medical issue you may have.

The above features and benefits are a summary of cover only. Cover is subject to the full terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions outlined in the Product Disclosure Statement.

FAQs

Do I need to purchase an international travel policy if I’m cruising off the coast of Australia?
Yes. Our domestic travel insurance plans are only designed to cover inland river cruising within Australia. Even if you’re only cruising off the coast of Queensland, or around Tasmania, to be covered for onboard medical care, you will need to purchase one of our international travel insurance plans.
What happens if my cruise trip is cancelled?
If your cruise trip is unexpectedly cancelled by your cruise operator because of severe weather or natural disaster, we may be able to help cover any pre-paid costs of your planned trip. In the case of a travel agent’s cancellation fees, you will not be able to claim more than the limit outlined in your Schedule of benefits.
I am overseas right now - can I buy, change, or upgrade my policy?
You can buy travel insurance even when you’re already travelling. If you wish to extend your policy, you may be able to if you meet the eligible criteria outlined in your Product Disclosure Statement. Be aware that if you’ve already started travelling when your Certificate of Insurance is issued a 72-hour waiting period applies.

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