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Yes — Nationwide cruise insurance is a legitimate product. The company has been in business since 1925 and is a reputable insurance provider.
You can choose from multiple cruise policies based on your unique coverage needs. Each one is underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
In addition to cruise insurance and travel insurance, Nationwide offers a selection of pet, home, auto and farmland policies. The company also provides banking and financial services.
Industry experts have a high level of confidence in Nationwide. The company has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau; A.M. Best ranks it as A+ Superior in the category of companies with a financial size of $2 billion or greater.
Let’s take a look at the main highlights, features and benefits you can access when you purchase cruise insurance from Nationwide.
Bottom line: Main highlights of Nationwide cruise insurance
Nationwide offers three travel insurance plans designed specifically for cruises. That way, you can choose the one that best suits your travel plans and budget.
Even the base-level plan includes high levels of protection, which isn’t always the case for cruise insurance. Plus, you’ll get access to Nationwide’s 24/7 travel assistance support team if you need help before or after you sail.
Nationwide cruise insurance plans & coverage
When you buy cruise insurance from Nationwide, you can choose from one of three plans.
Each onecovers 100% of the trip cost if you need to cancel for a covered reason, which is a great way to protect your prepaid, nonrefundable deposits. All three plans also include coverage to help you recoup lost costs if your trip is interrupted. You can get reimbursed for 125% of the trip costs for the Universal plan and 150% for the Choice and Luxury plans.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these three options.
This is Nationwide’s most basic cruise plan. It’s a good option for shorter cruises that are relatively close to home. You’ll get $75,000 in secondary medical coverage and $250,000 for medical evacuation coverage — that’s critical, especially if you have an emergency while the cruise ship is at sea. This policy doesn’t include coverage for pre-existing conditions or accidental death and dismemberment. When it comes to delays, the Nationwide Universal cruise insurance plan will give you up to $100 per day up to $500 per person. This coverage can help you pay for hotels, food and other costs.
This midrange cruise insurance plan is a great option for longer cruises. It comes with $100,000 in travel medical insurance and $500,000 for medical evacuation, which is useful if you break a leg on shore excursion in Alaska and need to be airlifted to the nearest hospital. This policy also includes $25,000 for nonmedical evacuation. It can help you get home after a natural disaster, a political situation or a security problem. The Choice plan will cover your pre-existing conditions. However, you must buy the policy within 14 days of your first deposit. The policy also includes $25,000 for accidental death and dismemberment. Dealing with a delay? Cruise Choice gives you $150 per day up to $750 to cover the additional expenses. This higher limit can help you save money if you’re stuck in an expensive city, you need to book a new flight to meet the cruise or you lose out on prepaid accommodation bookings due to the delay.
When you’re traveling to a far-flung destination or taking a very long cruise, the Luxury plan can help protect your investment. It includes trip delay insurance of $200 per day up to $1,000, so you’re covered if you miss the cruise departure and need to catch up. You can also opt for cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage for additional peace of mind. The Nationwide Luxury cruise insurance plan is also ideal if you have health concerns. It covers pre-existing conditions as long as you purchase within 14 days of the first cruise payment. Plus, you’ll get $150,000 in medical coverage and $1,000,000 in medical evacuation. If you fall ill on a cruise to the Galapagos or Antarctica, this coverage ensures you’re not stuck with the cost of a medical flight back to the mainland. Like the Choice plan, this plan offers $25,000 for accidental death and dismemberment.
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Here’s a comparison of the benefits and per-person coverage limits for each Nationwide cruise insurance plan.
Cruise Universal
Cruise Choice
Cruise Luxury
Trip Cancellation
100% of trip cost
100% of trip cost
100% of trip cost
Trip Interruption
125% of trip cost
150% of trip cost
150% of trip cost
Travel Delay
$100 per day, $500 per person
$150 per day, $750 per person
$200 per day, $1,000 per person
Missed Connections
$500 after 3-hour delay
$1,500 after 8-hour delay
$2,500 after 6-hour delay
Pre-Existing Condition Coverage
No
Yes; must buy policy within 14 days of first deposit payment
Yes; must buy policy within 14 days of first deposit payment
Emergency Accident and Sickness Medical Expenses
$75,000 (secondary coverage)
$100,000 (secondary coverage)
$150,000 (secondary coverage)
Accidental Death
N/A
$25,000
$25,000
Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
$250,000
$500,000
$1,000,000
Nonmedical Evacuation
N/A
$25,000
$25,000
Baggage Delay
$250 per person after 8-hour delay
$500 per person after 8-hour delay
$1,000 per person after 6-hour delay
Baggage and Personal Effects
$1,500 per person, $300 per item
$2,500 per person, $300 per item
$2,500 per person, $500 per item
Cancel for any reason (CFAR) available
No
No
Yes
Interruption for any reason (IFAR) available
Yes, $250
Yes, $500
Yes, $1,000
Optional add-ons
If Nationwide’s base policies don’t provide all the coverage you need, it’s possible to buy extra coverage for an additional fee.
Here are two optional add-ons that Nationwide offers with its cruise insurance.
Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage
When you purchase the Luxury Cruise plan from Nationwide, you have the option to buy CFAR coverage. If you cancel the trip for a reason that isn’t covered by the original policy, this add-on reimburses you for up to 75% of the cost of your trip. This can come in handy, considering the base policy excludes things like mental or emotional disorders (unless you’re hospitalized). With the CFAR add-on, you’ll be covered if you need to cancel the cruise due to a bout of depression or anxiety
Interruption for any reason (IFAR) coverage
Need to leave your cruise early? The IFAR add-on reimburses you for costs that include lost payments and deposits and airfare to get home (minus any credits from the original ticket). Keep in mind that this coverage has limits — the Universal Cruise Plan will make reimbursements up to $250, the Choice Cruise plan covers up to $500, and the Luxury Cruise Plan reimburses you for up to $1,000. If you need to leave to take care of a work emergency on the second day of a $5,000 cruise, you’ll only be able to recover a small portion of the costs.
Things not covered by Nationwide cruise insurance
Nationwide’s cruise policies come with a list of exclusions, or things that aren’t covered. These situations can vary from policy to policy and even between coverage types — in other words, the exclusions for baggage delay insurance might be different from those for medical insurance.
It’s always important to read the fine print, but for reference, here’s a list of common Nationwide cruise insurance exclusions:
Use of drugs or alcohol
Extreme sports and contact sports, including hang gliding, canyoneering or scuba diving
Underwater activities
Participation in professional athletics as an athlete
Flying or learning to fly a plane
Intentional self-harm, including suicide and suicide attempts
Mental and emotional disorders (unless you’re hospitalized)
Crimes
Nonemergency medical procedures
Travel against the advice of a doctor
War or invasion
Treatment in a government hospital
Pregnancy or childbirth, unless there are complications
In addition, Nationwide excludes anything not specifically listed as covered in your policy.
Cost of Nationwide cruise insurance plans
Based on our research, we found that Nationwide cruise insurance costs around $11 to $15 per day.
To give you a better idea of how much Nationwide cruise insurance costs, we got quotes for each of the three cruise insurance plans for five popular cruise destinations. We then took the average of each quote.
Bear in mind that the cost of cruise insurance depends on several factors, such as your age and the trip cost, so your premium will differ from those listed above. To find out how much you’ll pay for insurance, use our online comparison tool to get a quote.
Nationwide cruise insurance reviews from customers
Nationwide has an overall rating of 4.01 out of 5 on Squaremouth. We read through hundreds of reviews to help you understand the overall attitudes toward the company’s policies. Bear in mind that these ratings come from all Nationwide travel insurance reviews, so they’re not all cruise-specific.
Here’s what reviewers are saying about Nationwide.
What customers like
Customers who are impressed with Nationwide travel insurance policies often mention:
Helpful customer service
Reasonable prices
Easy to set up a policy
Here are a few comments from positive Nationwide cruise insurance reviews:
“We had to cancel our cruise because of COVID…the claim process was smooth and efficient.” - James
“Nationwide handled our trip interruption extremely well. The service provided by One Call International was thorough, and we were treated well.” - Gary
What customers don’t like
Unhappy Nationwide customers often mention:
Slow response times for claims and customer service
Excessive documentation requirements for claims
Long claim process
Here are a few comments from negative reviews:
“Difficult claim process and no information back.” - Lauren
“They were impossible to reach by phone, and it took approximately 6 to 8 weeks to get a response via email.” - Flash
Is Nationwide cruise insurance worth it?
Yes, it’s definitely worth it to buy Nationwide cruise insurance.
Cruises are expensive, and the company’s comprehensive policies can help protect you financially if you need to cancel or interrupt the trip. With cruise-specific plans for every budget and a few optional add-ons, it’s easy to find a plan that suits your finances and your itinerary.
For basic coverage, the Universal Cruise plan is an affordable insurance option. Consider the Choice Cruise plan for mid-length cruises, and opt for the Luxury Cruise plan if you’re taking an expensive trip that sails to far-flung ports.
If you’re looking for cruise insurance with primary medical coverage or higher coverage limits for baggage and delays, you may want to go for another provider.
FAQ: Nationwide cruise insurance
Who underwrites Nationwide cruise insurance?
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and its affiliated companies underwrite the provider’s cruise policies.
Do Nationwide cruise insurance plans cover COVID?
Nationwide cruise insurance covers COVID-19, assuming it falls within the other terms of the policy. If you catch COVID-19 on board the ship, for example, your policy covers a doctor’s services, lab tests, hospitalization if necessary and medications. If you get sick before you leave, your trip cancellation insurance should cover lost costs up to the maximum benefit — however, you will likely need documentation from a doctor that says you shouldn’t travel because of the illness.
When should I buy Nationwide insurance for a cruise?
You should buy a Nationwide cruise insurance policy as soon as possible after making your first payment on the cruise. That way, you’ll be covered if something happens to cancel or interrupt your trip.
Plus, some plans have time-sensitive benefits. If you have pre-existing medical conditions, you can get coverage under the Choice and Luxury plans — but only if you buy a policy within 14 days after you make the first deposit and opt to cover the whole cost of your trip.
How do I file a claim with Nationwide cruise insurance?
If you need to file a claim with Nationwide, you should always start by calling the Cruise Claims Administrator. They will ask about your issue and send you the correct forms and documentation requirements. At that point, you can submit all paperwork by email or standard mail.
Elizabeth Smith is an experienced travel and finance writer who specializes in topics including credit cards, travel insurance, and personal finance. Travel insurance, in particular, has both professional and personal significance for Smith. She’s traveled to 73 countries, and has extensive experience choosing and using various policies — she understands how valuable the right plan can be in an emergency, and loves to help readers find the perfect fit.
Smith comes to the world of finance from a scientific and technical background. She spent more than 10 years writing about engineering, science, and technology for universities and private companies. When she’s not writing or traveling, Smith can usually be found hiking or Nordic skiing.
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