Cruise control? Not quite. Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) shares some of the costliest cruise claims of 2025, which saw dream holidays go from smooth sailing to costly failing, to the tune of up to five figures.
Travel insurance should be a no-brainer for any cruising holiday as SCTI reveals the costliest cruise claims of 2025, reminding travellers of the eye-watering expense of medical treatments on ships.
Illness and medical emergencies resulted in some of the costliest cruise claims of 2025, resulting in up to five-figure payouts.
Costliest cruise claims of 2025
One traveller claimed $16,766 after contracting influenza A and then pneumonia on a Vanuatu cruise, requiring confinement in the onboard medical facility and a transfer to the ICU on arrival in Brisbane.
A passenger on a Croatia cruise also contracted pneumonia and was confined to their cabin for the entire duration of the eight-day trip and then an additional two-night stay, resulting in a $7,645 claim, while another claimed $7,027 for expenses incurred for complications from pneumonia contracted aboard a Scandinavian cruise.
Another one of the costliest cruise claims of 2025 saw $10,830 paid for medical expenses incurred in the onboard medical centre and stomach surgery in Tauranga after fainting twice on a New Zealand sailing.
On another New Zealand cruise, a passenger claimed $6,650 for medical treatment received on the ship.
On a cruise around Gibraltar, a cruiser suffered a seizure, requiring emergency hospital treatment on the island, plus additional medical testing on return to Australia – a claim of $5,598.
Slips and falls also resulted in some of the costliest cruise claims of 2025. One passenger slipped and fractured their patella (knee) during an onshore excursion in Norway – a $10,200 claim and a holiday cut short.
SCTI Chief Customer Officer Jess Strange said the high costs of medical treatment on cruise ships are an important reminder for Aussies to ensure they explore cruise cover as part of their travel insurance.
“We know Aussies are keen cruise enthusiasts and while it’s a wonderful way to see the world, there are definitely some drawbacks that travellers need to be aware of in order to avoid potentially costly medical bills if you choose not to take out travel insurance for your voyage,” she said.
“Different cruise ship companies will offer different levels of onboard care. Some may dock in locations where access to high-quality medical care is not always possible.”
Strange added that it’s important travellers declare any pre-existing conditions (PEC). “Even if you have cruise cover, but something happens due to a PEC, you won’t be covered if you didn’t declare it.”
