Everything about cruise travel insurance departing from the DR. Essential coverages, what happens if you get sick at sea, onboard medical costs, and comparisons.
**🚢 Quick summary:** Cruise insurance is **NOT enough**. A medical evacuation from high seas can cost **$50,000 - $150,000 USD**. An onboard medical consultation costs **$200-$500 USD**. Independent travel insurance starting from **{{basic_price}}/day** gives you real coverage with evacuation, cancellation, and 24/7 assistance.
## Why Cruise Insurance Is Not Enough
More and more Dominicans are choosing cruises as a vacation option. With departures from **La Romana, Santo Domingo, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)**, cruise lines like **Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, and Norwegian** offer Caribbean routes at affordable prices.
But there's a common misconception: thinking that the insurance included with your cruise ticket covers you adequately. **It doesn't.**
### What Cruise Insurance Typically Covers vs. What It DOES NOT Cover
| Situation | Cruise Insurance | Independent Travel Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Onboard medical consultation | ❌ Charged separately ($200-$500) | ✅ Covered |
| Onboard medications | ❌ Charged separately (inflated price) | ✅ Covered |
| Helicopter medical evacuation | ❌ Rarely included | ✅ Included |
| Cancellation due to illness | ⚠️ Partial, with conditions | ✅ Full coverage |
| Theft of belongings in port | ❌ Not covered | ✅ Up to $800 |
| Delayed or lost luggage | ❌ Limited liability | ✅ Covered |
| Accident on external excursions | ❌ Not covered outside the ship | ✅ World-wide coverage |
| Repatriation if hospitalized in port | ❌ The ship leaves without you | ✅ Included |
> ⚠️ **The fact no one tells you:** If you're hospitalized in a port of call, **the cruise ship will NOT wait for you**. It will leave without you. Without independent travel insurance, you'll have to pay for your hospitalization, return flight to the DR, and any additional expenses out of your own pocket.
## Real Medical Costs on Cruises
### Onboard the Ship
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic medical consultation | $200 - $500 USD |
| Emergency consultation | $500 - $1,500 USD |
| X-ray | $100 - $300 USD |
| Medications (by prescription) | $50 - $200+ USD |
| Hospitalization in infirmary | $1,000 - $3,000/day |
| Helicopter evacuation to land | $25,000 - $150,000 USD |
### In Ports of Call (Caribbean)
| Port | Average Emergency Cost |
|---|---|
| San Juan, Puerto Rico | $2,000 - $8,000 USD |
| Nassau, Bahamas | $1,500 - $5,000 USD |
| Cozumel, Mexico | $500 - $3,000 USD |
| Aruba / Curaçao | $1,000 - $4,000 USD |
| Cartagena, Colombia | $300 - $2,000 USD |
## Popular Cruise Routes from the DR
### Eastern Caribbean (4-7 nights)
- **Departure:** La Romana or San Juan
- **Ports:** St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Antigua
- **Average price:** $500 - $1,200 USD/person
- **Primary risk:** Water sports in ports
### Western Caribbean (5-7 nights)
- **Departure:** Miami (with flight from SDQ) or San Juan
- **Ports:** Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica
- **Average price:** $600 - $1,500 USD/person
- **Primary risk:** Adventure excursions in ports
### Southern Caribbean (7-10 nights)
- **Departure:** San Juan or Cartagena
- **Ports:** Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Colombia
- **Average price:** $800 - $2,000 USD/person
- **Primary risk:** More time at sea, distance to hospitals
## Baraglo Plans for Cruisers
| Feature | Baraglo Basic | Baraglo Standard | Baraglo Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical coverage | $20,000 USD | $35,000 USD | $100,000 USD |
| Price from | {{basic_price}}/day | {{standard_price}}/day | {{premium_price}}/day |
| Maritime medical evacuation | ✅ Included | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Cruise cancellation | ❌ | ✅ Up to $1,000 | ✅ Up to $2,000 |
| Lost luggage | ❌ | ✅ Up to $1,000 | ✅ Up to $1,550 |
| Coverage in ports of call | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Repatriation from any port | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
> 🚢 **Recommendation for cruises:** The **Baraglo Standard** plan is ideal for 4-7 night Caribbean cruises. For cruises of 7+ nights or routes that include remote ports, we recommend the **Premium** for extended evacuation coverage.
## Real-Life Situations That Can Occur
### Case 1: Norovirus Onboard
Norovirus (gastroenteritis) outbreaks are common on cruises due to close quarters. Onboard treatment can cost **$500-$1,500 USD** including consultations, medications, and IV fluids.
### Case 2: Excursion Injury
Many port excursions (snorkeling, zipline, ATV) are operated by local companies independent of the cruise line. If you get injured, **cruise insurance will NOT respond**. You need your travel insurance.
### Case 3: Hospitalization in Port
If you suffer a serious accident in Cozumel and require hospitalization, the cruise will sail without you. Your travel insurance covers: hospitalization, hotel for a companion, return flight to the DR, and medical follow-up.
## Tips for Dominican Cruisers
### Before Embarking
- Purchase your travel insurance **before paying for the cruise** — this also covers cancellation
- Carry digital copies of your policy on your phone
- Verify that your passport is valid for at least 6 months
- Confirm the requirements for each port of call
### During the Cruise
- Save your insurance assistance number on your phone
- Use sunscreen — severe sunburn is a frequent cause of onboard medical consultations
- Wash your hands constantly to prevent norovirus
- If you feel unwell, go to the ship's medical center IMMEDIATELY and document everything
### In Ports of Call
- Do not leave valuables on the beach
- Be careful with unsupervised water activities
- Carry local cash for emergencies
- Return to the ship at least 1 hour in advance
## Frequently Asked Questions
### Does travel insurance cover if I miss the ship in a port?
**Yes.** If for covered reasons (medical emergency, accident) you don't arrive at the ship on time, your insurance covers transportation to the next port of call or your return to the DR.
### Do I need insurance if my credit card includes travel coverage?
Dominican credit cards rarely include significant travel coverage. Even premium cards have **limits of $10,000 - $25,000 USD**, which are insufficient for a maritime medical evacuation.
### Does insurance cover severe seasickness?
**Yes.** If seasickness (motion sickness) requires medical attention onboard or in port, it is covered like any medical condition that arises during the trip.
### Can I purchase insurance only for the cruise days?
**Yes.** Baraglo insurance is purchased for exact days. A 7-night cruise with the Standard plan costs approximately **$24.50 USD** in total.
### What do I do if the cruise is canceled due to a hurricane?
If you purchased the insurance before the cancellation, the cancellation coverage of the Standard or Premium plan will reimburse you for non-recoverable expenses.
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*Planning a cruise? [Quote your travel insurance now](/diaspora-dominicana?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=blog-relinked-v2) and sail protected starting from {{basic_price}}/day.*
Baraglo
