SCTI's most expensive cruise claims paid out in 2025:  

• A traveller on a cruise to Vanuatu contracted Influenza A while on board the ship which developed into severe pneumonia. The passenger was confined to the on board medical facility and was then transported to the ICU upon arriving in Brisbane (claim paid - $16,766).  
• A passenger on a cruise around New Zealand fainted twice while on their trip and was taken to the on-board medical centre, where they were diagnosed with internal bleeding requiring a transfer to a hospital in Tauranga. Once in hospital, a gastroscopy confirmed a stomach bleed which required surgery to repair (claim paid - $10,830).
• A passenger on a cruise in Norway, slipped and fractured their patella (knee) during an onshore excursion. As a result of the injury, they had to cut their holiday short and return home so as not to risk compounding the injury more severely (claim paid - $10,200).
• A passenger on a cruise in Croatia contracted pneumonia while on board and was confined to their cabin for the duration of their eight-day cruise, meaning they were unable to participate in their pre-booked activities and excursions. Upon disembarking the cruise, they were still too unwell to travel and required accommodation for two days before they were well enough to travel back to Australia (claim paid $7,645).
• A passenger on a cruise in Scandinavia was diagnosed with pneumonia and developed complications, which resulted in over $7,000 worth of medical costs including I/V and oral antibiotics and diuretics. Once they disembarked the cruise they needed further medical tests at a hospital in Sweden, in order to confirm they were fit to fly home (claim paid - $7,027).
• A passenger on a cruise in New Zealand needed medical treatment on board their cruise ship (claim paid - $6,650).
• A passenger on a cruise from Lisbon to Buenos Aires was diagnosed with acute bronchitis and pneumonia on board which required blood tests, a chest x-ray and treatment with a combination of oral antibiotics, Ventolin and steroids (claim paid - $6,463).
• A passenger on a cruise around Gibraltar suffered from a seizure while on board, which required them to seek medical treatment at a hospital on the island, as well as being prescribed emergency seizure medication. Once the cruise was over the passenger had to cut short the rest of their trip to return to Australia for additional medical testing (claim paid - $5,598).
• A passenger on a cruise around Australia and Vanuatu contracted an infection that required treatment with IV antibiotics and painkillers. When the cruise disembarked in Newcastle, they were transferred to the local hospital, where they remained for a prolonged period. Their partner needed to remain with them and required accommodation until they were able to return home (claim paid - $2,962).
• A passenger on a cruise around Papua New Guinea became ill and was taken by ambulance from the ship to the ICU at a hospital in Port Moresby before they were well enough to return home to Newcastle (claim paid - $2,919).

Jess Strange, Chief Customer Officer at Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) says the extremely high costs of medical treatment on cruise ships should serve as an important reminder to all Australian travellers to make sure they explore cruise cover as part of their travel insurance when booking their travel so that they are covered for any unforeseen circumstances and can protect their investment.

“We've seen a recent claim for prescription medications, like oral and IV antibiotics, and claims for medical tests to diagnose and treat a respiratory infection while on board come to over $7,000, so it's definitely worth considering including the cruise add-on to your policy as it could save you thousands of dollars in the long run,” says Strange.

“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.

 “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, in which case transporting the customer to the nearest centre of medical excellence may involve an air ambulance, which can be very expensive”.

It is important travellers declare any Pre-Existing Conditions (PEC) they may have. “Even if you have cruise cover but something happens due to a PEC, you won't be covered if you didn't declare it. If you are unsure about what this may mean, just call and have a chat. We're ready to help.”

 SCTI provides specialist cruise cover as an add-on to their International Comprehensive and Domestic travel insurance policies. The terms and conditions vary whether you are cruising internationally or just domestically. Visit the website for more information and for product disclosure: www.scti.com.au