【Cruise virus outbreak】What should you do if an outbreak happens on board and you are quarantined? Is it covered by travel insurance?

In recent years, cruise travel has become increasingly popular, as it allows you to visit several destinations in one trip while relaxing on board. However, recent outbreaks of mass infections on cruise ships have caused widespread concern.

If, during a cruise, you suddenly encounter an outbreak, are placed under quarantine, are unable to disembark, or even have your journey forcibly cut short, what should you do? Can travel insurance help? This time, 10Life has compiled the key points of cruise travel insurance and the matters to note for cruise trips, to help everyone prepare properly. 

Norovirus outbreak on the French cruise ship “Ambition” leaves 1 dead and 80 unwell

The cruise ship “Ambition”, which was berthed in Bordeaux, France, has recently experienced a norovirus outbreak. At least 80 people on board developed acute gastroenteritis symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea. More than 1,700 passengers and crew were at one point required to isolate, and the incident has also drawn attention to the risk of infectious diseases on cruise ships.

Hantavirus outbreak on the Dutch cruise ship “Hondius”

In another case, an earlier incident involving another Dutch cruise ship was also suspected to involve hantavirus, leading around 150 people to remain on board for observation and preventive measures. As of mid-May, the incident had resulted in at least 8 confirmed cases and 3 deaths. At the same time, due to the severity of the situation, multiple countries were on high alert and carried out large-scale cross-border evacuations.

As cruise ships are relatively enclosed environments, with many shared restaurants, entertainment facilities and public spaces, any outbreak may spread more quickly, and may also affect travel plans, with possible isolation, cancellation of shore activities or even termination of the journey.

Norovirus vs Hantavirus

Norovirus is highly contagious, and only a small number of viral particles are needed to cause infection. Common symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea and acute gastroenteritis, and outbreaks often occur in densely populated settings such as schools, hospitals and cruise ships.

Hantavirus, by contrast, is a relatively rare virus, mainly associated with contact with infected rodents. Human-to-human transmission is less common, and it has a high fatality rate.

Many people think that buying a standard travel insurance policy is sufficient, but cruise travel involves a number of situations that are less common on ordinary trips, such as:

• Missing the ship because of a flight delay  
• Trip interruption due to an epidemic or severe weather  
• Cancellation of shore excursions  
• Cruise rerouting  
• Needing to rejoin the cruise at the next port  
• Emergency communication expenses at sea  

These risks may not all be covered by a standard travel insurance policy. 

Using recent events as an example, if an outbreak were to suddenly occur during your trip, the following benefits may come in handy:

Medical Expenses Cover

If you contract a virus during the trip and require treatment on board, or even disembarkation for hospital treatment, medical cover may protect you against:

• On-board medical clinic fees  
• Emergency hospital admission costs  
• Follow-up consultation fees after returning to Hong Kong (depending on the plan)  

Cruise Trip Interruption Cover

If the trip is shortened, interrupted or rerouted due to an outbreak or government measures, some cruise cover may provide compensation for:

• Unused trip expenses  
• Additional accommodation costs  
• Additional transport arrangements  

For example, if a scheduled port of call is cancelled, or you need to rearrange transport at the next port, this may involve extra expenses.

Shore Excursion Cancellation Cover

If embarkation is cancelled due to quarantine arrangements or the cruise line's decision:

• Pre-booked shore activities  
• Local sightseeing tour fees  

Please note, however, that not all cruise cover includes shore excursion cancellation, and some benefits are subject to a per-claim limit.

Emergency Satellite Phone Costs

During a cruise, you may spend part of the journey in international waters, where normal mobile networks may not be available. If an emergency arises and you need to contact family, your employer, or arrange medical or transport assistance, some cruise cover may include:

• Emergency calls to family members  
• Communication costs for handling travel arrangements  
• Specified satellite phone charges (depending on the policy)  

One of the most common areas of dispute in insurance is “known risk”. In simple terms, if an event has already occurred before you take out the policy, the insurer may regard it as a known risk.

For example:

• The cruise line has already announced an outbreak before you purchase insurance
• A travel advisory or quarantine measures have already been issued
• It is already known that someone on board has been infected

In the above situations, even if you later decide to cancel your trip, the related losses may not be covered. Therefore, if you are planning a cruise holiday, it is generally advisable to arrange insurance as soon as your itinerary is confirmed, to avoid purchasing insurance only after the event has become a “known risk”. 

Based on recent pandemic-related incidents, those planning a cruise holiday may refer to the following advice:

Before departure

• Purchase travel insurance that includes cruise cover  
• Keep an eye on the epidemic situation at the destination and ports of call
• Prepare personal hygiene items (alcohol hand sanitiser, face masks, etc.)
• If you have a chronic condition, bring sufficient medication

On board

• Wash your hands frequently, especially before meals and after using the toilet
• Avoid touching your face
• If you develop gastrointestinal discomfort, inform the ship’s medical staff immediately
• Follow the cruise line’s hygiene guidelines

If an outbreak occurs

• Remain calm and follow the instructions of the ship and local health authorities  
• Keep all medical receipts and related documents for claims purposes
• Contact the insurer to report the claim as soon as possible
• Record any additional expenses (extended accommodation, rerouted transport, etc.) 

The recent two cruise virus outbreaks remind us that although cruise holidays are relaxing, any outbreak, severe weather or flight delay can have a greater impact than on a standard trip. It is therefore advisable to purchase travel insurance with cruise cover added on, or a policy specifically designed for cruises, before departure.

If you would like to learn more about travel insurance, please refer to 10Life's travel insurance comparison and use the actuary rating system to choose the insurance product that best suits you. 

This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.