Why is insurance mandatory on all Polar cruises?

A Polar expedition is one of the most singular travel experiences you could ever have. Its isolated location comes with a unique set of health-and-safety-related requirements. Besides it being mandatory to be reasonably fit, here is what you must know about insurances for your trip:

• Mandatory for all Polar Trips: Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Insurance. Polar regions are remote and can be challenging to access in case of a medical emergency. For this reason, all Polar tour operators insist you have a Travel Insurance covering emergency Medical evacuation and repatriation. Without this coverage, tour operators will refuse your boarding. When seeking out a suitable insurance provider, look for one that offers Antarctica-specific coverage with a minimum of 1 million USD in evacuation coverage, along with coverage for medical fees. In the Arctic, most tour operators stipulate a minimum coverage of $200,000 for evacuation or repatriation. If you are an EU resident, please inquire about insurance packages from our partner HanseMerkur by clicking here. If you are not an EU resident, then we must ask you to get an insurance on your own terms. Our customers have made good experiences with World Nomads Rescue and Allianz Care as insurers, both offer such packages that cover Polar Expedition Cruises.
• Not mandatory, but recommended: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance. Polar expedition cruises can be quite expensive. Travel insurance can protect your investment by covering the costs if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip due to unforeseen circumstances like illness, family emergencies, or other covered reasons.
• Not mandatory and optional: Gear and Equipment Coverage. Polar expeditions often require specialized clothing and gear. Some insurance policies offer coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged equipment.

Please note that policies change over time and from ship to ship, so it's important to check both the booking documents we send you when you book your expedition and your insurance policy carefully. Some ships may already have some insurance included, some other operators may have specific insurance requirements. The insurers we list above are recommendations only and it's your responsibility to check that the insurance you buy really does cover everything you need for your trip.