Cruising is just magic. Between restaurants, water parks, offshore excursions, island (or country) hopping without ever having to pack and unpack your suitcase, it’s easy to see why it’s a popular option.

Since the pandemic has cooled its heels, cruising is back with bookings surging to pre-Covid levels. That being said, cruise ships carry a higher risk for spreading disease with people interacting closely together, especially in indoor areas. 

Catching Covid, the flu and even gastro is more likely. With the Majestic Princess cruise ship recently turning back and pulling into Sydney with a Covid outbreak, contracting the disease on a cruise is a legitimate concern. 

Here’s what you need to know about cruising and Covid.

Medicare doesn’t cover you

The second you board the ship you’re on international waters and Medicare doesn’t cover you. Even if you’re cruising from Sydney to Brisbane, you will incur medical costs. This also applies to private health insurance. 

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What happens if I catch Covid on a cruise?

Each cruise operator has their own rules and regulations on how they deal with Covid. Looking at the Covid FAQs for P&O, Carnival and Princess to and from Australia, here’s what happens. 

Any passenger exhibiting Covid symptoms must notify onboard medical staff and be seen for testing – the first PCR is generally free of charge. If you’re positive, you’ll be quarantined for generally at least 5 days from the day you do the test and until you have been symptom free for 24 hours. For those travelling with family or friends, they’ll be quarantined in a separate room.

If you don’t complete your isolation period by the end of the cruise or you’re still experiencing symptoms, you may need to continue isolating upon disembarking. The requirements of this isolation will depend on the country’s rules or state you’re disembarking in.

The good news is Princess, P&O and Carnival all offer cruise credit for those who contract Covid or if you quarantined for being a close contact. 

What happens if there’s a Covid outbreak on my ship?

It depends where in the world you are, the number of cases and how it’s impacting the cruise’s ability to function. Cruise vessels must report the number of cases aboard to the local authority of the port they are docking in. For example, if a high number of staff have Covid and the vessel is unable to maintain critical services, the ship will be forced to cut the trip short and dock. 

How to reduce your chance of catching Covid

When on board, wear a mask indoors, try to physically distance yourself where possible, wash your hands often and use hand sanitiser.

Take out travel insurance specific to cruising

Choose a policy that is specific to cruising and don’t forget to consider the offshore experiences you’ll be doing, and make sure you’re covered for those. Covid cruise cover varies depending on the provider and policy, so read the PDS and understand what you’re covered for. The Australian Government will not pay for your medical costs when cruising domestically or overseas, or for medical evacuation costs.

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