Whether you're cruising to Curaçao or hitting the beach in the Bahamas, traveling to the Caribbean can be equal parts enriching and relaxing.
But there are a number of hiccups that could interrupt your plans. From a hurricane landing at your destination to a lost bag en route, getting travel insurance could help you navigate unexpected issues.
We evaluated numerous travel insurance companies on their coverage limits, cost, availability and ease of access, and found several that can help you navigate your travels to the Caribbean. (See our methodology for more on how we picked the top travel insurance companies.)
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Best for a Caribbean cruise: Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
Who's this for? Those setting sail to the Caribbean will find that Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection's WaveCare plan is a strong option for its high medical-expense coverage limits, as care aboard a cruise can be costly.
Standout benefits: This plan also includes several cruise-specific coverages, like missed connections and cruise disruption
- Cruise-specific plans can reimburse you up to $500 for missed connections and cruise delays
- Up to $75,000 in medical coverage for cruise plans
- Pre-existing coverage waiver available with all plans
- CFAR policy only reimburses 50% of prepaid trip costs
- No add-ons available
Best for water and adventure sports: World Nomads
Who's this for? If you want to jet ski, paddle board, or go snorkeling, coverage for these activities is included with all World Nomads plans. While other travel insurance brands exclude these activities, they're included even with World Nomads' standard plan. And, if your plans aren't included in the standard tier, you can upgrade to the higher levels for a longer list of approved adventure activities.
Standout benefits: World Nomads also offers coverage for many more activities like hiking, mountain biking and bungee jumping.
World Nomads Travel Insurance
Policy highlights
Standard, Explorer, Epic single-trip plans and annual/multi-trip plan, with CFAR available for top-tier policies
Emergency medical: $125,000 for Standard Plan, $150,000 for Explorer Plan, $250,000 for Epic Plan
Medical evacuation: $400,000 for Standard Plan, $500,000 for Explorer Plan, $700,000 for Epic Plan
Personal effects: $1,000 for Standard Plan, $2,000 for Explorer Plan, $3,000 for Epic PlanCancel For Any Reason coverage
Add-on for Explorer and Epic plans that covers 75% of nonrefundable costs if purchased seven days before initial deposit. (Not available in New York.)
Pre-existing condition waiver
Available with Explorer and Epic plans purchased seven days before first deposit.
Pros
- Affordable rates
- Coverage can be extended mid-trip
- Covers 200+ adventure activities like scuba diving and bungee jumping
Cons
- Lower trip cancellation limits than other companies
- CFAR add-on must be bought within seven days of booking
- Only issues policies to travelers 69 and younger.
Best for families: Travel Guard
Who's this for? Families traveling with children can take advantage of free coverage for one child under 17 per traveling adult with Travel Guard's Essential plan.
Standout benefits: Travel Guard offers an optional Security Bundle that adds civil disorder and riots to your covered cancellation or interruption reasons.
- Adult policies include coverage for one child under 17
- Immediate coverage options available for travel on a short notice
- Travel delay benefit of $1,000 is available after five-hour delay
- Cancel For Any Reason policies only reimburse up to 50%
- Standard medical coverage limit lower than some competitors
- Not all products are available for purchase online
Best for seniors: GoReady by Aegis
Who's this for? While some plans have maximum age caps of 75, GoReady by Aegis doesn't place any age restrictions on travelers.
Standout benefits: Travelers who choose the Elite plan within 14 days of booking their trip will receive a pre-existing conditions waiver, which will allow the plan to cover health issues you had before booking the trip.
GoReady Travel Insurance by Aegis
Policy highlights
Single-trip and multi-trip/annual policies and cruise plans. Add-ons include Cancel For Any Reason, Cancel For Work Reasons, increased medical benefits and coverage for rental cars, sports equipment and missed connections.
Cancel For Any Reason coverage
Reimburses 75% of nonrefundable trip costs if purchased within 14 days of booking (GoReady Choice plan has $7,500 limit)
Pre-existing condition waiver
Included with most plans if purchased within 14 days of initial trip deposit (Add-on for basic GoReady Choice plan)
Pros
- Cancel For Work Reasons upgrade has 100% reimbursement rate
- Offers cruise insurance plans
- 15-day free look period to get full refund
Cons
- Go Ready Choice plan must be bought within one day of booking trip for CFAR coverage
- Downgraded financial strength score by A.M. Best
How much is travel insurance for the Caribbean?
Travel insurance typically costs between 4% and 10% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses. However, prices can vary by age, as those who are older typically pay more. Coverage limits and add-ons, like cancel for any reason coverage, may also increase your total cost.
If you want to save money on your travel insurance, comparison shopping is a great way to find the best deal for you. Using a comparison site like Squaremouth can help you see dozens of options in a single search.
What does travel insurance cover in the Caribbean?
Travel insurance covers a few main things almost everywhere, including:
- Trip cancellation: If you have to cancel for a covered reason—including an illness or injury, the death of a family member, job loss, deployment or a natural disaster—you can get reimbursed for your lost funds.
- Trip delay: Pays out if a delay is caused by severe weather or airline maintenance, typically for six hours or more. The funds can be used for food, lodging and other transportation.
- Trip interruption: Should you need to cut your trip short due to illness or injury — or if there's a family emergency back home — your policy may reimburse non-refundable expenses you forfeited and help you get home.
- Baggage delay or loss: Your policy should cover toiletries, clothes and other essential items you need to buy if your bags are delayed or lost. The benefit is usually capped at a specified dollar amount, either by day or total.
- Medical expenses and emergency evacuation: Can cover doctors' fees and hospital bills when your standard health insurance doesn't apply, and can also help coordinate care and translation services.
Caribbean travel insurance FAQs
Do I need travel insurance for the Caribbean?
Getting travel insurance for your Caribbean vacation is a good idea, as it can help financially protect you if something unexpected affects your trip. From having to cancel because of a death in your family to losing a bag, travel insurance can help.
How much is travel insurance for a $3,000 trip to the Caribbean?
Since travel insurance typically costs between 4% and 10% of your non-refundable trip expenses, you can expect to spend about $120 to $300 on travel insurance for a trip of this expense.
Should I get travel insurance for a resort vacation?
Travel insurance helps with unexpected events that could occur while you're away, like flight delays, baggage loss, or even a medical emergency. These things can happen both on and off a resort, so getting travel insurance could be a smart move.
Our methodology
To determine the best travel insurance plans for the Caribbean, CNBC Select analyzed over a dozen travel insurance companies that offer plans specific to the needs of travelers to this region. We focused on rates, types of coverage and coverage limits. We prioritized companies that offered generous windows to qualify for pre-existing conditions waivers. We also considered the availability of optional add-ons, like cancel for any reason coverage.
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
We sorted our selections by:
- Best for a Caribbean cruise: Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
- Best for water and adventure sports: World Nomads
- Best for families: Travel Guard
- Best for seniors: GoReady by Aegis
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every travel insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of travel insurance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best travel insurance.
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