Antarctica travel insurance

How do I get a quote for Antarctica insurance?

Getting a free quote with Rise & Shield is easy. Follow these simple steps to secure your trip:

1. Start your quote

1. Go to go.riseandshield.com
2. On the first screen, under “What type of trip are you planning?”, select: Single Trip (for one specific polar cruise), Then click Next.

2. Add your trip details

On the Destination step: Country of residency: Choose your usual country of residence from the drop-down (e.g. United Kingdom).

Where are you going?

Choose the region that matches your itinerary, for example:

• Europe – for Arctic cruises starting/ending in Europe only.
• Worldwide (including North America) – if your trip involves the US/Canada or complex flight routes.
• Worldwide (excluding North America) – if you’re flying via, say, South America without the US/Canada.

The key is: pick the region that covers every country you’ll set foot in on the way to and from your polar cruise.

When are you going?

Select your start date as the day you leave home, not just the day the ship sails.

Select your end date as the day you arrive back home.

This makes sure flights, hotel nights and delays around the cruise are all covered.

How many people are travelling?

• Choose the number of adults and children.
• Enter each traveller’s date of birth when prompted.

Click Next to move on.

3. Choose your base cover (Essentials / Classic / Elite)

On the Cover step you’ll see three plans side-by-side:

• Essentials – solid basics.
• Classic – higher benefits (often a sweet spot for big-ticket trips like polar cruises).
• Elite – the highest limits.

Your polar cruise cover does not depend on which of these you pick; it depends on adding Adventure Plus in the next step.

However, because polar cruises are expensive and remote, most people will want Plus or Elite for higher medical, evacuation and cancellation limits.

Click the card for the level you want (it will highlight).

Hit Next.

4. Add the Polar Cruise cover (Adventure Plus add-on)

This is the important bit.

On the Extras step, you’ll see several tiles:

• Adventure – automatically included for lots of standard adventure activities.
• Adventure Plus – covers higher-risk adventures such as polar cruising, trekking to higher altitudes, deeper scuba, etc.
• Adventure Extreme, Winter Sports, High Value Items, etc.

To get polar cruise cover:

1. Find the Adventure Plus tile.
2. Click the ADD button on that tile.
3. Watch the policy summary box on the right:

The price will update. You should see Adventure Plus listed under your extras/cover.

Remember: No Adventure Plus = no polar cruise cover, even if everything else looks fine.

If you don’t need anything else, leave Adventure Extreme, Winter Sports, High Value Items and other extras switched off.

Click Next once Adventure Plus is clearly added.

5. Enter traveller, contact and address details

On the Checkout step:

Traveller details

• Enter your first name and surname exactly as they appear on your passport.
• Confirm your date of birth (auto-filled from earlier).
• Select your nationality from the drop-down.

Contact information

• Add an email address – this is where your policy documents are sent.
• Add a mobile number, including the country code if needed.

Address details

• Fill in your home address, town/city, postcode and confirm your country.

6. Payment & final checks

At the bottom of the Checkout page:

1. Enter your card details securely.
2. Tick the checkboxes to confirm.
3. When you’re ready, click Confirm Purchase to complete the policy.

That’s the moment the policy is actually bought, so double-check:

• Dates are correct from leaving home to returning home.
• The destination region matches your full route.
• Adventure Plus is still listed in your policy summary.

7. After you’ve bought the policy

Check your email for:

• Policy schedule (shows your dates, regions, add-ons like Adventure Plus, and benefit limits).
• Full policy wording.

And then...

1. Save a copy to your phone/tablet and/or print a copy to keep with your travel documents.
2. Make a note of the emergency assistance number so you have it handy on the ship.

FAQs about travel insurance for Antarctica

Does travel insurance cover Antarctica?

Yes, provided the policy specifically includes Antarctic or polar cruising. Rise & Shield can cover eligible organised Antarctica cruises and guided tours when Adventure Plus is selected and the applicable polar-cruise conditions are met.

What travel insurance do I need for an Antarctica cruise?

You need travel insurance that specifically allows Antarctic cruising and provides suitable medical, evacuation, cancellation and travel-disruption benefits for a remote polar journey.

With Rise & Shield, select your preferred base plan and add Adventure Plus, which is required for eligible Antarctica cruise cover.

Do I need Adventure Plus for Antarctica?

Yes. Rise & Shield’s Antarctica and Arctic cruise cover only applies when the additional premium for Adventure Plus has been paid.

Make sure Adventure Plus appears in your policy summary before you travel.

Do I need Travel Elite for an Antarctica cruise?

Not necessarily. Your Antarctica cruise cover depends on adding Adventure Plus, rather than choosing one particular base plan.

However, Antarctica cruises can involve substantial prepaid costs, so compare the cancellation, medical, baggage and other benefit limits of Essentials, Classic and Elite and choose the level that suits your trip.

Does my Antarctica cruise ship need to have a doctor onboard?

Yes. A qualified medical doctor and a small medical treatment room must be onboard the ship for Rise & Shield’s Antarctica cruise cover to apply.

Check with your cruise operator before travelling if you are unsure what medical facilities your vessel provides.

Does Antarctica travel insurance cover emergency medical expenses?

Eligible emergency medical treatment for a sudden illness or injury during your insured journey may be covered, subject to your selected plan’s benefit limits, excesses and policy conditions.

Rise & Shield’s Antarctica cover is designed to work alongside the ship’s medical facilities and the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Centre if more substantial treatment is required.

Is helicopter evacuation covered in Antarctica?

Eligible helicopter or aircraft evacuation may be covered when it is medically necessary and pre-approved by the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Centre.

The assistance team determines the appropriate method and provider based on your medical circumstances and what is operationally possible. A separate helicopter evacuation excess applies.

Where can I be evacuated from in Antarctica?

Polar aircraft and helicopter evacuations can only operate from the nearest accessible port or airport of safety where aircraft access is possible.

The policy identifies locations such as Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, King George Island and Port Stanley as typical Antarctica evacuation points. The actual location depends on weather, aircraft availability and the assessment of the Emergency Assistance Centre.

What activities are covered on an Antarctica cruise?

Adventure Plus can include eligible activities organised as part of your Antarctica cruise or guided tour.

The policy specifically gives examples including kayaking, snowshoeing, snorkelling, paddle boarding and a one-night camping experience. Policy conditions and exclusions still apply.

Is camping in Antarctica covered?

A one-night camping experience can be included when it forms part of your organised Antarctica cruise or guided tour under Adventure Plus.

Independent camping or a separate unsupported expedition should not be assumed to be covered.

Does Antarctica travel insurance cover mountaineering or ice climbing?

No. The specific Antarctica and Arctic cruise cover excludes mountaineering and ice climbing.

It also excludes ski touring, ski mountaineering, cross-country ski expeditions, heli-skiing, heli-boarding and heli-hiking.

Are scuba diving or submarine trips covered in Antarctica?

No. The Antarctica cruise exclusions include scuba diving, ice diving and submarine or submersible rides.

Do not assume an optional excursion offered by your expedition operator is automatically covered simply because it is available during the cruise.

Does Rise & Shield cover trips to the South Pole or independent Antarctic expeditions?

The Antarctica cruise cover is designed for organised cruises and guided tours rather than specialist unsupported polar expeditions.

Long overland expeditions such as skiing to the South Pole or crossing the continent, along with competitive races, record attempts and extreme endurance events, are specifically excluded.

Can Antarctica cruise cancellation be covered?

Eligible, unrecoverable trip costs may be covered if an insured event forces you to cancel your journey before departure, subject to the cancellation limit and conditions of your selected plan.

Because Antarctica cruises can be expensive, check that your chosen plan’s cancellation limit is appropriate for the non-refundable costs of your trip before buying.

What happens if bad weather delays my Antarctica trip?

Your selected plan may provide benefits for qualifying travel delays or missed departures caused by insured events, subject to waiting periods, limits and other policy conditions.

This can be particularly relevant when your journey includes several flights, hotels and connections before joining the expedition ship.

Am I covered if bad weather cancels a shore landing or changes the cruise itinerary?

Not automatically. A change to the cruise itinerary, missed wildlife sighting or cancelled shore landing does not by itself mean an insured benefit is payable.

A claim must arise from an event covered by the relevant section of your policy and meet that section’s conditions and limits.

Is my baggage and expedition clothing covered?

Eligible loss, theft or accidental damage affecting your baggage and personal belongings may be covered under your selected plan.

Overall baggage limits, individual-item limits, security conditions and an applicable excess may apply, so check the policy limits if you are travelling with expensive specialist clothing, cameras or expedition equipment.

Can one policy cover my flights, hotels and Antarctica cruise?

Yes. Your policy can cover the wider insured journey rather than only the days spent aboard your expedition ship.

Set your trip dates from the day you leave home until the day you return, and make sure your selected destination region includes the countries visited during the entire itinerary.

Can I buy Antarctica travel insurance if I do not live in the UK?

Rise & Shield provides anywhere-to-anywhere travel insurance for eligible travellers from a wide range of countries and nationalities.

Your ability to buy remains subject to the policy’s eligibility, residence, destination and other terms, so check your quote and policy documents before purchasing.

Can travellers over 65 get Antarctica cruise insurance?

Potentially, yes. Rise & Shield currently offers travel insurance to eligible travellers up to age 70. The age restriction that applies to Adventure Extreme does not apply in the same way to Adventure Plus, which is the add-on required for Antarctica cruise cover.

Eligibility still depends on the traveller, trip and current policy terms at the time of purchase.

When should I buy travel insurance for an Antarctica cruise?

It is generally sensible to arrange your policy once you have booked the trip so that any eligible pre-departure cancellation protection can begin.

When buying, cover the dates of your entire journey, choose benefit limits appropriate for the cost of the trip, add Adventure Plus, and check your policy summary before departure.

Other useful resources about Antarctica travel

U.S. Antarctic Program: How and What to Pack

Lindblad Expeditions: Antarctica Packing Checklist

International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO)