Cruise Insurance San Diego Guide: What Protects You When You Sail From B Street Pier (2026)

You’ve booked a sailing out of downtown San Diego, and the cruise line wants to know whether you’d like to “add protection” for a few hundred dollars. It’s hard to tell whether that’s a good deal, whether your health plan already covers you at sea, or whether a policy from another company would do more. This guide to cruise insurance San Diego passengers can use explains what the cruise lines sell and how it differs from true travel insurance. It covers what Medicare and your health plan will and won’t pay once the ship leaves U.S. waters, and it lays out what coverage costs in 2026. You’ll also find two worked examples for San Diego households and a step-by-step way to compare quotes.

Figures in this article are based on publicly available information as of the date of writing (September 2026) and can change at any time. Always check the current plan documents before you buy.

Quick Answer
Cruise insurance is optional for most sailings from the Port of San Diego, but U.S. health insurance and Medicare pay little or nothing once a ship is far from a U.S. port, and a medical evacuation can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Cruise line plans are convenient, but several pay cancellations as future cruise credit and carry lower medical and evacuation limits than many third-party policies. Published benchmarks put comprehensive coverage at roughly 4% to 10% of the trip cost, depending on the source. Many travelers compare the line’s plan against two or three third-party quotes, focusing on medical and evacuation limits first. A licensed agent can tell you which applies to your situation.

San Diego’s 2026–27 Cruise Season: Why the Local Details Matter

San Diego is having its busiest cruise year in a long time, and that changes the insurance picture for locals and fly-in visitors alike. According to a September 17, 2026 report in CruiseNews, the Port of San Diego opened its 2026–27 season with 183 scheduled ship calls and expects more than 700,000 passengers. That makes it the port’s largest season in more than 15 years. The season opened on September 14 when Ruby Princess sailed a seven-day California coast itinerary, and it is scheduled to wrap up on May 24.

Who is sailing from San Diego this season

The same CruiseNews report says Royal Caribbean is now homeporting in San Diego, with 47 calls carrying an estimated 177,660 passengers. That puts it ahead of Holland America Line, the port’s longtime anchor customer. Disney Cruise Line is running two ships from San Diego for the first time, adding Disney Magic under a port agreement that runs through at least 2031. Princess, Norwegian (in its second homeport season), MSC, Virgin Voyages, Silversea and Viking are also on the schedule.

About 80% of this season’s calls begin or end in San Diego rather than just stopping here, according to the port’s maritime commercial manager as quoted by CruiseNews. For insurance purposes, that means most passengers either live in the region or are flying into San Diego International Airport to start a trip. Ships use the B Street Cruise Ship Terminal and the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier, both on the downtown waterfront.

A note on the port’s own numbers

Published passenger and call counts don’t line up perfectly, and the differences come down to timing and method. When the Port of San Diego launched the 2025–26 season in a September 30, 2025 press release, it announced 107 voyages and about 389,000 expected passengers. It projected up to 190 calls and 800,000 passengers for 2026–27. CruiseNews later reported that 109 calls were recorded in 2025–26 and that 183 are scheduled for 2026–27. It also reported that the port cut its passenger forecast from as many as 780,000 to “more than 700,000” after adopting more conservative passenger-count assumptions for budgeting. In short, early figures are schedules and forecasts, while later figures reflect recorded calls and revised assumptions.

Why San Diego sailings raise specific insurance questions

The port describes San Diego as the closest West Coast cruise port to Mexico, which is why so many sailings head to Baja and the Mexican Riviera. A Mexico itinerary takes you outside the reach of Medicare and many U.S. health plans for most of the trip.

Timing matters too. According to the National Hurricane Center, the eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to November 30. That basin stretches from Mexico and Central America westward. The first eleven weeks or so of San Diego’s cruise season, from mid-September through November, overlap with that window. NHC data for 1991–2020 shows an average eastern Pacific season produces 15 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes, with most activity between late June and early October.

What Your Existing Coverage Does (and Doesn’t) Do at Sea

Before paying for anything new, it helps to know what you already have. The answer for most people is “less than they assume.”

Employer and individual health plans

The CDC’s Yellow Book, the federal travel-health reference for clinicians, notes that some U.S. health plans cover emergencies abroad, but coverage varies widely. Travelers should expect to pay up front and file for reimbursement later. It also points out that onboard medical treatment is often not included in a cruise fare, which is one reason it suggests cruise passengers consider specialized coverage.

The State Department adds that the U.S. government does not pay medical bills abroad. In many places, payment or a deposit is required before treatment begins. If you have an employer plan or a Covered California plan, a quick call to member services before you sail can confirm whether out-of-network emergency care in Mexico is covered and how claims are filed.

Original Medicare and the “six-hour rule”

Medicare’s rules for cruise ships are narrow. According to Medicare.gov, Part B may pay for medically necessary services on a cruise ship only if the doctor is legally allowed to provide services on the ship and the ship is in a U.S. port or no more than six hours away from one when you receive care. That applies whether or not it’s an emergency. Medicare’s April 2026 fact sheet states the flip side plainly: Medicare doesn’t cover services you get when the ship is more than six hours from a U.S. port.

On a Mexican Riviera itinerary, much of the voyage falls outside that window. Medicare drug plans also don’t cover prescriptions bought outside the U.S., according to Medicare.gov. Pack enough medication for the trip plus a buffer.

Medigap’s foreign travel benefit

Medicare supplement (Medigap) plans offer a limited cushion. According to Medicare’s fact sheet, Medigap Plans C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, M and N include foreign travel emergency coverage. They pay 80% of billed charges for certain medically necessary emergency care outside the U.S. after a $250 annual deductible. The emergency must begin within the first 60 days of the trip, and the benefit has a $50,000 lifetime limit. The CDC notes that Plans C and F aren’t available to people who turned 65 on or after January 1, 2020.

The $50,000 cap is lifetime, not per trip. The CDC also notes that Medicare doesn’t cover medical evacuation, so Medigap alone can leave a large gap if you need to be flown home.

Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage plans must follow Medicare’s rules, including the rules for care outside the U.S., but a plan may choose to cover additional services abroad, according to Medicare.gov. The CDC notes that you can’t combine a Medigap policy with Medicare Advantage. Your plan’s Evidence of Coverage document will spell out any foreign emergency benefit.

Credit card travel protection

Many premium cards include trip cancellation or delay benefits. The CDC’s guidance is direct: credit card benefits vary widely, often require enrollment and a formal claim, and should not be treated as a substitute for travel health or medical evacuation insurance. Card benefits can work well alongside a medical policy, but they rarely replace one.

Cruise Line Plans vs Third-Party Cruise Insurance

“Cruise insurance” usually means one of two things: a protection plan sold by the cruise line at checkout, or a travel insurance policy bought separately from an insurer or comparison site. They can look similar on a booking screen but work differently underneath.

Cruise line plans are usually part insurance, part waiver

A cruise line plan is typically a bundle. One piece is a cancellation waiver provided by the cruise line itself. The other is a travel insurance policy underwritten by an insurance company and administered by a third party. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) explains that cancellation fee waivers and travel assistance services are non-insurance products. Only the insurance portion of a bundle is overseen by state insurance departments.

Holland America’s own page is a clear example. It states that its CPP Standard plan is not insurance and is administered by the cruise line. Its Platinum plan layers an insurance program, underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, on top of a cancel-for-any-reason waiver.

Cash back vs future cruise credit

This is the difference many people miss. Royal Caribbean’s travel protection page says that if you cancel for a specified reason under the plan, you receive 100% of your unused prepaid trip cost. If you cancel for any other reason, you receive a 90% cruise credit toward a future sailing, and the line labels that a non-insurance feature. Disney’s plan, according to its insurer’s plan summary, offers a future cruise credit of up to 75% of the non-refundable cancellation fee amount for non-covered reasons. That credit is valid for one year, is non-transferable and has no cash value.

Holland America’s Standard and Platinum waivers refund 80% and 90% of eligible amounts paid, respectively. Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison site, notes in its cruise guide that third-party policies generally reimburse covered cancellations in cash rather than vouchers.

What cruise line plans often leave out

Squaremouth’s review of cruise line plans found that several only reimburse costs booked through the cruise line, not independently booked flights, hotels or excursions. For a San Diego visitor who booked a Southwest flight and a hotel near the Embarcadero separately, those costs may fall outside a cruise line plan entirely.

Comparing Cruise Insurance: San Diego Homeport Lines’ Plans Side by Side

The table below summarizes the published limits for plans from lines that homeport in San Diego this season. Figures come from each line’s own page or its insurer’s plan summary, except where noted. Plans vary by state of residence and purchase date, so treat this as a starting point, not a final answer.

Plan	Cancel for a covered reason	Cancel for any other reason	Emergency medical	Evacuation / repatriation	Source
Holland America CPP Standard	Not insurance; 80% of eligible amounts for any reason up to 24 hrs before	Same as left	Not included	Not included	Holland America
Holland America CPP Platinum	90% for any reason up to departure	Same as left	Up to $20,000 (medical and dental)	Up to $75,000	Holland America
Royal Caribbean Travel Protection	100% of unused prepaid cost, cash	90% as future cruise credit	Up to $100,000	Up to $500,000	Royal Caribbean
Disney Cruise Line Vacation Protection Plan	Up to 100% of trip cost ($20,000 per insured)	Up to 75% of non-refundable fee as credit	Up to $20,000 (may be secondary)	Up to $50,000	Arch Insurance Solutions
Princess Vacation Protection (Platinum)	Cruise booking only	Cruise voucher up to 100%	$20,000 illness plus $20,000 injury	Up to $100,000	Squaremouth review

A few details sit behind those numbers. Holland America’s page says its plans have no exclusions for pre-existing conditions and cost the same for all ages, with pricing listed “starting at $79.” That same-price-for-all-ages feature can matter for older travelers, because third-party premiums typically rise with age. Holland America also notes that CPP Platinum isn’t available to New York residents and must be added before cancellation fees begin.

Royal Caribbean’s page labels its medical and baggage benefits as “expanded coverage.” It lists trip interruption up to 150% of trip cost, travel delay up to $2,000 ($250 per day), baggage up to $3,000, and baggage delay reimbursement after six hours. The insurance is underwritten by Arch Insurance Company and administered by Aon Affinity.

For Disney, the plan summary on Arch Insurance Solutions’ site applies to plans bought on or after April 1, 2026. It lists trip delay coverage of $500 ($150 per day) for delays of six hours or more.

Norwegian Cruise Line also homeports in San Diego, but its current plan terms weren’t reviewed for this article. Check the line’s plan document directly if you’re sailing with NCL.

Per-person or per-policy?

A limit that looks generous can shrink when a family shares it. Some plans state limits per insured person, while others may apply a limit per policy. Before you buy, look in the certificate of insurance for the words “per insured” or “per person” next to the medical and evacuation limits.

What Cruise Insurance Costs in 2026

There’s no single “average price,” and the published benchmarks disagree. That’s mostly because they measure different things.

Source	Published cost figure	What it measures
Squaremouth (cruise guide)	4%–10% of insured trip cost; most cruise buyers spent $183–$1,086	Industry benchmark, plus Squaremouth’s own cruise-filtered sales, Sep 1, 2025–Sep 1, 2026
Squaremouth (same data)	Averages: $101.55 travel medical; $539.89 comprehensive; $807.78 comprehensive with CFAR	Average finalized purchase price by policy type
NAIC	Usually 5%–10% of total trip price; CFAR adds close to 50%	General travel insurance, not cruise-specific
CDC Yellow Book	Comprehensive up to 8%; up to 15% with cancel for any reason	Upper-range estimates for policies bundling medical and cancellation

Why the numbers differ

Squaremouth’s averages come from real purchases on its platform, so they reflect the mix of trip costs, ages and coverage choices its customers made. They aren’t a quote for any particular traveler. The NAIC figure describes travel insurance in general, and the CDC figures are framed as upper bounds for comprehensive plans. On CFAR, the NAIC says it adds close to 50% to the cost, while Squaremouth puts the increase at 40%–60%. Both describe the same basic trade-off.

What drives your price

Premiums depend mostly on your insured trip cost, your ages, the length of the trip and optional upgrades. Squaremouth’s worked benchmark shows a $10,000 cruise vacation costing roughly $400 to $1,000 to protect with comprehensive coverage. A medical-only policy is far cheaper because it doesn’t insure your trip cost, but it also won’t reimburse cancellations.

Medical Evacuation: The Coverage Limit That Matters Most

If you read only one line of a cruise policy, many experts suggest making it the evacuation limit. Ships have medical centers, but they aren’t hospitals, and getting a seriously ill passenger to shore and then home is expensive.

What evacuations cost

Published estimates vary with distance and method. The State Department says air ambulance evacuation back to the United States can cost $20,000 to $200,000, depending on where you are and your condition. The CDC Yellow Book puts total medevac costs at around $25,000 for transport within North America and over $250,000 for more distant and remote locations. Costs rise further when a patient is critically ill.

The difference in ranges reflects scope. The State Department figure covers an air ambulance flight home. The CDC range spans all evacuations, including far more remote regions than a Baja itinerary.

How much coverage people look for

Squaremouth recommends at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage and $250,000 in medical evacuation coverage for cruises. That’s a comparison site’s guideline rather than a regulatory standard, but it gives you a yardstick. Measured against it, the Holland America Platinum ($75,000) and Disney ($50,000) evacuation limits fall short. Royal Caribbean’s published $500,000 limit clears it.

Who decides whether you’re evacuated

The CDC notes that the decision to evacuate is made by the insurer, not the traveler. It typically requires hospitalization with more days expected or treatment that isn’t available locally. Most policies also require the evacuation to be arranged through the insurer’s assistance provider. Holland America and Disney both state this in their plan summaries. If you call the assistance line first, the claim is far more likely to be paid.

Pre-existing conditions

The CDC warns that conditions needing hospitalization or medical intervention in the 90 days before departure are often excluded. It also cites a study in which insurers fully paid only about two-thirds of travel health claims, mostly because of pre-existing illness and poor documentation. Squaremouth notes that many third-party plans offer a pre-existing condition waiver, but only if you buy soon after your first trip payment. It suggests buying within 10 days of the initial deposit to keep that and other time-sensitive benefits available.

Worked Examples: Two San Diego Households

These examples use hypothetical trip prices and medical bills chosen to be realistic for a San Diego sailing. They are not quotes. Actual plan terms, exclusions and your own coverage would decide what’s paid.

Example 1: A Chula Vista family on a four-night Mexico sailing

A couple in their late 30s from Chula Vista (91910) books a four-night Mexico cruise from B Street Pier for themselves and two kids, ages 8 and 11. They ride the trolley downtown, so there are no flights. Their prepaid cost is $3,400 in fares and taxes plus $500 in excursions and a drinks package booked through the line, for $3,900 total.

Cost of coverage. Using Squaremouth’s 4%–10% benchmark, a comprehensive third-party policy might run about $156 to $390 for a $3,900 trip. Actual quotes depend on ages and the plan chosen.

Scenario A: a covered cancellation. Three days before sailing, the 11-year-old breaks an arm and the doctor advises against the trip. Assume the cruise line’s cancellation schedule means they would forfeit the full $3,900. A comprehensive policy with trip cancellation, or a cruise line plan that pays cash for specified reasons, could reimburse the prepaid cost, subject to the plan’s terms and a physician’s statement. With no coverage, they lose $3,900.

Scenario B: a work conflict. Instead, one parent’s employer suddenly cancels approved leave. That usually isn’t a covered reason under standard trip cancellation, so a basic third-party policy might pay nothing unless it includes a specific work-reasons benefit. The outcomes differ sharply by plan:

Royal Caribbean’s plan (if sailing with that line): a 90% future cruise credit, or $3,510 toward another Royal Caribbean sailing, but no cash.
A third-party policy with CFAR: typically 50%–75% back in cash, or $1,950 to $2,925, provided they bought within the required window, insured 100% of the trip cost and canceled far enough ahead.
A basic third-party policy without CFAR: likely $0.

The trade-off is flexibility against the form of payment. A family that cruises every year may value a larger credit, while a family unsure about sailing again may prefer a smaller amount of cash.

Example 2: A Rancho Bernardo retired couple on a seven-night Mexican Riviera cruise

A couple aged 71 and 73 in Rancho Bernardo (92128) has Original Medicare plus Medigap Plan G. They book a seven-night Mexican Riviera cruise for $4,800 total. On day four, well south of the border, the husband develops chest pain. The ship’s medical center treats him and sends him ashore to a hospital near the next port. After three days, an air ambulance flies him to San Diego.

Assume these hypothetical bills: $3,500 from the ship’s medical center, $16,000 in hospital charges and a $32,000 air ambulance, for $51,500 in total.

With Medicare and Medigap only:

Medicare: likely $0, because the ship is more than six hours from a U.S. port and the hospital is in Mexico.
Medigap foreign travel benefit on the $19,500 of emergency care: ($19,500 − $250) × 80% = $15,400 paid, leaving $4,100 for the couple. That payment also uses up $15,400 of the $50,000 lifetime cap.
Air ambulance: Medicare doesn’t cover evacuation, according to the CDC. Whether a Medigap carrier treats an air ambulance home as covered emergency care is a question for the carrier. If it doesn’t, the couple owes the full $32,000.

Their potential out-of-pocket total is about $36,100, before counting unused cruise days and any extra hotel nights for the wife.

With a cruise line plan like Holland America’s CPP Platinum: its published limits are $20,000 for medical and dental and $75,000 for evacuation. Both bills here fit within those limits, subject to plan terms and any rule that the insurance pays after Medigap. Had the evacuation been longer or more complex, a $75,000 cap could run out.

With a third-party comprehensive policy meeting Squaremouth’s suggested minimums of $100,000 medical and $250,000 evacuation, this scenario would sit well inside the limits. The couple would still need to satisfy the policy’s pre-existing condition rules.

The pricing twist. Holland America says its plans cost the same at every age, while third-party premiums generally rise with age. At 71 and 73, the couple may find the gap between the line’s plan and a third-party quote is smaller than a younger family would see. Comparing both is the only way to know.

California Rules and Protections for Travel Insurance Buyers

Because you’re buying in California, a few state-specific points apply.

How California defines travel insurance

On its licensing pages, the California Department of Insurance (CDI) cites Insurance Code Section 1753. It defines travel insurance as coverage for personal risks incidental to planned travel, including trip cancellation or interruption, loss of baggage, damage to accommodations or rental vehicles, and sickness, accident, disability or death during travel. A cruise line’s cancellation waiver sits outside that definition. As the NAIC notes, only the insurance portion of a bundle falls under state insurance oversight.

California hasn’t adopted the newer model framework through AB 3104

The NAIC adopted a Travel Insurance Model Act in December 2018, and as of April 2026 it reports that 38 states have enacted it. In California, a 2024 bill called the California Travel Insurance Act (AB 3104) would have recast state rules to align more closely with that model. It would have covered disclosure of bundled plans and a ban on pre-checked “opt-out” coverage. CalMatters’ Digital Democracy tracker lists the bill’s status as failed. For consumers, reading the plan documents yourself carries even more weight.

Salespeople may not be licensed agents

Holland America’s plan disclosures note that in most states, the travel retailer selling you a plan is not a licensed insurance agent. The retailer can’t answer technical questions about coverage or evaluate whether your existing insurance is adequate. If you want advice, you can confirm that an agent or broker is licensed using CDI’s online Check a License tool.

Where to get help

CDI’s consumer hotline is 800-927-4357. That’s the number to call if a travel insurer denies a claim you believe should be paid or treats you unfairly. It helps to have your policy number, claim correspondence and receipts ready.

Common Mistakes and a Step-by-Step Way to Shop

Most bad outcomes come from timing and assumptions rather than from the wrong company.

Mistakes that cost San Diego cruisers money

Waiting until final payment to buy. Time-sensitive benefits such as CFAR and pre-existing condition waivers are generally available only for a short window after your first deposit. Squaremouth puts that window at roughly 10 to 21 days, depending on the benefit.
Buying after a storm has a name. Squaremouth notes that hurricane coverage generally applies only if you bought before the storm was named. That matters for fall sailings during eastern Pacific hurricane season.
Assuming a cruise credit equals a refund. A credit ties you to the same line, often with an expiration date.
Insuring only the cruise. Separately booked flights, hotels and excursions may not be covered by a cruise line plan.
Relying on a passport card alone. The State Department says a passport card works for re-entry at sea ports from Mexico, but you’d need a passport book to fly home if a medical problem keeps you off the ship. It strongly recommends cruise passengers carry the book.
Skipping paperwork. Poor documentation is one of the main reasons travel health claims are refused, according to the CDC. Keep itemized bills, medical records and receipts.

A five-step shopping plan

Check what you already have. Call your health plan or Medigap carrier and ask about emergency care in Mexico, air ambulance transport and how claims work.
Get the cruise line plan’s full document. Holland America links to state-specific plan documents, and Disney’s insurer posts policies by state of residence. Note the medical and evacuation limits and whether cancellations pay cash or credit.
Pull two or three third-party quotes. Use a comparison site or a licensed agent. Enter your real trip cost, every traveler’s age and your first deposit date.
Line up the plans on the same five points: medical limit, evacuation limit, pre-existing condition rules, cash vs credit, and what trip costs are covered.
Save the assistance number in your phone. In an emergency, call it before agreeing to any transport. Many plans require the assistance provider to coordinate evacuations.

Many people in this situation find that the right answer depends on age, health and how many non-cruise costs they’ve prepaid. A licensed agent can tell you which applies to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need travel insurance for a cruise from San Diego?

For most sailings it’s optional. However, Squaremouth notes that nearly every major cruise line strongly recommends it, and some itineraries elsewhere require proof of coverage. The main reasons are cost-related. Medicare and many U.S. health plans pay little or nothing once a ship is far from a U.S. port, and the State Department puts air ambulance evacuations home at $20,000 to $200,000. Whether coverage is worth it depends on your existing insurance, health and how much of your trip is non-refundable.

Does Medicare cover me on a cruise to Mexico?

Only in narrow cases. According to Medicare.gov, Part B may pay for medically necessary care on a ship if the doctor is legally allowed to treat you there and the ship is in a U.S. port or within six hours of one. On a Mexican Riviera cruise, much of the trip falls outside that window. Medigap Plans C, D, F, G, M and N add limited foreign emergency coverage, capped at $50,000 over your lifetime.

Is the cruise line’s insurance enough?

It can be for some travelers, but compare the limits. Published figures show evacuation limits ranging from $50,000 (Disney) and $75,000 (Holland America Platinum) up to $500,000 (Royal Caribbean). Squaremouth suggests at least $250,000 for cruises. Several line plans pay non-covered cancellations as future cruise credit rather than cash, and some reimburse only costs booked through the line. The best choice depends on your ages, health and trip costs.

How much does cruise insurance cost?

Estimates vary by source. Squaremouth cites 4% to 10% of the insured trip cost, and its 2025–26 sales data shows an average of $539.89 for comprehensive cruise policies. The NAIC puts general travel insurance at 5% to 10%, while the CDC says comprehensive plans can cost up to 8%, or up to 15% with cancel for any reason. Your quote depends on trip cost, ages and upgrades.

When should I buy cruise insurance?

Shortly after your first deposit is usually best. Squaremouth recommends buying within about 10 days to keep time-sensitive benefits, such as pre-existing condition waivers and cancel for any reason, available. Cruise line plans have their own deadlines. Holland America, for example, says its plans must be added before cancellation fees begin. Buying late can still get you medical coverage, but you may lose cancellation options.

Does cruise insurance cover hurricanes on Mexican Riviera cruises?

Often, if you buy before the storm is named. Squaremouth notes that weather coverage generally applies only when the policy was purchased before a storm got its name. The eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to November 30, according to the National Hurricane Center, which overlaps with San Diego’s fall sailings. Standard policies usually don’t pay just because a port stop is skipped.

Will my credit card’s travel protection cover my cruise?

It may help with cancellations or delays, but it’s rarely enough on its own. The CDC advises that credit card travel benefits vary widely, often require enrollment and a formal claim, and shouldn’t be treated as a substitute for travel health or medical evacuation insurance. Many cruisers pair card benefits with a separate medical and evacuation policy. Read your card’s guide to benefits before relying on it.

What is cancel for any reason cruise insurance?

Cancel for any reason (CFAR) is an optional upgrade that lets you cancel for reasons a standard policy excludes, such as a work conflict or simply changing your mind. The NAIC says it typically returns 50% to 75% of trip costs and adds close to 50% to the premium. It usually must be bought soon after your first deposit, and you typically need to cancel at least 48 hours before departure.

Do I need a passport for a cruise from San Diego to Mexico?

The State Department says a U.S. passport card can be used to re-enter the U.S. at sea ports from Mexico. However, you’d need a passport book to fly home if illness, injury or a ship problem leaves you ashore. For that reason it strongly recommends every cruise passenger travel with a passport book, even when the cruise line doesn’t require one.

Your Next Step

Cruise insurance San Diego travelers buy is really a question of three things: how much of your trip you’d lose if you canceled, what your health coverage does once you leave U.S. waters, and whether a policy’s evacuation limit would get you home. The cruise line’s plan is the easiest option, but its limits and credit-based refunds don’t suit everyone.

A practical next step is to download the line’s plan document and gather two or three third-party quotes within a few days of your deposit. Then compare them on medical limits, evacuation limits, pre-existing condition rules and cash vs credit. If you have health conditions or you’re on Medicare, a licensed insurance agent can tell you which option fits your situation.

Sources

Port of San Diego, “Port of San Diego and Holland America Line Celebrate the Start of San Diego’s Cruise Season” (press release, September 30, 2025), https://www.portofsandiego.org/press-releases/general-press-releases/port-san-diego-and-holland-america-line-celebrate-start-san, accessed September 22, 2026.
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Royal Caribbean International, “Royal Caribbean Travel Protection,” https://www.royalcaribbean.com/plan-a-cruise/cruise-travel-insurance, accessed September 22, 2026.
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National Hurricane Center (NOAA), “Tropical Cyclone Climatology,” https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/, accessed September 22, 2026.

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