Travel Insurance coverage for trips to Antarctica: What You Need to Know
A trip to Antarctica is a big investment – protect your trip with travel insurance benefits
- As featured in:
As featured in:
At a glance
- World Nomad offers travel insurance coverage for cruises to Antarctica
- Medical emergencies and evacuation while in Antarctica may be covered
- Coverage may be included for Antarctica activities like glacier walking, sea kayaking, snowshoeing, and more
- Travel insurance benefits for Antarctica may include trip cancellation, trip delay, and trip interruption
- An optional Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) upgrade is available for extra flexibility. (Not available for New York residents. Additional terms apply.)
- Do I need travel insurance benefits for a trip to Antarctica?
- What Travel Protection Plan Should I Get for My Trip to Antarctica?
- Coverage for Activities in Antarctica
- Cruises to Antarctica
- How much does a travel protection plan for an Antarctica trip cost?
- Medical Expense, Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
- Baggage Protection
- Trip Cancellation
- Travel Safety Tips we recommend for trips to Antarctica
Do I need travel Insurance for Antarctica?
Antarctica may not be the easiest place to get to, but the journey and remoteness of the continent is part of the allure. It’s not the cheapest place to travel, though. Seeing the penguins and experiencing the southernmost continent on the planet is worth it, but it is definitely an investment. If something happens and you need to cancel your trip to Antarctica, you won’t want to lose the money you spent.
You also may not find full-service medical facilities in Antarctica, so if you get hurt while you’re there or take a tumble on your cruise as you’re going through the Drake Passage, you may need to get transported to a place where you can get the level of care you need.
Travel protection benefits include trip cancellations, emergency medical expenses, emergency medical evacuations, and more – helping protect you and your investment. If you’re planning a trip there, you may want to get a quote for a travel protection plan that includes travel insurance benefits and non-insurance services for Antarctica.
What Travel Protection Plan Should I Get for My Trip to Antarctica?
Only you can decide which plan offers the best travel protection for your trip to Antarctica, based on your needs. World Nomads offers four plans – Standard, Explorer, Epic and Annual – each with different coverages or levels of coverage. When it comes to Antarctica, you may want to focus in on the trip cancellation and medical evacuation coverage to make sure the benefit limits are suitable for your trip.
| Standard Plan | Explorer Plan | Epic Plan | Annual Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
|
This may cover certain activities you may participate in during your time in Antarctica, such as taking a polar plunge, cross country skiing, and sea kayaking. It also may cover the basics like emergency medical emergencies, baggage loss by a common carrier, and trip cancellations – but it has the lowest maximum benefit amounts. Get a quote |
This plan covers everything the Standard plan offers but includes higher maximum benefit amounts and protection for additional activities like glacier walking up to 21,325 feet. Optional ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ coverage can also be added at an additional cost (not available to New York residents. Additional Terms Apply). Get a quote |
The Epic plan is best for extreme adventurers and covers everything included in the Standard and Explorer plans, but provides the highest maximum benefit amounts. If you want the most coverage possible, this is the plan for you. It also includes a wider range of activities, including glacier walking up to 26,247 feet. Optional ‘Cancel for any Reason’ can also be added to this plan at an additional cost (not available to New York residents. Additional Terms Apply). Get a quote |
The Annual Plan may cover your trip to Antarctica, as well as other trips you have planned throughout the year, with each trip lasting up to 45 days. This is designed for weekend warriors and avid travelers, and this plan could keep you protected wherever your travels take you (trips you take must be over 100 miles from your home). Get a quote |
Consider the investment that you’ve made in your trip and compare plans carefully to ensure your Antarctica travel insurance coverage and non-insurance services option matches your travel needs. When you get a quote for a travel protection plan, you can see the benefits side by side. We encourage you to learn about the exclusions, terms and conditions and contact us if you have any questions. Exclusion applies to Adventure or Extreme Activities.
Coverage for Activities in Antarctica
World Nomads Travel Insurance may cover losses resulting from participation in more than 250 adventure activities. Nobody plans to fall out and get hurt while sea kayaking among icebergs, or have a slip and fall when taking a polar plunge, but it can happen. Travel insurance benefits and non-insurance services for trips to Antarctica may cover a variety of activities such as glacier walking, sea kayaking, cross country skiing, polar plunges, and more. We encourage you to review all of the plans offered by World Nomads Travel Insurance when booking your trip to Antarctica, as some plans cover more activities than others.
We cover 250+ activities you love
Cruises to Antarctica
Many travelers fly to Argentina and then hop on a cruise to Antarctica from there. However, there are number of variables you don’t have control over. The first is the weather; you may need to wait out a storm in Argentina before boarding. Sometimes your cruise may change your itinerary for other reasons. For example, if your cruise doesn’t meet the minimum number of people, they may move your booking to their next scheduled cruise. If you purchased the Explorer or Epic plans, the trip exchange benefit is included in your plan and you could be reimbursed for the difference in cost between the original and new plane tickets and pre-cruise hotel rooms. Terms and conditions apply.
How much does a travel protection plan for an Antarctica trip cost?
You can easily get a quote for a travel protection plan that includes travel insurance coverage for your Antarctica trip. It just takes a few minutes to input the specific information for your trip and see prices. You’ll then be able to compare the coverage and prices side by side. You’ll see the Explorer and Epic plans are pricier than the Standard plan, but they can cover more activities and offer higher maximum benefit amounts. The Annual plan is pricier as well, but that one may cover all insurable trips that are more than 100 miles away from your home – not just your one trip to Antarctica.
If you have questions about coverage or pricing, you can contact us and we can help answer any questions you may have.
Common insurance considerations for Antarctica
Medical Expense, Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
Hopefully you won’t even have to deal with seasickness as you’re crossing the Drake Passage, but in case of unexpected illness or injury on your trip to Antarctica, the accident and sickness medical expense travel insurance benefit may reimburse necessary emergency medical expenses while traveling. Depending on your needs, you may not be able to get the level of care you need in Antarctica, though. If that’s the case, the emergency evacuation and repatriation insurance benefit may cover transport to the nearest adequate medical facility or home for treatment if you suffer an injury that is severe, acute or life- threatening. (Additional terms and conditions apply. Exclusion applies to Adventure or Extreme Activities.)
Baggage Protection
What happens if you’re flying to Argentina to embark on your cruise to Antarctica, but your luggage is lost by your common carrier on the way there? If you have travel insurance benefits for a trip to Antarctica, you may be reimbursed for lost items. If your baggage is delayed on your flight, contact the airline first and then contact our Delayed or Lost Baggage Tracking and Delivery service, which is our non-insurance service partners.
Trip Cancellation
Nobody books a trip to Antarctica with intentions of canceling, but unexpected events like natural disasters, illness, or family emergencies may force you to cancel your trip. Trip cancellation insurance coverage may help reimburse prepaid, non-refundable, unused expenses if your trip to Antarctica is cancelled due to a covered reason – that may include the non-refundable money you paid for your cruise, as well as your flight to Argentina.
If you purchase the Epic or Explorer plan, you could also have the opportunity to add on additional ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ coverage that allows you to cancel for any reason not already covered by the plan, as long as you cancel your trip at least two days before your scheduled departure date. (Terms and conditions apply. Not available for New York residents.)
Travel Safety Tips we recommend for trips to Antarctica
Data from the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) shows that over 100,000 people visit Antarctica each year. While it is lesser-visited than many other destinations in the world, it is possible to travel there and have a memorable trip. There are some things you want to know before visiting Antarctica, though. Check out some of our personal tips and then plan your trip to one of the coolest places in the world!
- Choose a reputable tour operator that has several years of experience and good reviews.
- Keep a safe distance from wildlife.
- Stick to marked paths and don’t walk on glaciers or large snow fields without the proper equipment
- Save the phone number and plan number for the travel protection plan you purchased in your phone. It’s not a bad idea to have a copy of this printed as well.
- Pack medication for seasickness and take it before you feel sick. Don’t wait until it’s too late. The seas can be notoriously rough going to Antarctica.
- Be careful onboard your ship and don’t move around too much when the weather is choppy.
- Bring layers to wear. The weather can change quickly in Antarctica.
- Know that you may not have cellular service. You can download WhatsApp ahead of time and use that if your tour operator provides satellite internet access.
- Keep supporting documentation including receipts and communication from your common carrier and travel supplier in case you need to make a claim.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Protection
Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
- Standard Plan: $2,500
- Explorer Plan: $10,000
- Epic Plan: $15,000
- Annual Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalized?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Insurance
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
- Standard Plan: $125,000
- Explorer Plan: $150,000
- Epic Plan: $250,000
- Annual Plan: $100,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Evacuation
We'll provide assistance to get you to the hospital or home quickly.
- Standard Plan: $400,000
- Explorer Plan: $500,000
- Epic Plan: $700,000
- Annual Plan: $100,000
Emergency Evacuation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medevac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Covers the loss, theft or damage of your bags, tech and gear.
- Standard Plan: $1,000
- Explorer Plan: $2,000
- Epic Plan: $3,000
- Annual Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
The amounts listed represent the maximum benefit amount.
Protect your health
- 24/7 Emergency Assistance Help Line
- Emergency Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Evacuations
- Bedside Companion Travel
- Emergency Medications
Protect Your Trip
- Trip Cancellation
- Optional Cancel for Any Reason (Explorer or Epic)
- Trip Delay & Trip Interruption
- Missed Connection (Explorer or Epic)
- Rental Car Damage (Explorer, Epic or Annual)
Protect Your Stuff
- Baggage Delay
- Passport and Visa Loss
- Lost or Stolen Bags
- Personal Tech, Equipment & Gear
- Baggage Return After Evacuation
Non-Insurance Services
- Medical & Non-Medical 24/7 Emergency Assistance Line
- Translators Available
- Pre-Departure Telehealth Services
- Portable Health Records
- Delayed or Lost Baggage Tracking and Delivery
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.