Travellers ready to set sail on a P&O cruise have been urged to read the rules before packing their bags ready for their holiday - as they could be met with heartbreak when boarding otherwise08:04, 20 May 2026After spending hours researching cruises, most travellers can’t wait to pack their bags and set sail on their well-earned holiday. But before entering holiday mode, there’s one critical task to carry out - otherwise, you could be refused entry and have to return home upset and out of pocket.‌According to P&O’s contract, every guest must have valid travel insurance, which must cover pre-existing medical conditions too. Spreading the message on social media, user @tim_cruise said: “Don’t make this one big, huge mistake because if you get this wrong, it could cost you thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of pounds. And that is making sure you’ve got the right travel insurance for a cruise. Don’t scrimp on this because it’s very important.‌“You need to make sure your travel insurance has some kind of cruise cover in it. They will cover your medical expenses because you have to use the onboard medical centre, which is very, very expensive.”‌Adding to this, he shared the reality most people don’t think about after booking their sea getaway, saying: “Any repatriation costs, like a helicopter evacuating you off the ship, that kind of thing - and that is obviously very, very costly.“You’ve got to make sure your travel insurance includes that. Lots of them do. Many standard travel insurance policies have that basic level of cruise cover in them, including ones that come with your bank account.“So if you miss a port, the cruise line will write you a letter so you can prove that you missed a port, and then you can claim on your travel insurance for that missed port.‌“It doesn’t bother me so much that we missed a port, so I don’t take that extra cover out, but lots of people do have the extra cover.”P&O's rulesContent cannot be displayed without consentAt a minimum, your insurance policy must include medical and repatriation coverage of no less than £2 million, with travellers responsible for purchasing the appropriate insurance for the duration of their trip.‌Addressing travellers who live in the UK, have an address in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, and have lived in the UK for at least six months in the last 12 months, P&O states: “It is mandatory for all UK guests to take out comprehensive cruise-specific travel insurance for their holiday with us.“While we hope guests never have to use it, the policy will ensure they’re able to relax and enjoy their holiday with the peace of mind that they’re protected, should they need it.“When travelling with us, guests’ insurance must include medical and repatriation cover of a minimum of £2 million, including cover for emergency evacuations and medical expenses related to COVID-19.Article continues below“Guests must also ensure their policy includes cover for travel, cancellation and curtailment, and full cover for any and all existing medical conditions worldwide, or at a minimum, in the countries they are due to visit.“The travel insurance documents will be checked at the terminal and must cover the entire duration of the holiday."Unfortunately, guests will be denied boarding at their own expense if they don’t have appropriate cover.”