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Travel insurance for the Caribbean

Beth Leslie
Written by  Beth Leslie
5 min read
Updated: 15 Jan 2025

Key takeaways

  • Travel insurance for the Caribbean is not legally required but recommended so you are protected if something goes wrong during your trip

  • If you are going on a Caribbean cruise, you generally won’t be allowed to board without specialist cruise insurance

  • The 26 Caribbean countries have different visa and vaccination requirements

Do I need travel insurance for the Caribbean?

Travel insurance is not a legal requirement. But without it you will be personally responsible for paying all the costs if something goes wrong with your trip. Travel insurance can financially protect you if your holiday to the Caribbean is unexpectedly cancelled, you have a medical emergency while travelling, or your belongings are lost or stolen.

What type of travel insurance do I need for the Caribbean?

Standard travel insurance is often suitable for your trip to the Caribbean. It will usually cover:

  • Illness and accidents

  • Trip and activity cancellations

  • Lost luggage

  • Theft

  • Personal liability

You may need to buy specialised travel insurance or add-ons if you want to cover:

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What travel insurance do I need for a Caribbean cruise?

Cruise cover is a specialist type of travel insurance. Most cruise companies won't let you on board unless you have this insurance.

You can often add cruise cover to your regular travel insurance, or you can get a special policy just for cruises. Cruise cover financially protects you if you face problems like missing your ship's departure or needing to get to a hospital if you get sick while at sea.

Do I need a visa to travel to the Caribbean from the UK?

Visa requirements for countries can change. For the most up-to-date information, check the UK government’s foreign travel advice.

Different countries in the Caribbean have different rules regarding visas.

Caribbean countries UK passport holders can travel visa-free to include the Cayman Islands, Jamacia and St Lucia.

Caribbean countries UK passport holders can get a visa on arrival for include Antigua, Barbados and Grenada.

UK passport holders need a visa to visit Caribbean countries like Cuba.

Do I need any vaccinations to travel to the Caribbean from the UK?

Different countries in the Caribbean have different rules regarding which vaccinations you need. Up-to-date vaccine recommendations for the Caribbean are listed on the Travel Health Pro website.

Which countries are part of the Caribbean?

There are 26 countries in The Caribbean. They are: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Haiti, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos and the United States Virgin Islands

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