My understanding is that most travel insurance would not cover this anyway. The cruise was not cut short, they were returned (via bus) to the correct port, etc--so technically it does not fall under any normal insurance issue. That is one of the reasons this has been such a nightmare for people.
It would not be covered by most policies since most policies only cover:
1 "trip interruption" -- technically the trip was not "interrupted" or cut short. It was miserable and not what people expected, but it was not shortened.
2. "extra expenses incurred" -- so if someone had to change airfare to get back, then that would be covered--but nothing for the cost of a cruise spent mostly hot and stinky eating onion sandwiches, or for lost wages if there were any and very unlikely that extra pet boarding or babysitting costs would be covered either--just airfare change fees, etc at most.
This is actually one reason that with our current ages and heath we do not buy insurance--it often does not cover things that we would want. I totally think that if you do not have the means to cover an emergency yourself, have a strong liklihood of issues or are spending a HUGE sum (which varies depending on your income and savings level) on a trip, then the only reasonable thing to do is insure yourself--but, just as you need to know what not having a passport could put you through, you need to know what insurance really will cover and what it will not.
Travel insurance wouldn't cover it because 1) you sailed on time so there was no delay; 2) you never got off the ship that did sail so your cruise was not interrupted and 3) the cruise was never cancelled. No, you did not make your ports, but there is nothing in your policy that says you can or will make them. Plus, your cruise contract states the itineraries can be changed. You were compensated by the cruise line so there is no fare money lost.
If you went to medical during the week and received copies of your paperwork, you night be able to file a claim for any fees incurred, but that's about it.
You are correct about "trip delay" or "trip interruption" if you consider only the front-end of the trip. However, most trip insurance also covers the return home -
For example:
"When Coverage Ends
Your coverage automatically ends on the earlier of:
1. the date the Covered Trip is completed;
2. the Scheduled Return Date;
3. cancellation of the Covered Trip covered by the plan;
4. your arrival at the return destination on a round-trip,
or the destination on a one-way trip.
All coverages under the plan will be extended if your
entire Covered Trip is covered by the plan and your
return is delayed by unavoidable circumstances beyond
your control.
If coverage is extended for the above reasons,
coverage will end on the earlier of the date you reach
your originally scheduled return destination or seven (7)
days after the Scheduled Return Date.[/quote]
(bold added).
If you're stuck at an airport, or stuck on a ship, your trip home is certainly "delayed" and you will be reimbursed by the insurer under Trip Delay. It may pay for extra expenses like babysitting or pet sitting or even lost wages, depending on the coverage chosen.
) fall under the conditions.
