Booked VGT and now boyfriend can't go

[JR6162]

We booked a last minute VGT (with restrictions) sailing on the Dream for 11/5/21 and my boyfriend, who has been unemployed as a pilot during COVID, has been hired and will begin flying immediately. I bought the travel insurance through Disney Cruise, but I am highly doubtful I will get any money back for cancelling. Is it possible that I can go ahead and go without him? Will they let me on the boat if he is a no-show or does the entire travel party have to be there? I'm just trying to weigh my options here. And of course, it's still possible he'll be able to go - it will all depend on his flying schedule/assignment. Thanks in advance!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We booked a last minute VGT (with restrictions) sailing on the Dream for 11/5/21 and my boyfriend, who has been unemployed as a pilot during COVID, has been hired and will begin flying immediately. I bought the travel insurance through Disney Cruise, but I am highly doubtful I will get any money back for cancelling. Is it possible that I can go ahead and go without him? Will they let me on the boat if he is a no-show or does the entire travel party have to be there? I'm just trying to weigh my options here. And of course, it's still possible he'll be able to go - it will all depend on his flying schedule/assignment. Thanks in advance!

You can go on the trip by yourself. You can either get the costs paid for your boyfriends portion returned via insurance, but be aware that DCL could wind up charging you a single supplement (usually 100%) so it would be a moot point.

If you don't collect the insurance for his part of the cost, you still can go by yourself. Just say he'll check in later (you can check in independently). Again, if you say he's not coming when you check in, they MIGHT charge the single supplement fee, or not.

 

[Intr3pid]

As long as there is at least one adult on the reservation checking in, not the entire party has to sail. Inside the penalty window, you just won't get a fare refund from DCL for those not sailing.

If you modify the reservation before the check-in to just you, you will sail as a solo cruiser and pay the single supplement for the fare (i.e. pay his fare too). You can still avoid paying his taxes, fees, and gratuities, however.

I'm not familiar with DCL's insurance contracts, but if it's not clear from the terms, I'd call and ask for clarification. That is, if the second person on the reservation can't check in, is the reservation modified to that of a solo cruiser? If it is, there won't be an insurance payout for the fare since the new fare is adjusted to cover the single supplement. But, if it isn't, you may be able to get a refund for his portion.

 

[Kwami]

If you don't collect the insurance for his part of the cost, you still can go by yourself. Just say he'll check in later (you can check in independently). Again, if you say he's not coming when you check in, they MIGHT charge the single supplement fee, or not.

I'm not sure if this is still true. They've been requiring the full traveling party to be present for Covid testing at the same time and you can't get to the check-in window in the terminal building until after testing.

 

[sethschroeder]

What happens if you are in close contact with someone with COVID19? Do they still do refunds or credits for a future cruise?

 

[JR6162]

So is it possible that even though I booked a VGT with restrictions, insurance might be able to cover it for both of us? I just assumed that since it was a VGT, it was completely non-refundable, even with insurance. Which is why I'd prefer to go vs not losing the entire cost. But if I can even get a cruise credit at this point, I would be happy. But if I can't, I'd happily (really sadly) go without him if it's possible.

 

[lanejudy]

So is it possible that even though I booked a VGT with restrictions, insurance might be able to cover it for both of us?

Insurance will cover if your policy covers cancelling for work-related reasons. I don’t recall the specifics of the DCL coverage. If insurance doesn’t cover — you are eligible for a 70% (?) credit with DCL to be used within a year (I think those are the terms).

 

[lanejudy]

If you modify the reservation

OP booked a VGT … no modifications allowed.

 

[Cheburashka]

I would call the insurance company and ask if this would be a covered reason to cancel, and if it is, whether or not it would cover both of you.

Insurance does cover nonrefundable expenses. The key is to figure out if it's a covered reason to cancel, and if so, for whom.

 

[MomOTwins]

I just recently had DCL insurance and looked at the policy. Unfortunately, this is not a covered reason. Covered reasons for full refund of your boyfriend's fare are:

1. Death of someone in the travel party or a family member
2. Sickness/injury that a doctor certifies prevents travel
3. Hijacking
4. Quarantine
5. Jury duty or court order to appear as a witness in court
6. Traffic accident en route to the ship
7. Weather that completely ceases all flights on your airline to the area
8. Employment termination or layoff
9. Trip delays that cause you to miss 50% of the cruise

That said, you still have the 75% cancel for any reason coverage, which means you can cancel and get 75% of the fare back in the form of a future cruise credit to use when you and your boyfriend can both travel in the next year. Note this is only if you choose to cancel--if you go ahead with the cruise sans boyfriend, you won't get back 75% of his fare.