Cruise Insurance ??

[Claud26]

For all those Canadians booking DCL, did you take the Disney insurance or opt for RBC, TD etc...
Also I'm booking for December 09 and when I looked at RBC but it says you can't get insurance more then 182 days out ... but then it says that you should book insurance when you book your trip!?!? what do you do there?

 

[fivebyfive]

There is no need to purchase vacation insurance this far out. Reason being; should you need to cancel, DCL will give you your deposit money back up to 75 days prior to sail date, no questions asked:

up to 75 days prior to travel - deposit refunded
75-45 days prior to travel - you will lose your deposit
44-8 days prior to travel - 50% of your total
7 days or less to travel - 100% of your total (no refund)

I book my travel insurance for DCL through RBC (it's cheaper than DCL) but I don't do so until just before my final payment is due. Why pay for insurance until it's needed?

 

[minnie56]

There is no need to purchase vacation insurance this far out. Reason being; should you need to cancel, DCL will give you your deposit money back up to 75 days prior to sail date, no questions asked:

up to 75 days prior to travel - deposit refunded
75-45 days prior to travel - you will lose your deposit
44-8 days prior to travel - 50% of your total
7 days or less to travel - 100% of your total (no refund)

I book my travel insurance for DCL through RBC (it's cheaper than DCL) but I don't do so until just before my final payment is due. Why pay for insurance until it's needed?

Welllllll--I see your point.

BUT the best time to purchase insurance is when you really don't need it! Meaning, you are all well and healthy. Say your vacation is a year away and in the meantime, before final pymnt, you are diagnosed with 'something' Could be Diabetes, Gallbladder issues, ulcer, not just the serious stuff. It's non emergency BUTTTT prior to your trip--and after Final Pymnt--it's rears it's ugly head as often things do. That now becomes a 'pre existing condition' and you are not covered and neither is your vacation! No money back. It didn't seem to be a concern, but it sure is now!

Make sense?

Protect your vacation investment. If you cancel you will also receive your Insurance money back prior to FP, so why not??? It's beans--given what the trip cost!

 

[fivebyfive]

Say your vacation is a year away and in the meantime, before final pymnt, you are diagnosed with 'something' Could be Diabetes, Gallbladder issues, ulcer, not just the serious stuff. It's non emergency BUTTTT prior to your trip--and after Final Pymnt--it's rears it's ugly head as often things do.

I'm not talking about AFTER final payment is made. I'm talking about before (which is the sitch the OP is in for some time to come, seeing as she's looking at a December '09 cruise). Until 75 days prior to sail date, the vacation is FULLY refundable, no matter how much money she puts down, regardless of her reason to cancel.

I had $1000 deposit on the August repo cruise, I recently cancelled because I changed my mind and got my $1000 back from DCL, seeing as I was not yet within 75 days of sailing. However, if I (as you suggested) purchased insurance back in January 2007 (when I booked my repo cruise) I would of put out the $$$ for insurance no reason.

If you cancel you will also receive your Insurance money back prior to FP, so why not???

Why pay for insurance if penalties have yet to kick in? Why be out ANY amount of money if you don't need to be? That's like buying insurance a year before purchasing the car.

Make sense?

 

[minnie56]

I'm not talking about AFTER final payment is made. I'm talking about before (which is the sitch the OP is in for some time to come, seeing as she's looking at a December '09 cruise). Until 75 days prior to sail date, the vacation is FULLY refundable, no matter how much money she puts down, regardless of her reason to cancel.

I had $1000 deposit on the August repo cruise, I recently cancelled because I changed my mind and got my $1000 back from DCL, seeing as I was not yet within 75 days of sailing. However, if I (as you suggested) purchased insurance back in January 2007 (when I booked my repo cruise) I would of put out the $$$ for insurance no reason.



Why pay for insurance if penalties have yet to kick in? Why be out ANY amount of money if you don't need to be? That's like buying insurance a year before purchasing the car.

Make sense?

Okay..today I book a cruise.
Final Payment is say 6 months away.
Next week I am diagnosed with an Irritable Appendix.
It settles down tho..I am good to forge ahead.
I buy my insurance before final payment time. One month before, one week before, 10 days before, no matter. I just buy it. Five days before I am scheduled to cruise..Appendicitus! I can't go. I am not covered tho...bummer. Because I bought my Insurance AFTER I had been told I had an Irritable Appendix! I now have a 'pre exisitng; condition!

I am a TA.
Trust me--I have a hundred tales like this!
Buy it when your health is stable. One NEVER knows what another day might bring!

You will be "out' a whole lot more if you aren't insured!

 

[Tiger926]

Okay..today I book a cruise.
Final Payment is say 6 months away.
Next week I am diagnosed with an Irritable Appendix.
It settles down tho..I am good to forge ahead.
I buy my insurance before final payment time. One month before, one week before, 10 days before, no matter. I just buy it. Five days before I am scheduled to cruise..Appendicitus! I can't go. I am not covered tho...bummer. Because I bought my Insurance AFTER I had been told I had an Irritable Appendix! I now have a 'pre exisitng; condition!

I am a TA.
Trust me--I have a hundred tales like this!
Buy it when your health is stable. One NEVER knows what another day might bring!

You will be "out' a whole lot more if you aren't insured!

Yup! Absolutely correct as we tried to get DVC cruise insurance and due to clauses and pre-existing conditions (they look at your medical history 60 days prior to purchase of insurance), we didn't get it. We cancelled our cruise and lost points and money, but it was our own choice - in the process, we learned a lot about who is elgible, family member clauses, etc. There are so many conditions, etc., that it is best to purchase it while you are healthy.

Good luck, Tiger

 

[minnie56]

There is no need to purchase vacation insurance this far out. Reason being; should you need to cancel, DCL will give you your deposit money back up to 75 days prior to sail date, no questions asked:

up to 75 days prior to travel - deposit refunded
75-45 days prior to travel - you will lose your deposit
44-8 days prior to travel - 50% of your total
7 days or less to travel - 100% of your total (no refund)

I book my travel insurance for DCL through RBC (it's cheaper than DCL) but I don't do so until just before my final payment is due. Why pay for insurance until it's needed?

Oh and another thing--the above guidelines may work in some instances..as in yours having booked directly with DCL but often an Agent books a Cruise via a Wholesaler for price/OBC's or many other reasons to get a better 'something' and the terms are NOT always the same as far as cancellation. Just a heads up..

 

[misslissa]

I agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't wait until Final Payment to get your insurance. Pre-existing conditions can be summed up quite nicely, and unexpectedly, by insurance companies.

I purchased my Vacation Package Plan through CAA. It is not the cheapest coverage, but it certainly has great coverage. Really, when it comes to insurance... you don't ever want the cheapest! I'm not completely familiar with Disney's Medical Coverage, but the CAA coverage (through Manulife) is up to $5 million. I believe that DCL's coverage is in the thousands for medical.

The Vacation Package Plan is priced based on age, duration of the trip, and cost of the trip. You have to purchase it within 48 hours of booking your vacation. Bring your travel receipt into CAA for a quote during that time. It covers medical, interruption, cancellation and baggage.

Good luck!

 

[minnie56]

DCL's Insurance as with most of the U.S cruiselines is not terribly 'Canadian friendly'. I am partial to RBC and that can be purchased indeed right up to and even beyond final payment BUT again, as soon as possible is the better choice here!!

 

[son3disfan]

We booked through Costco ( actually through Disney but transfered to Costco for the gift card... ) and bought insurance through them.

Excellent price. For 2 adults and 3 children it was $135 (ish) US.
Covered everything. including cancellation.

We did need to buy it when we booked though. I think we had 7 days to decide, or something like that.

 

[Claud26]

DCL's Insurance as with most of the U.S cruiselines is not terribly 'Canadian friendly'. I am partial to RBC and that can be purchased indeed right up to and even beyond final payment BUT again, as soon as possible is the better choice here!!

I totaly agree, MY probelm is that RBC can ONLY be purchased 182 BEFORE THE Trip !! which I'm WAY ahead of because I'm booking my trip for NEXT DECEMBER 2009. SO do I have No choice and have to go with DCL Insurance? or should I call RBC and check with them.

 

[KLondon]

I guess I live on the edge. I avoid travel insurance like the plague. We have medical insurance through work and some credit card-based insurance (car rentals and such). I just cannot bring myself to pay extra for cancellation insurance. In 25 years of frequent travel we've never had an issue. And, yes, this is probably going to catch up with me someday.

 

[fivebyfive]

Oh and another thing--the above guidelines may work in some instances..as in yours having booked directly with DCL but often an Agent books a Cruise via a Wholesaler for price

Seeing as the OP mentioned DCL insurance, I was assuming that she meant she had booked through DCL directly and not through a tour operator.

As for the pre-med thing, that exact sitch happened with me and I was able to get my money back no problemo. I guess it depends on the policy you purchase.

I totaly agree, MY probelm is that RBC can ONLY be purchased 182 BEFORE THE Trip !!

In that case, don't buy it until 182 days before the trip. I mean DCL's coverage is pretty bad. If something comes up before the 182 day mark, you get your deposit for DCL back anyhow. If that is indeed RBC's rule, then if you get sick 183 days before the trip, it won't matter.

 

[Claud26]

Called RBC and checked indeed you can ONLY get RBC insurance 4 months out.

 

[minnie56]

No no no...
Here's how it works. You can purchase Insurance today for your Vacation. Because the RBC system only goes 'so far' ahead..fictitous dates are applied. Come Jan 09--the system catches up and your proper dates are applied. At ALL times your trip is protected. I knew this, but I just re-confirmed myself with RBC as there have been many changes of late..

five by five--buy a lottery ticket! You were indeed very lucky to get your money back!

A lady I work with had a big group sailing to the Med this past Sept. They were her family and friends, comprising some 30 people. Her husband had had some dental probs. Repeatedly--he went to the Dentist to be told "I see nothing and all looks fine" He just had a sore mouth! Three weeks before sailing he was diagnosed with tongue cancer. Very invasive and it had spread. She, devastated, had to cancel. It affected her entire group travelling with her and because of her! RBC have JUST settled the claim! They dragged it on and on, saying that 'technically' there was a pre-existing problem, which yes--there was! But the husband (CLient) did all he could! He was hurting, he kept trying to see what was wrong. The lady, also a TA, was sick after all she had been through that she could stand to lose almost $10,000 in addition.

Insurance companies did not get as rich as they are by NOT finding the loopholes!

 

[minnie56]

I guess I live on the edge. I avoid travel insurance like the plague. We have medical insurance through work and some credit card-based insurance (car rentals and such). I just cannot bring myself to pay extra for cancellation insurance. In 25 years of frequent travel we've never had an issue. And, yes, this is probably going to catch up with me someday.

You see--I now am probably the MOST over insured person you'll ever meet!
I was like you-I travelled all the time, without Insurance. Until an incident on a Bus at Disney of all places with my husband. He passed out...it was recommended he go to Celebration Hospital to be checked out ot be sure. He was there for 11-12 hrs, can't recall exactly. The bill? $17,000!! That was a pretty big shock and sure made that trip a biggie! I now have an annual travel (Medical) policy on my homeowners and in addition I purchase RBC Trip cancellation/intrerruption and for the beans it costs, extra medical too! THAT will never happen to me or my family again.

I am baffled as to why people pay thousands for their holidays and then for a couple of hundred dollars at best-- they throw caution to the wind and don't cover themselves??? Makes no sense to me. But then, I am one of the ones that have had that dreaded holiday catastrophie!

 

[Claud26]

minnie56, do you think I should go to i.e. Sears travel and get the RBC insurance there OR do you think I should just go to a Bank Branch?
Obviously the person I spoke to on the phone (at RBC) was not well informed.

FYI ... I have NOT booked the Cruise yet, as I wanted to look into the insurance issue first and still working on some details.

 

[misslissa]

I totaly agree, MY probelm is that RBC can ONLY be purchased 182 BEFORE THE Trip !! which I'm WAY ahead of because I'm booking my trip for NEXT DECEMBER 2009. SO do I have No choice and have to go with DCL Insurance? or should I call RBC and check with them.

You can try CAA, like I said they are not the cheapest... and you don't have to book through them to get it.

 

[minnie56]

minnie56, do you think I should go to i.e. Sears travel and get the RBC insurance there OR do you think I should just go to a Bank Branch?
Obviously the person I spoke to on the phone (at RBC) was not well informed.

FYI ... I have NOT booked the Cruise yet, as I wanted to look into the insurance issue first and still working on some details.

Why not wait until you are ready to book your cruise and do it all at the same time? The TA you use can take care of all of your needs.