Disney Vacation Protection

[LeslieG]

I normally don't buy Disney's insurance, but since I'm taking my mom this time, due to her age, the Disney insurance is quite a bit cheaper for her. I know it doesn't cover flights not booked through Disney, which I'm not concerned about that because we can use SW points. But since it's a winter cruise, and if my flight is canceled for bad weather or mechanical issues, and we cannot get to the port, I assume that is a covered reason?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I normally don't buy Disney's insurance, but since I'm taking my mom this time, due to her age, the Disney insurance is quite a bit cheaper for her. I know it doesn't cover flights not booked through Disney, which I'm not concerned about that because we can use SW points. But since it's a winter cruise, and if my flight is canceled for bad weather or mechanical issues, and we cannot get to the port, I assume that is a covered reason?

It's on you to get to the port. If you want to cover the reason why you might not get to the port, it must be specified in the coverage. If you don't make it to the port, DCL coverage will not cover an air flight they did not book.

 

[LeslieG]

I understand they won't cover the cost of the flight. But if I can't get to the port because of a canceled/delayed flight, will the cost of the cruise I miss be covered? Unfortunately, DCL can't answer my question, and their insurance company is closed today.

 

[LeslieG]

Other Covered Events
means only the following unforeseeable
events or their consequences which occur while coverage is in
effect under this Policy:
1. arrangements canceled by an airline, cruise line, or tour
operator, resulting from inclement weather.

The above language is in their coverage pamphlet, but it's still unclear to me if it's a covered event only if the air is booked through them. I was hoping someone may have had experience with this scenario.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I understand they won't cover the cost of the flight. But if I can't get to the port because of a canceled/delayed flight, will the cost of the cruise I miss be covered? Unfortunately, DCL can't answer my question, and their insurance company is closed today.

If you miss the cruise because the plane can't get you there in time (for whatever reason), I don't think the DCL coverage will cover it.

If you miss the cruise because the weather prevents you from getting to the port (road washed out enroute to port, for example, or a tornado stops all traffic), it MIGHT be covered.

If you miss the cruise because the weather prevents the plane from departing, I don't think it'll be covered.

 

[bumbershoot]

Why not use an independent travel insurance company that lets you cover the flights?

 

[lanejudy]

Other Covered Events
means only the following unforeseeable
events or their consequences which occur while coverage is in
effect under this Policy:
1. arrangements canceled by an airline, cruise line, or tour
operator, resulting from inclement weather.

The above language is in their coverage pamphlet, but it's still unclear to me if it's a covered event only if the air is booked through them. I was hoping someone may have had experience with this scenario.

I believe that language pertains to coverage that also includes the air travel. If you do not book your air travel through DCL, the insurance protection begins with embarkation -- anything related to your travel to get to the ship will not be covered.

I suggest looking at a 3rd party insurance -- you can Google for trip insurance comparison websites. These will show you various options depending on what you need/want, and then I strongly suggest calling the vendor to discuss your particular situation and any specific questions to make sure you are purchasing that you expect. You likely will find the premium to be less expensive, or at least similar if you add on airfare and a pre-cruise hotel stay.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[LeslieG]

Just to follow up, I spoke with Disney insurance department this morning. I was told if the flight delay/cancellation is due to weather, the cancellation benefit applies. If the flight delay/cancellation is due to mechanical issues/crew delay, things of that nature, the cancellation benefit would not apply. However, in either scenario, the trip delay benefit would apply at max $150/day for lost time on ship/getting you to the next port to meet the ship. And then of course you always have the cancel for any reason benefit for the 75% towards another cruise if you take that option.

 

[Shanti]

I understand they won't cover the cost of the flight. But if I can't get to the port because of a canceled/delayed flight, will the cost of the cruise I miss be covered? Unfortunately, DCL can't answer my question, and their insurance company is closed today.

If you're going on a winter cruise & live in a climate with harsh winters, you should allow plenty of time in your schedule for potential flight delays/cancellations, or book air through Disney. Even if the plan covers weather-related travel issues, that could be tricky to prove.

It's not about what is your "fault" or not, but rather what they legally promise to cover, or not. If you drove cross-country to Port Canaveral, but missed the boat due to a traffic accident someone else caused, they wouldn't refund your trip, for example.

 

[Dug720]

If you're going on a winter cruise & live in a climate with harsh winters, you should allow plenty of time in your schedule for potential flight delays/cancellations, or book air through Disney. Even if the plan covers weather-related travel issues, that could be tricky to prove.

It's not about what is your "fault" or not, but rather what they legally promise to cover, or not. If you drove cross-country to Port Canaveral, but missed the boat due to a traffic accident someone else caused, they wouldn't refund your trip, for example.

It's not just in winter (or due to weather issues) that flights get delayed or cancelled. Storms that disrupt air travel can occur at any time in any season. Crews can be delayed and not be able to make a flight on time due to federal rest requirements. There can be mechanical issues that ground the plane. Something can happen that delays the equipment coming in (even if it's not a continuing leg of a flight). Etc., etc. Anyone who opts to not get trip insurance based on "I'm not flying in the winter" is asking for heartbreak and a lot of money lost when/if something happens with their "not in the winter" flight.

As far as "proving" a flight issue, that should not be a problem at all - there are records all over the place. Where you might have a problem is explaining why you did't get on an earlier flight if the airline starts offering flight changes without penalty because of predicted weather.

 

[Dug720]

Why not use an independent travel insurance company that lets you cover the flights?

This! Every time I book airfare now there is always an option to get insurance for the flight portion.

 

[wombat_5606]

I normally don't buy Disney's insurance, but since I'm taking my mom this time, due to her age, the Disney insurance is quite a bit cheaper for her. I know it doesn't cover flights not booked through Disney, which I'm not concerned about that because we can use SW points. But since it's a winter cruise, and if my flight is canceled for bad weather or mechanical issues, and we cannot get to the port, I assume that is a covered reason?

I realize you didn't ask about this issue, but I would look into Disney's coverage for medical and evacuation since you mention your Moms age. That would be a larger financial concern to me rather than the potential loss of the cruise fare for her.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I realize you didn't ask about this issue, but I would look into Disney's coverage for medical and evacuation since you mention your Moms age. That would be a larger financial concern to me rather than the potential loss of the cruise fare for her.

This! The price of the trip is important for sure. And you will want coverage that allows you to cancel for a variety of reasons, especially if your mother has trouble shortly before the trip.

However medical coverage is even more important. Many (most?) US Medical insurance plans don't cover you overseas. So if anyone in your group developed medical issues, it could get expensive fast. Even just little issues can be costly. The doctor on board is not part of DCL and is pretty expensive.

At one point on our cruise, my mother, (who was almost 70) wasn’t feeling well and we thought she might have to see the doctor on the ship. Maybe get some meds. We inquired. They had 3 office hours in the morning, 3 in the evening: $150 to see the doctor at that time; $300 any other time. Just for the visit. Medicines etc., would be extra. So we called our travel insurance company from Guest Services. They said it would be 100% covered; Medicines too. We would pay on the ship, file the claim when we got home, and then they would pay us back. No problem. So that was good to know, even though we didn’t end up using the doctor.