GTY with restrictions and covid policy

[Chipmunkmaniac]

One of the cruises that I booked, currently offers a GTY with restrictions which would mean a 3000 dollar saving...
I do have my own travel insurance which would cover me if I were to have covid myself. However 'the close contact with a covid positive person' is not covered under my private iinsurance. From what I read the GTY with restrictions is not refundable except under the covid 14d policy. Does anyone have experience with this?
Also does anyone have any experience with which evidence you would need to produce for the 'close contact' scenario?

 

[n2mm]

One of the cruises that I booked, currently offers a GTY with restrictions which would mean a 3000 dollar saving...
I do have my own travel insurance which would cover me if I were to have covid myself. However 'the close contact with a covid positive person' is not covered under my private iinsurance. From what I read the GTY with restrictions is not refundable except under the covid 14d policy. Does anyone have experience with this?
Also does anyone have any experience with which evidence you would need to produce for the 'close contact' scenario?

you don’t need any evidence. My daughter, while not Vgt, used the less than 14 day prior clause in February. They were flying in, and after several of the teens friends tested positive, she just couldnt take the chance and get turned away at the port and no where to stay. My TA called and told dcl my grand-girls had been in closed contact to classmates who have tested positive. Dcl canceled and she got a full refund. She’s now booked on another cruise the end of April. Dcl did not ask for any documentation. What could they ask for? With HIPPA you can’t provide any medical info on others.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

you don’t need any evidence. My daughter, while not Vgt, used the less than 14 day prior clause in February. They were flying in, and after several of the teens friends tested positive, she just couldnt take the chance and get turned away at the port and no where to stay. My TA called and told dcl my grand-girls had been in closed contact to classmates who have tested positive. Dcl canceled and she got a full refund. She’s now booked on another cruise the end of April. Dcl did not ask for any documentation. What could they ask for? With HIPPA you can’t provide any medical info on others.

yeah thats what made me wonder. on the other hand it means its an open door to abuse which scares me that I was 'missing some info'

 

[_auroraborealis_]

DCL is not covered by HIPAA. Not a defined entity.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

yeah thats what made me wonder. on the other hand it means its an open door to abuse which scares me that I was 'missing some info'

Oh it will be abused probably already is by people just changing their minds and it will just get worst. Once more realize it it will become like free trip insurance. I won't be shocked that in time it will shift to only getting credit for a future cruise then eventually stopped all together.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

I dont know about American trip insurances but European insurances are often excluding any Covid related issues or narrowing it down to very concrete situations in which you can and will need to provide evidence. as I said earlier if I were to be positive and couldnt travel it would cover but I would need to submit the test results but if one of my familymembers who isnt travelling were to test positive it wouldnt be a reason for them to cancel.. so thats why I wanna make sure I can still get a credit/refund from Disney despite switching to a GTY with restrictions...

 

[lanejudy]

GTY or *GT? GTY is a booked specific category number/letter, just not a specific room. *GT is a broader category booking and has a lot of restrictions.

To my knowledge, either can be cancelled/rescheduled under the temporary 14-day covid policy. DCL does not require documentation. I guess the desire to keep potential covid off the ships outweighs any concern about abuse. However, that cancellation within 14-days of embarkation is considered a "temporary" policy with no stated end date -- so whether that will continue indefinitely or be ended anytime remains to be seen. At this point with covid rules relaxing, I don't know if I would trust the policy to still be in effect past this fall. Maybe sooner, maybe not.

Travel insurance will likely require documentation of whatever reason you cancel. Or they'll deny the claim. So even if DCL isn't requiring documentation, if you would have a claim for any other expenses (flights, hotel, transportation, etc.) you'll need to obtain appropriate documentation.

With HIPPA you can’t provide any medical info on others.

Not really. HIPAA doesn't pertain to cruise lines or even directly to travel insurance, though they do have to follow any laws related to receiving/storing private health information. The individual(s) involved can voluntarily share their own health information with no restrictions. Travel insurance is likely to require it. You would need to work with the individual(s) involved to obtain needed documentation if it isn't for youself or your minor child.

 

[closetmickey]

I rebooked a cruise that sailed in January to take advantage of a restricted guarantee rate and the CM let me know that it would still qualify for the 14day cancel for covid exposure.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

GTY or *GT? GTY is a booked specific category number/letter, just not a specific room. *GT is a broader category booking and has a lot of restrictions.

To my knowledge, either can be cancelled/rescheduled under the temporary 14-day covid policy. DCL does not require documentation. I guess the desire to keep potential covid off the ships outweighs any concern about abuse. However, that cancellation within 14-days of embarkation is considered a "temporary" policy with no stated end date -- so whether that will continue indefinitely or be ended anytime remains to be seen. At this point with covid rules relaxing, I don't know if I would trust the policy to still be in effect past this fall. Maybe sooner, maybe not.

Travel insurance will likely require documentation of whatever reason you cancel. Or they'll deny the claim. So even if DCL isn't requiring documentation, if you would have a claim for any other expenses (flights, hotel, transportation, etc.) you'll need to obtain appropriate documentation.


Not really. HIPAA doesn't pertain to cruise lines or even directly to travel insurance, though they do have to follow any laws related to receiving/storing private health information. The individual(s) involved can voluntarily share their own health information with no restrictions. Travel insurance is likely to require it. You would need to work with the individual(s) involved to obtain needed documentation if it isn't for youself or your minor child.

Said cruise is in June. My flight(cheap cause its within Europe) is refundable in a credit and the hotel is free cancellation up to the dat before. Its a gty with restrictions Id change to. Person responding after tou confirmed she was told it qualifies. I sent an email to dcl asking yesterday but we all know how long that could possibly take ;-)

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

I rebooked a cruise that sailed in January to take advantage of a restricted guarantee rate and the CM let me know that it would still qualify for the 14day cancel for covid exposure.

Thats very helpful thanks! Didntou -update- your reservation or didnyou cancel and book again? Strictly spoken its only for new reeervations but it would be easier if I could reuse the funds vs paying again and waiting for a refund…

 

[lanejudy]

Person responding after tou confirmed she was told it qualifies.

Yes, all rates qualify for the 14-day last minute cancellation. My point was -- we don't know how long that "temporary" policy will remain in effect.

 

[n2mm]

yeah thats what made me wonder. on the other hand it means its an open door to abuse which scares me that I was 'missing some info'

I agree, it can be abused, and probably has, but this is a temporary policy. My TA also mentioned dcl could also flag you too. She requested a formal email outlining exactly why my daughter was requesting a cancellation under this covid policy and a refund with less than 9 days before the cruise. I sent it to her, within 15 minutes I got a canceled confirmation from DCL. I Read the FAQ on the dcl page and one was, what documentation has to be supplied and the answer was none. My husband and I still went on the cruise.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

Yes, all rates qualify for the 14-day last minute cancellation. My point was -- we don't know how long that "temporary" policy will remain in effect.

It woyld be weird if they would cancel the policy foe people within their cancellation fee period imo

 

[closetmickey]

Thats very helpful thanks! Didntou -update- your reservation or didnyou cancel and book again? Strictly spoken its only for new reeervations but it would be easier if I could reuse the funds vs paying again and waiting for a refund…

Shoot! I can't remember if I was able to transfer the funds already paid or not. I was still outside of the PIF on the original booking so I had only paid the depoist so I *think* I was refunded and then paid in full when booking the new restricted rate.

 

[closetmickey]

I rebooked a cruise that sailed in January to take advantage of a restricted guarantee rate and the CM let me know that it would still qualify for the 14day cancel for covid exposure.

Quoting myself in case there is confusion....
I was told my restricted rate WOULD qualify if needed, though I cancelled the original booking, which was not restricted, before PIF. I do not have experience ACTUALLY USING the 14 day cancellation policy.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

Yes, all rates qualify for the 14-day last minute cancellation. My point was -- we don't know how long that "temporary" policy will remain in effect.

Royal Caribbean just let their cruise with confidence policy expire , which they had a bit different policy then DCL it still shows the slow return to normal.

 

[dreamer17555]

The policy could change at any time so I would not count on it being there but for right now yes you are covered.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

The policy could change at any time so I would not count on it being there but for right now yes you are covered.

I see they now mention valid for all sailings up to 31 May so it lay indeed be wise to hold on to my original booking and see if they alter that date and if by then they still have the gty

 

[cvjw]

We cancelled 2 dream cruises booked in an OGT and a VGT cabin within the 14 day covid window. No issues at all. Refund within a week. Our son caught covid and we were exposed. No documentation required. Just took our word for it.

 

[Cheburashka]

From what I read the GTY with restrictions is not refundable except under the covid 14d policy. Does anyone have experience with this?

Yes, this winter I had to cancel a GT cruise within 14 days of sailing due to Covid exposure. They don't require any evidence; you just call them and tell them. All of my money was refunded within days.