Last minute no show for cruise leaving Sunday

[GatorMomInNC]

I am leaving on the Magic on Sunday for a 5 day cruise. I am supposed to be traveling with my DM, 82, and my DSS, 8 and 11. But my mother is having some medical issues --nothing too serious, but the doctor is saying she may not be able to travel. We will find out tomorrow morning for sure. We fly out Friday.

For the first time ever we didn't get insurance as this is such a short cruise, so my mom can't get her share of the cruise fare back. I knew this was a possibility for a few weeks (although my mom has been in denial) so I have tried to see if any of our friends would be able to take her place (for the $50 name change fee), but I have been unable to find a solo traveler to join us on such short notice. I hate to just walk away and leave that fully paid cruisefare go unused -- especially since the price has doubled since we purchased the cruise (it was an OBB).

Anyway, I just want to be sure...I thought I had seen this problem before and it is best if we just show up without my mom right? Not call and give DCL a heads up? I seem to recall that "canceling" at this point -which wouldn't get us any refund anyway - just opens a whole can of worms. Do I tell them when we are checking in she won't be there?

 

[GatorMomInNC]

Wow, I just checked our cruise, and the only rooms left that accommodate a party of four is an inside for $1000 more than we paid for our Verandah.

 

[Kmh678]

I am going on the same cruise.

 

[KingRichard]

Call DCL, I have read they SOMETIMES give credit for future cruise? You are canceling one person and not the whole room so they maybe helpful?

 

[n2mm]

I had my grandson cancel on our family cruise. I called to tell them he wasn't going and they were very nice and asked me if I knew anyone that could go in his place, but everyone was with us already. There was nothing they could do, and I lost his entire fare. I expected that, but called just to give them a heads up. BTW, I called a few days prior because I kept hoping someone would change. He had to accept a scholarship at the college he was hoping to attend, so we were all OK, but sure did miss him. We were celebrating my retirement and we had 3 cabins booked. I also lost all of his airfare too. Things happen.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

OP: Did you or your Mom pay her fare with a credit card? If so, check to see if her cancellation is covered by the included travel insurance. We got a full refund that way when a stomach bug cancelled our plans a few days before travel. You will need to cancel her reservation, however, to have any chance to recover. -- Suzanne

 

[GatorMomInNC]

Thanks everyone for your advice. My mom had one last checkup at 8am Friday morning and things seem stable, so we headed to the airport at noon and are now in Fort Lauderdale. Can't wait to get back on the Magic on Sunday and start our cruise.

 

[tvguy]

Safe travels.
I dealt with this 3 years ago when my mom had a stroke less than 2 months from a HAL cruise the whole family (7 of us) were going on.
No travel insurance.
Not sure what our Travel Agent did, but she got a complete refund for mom's cruise and air fare. But my Travel Agency doesn't even sell Travel Insurance anymore, they had more problems getting claims paid that were insured, than getting the cruise lines to refund money.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Hope you all have a great trip!

 

[bumbershoot]

Safe travels.
I dealt with this 3 years ago when my mom had a stroke less than 2 months from a HAL cruise the whole family (7 of us) were going on.
No travel insurance.
Not sure what our Travel Agent did, but she got a complete refund for mom's cruise and air fare. But my Travel Agency doesn't even sell Travel Insurance anymore, they had more problems getting claims paid that were insured, than getting the cruise lines to refund money.

From what I've read, HAL's insurance is actually VERY good. Are you sure your mom didn't have HAL's insurance? When we bought it for my MIL and her friend it wasn't actually very expensive and covered pretty much everything.

 

[tvguy]

From what I've read, HAL's insurance is actually VERY good. Are you sure your mom didn't have HAL's insurance? When we bought it for my MIL and her friend it wasn't actually very expensive and covered pretty much everything.

No, no insurance. I booked the trip.

 

[rwcmath]

I hope your mom is onboard today!