New Flexibility Announcement for DCL

[CTCruiser221]

I read it as a “one time only” change, but as you can see from all the different interpretations of the new policy, we’re all just speculating at the moment.

I was also thinking, “why did I get this email if my PIF is not for another couple months?” And the only reason I can think of is in case people have OBB benefits to use, which I am assuming they will transfer to the new cruise. We won’t really know unless we call and do it, but I want to wait for the future cruise announcements first.

 

[gotomu212]

Get travel insurance for the second cruise (assuming you don't normally do so). Particularly the type with a cancel for any reason clause. That will take care of "life happening".

Has anyone found travel insurance that cover CoVid? All of my regular policies will not cover anything seen as related to CoVid. There were some exceptions early on when you were booking pre-CoVid, but now that we are in a pandemic any new booking-or change that further commits you- or anything that had cancellation rights- is no longer covered.

 

[JM23457]

Has anyone found travel insurance that cover CoVid? All of my regular policies will not cover anything seen as related to CoVid. There were some exceptions early on when you were booking pre-CoVid, but now that we are in a pandemic any new booking-or change that further commits you- or anything that had cancellation rights- is no longer covered.

My travel insurance (like most others) covers illness-caused cancellation, regardless of if your illness is Covid or not, at 100%. It also has a cancel for any reason policy at 75%. You don't have to state a cancellation reason to receive that. So if you're scared of Covid, just say you're cancelling for any reason & you'll get 75% back. In those ways, Covid is covered. I doubt any insurer is going to 100% cover someone's concerns about Covid or about having a reduced experience, though. You'll need cancel for any reason to cover that kind of thing & that's typically around 75% coverage, which is a lot better than 0% back, which is what you get without insurance.

 

[gotomu212]

My travel insurance (like most others) covers illness-caused cancellation, regardless of if your illness is Covid or not, at 100%. It also has a cancel for any reason policy at 75%. You don't have to state a cancellation reason to receive that. So if you're scared of Covid, just say you're cancelling for any reason & you'll get 75% back. In those ways, Covid is covered. I doubt any insurer is going to 100% cover someone's concerns about Covid or about having a reduced experience, though. You'll need cancel for any reason to cover that kind of thing & that's typically around 75% coverage, which is a lot better than 0% back, which is what you get without insurance.

Can I ask what company? All of the “big name” ones we’ve used in the past have pandemic clauses that render them null and void right now. There have also been numerous reports on these and other travel blogs that the prior any reason cancellation provisions are no longer honored except in specific documented cases like jury duty or documented job loss.

When specifically looking at moving our cruise on another line to a later date, our current insurance told us we would lose all protection on the next cruise because we had the option to cancel once this became a pandemic and so the move was ”taken at our risk with full knowledge of the pandemic”- this was provided to us in writing.

Id love to switch to a company that doesnt have or isn’t using the industry standard pandemic, acts of war, and acts of terrorism clauses.

 

[gotomu212]

Just an update- using insure my trip I tried to price a cruise for July 2021 (for background 4 people, 2 early 40s adults, 2 kids)- and cancel for any reason was not an option at all. There was no provider on that site offering it for a cruise at this time. That supports what I’ve been told and read about companies pulling their cancel for any reason policies.

 

[LTJoeFlo]

I work for one of the "big name" insurers. Believe it or not, not a lot of money is made from travel insurance. The policies are priced based on a known risk. Now that a new risk has been identified since the initial cruise booking, the terms of the policy could change. I don't think any of the smaller insurers are going to take the increased risk without pricing it into a new policy. I would be interested to know of the ones that do.

I lost money (from my own company!) because I cancelled an international flight. Fear of infection is not a covered case under the terms of my policy. It sucks, but a sacrifice we make to stay safe.

I will say this. All the insurance companies are preparing for several (SEVERAL) lawsuits.

 

[JM23457]

Can I ask what company? All of the “big name” ones we’ve used in the past have pandemic clauses that render them null and void right now. There have also been numerous reports on these and other travel blogs that the prior any reason cancellation provisions are no longer honored except in specific documented cases like jury duty or documented job loss.

When specifically looking at moving our cruise on another line to a later date, our current insurance told us we would lose all protection on the next cruise because we had the option to cancel once this became a pandemic and so the move was ”taken at our risk with full knowledge of the pandemic”- this was provided to us in writing.

Id love to switch to a company that doesnt have or isn’t using the industry standard pandemic, acts of war, and acts of terrorism clauses.

Travel Insured International via USAA. I have purchased new cancel for any reason policies with them this spring & summer. I also had to file two claims with them last year (one was 100% medical & one was 75% cancel for any reason) and all went well.

For our March 2021 Disney cruise, I have cancel for any reason coverage directly through Disney (they'll provide 75% in the form of an FCC, which I'm happy with as we love to cruise with them).

 

[gotomu212]

Travel Insured International via USAA. I have purchased new cancel for any reason policies with them this spring & summer. I also had to file two claims with them last year (one was 100% medical & one was 75% cancel for any reason) and all went well.

For our March 2021 Disney cruise, I have cancel for any reason coverage directly through Disney (they'll provide 75% in the form of an FCC, which I'm happy with as we love to cruise with them).

Do you have to be a member of USAA? Claims last year don’t really mean much since were now under pandemic clauses, but would lI’ve to hear of anyone with policies that are covering claims for trips booked after March 2020. I can’t look at USAA‘s contract but since it’s a major financial institution I can’t imagine it doesn’t have the standard pandemic clause.

Disney‘s FCC insurance isn’t any better than the flexible moves right now (and are actually worse since under flexible you get 100% cruise credit until 15 days out). The 75% FCC DCL cancellation is really only good if you cancel less than 45 days before sailing since before them you’re only out your deposit before you get a cash refund.

Your original suggestion of getting insurance for the flexible move policy doesn’t seem applicable. My advice for anyone NOT PAST PIF right now would be to cancel before PIF unless you’re sure you’d cruise no matter what. The OBC and rebook just doesn’t seem worth it if you side thousands because you can’t sail when they reopen.

 

[JM23457]

Do you have to be a member of USAA? Claims last year don’t really mean much since were now under pandemic clauses, but would lI’ve to hear of anyone with policies that are covering claims for trips booked after March 2020. I can’t look at USAA‘s contract but since it’s a major financial institution I can’t imagine it doesn’t have the standard pandemic clause.

Disney‘s FCC insurance isn’t any better than the flexible moves right now (and are actually worse since under flexible you get 100% cruise credit until 15 days out). The 75% FCC DCL cancellation is really only good if you cancel less than 45 days before sailing since before them you’re only out your deposit before you get a cash refund.

Your original suggestion of getting insurance for the flexible move policy doesn’t seem applicable. My advice for anyone NOT PAST PIF right now would be to cancel before PIF unless you’re sure you’d cruise no matter what. The OBC and rebook just doesn’t seem worth it if you side thousands because you can’t sail when they reopen.

I've told you what my insurance currently covers, and shared the fact that they're a reliable company. You seem to have an axe to grind on this topic, so I'll step away from this conversation.

 

[PrincessPinball]

Get travel insurance for the second cruise (assuming you don't normally do so). Particularly the type with a cancel for any reason clause. That will take care of "life happening".

It will take care of 75% of life happening

 

[vegs1]

I've told you what my insurance currently covers, and shared the fact that they're a reliable company. You seem to have an axe to grind on this topic, so I'll step away from this conversation.

I didn’t feel in reading the reply that there was an axe to grind. I think it’s a matter of being extra cautious right now. The majority of insurance companies would move coverage to a new trip and include coverage for Covid 19 if it had been booked prior to the pandemics start since it was not known. Most insurance companies have or added a pandemic clause for anything new booked after that as it is now known.

Insurance is a tricky thing and the costs associated with a Covid related illness out of country could be astronomical. I think they were just being cautious. Everyone should call and ask specifically if there is coverage for Covid19. The risk not to isn’t worth it.

 

[JM23457]

It will take care of 75% of life happening

It covers 75% of you changing your mind, and 100% of you getting too sick or injured to cruise. That's a lot better than the 0% you get otherwise.

Perspective. It's a good thing.

 

[PrincessPinball]

It covers 75% of you changing your mind, and 100% of you getting too sick or injured to cruise. That's a lot better than the 0% you get otherwise.

Perspective. It's a good thing.

That’s true. We always purchase (Disney) travel insurance when we book our cruises... but this flex policy still feels like a “getcha.”

 

[hnthomps]

Ok, I'm confused. We had a cruise scheduled for March 2020. We were well past PIF and took advantage of the opportunity to move it to the same date in 2021, with the 125% deal, right as this all started.
I was taking this email we got to mean that if COVID is still a thing, we could move our March 2021 dates--which they've had our money for for a long time already! -- to a different cruise.

But if we move it from March 2021 to, say, November 2021 and then have to cancel (because, life, whatever), we are out the full cancellation fee, no matter when we cancel, right? Because it will be retroactive to the March 2020 cruise dates.

We have Disney insurance.

 

[gotomu212]

I've told you what my insurance currently covers, and shared the fact that they're a reliable company. You seem to have an axe to grind on this topic, so I'll step away from this conversation.

Just noticed your response, and no ax to grind I am legitimately asking if people have found current Cancel for Any Reason cruise insurance that applies to trips booked post Jan 2020. I simply cannot find any that provide a cash refund since this became a declared pandemic. I was unable to preview USAA contract to see if it had a pandemic clause that I’ve seen in every other company I’ve researched.

Travel insurance, especially cruises, has changed drastically in the last 3 months and I’m trying to get information since it’s more important than ever.