Travel Insurance/Cancellation policy ???

[AnnaS]

We did not purchase travel insurance for our July 01 cruise and was not planning on purchasing it now. My friend called (crusing together) and asked with all the talk about war should we purchase it. Now I jotted everything down so fast when I booked that I don't have it to clear. With no insurance what is the refund of cash/points? Does anyone know? We have two rooms, two adults 1 child with points and paid two adults in another room cash via dvc. I know 0-7 days, no refund. Also, if we purchase the insurance, what is the reimbursement break-down too and is it only on the point version or points and cash. Thank you.

 

[Señor Ferrari]

I don't know how it works with points, but the basic cancellation policy is that you'll get 100% back if you cancel more than 60 days in advance, which would be around the beginning of May. If you cancel between 59 and 30 days of departure, you lose your deposit ($250/person). Between 29 and 8 days, it's 50%. And as you said, no refund within 7 days.

With the cancellation insurance, I do not believe that they will reimburse you if you chose to cancel and the ship still sails, unless there is some kind of medical reason. If you choose not to sail because of a war in the Middle East, I don't believe that the insurance covers this. Note that we have troops fighting in Afghanistan right now, and have had since October of 2001, and the ship has remained sailing.

Some lines which have European itineraries are offering insurance that covers cancellation for any reason, but I have not seen this offered in the Caribbean yet. At least not by any mass-market line. The policy DCL sells states:

Full reimbursement for any non-refundable penalties incurred if you must cancel or interrupt your trip due to covered medical conditions or other specified causes affecting you, immediate family members, or your travel companions.

and

If you purchase the Vacation Protection Plan and cancel your vacation for any reason not covered by the insurance portion of the plan, you will receive a credit equal to 75% of the non-refundable cancellation penalty toward a future vacation arranged by Disney Cruise Vacations which commences within one year after the cancellation date.

The DCL website doesn't specify what the "other specified causes" are, but I recall when reading the policy that it was mostly the result of some kind of medical or business reason. Simply choosing to cancel was not covered. If you do end up buying insurance, make sure it covers what you need it to cover.

 

[DianeV]

I have a question about insurance. Does it only cover "you"? By that I mean if you get sick or you cant go for a medical reason or you get sick/hurt on board?

How does it work with hurricanes or bad weather that would prevent Disney to sail or make them skip a stop? Is that something insurance is needed for or does Disney do something in that case?

We are trying to determine if we want insurance on a 3night cruise realizing that for medical reasons we would be SOL>

 

[cruisnfamily]

I also have a question regarding insurance. We booked our 7 day cruise months ago and didn't purchase insurance. My DH's boss had booked a cruise months earlier and ended up cancelling at the last moment because his mother fell and broke her hip. Anyway, now my DH is telling me to look into the insurance in case something should come up and we would have to cancel.

Well....my head is spinning! I've been reading and comparing on www.insuremytrip.com and I think I am more confused than when I started. The prices for coverage range from $125 on up to $300 for our trip and I see the differences between them but I just don't know what is the "right" amount of coverage in each category. I guess our goal is really just to be covered in case we had a situation causing us to cancel but we'd like to have some of the medical stuff on there too. How does one decide what coverage one needs?

We want to just buy the cheapest one and be done with it....that would cover our expenses if we cancelled.

any help out there?

 

[Lilly's Dad]

The trip insurance is a bad deal. Only 1/280th ot 1% of people cash in on it. Better odds with lottery. Most credit cards contain a similar insurance provision FOR FREE if you charge the trip on your mastercard / visa.

 

[cruisnfamily]

any other opinions on trip insurance?

What to look for...what's important and what's not?

 

[Incharge]

If I have the insurance, and need to cancel for another heart surgery, will my adult daughter and her son have to pay my difference if they can still go? They do not have the insurance. I felt it was best to get it because I have heart desease. What will happen to their fare?

 

[Señor Ferrari]

DianeV,

With hurricanes or bad weather, the ship will still sail, it just may go to different places than scheduled. Insurance doesn't cover a changed itinerary or a missed call. I've been re-routed due to hurricanes. It's no big deal. They don't offer any kind of compensation for this, usually.

Sonya,

I'd look for trip cancellation coverage, medical coverage (many healthcare carriers do not cover you if you leave the country), lost or delayed luggage coverage, trip delay coverage, and medical transportation coverage. The insurance DCL sells is $99/person for a 7-night cruise. I'm not an actuary, so I can't argue the relative value of having insurance. What I do know is I'd rather have it and not need it than vice-versa.

Incharge,

I don't know the answer to your question. You would be covered, so nobody should have to pay the difference for your cruise. If your son and daughter still go, they may have to make up the difference between what a third adult in a cabin costs and what the first two cost, since I believe that the third adult costs less, and at that point, there would only be two in the cabin.

 

[sjm]

AnnaS - Most Cruise Insurance will not cover you, if you choose to cancel because of a War. Cruise insurance would pay, if you cancel for an approved medical reason.

DianeV - If there is bad weather or a hurricane Disney would alter the course of the ship. If they have to skip a stop because of weather, just be happy that they are keeping you safe. The only time insurance would come into play here, would be if you missed the ship because of airline delays. If the cruise were canceled, it would be up to Disney to give you a refund, not cruise insurance. I feel that everyone should take insurance, even on a three day cruise. What if you had an accident and have to be airlifted off the ship?

Lilly's Dad - I don't know of any credit card that will reimburse the cost of your cruise, if you have to cancel because of illness or any other reason. For me cruise insurance has been very worthwhile. I had to postpone a cruise, because of the flu. I got all my money back, minus the cost of the insurance.

Sonya Francisco - If you or anyone has a pre-existing condition, make sure you have that coverage. I have always taken my TAs advice, which insurance to take.


sue

 

[AOPI57]

Anna,

Can you believe it I'm finally typing a POST! (Actually Russ is typing) But, I'm here!

Trying to learn..

Type to all soon.

WendyP of DVC

 

[queenof4hearts]

When we got the ins. I thought the DCL agent said something about if we needed to be flown off ship for medical reason this would be covered under ins. W/ three children I can't imagine not having the ins. Just my 2 cents.

 

[tkd lisa]

We bought the insurance through DCL for both of our cruises.

We actually used it on our second cruise (1/19/03). DD and DH got Norwalk and were quarantined for 1 1/2 days. DS had a touch of it, and missed about 1/2 of a day. I have a claim in for refund of 1.5 days of the cruise cost. The company (Access America) was very nice as I filled out the paperwork. I sent it in about 3 weeks ago and haven't gotten anything back, but they implied we would be granted our claim.

They also sent us the form for any medical expense that we incurred. Since we were on the ship the whole time, and DCL didn't charge us for medical services, there was nothing to claim there.

On the claim forms, it has a section that states why you've cancelled or interrupted your trip. If it's for medical reasons of someone else, you just have to explain it. So if your parent or child who was not going with you on the trip became seriously ill and you cancelled your trip, it appears you can claim the refund. There is a place for the doctor to certify that there was a serious illness.

I hope this helps. If you have more questions, feel free to pm me.

 

[AnnaS]

Okay, so I will not be getting travel insurance for us - I did not think it would be cost effective or cover everything from weather, medical, terror, war, etc.\
\
Now, let's say I wanted to cancel cruise now - 4 months before. Would we be refund the cash portion of two adults? Would our points all be returned? If so, (or the percent), would we be able to use them in dvc resorts or not? I hope I don't get cold feet with all this talk of war. My sister called and was concerned and I turn on CNN, I had to turn it off right away obviously.

 

[luv2vacation]

I am not real sure about the whole refund policy. What I understand the points can be returned to you but the pointsCAN NOT be used at the DVC resorts. Insurance-- check with AAA they will insurance your total cost of the trip inc. airfare for one price. Not for sure about the policy if you cancel due to war. But it covers if anyone in the party or immediate family member gets ill. AAA price was cheaper than Disney.

 

[AnnaS]

bump