Trip Insurance for Cruise Booked with Points???

[MEM]

I had posted this on the DCL boards and they suggested I post it here:

I am very confused and anxious about trip insurance for a DCL cruise booked with points only:

DH just booked our first Disney cruise (4 nights on the Dream) using a hideous number of DVC points (over 600). The CM on the phone quoted him over $400 for trip insurance - she even made the comment she is glad people can't reach through the phone and hit her!! I searched the DCL forum to learn more about my options but I am still very confused. DH is disgusted about the entire process and now doesn't even want to take the cruise!

DH refuses to pay $400 for trip insurance - I checked insuremytrip.com and I am not clear how we would be reimbursed for a cruise that is booked using DVC points only. In a nutshell, can someone tell me 1) how would Disney
reimburse us if we went with their insurance and 2) how would some of the other insurers reimburse us? Do they assign a cash value to the points?

I really hate the idea of not having insurance - with all those points at stake - but I don't want to buy insurance the benefits of which I do not understand. Thanks!!

 

[Anal Annie]

I believe if you book a cruise with points you have to use the insurance that DVC offers to insure your points. Most travel insurance policies don't cover timeshares that use points. I vaguely remember going thru this the time that we booked back-to-backs - one with points and one with cash. I had to do 2 diff. insurances. If you pay cash then you can buy trip insurance places like insuremytrip.com or something. But using points is a whole new ballgame. It is also likely to not be equal to the cost of the trip (as in = to what the cash value is).

 

[AnnaS]

Did you book with three year's worth of points? You have to pay for each UY - We paid $79 x 2 years two years ago. Is it $89 now per year?

 

[bobbiwoz]

Did you book with three year's worth of points? You have to pay for each UY - We paid $79 x 2 years two years ago. Is it $89 now per year?

Even at the higher price, it would not come to $400.

OP, I would call again and ask for an explanation again. I remember reading that through DVC you get back the cost of your maintenance fees, something like that.

I would mention to DH that once you book with points those points are not eligible to be used at DVC resorts, there are only certain ways to use them. If you booked this cruise at a convenient time, then, I would go on this cruise.

In my experience, Disney Cruises are exceptional, they cost more, but are worth it. I ALWAYS get trip insurance for cruises, and at this point in time, I would pay what I had to, then forget about it.

When we book cruise insurance, we are also getting medical insurance for the cruise, and I suppose that's a huge reason why we get the insurance. I would be sure that I was getting medical coverage. IMO that's the most important part of cruise insurance.

Bobbi

 

[MEM]

Even at the higher price, it would not come to $400.

OP, I would call again and ask for an explanation again. I remember reading that through DVC you get back the cost of your maintenance fees, something like that.

I would mention to DH that once you book with points those points are not eligible to be used at DVC resorts, there are only certain ways to use them. If you booked this cruise at a convenient time, then, I would go on this cruise.

In my experience, Disney Cruises are exceptional, they cost more, but are worth it. I ALWAYS get trip insurance for cruises, and at this point in time, I would pay what I had to, then forget about it.

When we book cruise insurance, we are also getting medical insurance for the cruise, and I suppose that's a huge reason why we get the insurance. I would be sure that I was getting medical coverage. IMO that's the most important part of cruise insurance.

Bobbi

Canceling the cruise by choice is not an option but I worry about emergencies and such. DH is the SAHD so he needs to be the one to call
back for a better explanation (he has the time!)- right now he's so angry with Disney about being "ripped off" as he puts it - we knew the points would be high but then the cost of the DCL bus to and from AKV, the insurance, the extra fees for certain on-board restaurants, etc., etc. He's taking all the excitement out of our first cruise (and DD graduation present). I want to be able to tell him exactly what we need to do and to spend to be covered in the case of medical emergency, hurricane or other unforeseen event. The quote of $400 sounded high to me too.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well the cruise is booked so that done and the cost in points is spent.

Dcl is expensive, definitely. You do not have to take their transfers FYI. And they can be cancelled. You an rent a car or take a towncar. When you get to the port you hand the bags over to porters and they are delivered to your room. You only carry on what you want to carry on.

And you don't have to dine at the specialty restaurants.

Please explain the weird thing the cm said to explain the $400. You explained on the other post but I can't remember it. It doesn't sound right so please mention it here so others can weigh in.

As far as I know you get the dues refunded as compensation for the points should something happen and you make a claim. No points back, just dues.

 

[bumbershoot]

Found it.

Spoke to DH - he said DVC is counting 5 use years because we have 2 days on either end of the cruise at AKV-Kidani Village.

I don't think that makes sense since the op said they are only using 3 actual use years. And I don't think they have to insure the ak stay.

 

[MEM]

Well the cruise is booked so that done and the cost in points is spent.

Dcl is expensive, definitely. You do not have to take their transfers FYI. And they can be cancelled. You an rent a car or take a towncar. When you get to the port you hand the bags over to porters and they are delivered to your room. You only carry on what you want to carry on.

And you don't have to dine at the specialty restaurants.

Please explain the weird thing the cm said to explain the $400. You explained on the other post but I can't remember it. It doesn't sound right so please mention it here so others can weigh in.

As far as I know you get the dues refunded as compensation for the points should something happen and you make a claim. No points back, just dues.

The CM told DH because we are using 5 Use Years, it would be nearly $400. We own 5 DVC contracts but only 2 were bought directly from Disney and only those two can be used for cruising. The other three we are using for staying on-site before and after the cruise. Hope that makes sense.

A DVC member on these boards suggested just buying the DVC insurance on the two contracts that we used the points from for the cruise - that would be about $158 as I understand it and would cover us for medical evacuation and some of our annual dues. DH is considering that. I should be getting excited instead, I'm stressing out.

 

[MEM]

Found it.




I don't think that makes sense since the op said they are only using 3 actual use years. And I don't think they have to insure the ak stay.

I'm the OP and it doesn't make sense to me, either. Please see my response above this one for the explanation the CM gave DH. Thanks!

 

[AnnaS]

With banking, current and borrowing - the maximum number of uy you can use is three. Times that by the price of the insurance. Your points are covered for any vacations you take within those three uy used wether they are DCL or DVC resort.

This is the way I understood it. I could be wrong. We also always take insurance out when leaving the country or cruising.

Depending on the # of people in your family, I would price a rental for the day each way. A bit of a hassle but you save a few dollars. Also price a towncar. Cruises in general and DCL cruised are expensive and everything adds up quick.

I hope it's all straightened out.