Embarking on a cruise is a delightful experience, but like all forms of travel, it comes with its own set of uncertainties. While many believe they're prepared for any eventuality, unforeseen events and circumstances beyond one’s control can disrupt even the most meticulously planned trips.
While many types of travel offer now buy-now-pay-later options, cruises have always operated on this model, generally requiring an upfront deposit and the option to spread out your payments up until a final-payment date—the date by which you must have submitted your fare payment in full or forfeit your initial deposit.
As a general rule, you can make changes up until that point—whether it be switching your departure date or transferring to another itinerary or vessel—but, after that all-important date, you are utterly committed. You can’t cancel or make changes without losing your whole investment and, unless you have travel insurance, there’s nothing anyone can do to get your money back. Unlike many air travel or hotel arrangements, you won’t get a future credit for trips you’re ultimately unable to take, unless it is somehow the fault of the cruise line.
Which is the subject of a poignant message just posted by John Heald, senior cruise director and official brand ambassador for Carnival Cruise Line, on his popular Facebook page. Essentially, it’s a cautionary reflection and a plea to prospective passengers to make provisions for the possibility of a worst-case scenario that could prevent them from making their cruise departure.
“One of the saddest, most gut-wrenching parts of my job is when people write that they have been ill, lost a loved one or been involved in an emergency situation at home. They have therefore had to cancel their cruise. They ask me, they beg me, to help them reclaim their money because, well, they didn’t have insurance,” he wrote.
“Responding to them is always so hard and many times even though their posts contain angry words and personal attacks I know they are writing through sadness and high emotion. Nevertheless, it really does tug at my heartstrings.
“I hope I am not out of place then to say please, if you can, purchase travel insurance. It will never happen to me……….until it does.”
Carnival and various other cruise lines offer travel insurance as an add-on option to guest bookings, but there are also quality third-party providers out there that will help you protect your investment. They can help you to catch up with your cruise in case you’re delayed, recoup costs if you must miss it altogether and much more. Third-party insurance companies usually offer coverage for just a single trip, as well as annual policy options for those who travel frequently.
Leading global travel insurance provider Allianz provides a good synopsis of what travel insurance can do for cruise-goers in case their plans don’t pan out as intended. On its website, it says, “When something goes wrong on your vacation, cruise insurance can help make things right. If the ship sails without you because your flight to Miami was delayed, cruise insurance can help you catch up. If you break your leg and have to cancel your trip, the cruise line won't reimburse you—but travel insurance can. And if you suffer a medical crisis on board, cruise insurance can cover your evacuation and emergency medical care.”
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