There is an interesting article and subsequent comments in USA Today concerning a group of cruise passengers that could not make their cruise and they wanted a refund from the cruise company. I have found that cruise companies are the brunt of many complaints just because of the nature of their business.

• Passengers have to get to the ports on time.
  • It costs many thousands of dollars for each port delay. Ships can’t wait for the late vacationers.
  • Get travel insurance to cover this situation, especially since most Ontarians have to fly to a foreign port to cruise.
  • Allow for a day or two pre cruise time to work around weather delays etc.
• When accident or illness happens at sea, expenses can rise very fast.
  • Helicopter medical evacuations can quickly cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
  • Get travel insurance.
  • The cruise line will make arrangements for medical assistance but the traveller has to pay.

The main thrust of the discussions following the article revolved around the cost of the cancelled trip and who would cover that loss. Some said the cruise company (Carnival) should. It’s good P.R. The terms are stated clearly and favour the cruise line. No refund. Get insurance for your travels. See my contribution to the debate below.

Most comments were sympathetic towards the families plight. Some thought it was foolish not to have taken the insurance. Insurance is a cost of doing business and of just living in a modern society. It should be considered a cost of vacationing too.

Here are few reader comments in brief from the original article:

• Buy travel insurance for your cruise
• Don’t put faith in verbal
• Consider spending a little time in the departure port before your cruise
• Everyone hates paying for insurance until the day you realize you need it
• The client made an informed decision to risk losing money
• Why should I pay because you gambled and lost?
• Travel insurance is not just for cruises
• It’s not the cruise line are cold hearted. It’s just… here it comes… wait for it… Business.
• You do know that all the cruise lines would most likely have done the same as Carnival did, don’t you?
• I think it’s totally OUTRAGEOUS for Carnival to have denied THIS particular claim
• What is outrageous is that they did NOT purchase the insurance but wanted Carnival to give them the same benefit as if they had.

My comment:

I think people can still legally drive in some regions without insurance. In some areas of the world riding a motorcycle without the insurance of a helmet is legal. Insurance insures against the unexpected. If you only used a helmet when you expected to have your head smashed into a curb through no fault of your own, which occasion would you choose?

Most people recognize the value of insurance in most life situations. How many businesses are incorporated to protect personal possessions? Most insurance is third party and it costs many people a lot of premiums to protect the inevitable from happening to a few. If Carnival or any other cruise company offered insurance as part of the price they would be using a third party and everyone’s ticket costs would go up accordingly.

Insurance is optional. If you want to save a few bucks don’t get it, but don’t whine about a catastrophe happening to you. Most people can suffer the loss of a vacation and it’s costs. If money is so tight consider going on a picnic to celebrate. Don’t forget to use your seat belts.

Can you afford the cost of repatriating an injured party member plus possibly thousands of dollars in foreign medical services until well enough to travel? Heaven forbid that an air ambulance may be involved.

When you think of insurance you tend to think of saving dollars for premiums, but you should think big. Think of the worst case scenarios and those minuscule premiums become good investments.

Incidentally, Ontario law requires that all travel agents offer, explain and advise all travellers about travel insurance. It is an optional cost and can be refused. Most agents have a standard refusal form that indicates insurance was offered and turned down.

Feel free to wade into the insurance debate.

It’s not quite as dreadful as talking about death or taxes but insurance opinions are right up there near the top of the 10 foot pole.

Source article: USA Today

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The world of cruising is changing for many cruisers. Giant floating communities the size of small towns are the newest launches. Traditionalists in the die hard cruise community might scoff at the extravaganza of amenities  offered by these floating resorts, but most will sample the ambiance, somewhat reluctantly perhaps, to see for themselves what the buzz is all about.

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First time cruisers will be blown away by the luxury of accommodations, sights, activities and grandeur that they may never want to cruise on a smaller vessel. That feeling is much the same as an inside cabiner, trying a balcony stateroom for the first time – you never want to go back inside.

Whether a long time veteran or a rookie wannabe cruiser, the ships of today and tomorrow offer unique experiences you will not duplicate any other way.

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