Huge Mistake

[TkinNC]

Okay, I think I screwed up. My cruise leaves this Saturday, January 30th and because of work issues, my friends and I are flying out on Saturday Morning, I know, I know, crazy, huh? But living in the middle of NC, we usually do not get much winter weather, so I really was not worried about flight cancellations or postponements. But guess what the weather forecast is for Friday and Saturday: SNOW! And no travel insurance. I have done a lot of traveling (not cruising, but land travel) and have never purchased insurance. I will never make this mistake again. Live and learn, huh? Well, wish me luck!

[diane.in.ny]

Good luck! Hope you make your cruise...

[fann1sh]

I hope things work out. They usually do. Please come back and let us know.

Something to remember if you do buy cancellation/interruption insurance:
most of the time, it doesn't cover flight delays/cancellations unless there's a 24 hour delay. So, you need your arrival time to be more than 24 hours before ship's boarding time. Example: arrive no later than 1 p.m. in FLL Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday if you must be checked in at Port Everglades by 3 p.m. Wednesday.

That way, a 23 hour delay won't make you miss the ship.

One last thing: you do have outside-of-U.S. medical coverage, right? With air evacuation?

Lack of trip insurance can mean you lose your vacation.

Lack of medical insurance can mean you lose your house and savings :eek:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1121463

Yeah, I know....I'm just a real ray of sunshine, aren't I? :rolleyes: :o

[geologygeek]

It's not too late to take out travel insurance - you can book most policies up until departure. I'd contact the company that your going to book with and get it in writing (e-mail) that they'll cover (subject to the conditions of the policy) any departure-related delays. Most will reply to a simple e-mail query quickly. We only take ours out a couple of days before departure with no worries. Good luck getting out!

Still can't believe that people don't take out insurance, those medical bills can add up.

[TkinNC]

I hope things work out. They usually do. Please come back and let us know.

Something to remember if you do buy cancellation/interruption insurance:
most of the time, it doesn't cover flight delays/cancellations unless there's a 24 hour delay. So, you need your arrival time to be more than 24 hours before ship's boarding time. Example: arrive no later than 1 p.m. in FLL Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday if you must be checked in at Port Everglades by 3 p.m. Wednesday.

That way, a 23 hour delay won't make you miss the ship.

One last thing: you do have outside-of-U.S. medical coverage, right? With air evacuation?

Lack of trip insurance can mean you lose your vacation.

Lack of medical insurance can mean you lose your house and savings :eek:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1121463

Yeah, I know....I'm just a real ray of sunshine, aren't I? :rolleyes: :o

Actually, I have medical insurance that pays out of the US. I do a lot of mission work, mostly in 3rd world countries and I have a medical plan, but thanks for the advice, it's true, no medical insurance can cause major problems.

[cccole]

I don't know if this is possible but...sometimes if you call the airline and let them know the problem they will try to get you out early. When bad weather is predicted that will cause problems at the airport the airlines are sometimes happy to get their passengers out early. Maybe a departure Thursday night or sometime on Friday would work. I hope you make it to Florida and have a great cruise! Cherie

[mechcc]

What are the chances of taking off Friday afternoon and driving down? Are the roads going to be passable or not?

[English_in_Spain]

I don't understand how you all travel without medical/cancellation insurance. For us in the UK, HAL will not accept our booking unless we have insurance cover.

[HouseRulz]

I would call your airline and let them know you are on a cruise. This way, if your existing flight is canceled, you may get priority re-booking. This will probably not help given the close window, but if you are connecting and you miss the connection, it might save you. Otherwise, unless you paid for a full-fare ticket, or have elite status with your airline, given you are a group, you have almost no chance of getting re-booked the same day.

Good Luck, travel safely!

[DFD1]

I bought travel insurance for a 2 week trip I made to Europe earlier this month. I bought it only two days before leaving. It included trip cancellation for any reason, baggage, medical, the works. Got the insurance certificate by email.

If you need details, email me dfdsr at comcast dot net

[jbhcw]

OMG...since I also live in NC...am feeling your pain..and this time it does look like we're gonna get it..as opposed to most of the time when we don't:rolleyes:

Have you thought about driving...just bite the bullet and get off from work and head out before the snow starts. We had to leave one day early many years ago..headed to the coast to get out of the ice..then headed down to Port Canaveral.

I would also check with the airline as everyone says..let them know the situation.

We never, never fly out the day of..even in the summer..I'm just too leary of something happening..but we are also retired so it does make it a bit easier.

Please come back and let us know what happens..and have a great cruise:):)

[Krazy Kruizers]

You still have time to buy insurance -- do it.

The weather could change by the time Saturday arrives.

Our weather people are wrong so often.

Wishing you good luck!!

[TkinNC]

Thank you all for the advice, as soon as I get out of this wonderful meeting at work, I am going to go the airlines and see what they have to say. Then I will talk to my friends about maybe heading out Friday, if we can't get a flight, we may drive. I thought if we rent a car we can still fly home. I'm also going to look into cancellation insurance, trust me I've learned my lesson.

[diane.in.ny]

Thank you all for the advice, as soon as I get out of this wonderful meeting at work, I am going to go the airlines and see what they have to say. Then I will talk to my friends about maybe heading out Friday, if we can't get a flight, we may drive. I thought if we rent a car we can still fly home. I'm also going to look into cancellation insurance, trust me I've learned my lesson.

Don't count on flying home if you don't take your outbound flight. The airline will consider you a no show and will cancel your return segment.

[fann1sh]

TkinNC, I'm so glad you're covered with medical insurance - I'm in awe of people who do hands on work in 3rd world countries.

So many good ideas from people who posted after me - this is an amazing community.

[TkinNC]

TkinNC, I'm so glad you're covered with medical insurance - I'm in awe of people who do hands on work in 3rd world countries.

So many good ideas from people who posted after me - this is an amazing community.

I do love my missions work, it changes your life and makes you realize how blessed you really are. I also agree about the community here, awesome resource and everyone is so helpful!

[msmayor]

Not so sure about buying insurance now to cover weather for Saturday. The forecast is already a known event...kind of like trying to buy flood insurance while the water is rising on the river.

Since you are in NC, driving is certainly a good alternative. It may mean a long night, but far better to relax once on the ship than stress at the airport trying to get out.

Good luck!

[TkinNC]

I called the airline and we are switching our flight to Friday morning. My friends and I got off of work and the airline is not charging a fee. Crisis avoided!

Thank you once again for all the advice and I will let you know how my first cruise with HAL goes!!!

[eldercruser]

I called the airline and we are switching our flight to Friday morning. My friends and I got off of work and the airline is not charging a fee. Crisis avoided!

Thank you once again for all the advice and I will let you know how my first cruise with HAL goes!!!

Wise move! Most airlines will now rebook without charging a fee when bad weather is pending. Glad it worked out for you.

Just think, now you get an extra day in the sun!

[TkinNC]

Wise move! Most airlines will now rebook without charging a fee when bad weather is pending. Glad it worked out for you.

Just think, now you get an extra day in the sun!

Yes, that is definitely something I'm looking forward to, SUN!

[Mpowered]

I called the airline and we are switching our flight to Friday morning. My friends and I got off of work and the airline is not charging a fee. Crisis avoided!

Thank you once again for all the advice and I will let you know how my first cruise with HAL goes!!!

Wonderful! I know you are breathing much easier now. ;) I see that you are in High Point, so I'm thinking you are probably flying out of Greensboro. Someone there helped a friend of mine get to her cruise during a weather situation. It was a day late, but she thought she was going to miss it entirely.

By the way, I was born in High Point. :)

Have a great cruise!

Joan

[diane.in.ny]

I called the airline and we are switching our flight to Friday morning. My friends and I got off of work and the airline is not charging a fee. Crisis avoided!

Thank you once again for all the advice and I will let you know how my first cruise with HAL goes!!!

Great move. As suggested, the airlines love to get people out of the way if it looks like trouble is coming.

I had a similar experience flying from CLT to ROC. The only flight out was to PIT, too late for a connection to ROC. Plus, w/ all the cancellations, the airport was going to be a mess for the next two days.

I told the res agent I'd fly to PIT and take a next day flight to ROC if airline would put me up overnight. 'Afterall, wouldn't you like to have one less pax to deal with tomorrow?' I got out and got my voucher VBG

[Lesinindy]

We are with you on the cruise and I think going in the day ahead of time was a good move indeed. The way this month has been for us, I am worried about everything from the weather to anything from shoes to underwear (if you get my drift):) I think for many of us, there will be a big sigh of relief once we are on-board. The way things have been going, I think a double gin and tonic will be a nice way to celebrate making it there. See you on board look for my funky hat (but it is blue now)

[GeriatricNurse]

Okay, I think I screwed up. My cruise leaves this Saturday, January 30th and because of work issues, my friends and I are flying out on Saturday Morning, I know, I know, crazy, huh? But living in the middle of NC, we usually do not get much winter weather, so I really was not worried about flight cancellations or postponements. But guess what the weather forecast is for Friday and Saturday: SNOW! And no travel insurance. I have done a lot of traveling (not cruising, but land travel) and have never purchased insurance. I will never make this mistake again. Live and learn, huh? Well, wish me luck!



Good luck! You are going to needs lots of it! And no travel insurance? Unbelievable!:eek::rolleyes:

[kelleherdl]

Being from Raleigh and seeing the waffling that "The Fish" is saying about Friday afternoon and Saturday morning..... Good Move!!!

Have a great cruise. We will be boarding the E'dam in Rome on 29 April. We should not have near the weather concerns. Knock on wood. ..though we will be going thru Chicago.

Dennis

[TkinNC]

Wonderful! I know you are breathing much easier now. ;) I see that you are in High Point, so I'm thinking you are probably flying out of Greensboro. Someone there helped a friend of mine get to her cruise during a weather situation. It was a day late, but she thought she was going to miss it entirely.

By the way, I was born in High Point. :)


Have a great cruise!

Joan

Actually, we are flying out of Raleigh, a difference of about $200 in cost of the flight. That was another thing we were a little worried about, the drive from High Point to Raleigh is an hour and 45 minutes, little difficult in bad weather.

High Point is a great place, I'm originally from Texas.

[TkinNC]

We are with you on the cruise and I think going in the day ahead of time was a good move indeed. The way this month has been for us, I am worried about everything from the weather to anything from shoes to underwear (if you get my drift):) I think for many of us, there will be a big sigh of relief once we are on-board. The way things have been going, I think a double gin and tonic will be a nice way to celebrate making it there. See you on board look for my funky hat (but it is blue now)

I agree Les, celebrations will be in order. I will look for your blue funky hat!

[TkinNC]

Good luck! You are going to needs lots of it! And no travel insurance? Unbelievable!:eek::rolleyes:

I know, I know, crazy for getting no insurance. But I have literally traveled so much and have never gotten insurance, I knew it would catch up with me sooner or later. But this was such a close call that hopefully I have learned my lesson without having to pay for it.:rolleyes:

[TkinNC]

Being from Raleigh and seeing the waffling that "The Fish" is saying about Friday afternoon and Saturday morning..... Good Move!!!

Have a great cruise. We will be boarding the E'dam in Rome on 29 April. We should not have near the weather concerns. Knock on wood. ..though we will be going thru Chicago.

Dennis

Hopefully the weather will be nice in April. Wow, Rome, I did a land vacation there but never a cruise. I hope you have a great time!

[msmayor]

In all honesty though...even WITH trip insurance I would have done exactly as you did: change my flight to an earlier one. Even though the insurance would probably reimburse for the problems of missing the ship, I'd rather spend a little extra time and money to make certain I am on board for sailaway.

[CruisinManiac]

Actually, we are flying out of Raleigh, a difference of about $200 in cost of the flight. That was another thing we were a little worried about, the drive from High Point to Raleigh is an hour and 45 minutes, little difficult in bad weather.

High Point is a great place, I'm originally from Texas.

What time is your flight on Friday morning? You may also want to think about heading to Raleigh on Thursday night and stay in a hotel. :) DH and I do that whenever we are flying out of an airport outside our area. We just feel better being near the airport the night before.

[jeda]

Have a great time!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jess

[Mpowered]

Being from Raleigh and seeing the waffling that "The Fish" is saying about Friday afternoon and Saturday morning..... Good Move!!!

Have a great cruise. We will be boarding the E'dam in Rome on 29 April. We should not have near the weather concerns. Knock on wood. ..though we will be going thru Chicago.

Dennis

I'm in Raleigh, too. What will The Fish do this time, if he's wrong? :)

Joan

[jbhcw]

So glad you seem to be getting it all worked out...safe travels and have a wonderful cruise...Taking a guess..you're flying Southwest out of RDU?? My kids live in Greensboro and they sometimes drive to Raleigh to fly Southwest.

Listening to the "Fish" tonight..who I dearly love...have listened to him for many many years...this is indeed a big event...we are already under a Winter Storm Watch..but they keep changing the ice/snow/icy mix line...the grocery stores will be bedlam tomorrow:eek:

Have a wonderful cruise and please think of all of us here in NC...cold and snowy and/or icy...for just a second or two:):)

[trvlcrzy]

Listening to the "Fish" tonight..who I dearly love...have listened to him for many many years...this is indeed a big event...we are already under a Winter Storm Watch..but they keep changing the ice/snow/icy mix line...the grocery stores will be bedlam tomorrow:eek:

Have a wonderful cruise and please think of all of us here in NC...cold and snowy and/or icy...for just a second or two:):)

Okay, people. Don't pick on the "Fish." I know he must be excited with the possibility (since that last one really fizzled out). DH and I made a grocery store run today to avoid the rush.

I'm sure those in other parts of the country are laughing at us... getting all excited over a little winter weather. Yesterday was in the 60's, right?

I heard a quote the other day... "That's how you know that you are in North Carolina: use the heat in the morning and the air conditioning in the afternoon."

[CruisinManiac]

We live in East Tennessee and are also under a Winter Storm Watch 4"-8" by it's ending on Saturday afternoon. Due to start snowing - again - between 2:00 - 4:00 and be very active by rush hour. In the storm we got before Christmas, DH was stuck on the Interstate for 5 hours while trying to get home on his normally 15 minute drive. He become stuck in the snow when trying to enter our neighborhood, and had to walk the last 45 minutes to get home. He is not looking forward to another "rush hour" storm.

Have a great cruise! :)

[TkinNC]

What time is your flight on Friday morning? You may also want to think about heading to Raleigh on Thursday night and stay in a hotel. :) DH and I do that whenever we are flying out of an airport outside our area. We just feel better being near the airport the night before.

Actually the flight is not until 10:30 am, so we have plenty of time and the snow is starting Friday evening, at least that is what the weather man is saying at the moment.

[TkinNC]

Just want to say thanks to everyone for "feeling my pain" and giving such great advice. Now I need to get busy trying to find a hotel room in Florida, but I don't mind at all if it means I get on the Dam ship on Saturday!!!

[CruisinManiac]

OK then, just be sure to be at the airport and ready to check-in at least an hour or hour and a half before the flight. ;)

[TkinNC]

OK then, just be sure to be at the airport and ready to check-in at least an hour or hour and a half before the flight. ;)

Will do, actually I told my friends we will be there 2 hours early, no more chances!!!

[yachtsman123]

Hope you enjoy the cruise!

[kelleherdl]

Okay, people. Don't pick on the "Fish." I know he must be excited with the possibility (since that last one really fizzled out). DH and I made a grocery store run today to avoid the rush.


I should forward this link to The Fish. He would get a charge out of it.

Dennis

[kelleherdl]

In fact I just did.

Dennis

[jbhcw]

Cool...I just love Greg..AKA the Fish...:D ....and in my younger days would be right there with him wanting lots of snow...I've grown up since then:D

[cutelittle]

II have learned my lesson without having to pay for it.:rolleyes:

This is great! And we all got to learn from you too. :D Hope you have a wonderful time!!

[sylteach]

Glad to hear that you will make it to your cruise and avoid this storm coming your way.
I finally convinced my daughter and her husband in Knoxville to go get a snow shovel and ice-melt yesterday. This is the 3rd snow storm to hit them this winter. She says they usually only get a few inches all winter and it melts right away. They grew up here in Ohio and know how to drive in the snow-but it seems so many others in Tennessee do not. Also, they never clean up the residential streets and, of course, she lives on a hill. They always wait for the temps to warm up and the sun to melt it. I think this time they will really need the snow shovels. She was hit from behind in her car during rush hour on the way home earlier this month because a lady did not realize that you wait until the previous car goes down a hill before you go down it too. That snow storm there in December made my daughter cancel her ski trip. The resort in North Carolina called her and said it was not a good idea to travel I40 to get to the resort. Good luck making your flight and have a wonderful time!!!

[BBoomer]

It Friday so I hope you have heeded the advice and got insurance. Also get to the airport EARLY, like when the desk opens to make sure you know our options. If there is a cacellations or a delay at another airport make sure you know where the customer service counter is for your airlines. Go there and get them to get you a another.

Never ever travel without insurance. We had a snow storm that delayed us about a day. But we travelled one day earlier so we got to the port city on time.

Also think about a lay over the day before if you cruise again. Hope it works out and have a COUPLE of drinks on us when you get to the ship.

[CruisinManiac]

Glad to hear that you will make it to your cruise and avoid this storm coming your way.
I finally convinced my daughter and her husband in Knoxville to go get a snow shovel and ice-melt yesterday. This is the 3rd snow storm to hit them this winter. She says they usually only get a few inches all winter and it melts right away. They grew up here in Ohio and know how to drive in the snow-but it seems so many others in Tennessee do not. Also, they never clean up the residential streets and, of course, she lives on a hill. They always wait for the temps to warm up and the sun to melt it. I think this time they will really need the snow shovels. She was hit from behind in her car during rush hour on the way home earlier this month because a lady did not realize that you wait until the previous car goes down a hill before you go down it too. That snow storm there in December made my daughter cancel her ski trip. The resort in North Carolina called her and said it was not a good idea to travel I40 to get to the resort. Good luck making your flight and have a wonderful time!!!


We are 1 1/2 hours from Knoxville. Shovelled our drive (well DH did it :grin:) for the first time in years. We also live on a hill. They are now saying 5"-9", but I don't think Knoxville is getting that much.

She was hit from behind in her car during rush hour on the way home earlier this month because a lady did not realize that you wait until the previous car goes down a hill before you go down it too.

That's my biggest fear when driving in the snow!

BTW - Your daughter would not be able to get to NC using I-40 anyway. I-40 has been closed to "through traffic" for the last few months because of a tremendous rock slide, and this past weekend, they had another. :( It is going to be several months before that route will be opened again. Besides, the easiest and quickest way to get from Knoxville to the NC ski resorts is coming right by me in the TRI Cities - go up 81 and over to I-26. Then she would cut through Elizabethton to Sugar or Beech Mountain resorts. We are 1 1/2 hours from the slopes. If she was going to Wolf Laurel, then she would go straight over Sam's Gap (still I-26) and into NC to Wolf Laurel (1 hour.)

[Overtime4me2]

I think you did the right thing by changing your flight to the day before! The weather this winter has sure been different than recent ones....even here in Nebraska...we've had more snow in the month of December than we normally get ALL year long!! :eek:

Take care and enjoy your trip. Now you have an extra day to relax and look forward to your cruise. Let us know how it went when you get back!! :)

[Mpowered]

Cool...I just love Greg..AKA the Fish...:D ....and in my younger days would be right there with him wanting lots of snow...I've grown up since then:D

You're right, he'll love it. And he loves snow, too!

My husband sings in an a cappella men's choir. I frequently attend their performances. Once they were singing in a church in Cary. Someone got up to read scripture. I was reading the program and not looking at the reader. The voice sounded very familiar, and then I realized it was The Fish!

My brush with greatness. :D

Joan

[jerseygirl3]

Actually the flight is not until 10:30 am, so we have plenty of time and the snow is starting Friday evening, at least that is what the weather man is saying at the moment.

Did you get a hotel booked for Friday night. Glad you were able to switch, especially without a fee!

[TkinNC]

Did you get a hotel booked for Friday night. Glad you were able to switch, especially without a fee!

I'm at the airport in Raleigh waiting for my flight, it's a direct flight to FLL. We have the Best Western booked for the night, hope it's a nice place, but the have a shuttle from the airport and to the cruise terminal.

Thanks again everyone and talk to you soon!

[sandy4444]

Okay, I think I screwed up. My cruise leaves this Saturday, January 30th and because of work issues, my friends and I are flying out on Saturday Morning, I know, I know, crazy, huh? But living in the middle of NC, we usually do not get much winter weather, so I really was not worried about flight cancellations or postponements. But guess what the weather forecast is for Friday and Saturday: SNOW! And no travel insurance. I have done a lot of traveling (not cruising, but land travel) and have never purchased insurance. I will never make this mistake again. Live and learn, huh? Well, wish me luck!
We live in Atlanta, Ga. and we are driving down to Ft. Lauderdale on Sat.,Jan. 30th. We also have a chance of sleet and ice..and it's not a pretty sight in the South. Thinking of leaving shortly and drive half way down into Fl. One of the last times I went on a cruise was March 13th, 1993.We had the Blizzard of the Century at that time. ( The Cruise Lines should pay me NOT to travel with them)..i HOPE YOU MAKE IT OUT OF NC .. Have a wonderful time.

[sylteach]

Glad to hear that you are out of there!! I just talked with my daughter-snow is coming down in Knoxville. The local forecast was changed to 9-15 inches for them. Unbelievable!!! They are saying it will be the worst storm since the Blizzard of 1993 down there. She is riding with a coworker who has a 4x4 vehicle. Concerning I40, we know about the rockslides-but if they want to go to Maggie Valley or Cherokee in the winter, when 441 through the mountains is closed, they have no choice. Thanks for the advice about the "shortcut" for the detour. I am going down in April and hope the weather will be warmer. Last year in April we went to Cherokee and when we came back it was snowing and icy on 441 through the mountains. They closed the road behind us and when we got to Sugarlands the road had been closed there too. That was a scary ride!!

[kelleherdl]

Just to close the loop for folks. 'Made a big Mistake' made a great decision to get out of town a day early. RDU is closed to flights this morning. It is still sleeting with maybe 4-5 inches of snow/sleet on the ground.

Dennis

[RuthC]

Thanks for letting us all know that.

Oh, and good luck with the driving and clean-up.

[NMLady]

When I saw the national weather news today, I was really glad the OP had gotten a flight yesterday. She evidently never would have gotten out today, so I'm glad she was able to get extra time off work to leave sooner.