Military?

[crzycick]

My husband is in Iraq right now and we never did get a honeymoon and have decided to take a cruise when he gets back. If anyone knows anything about the military, you know not to count on anything until it's happened. I'm very worried that even if his leave is approved, it could be revoked prior to the trip, I have known it to happen to other people. Before I talk to the cruise line directly I was curious if anybody knows how they handle situations like this or if we'd just be "screwed?"

Also, by any chance do they offer a military discount? (I can dream, right? lol) This is basically a first cruise for both of us, I did go on one when I was 10, but that hardly counts, lol

[GmaPajama]

In your situation, I'd say Travel Insurance is the only way to be sure you don't lose your money if hubby doesn't make it home in time for the cruise you've booked. You can insure with HAL, your Travel Agent, or do some price shopping at insuremytrip dot com.

I don't believe HAL gives a military discount (not positive), but know a couple of the other cruise lines do.

Happy planning!

[jhannah]

This is another case where an insurance company should be called. Visit insuremytrip dot com as GmaPajama suggested. Select a plan that looks like it would meet your needs, then call them. Travelex says trip cancellation includes "You or Your Traveling Companion being called to the emergency service of government in the case of military, reservists, police or fire personnel for a natural disaster other than war." (Underline is mine.) Nothing is shown for active duty service under their coverage.

HAL's Platinum insurance offers a "cancel for any reason" provision, I believe, but it has to be purchased when you place your initial deposit. While your entire loss isn't covered, it's better than losing it all. Good luck.

[JimVrhovac]

Being retired military I can really sympathize with yoy.

Get yourself trip insurance and make sure the TA understands that you want it covered if his leave is revoked for any reason.

Otherwise have a great trip and enjoy the romance of late nights on the balcony.....

Victorias Secret has a gret sale going on

Ruth & Jim

[LONESTAR 101]

Carnival gives Military Discounts Active and Retired I use mine all the time and get a good discount and Book My Own Cruises!! Call a Carnival "PVP";) They only give them at certain specific months and times!! As others have stated get some Trip Insurance but make sure its a established company, you can also get it through the cruise lines as well!! Good Luck and Happy cruising!!;) :) .



Best Regards!
Robert!

[CDRMark]

I'm not a lawyer but I think you may be protected under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2003. (SCRA section 203 addresses penalties)
Base JAG might help. Insurance is a good idea most of the time anyway, tho.
Cheers...
...and thank him for his service from us all.:)
Mark

[jtl513]

I don't know about currently, but HAL used to offer small military discounts. But IIRC they could not be combined with other discounts, and a good TA could beat the HAL minus military price. Wouldn't hurt to ask, though.

[jtl513]

oops - duplicate

[Briny]

If you happen to be a USAA member, you can purchase well-priced travel insurance through their web site. Their insurance policy is geared to servicemen and servicewomen, and has a provision that deals with having military leave revoked. You might want to check out their policy to see if it fits your situation. God bless and keep you both. Hope you have a wonderful (delayed) honeymoon.

[AnneBonney]

We're also a military family. Definitely get cruise insurance, but make sure it has a military clause in case orders get revoked (on our first HAL cruise we were going to book through Expedia but when I asked I was told their insurance did not cover military.

As far as discounts it seems as if HAL, when they do offer a military discount tend to do it on the lower price cabins (we always like a balcony). Disney cruises does a very nice military discount, and when we did a Disney cruise we were able to apply it after we had made our final payment.

[crzycick]

Thank you for the responses. I will start with the travel place on base and shop around for the best place. We DO bank through USAA (LOVE THEM!) so I will also look into their travel insurance. We were actually planning on doing an inside room to save money, as we're also planning on starting a family when he gets back (for military standards around here we are "old" to be starting a family, lol) but now I think if the price isn't terribly more it would be nice to have a window. A balcony would be lovely but for this particular point in our lives, it's just not in the cards for us. And everything I have seen and heard about carnival, ick, not for us. We may be young (22, 25) but we're just not into that kind of atmosphere. I was going to do the princess line as I had done extensive research on them before, but right now HAL is calling my name :-) Carnival is at the VERY bottom of my list of preferences

[sail7seas]

Oh my goodness, YOu are definitely not old but understand what you mean. When DH was in the Army and I traveled with him, we were around your age and many had children already. (Hard to start a family with DH in Iraq, I would think. :rolleyes: DH was in Viet Nam so I 'get it'.

Good luck to you both and hope you have a fantastic time..... happy belated honeymoon.

We've had more than one poster bring home a 'souvenir' from their cruise. :)

[crzycick]

Haha, a souvenir would be lovely, lol. I'm in Jacksonville NC and when people hear I don't have kids they seriously ask me if I'm infertile. I get a pregnancy test everytime I go to Naval, even if I'm there for something like a sore throat. I only know 2 people around my age without children. One is now pregnant the other never wants children. There are 19 years olds with 3 kids! It's VERY common too. When I told people at work of my plans to start a family when he gets home, they acted surprised that people actually PLAN children! It's beyond ridiculous. I'll be 23 or 24 when we have children and it's a little earlier than we expected but the timing works for us as we're trying to go on I&I duty soon closer to home.

[sail7seas]

:) May all your wishes come true. :)

[FRANKIEDNYC]

:) Being Retire Navy, I Have Used Military Discounts Very Often. Almost Every Line Offers Them. When You Are Ready ----to Go---on Your ----vacations---- You Can Check Out The Discounts On A Web Agency Advertised On This Website. Each Lines's Rules Are Different, They Are All Spelled Out On Their Website, Just Click On The Sidebar Listfor Military. Carnival's Policy Seems To Be The Most Liberal All You Need Is A Dd 214 Showing That You Have Served At Least A Day In The Military And You're In. Hal Is Only Good For Active Duty Military, Princess Active Duty Or 20 Year Retirees Rccl, Ncl And Others All Have Their Own Rules. Unfortunately The Discounts Are Only Offered On Certain Cruises, So You Have To Check Often. Discounts Range From Maybe $100.00 To Several Hundred. Last Year I Scored A 6 Day Ncl Cruise N.y To The Bahammas For $169.00 That Included Port Charges. When We Got The Price Breakdown The Cruise Price Was $18.00. But Those Deals Seem Few And Far Todaygood Luck And Thanx For Your Service To Our Country

[Harry1954]

A balcony would be lovely but for this particular point in our lives, it's just not in the cards for us. And everything I have seen and heard about carnival, ick, not for us. We may be young (22, 25) but we're just not into that kind of atmosphere.
I recall those days when first married as I was in the military as well. The cabin is of less concern that affording the trip. The HAL insurance is probably the best bet as you can cancel right up to the cruise with no reasons as was explained to me by HAL corporate - the big advantage they feel they have over other plans. Alternatively, as was suggested USAA being military-oriented should have something as well that would be palatable.
harry

[smileycruiser2007]

I'm very curious--what is a "Carnival PVP"? They must be good for Robert to enjoy Carnival.

For the OP, USAA has a relationship with a travel agency and they will sell you the insurance that refunds your $ due to military reasons. We had reason to use this insurance, and it is both cheaper than a cruise lines and is very reputable.

[Essiesmom]

A PVP is a Personal Vacation Planner for Carnival. And as far as Military discounts on Carnival, you must have served two years and have an honorable discharge. I understand the OP's distaste for what they have heard about Carnival, but don't count them out. The shorter the cruise, the more partying because the younger crowd can only get the time off for a short cruise, and the money for it. On any cruise line, the longer the cruise, the older the crowd. Carnival is not my line of choice, but with good military discounts, and three ports I can drive to, I have cruised them four times in a year. But you can see from my signature that I have cruised a variety of lines, and am in the process of booking a HAL cruise. EM

[ybarber]

Haha, a souvenir would be lovely, lol. I'm in Jacksonville NC and when people hear I don't have kids they seriously ask me if I'm infertile. I get a pregnancy test everytime I go to Naval, even if I'm there for something like a sore throat. I only know 2 people around my age without children. One is now pregnant the other never wants children. There are 19 years olds with 3 kids! It's VERY common too. When I told people at work of my plans to start a family when he gets home, they acted surprised that people actually PLAN children! It's beyond ridiculous. I'll be 23 or 24 when we have children and it's a little earlier than we expected but the timing works for us as we're trying to go on I&I duty soon closer to home.
Hey Crzycik, my Son is stationed at Camp LeJeune, and also lives in Jacksonville, NC - is your Hubby a Marine? My Son and his Wife, who is expecting, (in the Hospital here until the baby comes) are also planning on taking a cruise when he returns from Iraq - he goes in September - what a coincidence - God Bless you both!

[smileycruiser2007]

Crzycick, Have you tried your base ITT or MWR? They should know whcih lines give military discounts (HAL, Princess, Carnival, Celebrity, RCCL all do at certain times on certain ships) and should be able to guide you about insurance and refunds in case leave is revoked. Good Luck!

[sail7seas]

A PVP is a Personal Vacation Planner for Carnival. And as far as Military discounts on Carnival, you must have served two years and have an honorable discharge.


Seriously, that is all that is required to qualify? Two years?

[LONESTAR 101]

Ive been using a PVP for 5 years now with Carnival, she knows me in and out,has my preferences and my Military DD-214 on file as well me and DW booked our cruise with fuel,Prepaid Gatuities and fees for a Catagory 8A Balcony for $649.00 PP and the Total of $1,298.00 so try and beat that on Hal, or Princess or RCCL and other lines, with the money tight and gas high you gotta put preferences aside for now and hey a cruise is a cruise and Carnival has improved and like another poster stated the 7 Day cruises and the time of the month you go depends on Partying atmosphere,hey us old folks are laid back and also we can cut a rug if needed!!:D :p, I also do my own hotel bookings directly with the Hotel in The city im going to!;) Everyone has their own preferences and Im not critizing TA'S,but I was burned with one on my first cruise and my Hotel bookings,I just decided to do my own!!;) Happy Cruising everyone and may you all have calm seas and blue skys forever!!;) .

[iancal]

Don't concern yourself with a 'military' discount. Ofen they are purely artificial. Compare based on net price, taxes and fees in, on the web. Some offer the discounts, others don't. Only the bottom line counts.

[Davey Interweb]

Don't concern yourself with a 'military' discount. Ofen they are purely artificial. Compare based on net price, taxes and fees in, on the web. Some offer the discounts, others don't. Only the bottom line counts.

Royal Caribbean/Celebrity offers military discounts reasonably often; on our upcoming Adventure of the Seas sailing, the difference between the lowest available rate and the military rate was $700 per cabin based on double occupancy -- a D3 balcony was (still is, actually) $1127.55pp to the general public, but $777.55pp at the military rate. That includes taxes/fees and fuel surcharge. A better than 30% discount is far from being artificial.

Holland America offered "community appreciation" discounts to military, firefighters, police and teachers, but I don't know whether or not they're still extending them.

[crzycick]

When the time comes nearer I'll check with the ITT on base and shop around. If I can get it cheaper online vs a TA, ITT, military discount, I'll obviously take the cheapest I can get, lol. My husband is active duty, so the requirement for what counts isn't a concern.

To the poster about the son in Jacksonville, yes my husband is a Marine :-) He actually is going to be coming home when your son leaves. We're looking at trying for late November, but with him being the only person in the office, who knows if they'll let him off. They never let him take leave, he's been in 2 years and he had to FIGHT to go home ONCE. He gets 30 days a year, but they don't let him take it.

[smileycruiser2007]

Thanks for the explanation and support for the Carnival PVPs. I met some TAs coming back from a FAM trip who said Carnival had really improved. They do have some interesting itineraries and as long as the trip was not interesting to those who enjoy booze cruising it might be quite nice.

Good Luck crazyczik. Maybe you'd like to look into the Hale Koa which will give you very nice rates since your husband is in combat zone, and they understand about leave recalls.

[crzycick]

Good Luck crazyczik. Maybe you'd like to look into the Hale Koa which will give you very nice rates since your husband is in combat zone, and they understand about leave recalls.

What is that?

[AnneBonney]

The Hale Koa is the military hotel in Honolulu. If you just google it you should be able to get the website. It's very nice, right on Waikiki.