GeezerCouple

Oh dear, SempreMare, FIrst, I'm glad you are basically "OKAY", even if not fully intact. About the post-op. You will probably need help with a lot of daily activities. But no need to wear that same t-shirt for 6 weeks! 😱 😉 There are "recovery" types of clothing that have snaps or velcro closures that allow you to open the shoulder entirely. I'll try to find a link. (I have a few that I didn't need, as surgery, yes, rotator cuff, was cancelled and seems to be on permanent hold - that's both good and bad...) Try Googling "rotator cuff surgery clothing" and see what comes up in the meantime. Do you have someone who can stay with you for at least the first day or two, until you see how you are doing, and what you can/cannot do? Check with Steve about whether some extra help, IF NEEDED, would be covered, even if your regular health insurance wouldn't. For a totally different medical claim, we found Travel Insured very helpful in terms of covering what was needed. However, that was while we were still traveling, so the costs not only helped us, but also probably kept TI from needing to pay much more if we had to fly home early and need reimbursement for the rest of the trip, etc. Still, we never found them difficult to deal with, as long as there was appropriate documentation and medical need (per physician statements, etc.). Good luck. I'll be thinking of you! ETA: Here is a link: https://www.reboundwear.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpv2TBhDoARIsALBnVnlG0ZZ6GA3dbF4ww8sCFSaj72y3wPO1sa9TR0otaU9c9GBPAm-omRoaAod3EALw_wcB Hmmm.... what size are you? GC

We were not "insured together". Because we weren't part of the same family and/or (?) we did not live in the same household, we could not be on the same policy. What we did was purchase the insurance for everyone, but separate policies for each of two "real family units" and the cruise reservations were linked. We didn't have any relevant claims on those particular trips, so I can't say definitively that it "worked". But that was part of the discussion (on recorded lines) when we were making arrangements and making decisions about the insurance. GC

Each insurer may be different, but we've gotten insurance for everyone traveling "together" when we all made the reservations together. We are not all related and do not live at the same address. So it's worth checking with the insurer about how they handle this situation. GC

Note that "pre-existing condition" for "travel insurance reasons" is usually very different from what we think of in "everyday life". It can involve, for example, a change in dosage of a minor medication in some cases. Or a recommedation from a physician that some tests be done. Yes, if you have a medical claim where pre-existing conditions are not covered, the insurer is likely to request copies of your medical records to check for all of this. One nice side-advantage of having a policy where there is no exclusion for pre-existing conditions is that the claims process is likely to be much faster. The insurer would not need to check prior medical records, because it wouldn't matter. Read the coverage (from the card or a travel insurer) very carefully and make sure you understand what a pre-existing condition is for the purposes of your specific policy. GC

It's not going to be possible to pay for separate "Haven access" (or the Haven would be one huge mob scene!). Please see the posts about paying full price for an extra cabin in addition to paying full fare for everyone in the Haven 2BR suite. (It can be done, but you need to find a travel agent or PCC who knows how to do this.). Paying twice gets expensive, but it would provide what you want. I don't suppose you could change to a different date where there is still more Haven availability? As suggested, have someone keep an eagle eye out for a Haven cancellation. Things are pretty much in flux these days, and even without Covid, there are occasionally late cancellations. (We know: We had to do that twice, within less than 2 weeks to go each time. Yes, thank goodness we had travel insurance, but some others probably got really good deals on "our" suites at the last minute. 😉 And... we actually were lucky enough to get a DOS at a terrific price at almost the last moment on another cruise! Point is... it does happen!) GC

See if you can find a *good* travel agent who can work directly with NCL about this. As long as you are willing to pay "the appropriate fare" for BOTH locations (extra passenger in the suite AND extra cabin), it can be done, even if most don't understand how to do it. Others have occasionally reported arranging this. What will not work (and should not!) is to have someone who is not listed in (and not paying for) suite accommodations to get added somehow to join in those suite perks that others in their family/group have. It's one thing to visit someone else within their suite if one is not paying for suite accommodations, but that does not mean the guest gets the suite perks, be they special dining areas or, for Haven suites, Haven access. [Note: I don't know how this works if you are in the UK. Our experience, including with a previous NCL PCC, is only with USA reservations.] GC

For starters, I'd suggest looking carefully at the suite floor plans, on each deck plan. We do this any time we are getting some sort of suite where they aren't "all the same", etc. Note that in some cases, there are also some cabins in between the Vista suites, and on other decks, I think it is just the Vista suites up front. That is, just comparing the size/shape of that forward "section" might be misleading. I also think (!?) I remember reading of some slight differences among some of the Vista suites. It might (?) have been something about the placement of a post - but I'm not sure. We just love forward-view suites, but whenever we've looked at Oceania, those are already sold out. 😞 Someday.......! GC

This is one reason to work with either a travel insurance agent or broker. Ask *them* these questions, and let them guide you. Most of the complaints we read about here on CC about claim denials were because the policy wasn't right: it never included the event(s) that happened. And in most cases, this was *not* because some really rare "thing" happened. The other complaint we tend to see is when a claim is filed for a medical reason (vs. a flight cancellation, or such), and the insured objects to the "privacy intrusion" of submitting the relevant medical records. The insurer has the right to determine it's not fraud, or that the medical event is covered, etc. (such as not a pre-existing condition if that would have been excluded). Finally, and this is *important*: Some people with a medical problem don't promptly contact a physician so they can get timely medical documentation that a physician made the determination that travel should not happen, etc. One can't just "declare one's self sick" and then get the money back, etc. The time to find out about whether the coverage fits your needs and is correct (one policy for all, separate? etc.) is BEFORE getting the policy. And I very seriously doubt that it is okay to put an incorrect address in for an insured person. Aside from the fact that I think one signs that it is all accurate/etc. (not sure about that, but it is required for any claim), the insurers are regulated at a state level. The coverage one purchases for a resident of State X may not be legal for residents of State Y. Don't guess, and thus risk having a claim denied. (In that case, why bother to get the policy?) GC

[emphasis added] I understand that you prefer not to call an insurance broker "at this time", and that is, of course, totally up to you. However, your situation is a bit complicated and also depends upon precisely what type of coverage you want, as Babr has already mentioned. Our only experience with a travel insurance broker is with www.TripInsuranceStore.com - but there is no cost to discuss all of your questions and specific concerns, and no obligation to purchase from them. (If you do, there is no extra charge to a policy, just so you know.) I'd be a bit embarrassed to try to remember and list here all of the time I spent on the phone with them way back in 2013, when we learned about them here on CruiseCritic! "But what about if *this* happens?" "Well, what if *that* happens??" And they also asked me some key questions so they could do the best job of finding the right fit for us. And they did. For our first trip with travel insurance, DH had a medical emergency less than 2 weeks before our planned departure date. The only traveling we did for several weeks was to and from almost uncountable medical appointments. (And we were *very* happy that we "didn't have to pay AGAIN to take that trip later!") The only way to get the information you actually need, including types of coverage and costs for different choices, to be able to make an informed decision is to get all of the real information that is specific for your particular situation. I gain nothing from encouraging you here, other than "paying it back" from when others did the same for us before that first insured trip. Good luck, and no matter what, I hope you have a fun trip without any emergencies! GC

Thank you SO much for your ongoing comments and photos. It all brings back such memories, of Oceania and of Rome. 🙂 And while we still stay sequestered, it's especially nice to share your journey. [We are both high risk, but were thinking of "hey, it's time to rejoin the world", when we found out this morning that a good friend of ours (fully vaccinated/boosted and a personal trainer, so *good condition*!) is positive and having a very rough time. Seems he got it from one of his children.] We REALLY enjoy your writing. Thanks again! GC

Please call www.TripInsuranceStore.com CALL, do not rely upon the brief online summaries of policies. Note: There are DEADLINES to get some kinds of coverages, including CFAR, so time may be of the essence. (10-20 days from the *first* payment, depending upon state of residence at the least.) Keep in mind that cruiselines may give the CFAR refund in *credits* with an expiration date; third party insurance will usually give 75% cash back and you can decide where and when to spend it, without deadlines or cruiseline restrictions. We have purchased many policies from TIS and had several claims, including large ones. All were paid without difficulty. GC

I think you mentioned Steve and www.TripInsuranceStore.com in another thread here just now, so "he's your guy!" 🙂 What you quote above is apparently from a Credit Card ("CC", not Cruise Critic?). There are quite a few reasons NOT to rely upon coverage from a charge card, and this is one of them! (Low limits is another, for those who spend a bit more.) "Pre-existing condition exclusions" can be completely waived if one purchases the travel insurance from several travel insurers within 10-20 day of making the FIRST payment (refundable or not). The timing depends upon state of residence (and perhaps which insurer?). You must be "fit to travel" the day the insurance is started. And I'm not sure if all policies cover "immediate family members not traveling with you", so double check that. The policy that Steve always recommends for us is from Travel Insured, and that very important waiver (of pre-existing condition exclusions) includes family members not traveling. Indeed, our most recent travel insurance claim was for *very* elderly MIL (late 90's) when she was rushed to the hospital with heart problems, shortly before a Mediterrean cruise and land trip in Italy. We thought we might be able to go, that she'd be discharged, at first. NOTE: We also take out CFAR, so IF we were still concerned about MIL after she was discharged, we still could have gotten 75% cash back, even if the physicians said there was no need for us to stay. Anyway, we were waffling about whether to go, and then her new cardiologist told us that we "should stay close by" and *not* go overseas, etc., that her condition wasn't good, and she was already quite frail. So we cancelled the trip with less than a week until our planned departure date. She did recover well enough to return to her assisted living facility after several more days, but it was a worrisome few weeks from that point on. Later, we were able to "recover" the land part of our trip, which was mostly visiting dear friends, but that cruise had a unique itinerary, and I haven't seen another one since (and then Covid hit, so "no cruises for us", etc.). MIL passed in 2020, about 5 weeks short of her 100th. But about that insurance claim: her physicians needed to complete the insurer's regular medical form and explain that they recommended we not leave her just then. We also had to send copies of her medical records from that episode. But because of that waiver of the pre-existing condition exclusion, the insurer did *not* need any earlier medical records, because it was irrelevant. She always insisted that we take our trips, and we did. We were especially nervous about a trip to Japan, given the long time it would have taken us to get back, but she was just fine, except for her ongoing medical issues, all of which were "controlled". I have no idea if a travel insurer would have spotted anything in her medical history for the previous 60 days that would have caused them to reject our claim, but again, that wouldn't have mattered. (It probably would have mattered to *us* if she had been in more a more precarious state of health. And that's one reason why we had the CFAR. If *we* were just too worried to leave her, even though no physician would be able to say that we "shouldn't go", then we'd have that 75% back. We also keep that CFAR in case we simply decide we shouldn't go for some other reason.) So don't rely upon the written summaries of policies. Speak with Steve or one of his associates, explain all of your concerns about the traveling and "what if's", and let them help you select a policy. We keep taking the same policy from Travel Insured, although each time, I do ask, "Do we want that same policy from Travel Insured still?" 😉 So with the right policy and one started at the right time, you wouldn't need to make a CFAR claim, and you would get 100% back if there was a covered "event". GC

Do you give the Butler a written (preferably typed, at home before boarding) note about your snack preferences (more of X, none of Y)? I can't imagine them trying to keep track of requests on the run, even if they are trying to take notes along the way. (Obviously they are more organized than I am, but I digress...) We've had them thank us more than once about the initial letter, and also written notes during the cruise, rather than mentioning something specific to them when we see them, whenever possible. If we are asking for something "now", then verbal is quite fine, obviously. GC

That's the entire point of starting the insurance coverage! Otherwise, why bother to start coverage in advance, if what happens after the insurance is in place isn't going to be protected? Note that there is still that look-back period from the date the insurance is started. GC

When is your cruise, and when did you make your *first* payment (refundable or not)? GC

The question was about the NCL Sun. The location of the restaurants on a different ship (and not a "sister ship") is likely to be different, at a minimum. GC

As mentioned above, there is a form. We were able to find in on the website (using Google to do the search). Once you've completed the form and sent it in, make sure you get confirmation that they've received it! IIRC, you need something from the travel agent, possibly some sort of agency number, but I don't quite remember. GC

First, here is a link to the Travel Insurance sub-forum on CC: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/499-cruisetravel-insurance/ We also recommend www.TripInsuranceStore.com for the travel insurance. CALL them to discuss, including any specific concerns you may have, such as the situation you already described. They are a travel insurance broker (no extra cost to the traveler). CALL them; don't rely on the online policy summaries, which really cannot capture all of the important details of each policy. We have used them for all of our travel insurance after reading about them here on CC. And thank goodness, because one of our largest claims was for that very first trip! We happen to get policies through TIS from Travel Insured, which fits our particular needs very well. We've had several claims, and all of them have been handled promptly, with no nonsense, including the large claims. GC

Here is the link for the Travel Insurance subforum of CC: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/499-cruisetravel-insurance/ I'm not sure why you would need to get CFAR coverage, but that's a different issue. I suggest you call the folks at www.TripInsuranceStore.com --> Call, don't just read the online summaries. They'll be familiar with the insurance specifics for residents of NY. GC

This ^^ - absolutely! OTOH, there's really almost zero possibility that we'd be flying out of the Venice airport (or into it) without adding a couple of days to spend some more time there. We tend to do that anyway, for overseas ports, but especially for... VENICE! 😀 GC

[emphasis added] I don't want to be an apologist for insurers, as it is obvious that there are some who slow down claims or otherwise try to discourage their need to actually pay. However, what is highlighted above is indeed true. Regular Medicare doesn't pay. But there are supplements that often will, and these are well known. So it makes sense for them to double check that any primary insurer pays if possible. OR... get a different policy that has primary coverage, and avoid the Medicare Claims Dance. The policy we get allows us to pay $25 extra to make it "primary", and that's well worth it to us, just in case. And we have had several claims, all of them paid promptly, including a few large claims. (This is with third party insurance, NOT through any cruise line.) Again, I'm not trying to take the side of Princess or AON. I'm mentioning this in case you want to make arrangements in the future so you don't need to deal with the "cruiseline" coverage. (I don't think it's only Princess that handles it this way, unfortunately.) GC

I think there is a 30 day deadline from when the reservation was made, to move it. And they are *strict* about that deadline (or they were!). GC