Babr

Thank you for reporting first-hand experience with companies you have used. That kind of information is useful to those looking for insurance; however, some might get the impression that CFAR is really cheap because you mentioned your $86 premium. It isn’t in most cases because it requires an additional premium depending on the amount insured. It can represent a significant upcharge. As an experienced traveler, you know the CFAR provision was not necessary to cover your claim for the cancelled flight. That is covered by other provisions commonly found in comprehensive travel policies. I think you meant that an inexpensive policy you bought for an entirely different purpose ended up paying off. I just didn’t want someone new to insurance who came here looking for information to think CFAR is either cheap or necessary.

Any company will pay claims only for covered reasons. The challenge is to understand what those are. Start by reading the policy, then ask for clarification. The best practice is to work with a knowledgable broker/agent who deals with reputable companies. You are probably right not to insure air fare. Airlines routinely issue vouchers, and the insurance company won’t pay once you have been compensated.

It does appear the Viking CFAR benefit is pre-departure only, assuming that insurance would cover anything post -departure - unless the OP did not purchase air through Viking. Departure date matters. The other possibility is that the cancellation was caused by a staffing shortage, which seems to be fairly common these days. The policy covers weather, strikes, mechanical problems, and traffic control issues caused by system failure or power outage - no language addressing inadequate staffing.

I, too, am sorry for your frustration, but I don’t have enough information about your situation to offer any helpful comments. I fear you did not fully understand the policy when you bought it. It does have a section addressing failure of services by a common carrier. It may depend on whether you purchased your flights through Viking or on the reason for the cancellation. In any case, the Cancel For Any Reason provision is provided by Viking. You should be reimbursed by Viking in the form of FCC. I hope you can come to a satisfactory resolution.

It is not officially booked until the cruise line has received payment - whether a deposit or full payment if it is booked after the final payment date. If you want to take advantage of the flexible booking policy, the cruise has to be officially booked, not just on hold.

Thanks for pointing out that the single supplement coverage is in effect ONLY if the wife cancels for a covered reason - a key element that I missed. Work reasons are not covered by NCL so its policy likely will not work for what the OP is trying to accomplish.

Remember that the ship is not a US entity. It does not benefit from any US COVID policies that affect drug pricing/availability. Its doctors are contractors. Services and drugs are priced according to different factors than you are accustomed to seeing.

Booking date is determined by initial deposit. Check the invoice of any cruise you have ever booked. It is also the date recognized by third-party travel insurance to determine eligibility for time-sensitive benefits such as CFAR and financial default as well as the pre-existing conditions waiver; however, there are policies that will grant the waiver at final payment.

How much would you pay for Paxlovid without insurance? Your copay does not reflect its actual cost. All cruise lines charge for medical services, and it is up to the patient to seek reimbursement from medical or travel insurance.

I did address this on the insurance forum. Yes, you can buy a policy that covers cancellation for work reasons. You have to provide documentation with the claim, such as a notarized letter from the employer. Insure both of you so that your wife is reimbursed for her portion of the prepaid nonrefundable expenses, and you are reimbursed for the upcharge in the form of the single supplement. Drink packages, gratuities, port fees, and taxes will be refunded. You can sail solo; but if you want compensation for the nonrefundable items, you’ll need insurance. There is no need to buy Cancel for any Reason insurance in a third-party policy if you get one that covers work because you will be reimbursed 100% in cash for a covered reason; however, compare the cost of NCL insurance to a third-party policy. NCL DOES NOT cover work reasons, but it will reimburse a percentage in FCC if your wife cancels and it will cover your single supplement if you are both insured. Third-party insurance is priced according to age, amount insured, length of trip, and coverage levels. I can’t tell you how much a policy will cost, but you can enter your information on sites like insuremytrip or squaremouth to get an idea. If you are not familiar with travel insurance, I suggest you get the advice of a professional like one of the agents at Trip Insurance Store rather than try to sort through a lot of policies on your own.

There are a number of policies that cover cancellation for work reasons. It is better to insure both of you because insurance will reimburse your wife’s prepaid nonrefundable expenses as well as the single supplement you will be charged as a result of her cancellation. Companies such as Nationwide, Travelex, and Travel Insured offer such policies. To be sure you are getting what you need, consult a professional like one of the people at Trip Insurance Store. It does not cost any extra to buy from them because insurance is regulated.

https://affinitytravelcert.com/document/pdfs/PCT_Plt_Landing.html I quoted the HAL insurance in the previous post, but the fact remains that Princess insurance also limits Trip Delay to $500 so my comment holds true for both policies. Either will pay to the maximum scheduled amount. Also, the Princess program will provide reimbursement for any excess not covered by insurance. It still remains true that one needs to understand what insurance covers for those occasions not covered by a cruise line safety net.

I think this group is talking about two different things. Ontheweb has made the point that New York insurance regulations allow the policyholder to get a refund of the premium if the cruise is cancelled before the penalty period. The OP’s question is about buying CFAR coverage which would allow him to be reimbursed for a portion of the cruise fare if he cancelled for any reason during the penalty phase, which NCL appears to be offering but no one can figure out how to get it.

https://affinitytravelcert.com/document/pdfs/Carnival_State_05_21.pdf Carnival insurance will reimburse if someone cancels because of illness. It will also reimburse the single supplement for the remaining passenger. It will require filing a claim with the proper documentation. Why forfeit the money when you bought insurance for just such an occassion?

Insurance will not refund unless she cancels. You are correct to recommend that both the OP and her travel mate need to talk to their insurance agent/company to find out how to proceed if they expect insurance to reimburse.

The cancellation provision is a unique feature of HAL’s insurance. All cancellations are treated the same - no reason required, no worry about pre-existing conditions, no claim forms to submit. Everyone with the Platinum Plan gets 90% back in cash; the Standard Plan pays 80%. It acts as the CFAR provision in third-party insurance, which returns only 75% for an additional premium. That part is fairly attractive, but - as you pointed out - the coverage for other travel risks and medical in the Platinum Plan is minimal. The Standard Plan has none - cancellation only.

https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/content/travel-protection-faqstap Here is a link to some FAQ about Norwegian plans. You can add it with your final payment tomorrow. (Second question in bold letters) The coverage is minimal, but you’ve waited rather late to start shopping for insurance. For $200, it is better than nothing. Take it.

A disability is not the same thing as an acute illness which is routinely reimbursed by travel insurance. I can’t say that any insurance policy, especially credit card insurance which does not cover pre-existing conditions, would cover cancellation because physical limitations. That is a chronic, known condition and likely not a covered reason. However, HAL insurance does not require a covered reason. All cancellations get 90% reimbursement so that part of the OP’s plan would work.

FCC is nice to have when you are cancelling for a non-covered reason. It is less expensive to get the CFAR provision through Celebrity rather than a third-party policy, and the 90% FCC is a better return than 75% cash from a third-party policy as long as you are able to use it. But there is no reason to accept 90% FCC when you can get 100% cash reimbursement when cancelling for a covered reason. There are plenty of policies offering a waiver of pre-existing conditions as long as you buy it in the time-sensitive window. There are even some that grant the waiver if the policy is purchased at final payment. If there is a greater cost, it is because the third-party policy also provides higher dollar limits for medical/evacuation services.

Port fees, taxes, onboard spending like dining/drink packages, spa passes, etc. are refunded to the original form of payment. Cruise fare is refunded as FCC.

https://coverage.archinsurancesolutions.com/description-of-coverage/EKCJe8iaZ6aHu3cTFIBUK1Uw0uoMftK77ka3NcXykkUZ7cW3e81189rlXdDBTjqw3Q44 Here is a link to the policy. Note under Restrictions that it does not cover pre-existing conditions that have presented in the 60 look-back period. If you have any test, treatment, or RX change as described in the definition, the claim will be denied. If you are not comfortable with those terms, there are any number of comprehensive travel policies that will grant a waiver of the pre-existing conditions provision if you buy the policy within 14-21 days of making the initial deposit. You will have to meet other requirements such as being able to travel on the day of purchase and/or insuring all prepaid nonrefundable expenses, depending on the policy. Many on these boards recommend Trip Insurance Store for assistance in buying a policy appropriate for your needs. Call them and give them the details so you can be sure you are adequately covered.

Travel insurance, including the HAL policy, reimburses you. You have to pay out of pocket first then file a claim. The HAL policy is sold with their name on it, but it is simply branding. The policy is actually underwritten by Nationwide. HAL is not in the insurance business, and the medical personnel on board are contractors who bill separately. It is charged to your onboard account which must be settled before you disembark.

I don’t know that people have been allowed to join the cruise beyond the original point of embarkation since COVID, but things are changing. I’d ask HAL directly to see what they will do.

With the lifting of restrictions and the expiration of the COVID Protection Plan in a couple of weeks, I expect passengers will be picking up other extra costs as well.

If you are concerned that you’ll miss your cruise because of a cancelled or delayed flight, look for a policy that has Missed Connection coverage. Not all do, and there are varying stipulations such as length of delay before it will pay. A call to a professional like one of the people at Trip Insurance Store is in order to help you find the right policy. Tell them what you are concerned about, and let them direct you. It does not cost any more to buy from them because insurance is regulated by the states.