Ken076

The new menus are available on RCCL's website. To access them go to bottom of the mail page and click on press centre. Once there click on link to press centre in middle of the page. Then look for a tab called press kits on left side of the page. PDF's of the new menus as well as specialty dining are found hear. Enjoy.

Ken - Could you possibly state the above sequence in the terminology we'll see on the pages? or just post the link to the PDF's?

thanks, KEN

"She explained how the pricing works and how when you pay in full you're locked in"...

I'm no so sure Avril (and apparently her Supervisor) understands the fine distrinction between being Paid In Full prior to Final Payment Deadline date -and-- being (paid in full) after Final Payment deadline date ???? ken

Gambee - thanks for a enjoyable and informative review. ken

Does cruise insurance cover you in full if you have to cancel your fully paid cruise with in months of departure date if there is a serious health, accident, death of a family member, parent, children, grandchildren? None of which are going on the cruise. How about the basic ones the cruise line offers about $70.00 per person for a seven day caribbean cruise?

Most Policies cover your Cancellation for Illness/death of Relative or Traveling companion (Roommate). You have to be careful to read the Policies you're considering to verify:

• specifically which relatives are covered,
  
• the wording that qualifies how ill/injured they must be to "prevent" you from traveling, and
  
• whether (any) "pre-existing condition" disclaimer applies to non-traveling relatives illness/injury.
  

The Carnival Policy has IMO VERY LOW medical coverage, marginally adequate MedEvac coverage, and is usually much pricier than the Policies offered by CSA, TravelInsured, TravelEx, etc.

The Carnival Cancellation covers if you cancel for "sickness, injury or death to yourself, a traveling companion, or members of either of your immediate families which is diagnosed and treated by a physician at the time your cruise vacation is terminated"

Thanks for this info - I missed this when I scheduled 14-23 December 2013 Eastern Cruise. I'm thinking I'll reschedule to following February 2014!

thanks,

Ken

for what it's worth, I found this in a review "Price for each performance is $7.95. We have 7 different main features with a different short feature which means each performance lasts 25 minutes or so. I have a feeling it’s going to be a big hit with families." ken

I understand having to cancel the trip, however I personally wouldn't let this rest.

I don't get the outrage from the OP? CCls ship, their rules! Me, I would have just shiped them to Spain, what's a couple hundred $$ when you are doing a TA with a 6week trip at the end?

Agree.

Ken

Why not ship the bikes? ken

Ken, I saw that 75% part and read that after I had booked but that was not what I was told. At this point I have no clue what insurance I have. She said a new company and a whole new coverage. I guess today I will be on the phone.

Also...........

There are two different coverages for your scenario:

Trip CANCELLATION (as for death/illlness of a Family Member):

1. On all Policies Cancellation means cancelling your cruise prior to Departure of your cruise (not during the cruise).
   
2. If you're cancelling your cruise for a cancellation reason specified in the Policy then you get a 100% "cash" refund (up to the limit of the Policy). IMO this would include refund for Independently booked airfare.
   
3. If you're cancelling your cruise for ANY reason NOT specified in the Policy, then you are covered by "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage and you then receive the 75% Future cruise credit (up to the limit of the Policy). IMO this might NOT include independently booked airfare.
   
4. I don't like that the Carnival Policy doesn't specifically state how ill the non-traveling family member must be; other Policies have words to the effect that they have to be ill enough that you have to remain home to care for them.
   

Trip INTERRUPTION (as to return home for death/illness of a Family Member during your cruise):

1. This applies to problems that occur once you've begun the cruise; "Cancel for any Reason" does not apply once you've begun the cruise! there's no 75% future cruise credit if you interrupt your Cruise to return home for reasons NOT covered in the Policy.
   
2. If you Interrupt your trip to return Home for a reason stated in the Policy, I interpret that you'd be reimbursed in "Cash" for the pro-rated unused remainder of the cruise and for a economy return ticket to the Port of Departure.
   
3. If you Interrupt your trip to return Home for a reason NOT stated in the Policy, there's no compensation and no future cruise credit.
   
4. I don't like that the Carnival Policy doesn't specifically state how ill the non-traveling family member must be.
   

It looks like you have to purchase the Carnival Vacation Plan by your Cruise Final Payment Deadline to get the "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage; most other Policies require that you purchase the Policy within 7-21 days (depending on which insurer) of Cruise Deposit to be allowed to purchase the optional "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage.

It looks like you can cancel pretty much up to Departure with the Carnival Vacation Plan; most other policies only allow you to cancel up to 2 days before departure.

ken

Ken, I saw that 75% part and read that after I had booked but that was not what I was told. At this point I have no clue what insurance I have. She said a new company and a whole new coverage. I guess today I will be on the phone.

If you do have the "Carnival Protection Plan" you're covered "100%" if you're cancelling for reasons specifically covered in the Policy; if you're cancelling for reasons not covered in the Policy then you get the 75% Future Cruise Credit. If you booked direct with Carnival (on-line or PVP) I'm sure you have the Carnival Protection Plan and the Plan Description is at the links I showed above.

You CAN cancel the Policy up to Cruise Final Payment Deadline. The downsides of the Carnival Policy are the very low Medical coverage, the barely adequate Medical Evacuation Coverage and no "Waiver of Pre-Existing Conditions". On the Upside, there are a number of nice coverage items(cancellation for Layoff, ancellation for NOAA alert....), coverage of independently booked airfare is included in the premium, and the "Cancel for Any Reason" 75% cruise credit.

The Carnival Plan HAS been modified somewhat and is now apparently administered by Aon. The coverages are as I described above. I'm thinking that the girl you spoke to was indicating that the Cancellation coverage is "100%" for the scenario (emergency or death of Grandma back home) you described, which would be the case.

Post the results of your calls???

ken

Just booked and went with Carnival's insurance. No health issues for me or DH. But my grandmother is in her 90's (bless her heart) and having some issues and I asked if there was a family ER or a death, what was the policy NOW with Carnival.

 

She said,"Berkley was the underwriter and it was 100% money back." I asked her that God forbid something like that happen on our cruise how would I get off the ship. She said, "go on our website and print off the phone number for Burkley" I have not found any info for Burkley yet.

The Plan Description is at http://www.carnival.com/~/media/CCLUS/Images/pdf/Vacation-Protection-201205pdf.ashx Contact info is on page 13 or so - 1-800-331-2796. Coverage for getting off the ship and flying home for Illness/Death of covered relative would fall under the "Trip Interruption" coverage.

ken

The Carnival policy does include a waiver of pre existing conditions.

There's no waiver with the Carnival Policy - it specifically has a 60 day lookback window for pre-existing conditions. ken

....continuing:

TravelInsured WorldWide Trip Protector:

Cancel for Any Reason: purchase w/in 14 days of cruise booking .

Covers 75% of the non-refunded payments you made.

Must cancel up to 48 hours prior to departure.

50% extra premium.

Read their definitions of "any reason".

Missed Connection: $750 (3+ hours)

$50K Medical ($50 deductible) Secondary

$500K Medical Evacuation

Kids insured free with insured adults

If you're military qualified can purchase thru USAA slightly less expensive and some expanded coverages.

[Premium Examples: 8-day cruise only $1300 for 34 year-old with Cancel for Any Reason - Premium $72

8-day cruise-only $1300 for 42 year-old with Cancel for any Reason - Premium $95]

TravelEx TravelLite

"All Events Cancellation": purchase w/in 21 days of cruise booking .

Covers 95% of the non-refunded payments you made, BUT you can't cancel for any events that were known at booking and you can't cancel for "discretionary" reasons (e.g., I was afraid of the impending hurricane".

Must cancel up to ?? hours prior to departure.

50% extra premium.

Missed Connection: $750 (2+ hours)

$50K Medical PRIMARY

$250K Medical Evacuation + $5000 Hospital Advance

Kids insured free with insured adults

CSA Freestyle Luxe

Some of the coverages including Medical are "per Policy" so you might want to get separate "Policy" per person!!

Cancel for Any Reason: purchase w/in 24 hours of cruise booking .

Covers 100% if you cancel far out to 75% if you cancel at the last minute, of the non-refunded payments you made.

Must cancel up to 48 hours prior to departure.

50% extra premium.

Read their definitions of "any reason".

Missed Connection: $1000

$250K Medical + $1000 Physician Guarantee Secondary

$1M Medical Evacuation

You need to read each Policy carefully to compare to the scenarios you want to cover and how the policy covers (and doesn't cover) each.

Great,

 

I will check my cc company to see what they offer for cancellation of flight and cruise coverage.

 

We are flying in day of, we have someone in our party with medical issues. Leaving Ohio in March,,,which could be a spring day or winter blizzard,,so could see flight delays...

 

So cancel for any reason, and coverage to get a flight to next port to meet the ship etc,,sall sounds great to have.

 

Good to know the carnival policy is not a cash refund but a credit towards another cruise.

 

Was not aware I could purchase travel insurance coverage from a 3rd party, ..do I just research a company then call them after I've booked and purchased fligth,,,then purchase the ins. If you can and know of a good 3rf party ins that offers cancel for any reason and get money refunded,,,please let me know.

Checkout the TravelInsured Policies coverages against the "scenarios" that you're especially concerned about. If you have anyone with medical issues you really should purchase a 3rd party Policy within that insurers 14-21 day purchase window in order to get "waiver of pre-existing conditions" (such that any claims you make would not be denied as associated with a "pre-existing medical condition") and so you can purchase "Cancel for Any Reason" option, usually for 50% added premium.

You have to carefully read the policy wrt "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage - this is usually not 100% refund, and can vary by Insurer from 50% to 80% and in some situations 100%. Many of the policies refund a smaller and smaller percentage the later (closer to sailaway) that you cancel.

Those who have personal Health Insurance (other than Medicare) might want a "primary" policy that pays your claims without "coordination of benefits" with your health policy.

You want to cover expenses that are non-refundable if you cancel them, including flights. The Premium is based on the total cost of the items your insuring and the age of those on the policy.

I'd suggest making sure the Policy covers Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Missed Connection, and Trip Delay. I'd suggest nothing less than $25K(to $50K) Medical and $50K (to $100K) Medical Evacuation coverage.

I'm partial to TravelInsured WorldWide Trip Protector ; I'll check and post the "Cancel for Any Reason" coverages for these.

ken

Speaking to a CVS (?) today and was offered the cancellation policy for $49 for a 4 day cruise.

 

Said it covers cancel for any reason, flight delays, if delayed flight, pay for flight to next port etc,,,

 

Also said I can book now and add this policy later..but kinda vauge about how much later I could add it?

 

Anyway, is it worth it and how late have you added it after booking if you used it?

 

The CVS or CSV was very nice and helpful.

 

Trying to figure out if we want to add it and how late we can wait to add it on.

Carnival's Vacation Protection Plan is very pricey (you can generally get a much less expensive Policy thru 3rd party insurers like Travel Insured, TravelEx, CSA....) and has the real disadvantage of very low Medical Coverage and marginal MedEvac coverage and no "waiver of pre-existing conditions" coverage. It DOES include some nice perks like cancellation for Storm Warning and Cancel for Any Reason (but be aware that's a 75% future cruise CREDIT, not a cash refund.

The 3rd party policies are much less expensive (especially if you're "younger") and generally higher coverages. Recommend that you purchase them w/in 14-21 days (depending on which insurer) of cruise booking so that you get included "Waiver of Pre-Existing Conditions" and the ability to purchase "Cancel for Any REason" option usually 50% extra. Most of these Insurers have "lite" policies that are pretty affordable.

You can purchase the Carnival policy up to 14 days before sailing.

Having said all the above - If your Health insurance covers Medical and medial transport out of the country, and your credit card (used to purchase the cruise) has (minimal) cancellation and baggage coverage, you might be OK.

ken

I have it, but i don't have to pay extra for it. It's built into one of my Visa cards. I don't even have to pay for my cruise/flight with that particular Visa to use the medical insurance. I'm covered simply for being a cardholder.

 

Cancellation insurance is covered too. However, I have to pay for the cruise/flight with that particular Visa if I expect to have that coverage.

 

It includes travel, medical, cancellation, trip delay, baggage delay, hotel burglary, rental car (and contents), and whole bunch of other stuff. I'm always surprised more people aren't aware of the coverage that you can get just for carrying a Visa/MC/Amex.

 

(edit. I have a Mastercard with the same coverage too, now that I think about it.)

If you don't mind, which VISA Card includes the Medical coverage?

thanks, Ken

Several years ago my RCI cruise couldn't 'dock' at Grand Cayman, tender port for that ship, seas too rough.

 

They gave us $200 cabin OBC to offset that missed stop. We didn't mind a bit.

That's a bit high for one (or several) cabins; might have included refund for missed Carnival excursions? ken

My time flies when you are cruising huh?? Its now been since Dec 08, the Dec before last Dec. ..i know you know that though. Just teasing.

Getting older isn't fun! ken

yeah, know, I was interested in that too. I had asked my guy a few days ago about it, and he said Carnival doesnt do it...I have only gotten an obc with RCI, but out of all my cruises, thats the only time Ive had a drop. So, I dont know if he was correct or not, just what he said.

If you book Early Saver (with it's limitations) you can get price drops up to two business days before sailing. If you book Past Guest, 55+, Resident or Military you get price drops up to Final Payment Deadline; thereafter if your fare drops you can generally get an upgrade (ONLY) if available. This Policy has been in effect since last December.

ken

What if I replaced wine with booze and recorked it? And put a shrink sleeve around the neck of the bottle?

 

Steve

 

Don't want that new xray machine to get me.:D

Nice! But don't forget, if the seal is seen to be broken in anyway they confiscate and toss, if seal is not broken they hold it for you! ken

Here's my input wrt Princess (and Carnival and Royal Caribbean).

Government Taxes and Fees (as distinguished from Port charges that are included in the CruiseFare) are not subject to Cancellation penalty and are refundable, based on the Princess Passage contract:

From Princess Passage contract:

Section 1 Introduction “Cruise Fare” means the amount payable by You to Carrier for Your Cruise. It covers the Cruise, scheduled meals and accommodations while on board, air programs and/or other travel components that Carrier may add to Your Cruise Fare and charge to Your stateroom account and/or credit card. The Cruise Fare does not include beer, wine, spirits, sodas or other bottled beverages, or charges for other incidental items, activities, excursions, transportation or personal services during or in connection with the Cruise; or any Government Fees or Taxes, airline or other carriers’ services or baggage fees, for which a separate charge may be imposed. Carrier may collect any fare increase or fuel supplement in effect at the time of sailing, even if the fare has been paid in full

6. CANCELLATION BY YOU, REFUND AND YOUR TRAVEL AGENT.

…….. The following cancellation policy applies with respect to Your Cruise Fare, Cruisetour Fare, air addons, Shoreside Excursions, and Pre-Cruise and Post-Cruise Package charges (identified as “Total Charges” in the Cancellation schedule ):

Similar language appears in the Carnival Cruise contract and in the Royal Caribbean Cruise contract.

ken

We have our eye on Carnival Dream Eastern Caribbean for August.

 

Being that it's seven months away, does Carnival require the entire payment upfront? Or can I make small payments up until the cruise leaves?

Carnival Deposits are based on lenght of the cruise. You HAVE to pay that deposit amount when you book, then you have until Final Payment Deadline (60 to 70 days from depaerture) to pay the balance. There are no set payment plans.

Carnival Deposits (not based on percentage of the cruise fare):

CTN Cruises $50 non-refundable

3 Day Cruises $100 pp

4 Day Cruises $150 pp

5 Day Cruises $200 pp

6,7 Day Cruises $250 pp

8 Day Cruises $300

Alakska Cruises $350

10+ Day Cruises $400

Europe Cruises $500

ken