klfrodo

In our early to mid 60's, (and taking medications), I just assume that the insurance company is going to do everything in their power to deny my claim. To include pre-existing conditions. Therefore, I offset that by buying my insurance within the time limits set forth to ensure the pre-existing conditions are waived. Costs me very little to do this.

I find it difficult to believe that Heathrow doesn't have it's own electrical backup system that can isolate itself from the common electrical grid.

This sounds more like a network/power grid hack or ransomware situation that they are working through.

Reporting back

So, I went on line at the link and filled out the information.

I got an e-mail back that said be sure to download the tourist card after you pass thru passport control and the Immigration offer stamps your passport.. Okay then

So, I arrive, but I go thru the e-gate where you don't get a passport stamp. It does print out a receipt though. After I get to the condo I try to click on the download link but It sure didn't take to anything I could download. I then looked at th receipt I received from the e-gate and it has a QR Code on it. I scan the QR code and there is my digital FMMD that I MUST download and save as a pdf file. (I also printed it out)

A few days later, back to the airport to fly home. I have no checked luggage, I have my boarding pass on my phone, AS has validated and verified my passport on line, I head to my gate via security. There was no exit immigrations or exit passport stamp inspection ,or FMMD inspection. Straight to the gate, gate agent verified my face to the passport, checked my boarding pass and on the plane I went.

I have Global Entry. Got to Seattle, went to the Global Entry kiosk, stood there, they took a picture for facial recognition, (didn't even have my passport out of my pocket) and off I went. Customs agent said Welcome Home!

51 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I think you are talking about the ETIAS, which is the 'virtual visa' program.

 

EES "is expected to start in October 2025" - get ready for your fingerprint close-up!

Oh goodness, then don’t get Clear or Global Entry if you’re afraid to get your fingerprints taken.

Good Looord!!!

Your spinal fusion surgery was probably out patient and you weren’t in an ICU intubated with 5 different specialties fighting for you to live

I risk it when I cruise to Alaska.

I usually never cover the costs of the cruise anyway.

Medical is the thing that scares me with thoughts of potential financial ruin. Since Medicare covers me in Alaska and the VA has a hospital in Anchorage, I just take the risk.

What would you say to a close friend or family member who was experiencing this situation? Would you discourage them from continuing to try to resolve the issue, or encourage them to continue?

I don't know the exact problem with the images, but what I have done in the past when I had an issue like this, I found that I had tried to upload images as a pdf when the server wanted images to be jpeg or png format

Well then, I guess to round this out, attached is a walking map from Rialto Bridge to Tronchetto. It's only 36 minutes. Someone may find it useful.

From Rialto Bridge to Tronchetto | Citymapper

5 hours ago, tampadee said:

When our travel agent adds refundable obc to our booking, it means that whatever is left of it comes to us when the cruise ends

Which "may" make it taxable if a US resident.

IRS Tax Treatment of OBC

1. Rebates & Discounts (Not Taxable)

   • If the OBC is considered a rebate or discount on the purchase price of the cruise (similar to a cashback rebate on a car purchase), it is not taxable.
   • The IRS generally does not consider rebates to be income since they reduce the amount you paid rather than providing new earnings.

2. Cash or Gift Card Payout (Possibly Taxable)

   • If you cash out the OBC and take the money home, the IRS could view it as taxable income, particularly if it’s treated as a reward rather than a rebate.
   • This would be similar to a promotional bonus or incentive payment.

3. Reportable under IRS Rules?

   • If the cruise line or TA issues a Form 1099-MISC or 1099-NEC for the OBC (unlikely unless it meets reporting thresholds), then the IRS will expect you to report it.
   • If you do not receive a tax form but still believe it qualifies as taxable income, you would report it as "Other Income" on Form 1040, Schedule 1.

Bottom Line

• If the OBC is used for onboard expenses, it is not taxable.
• If you cash it out, it could be taxable income, especially if the amount is significant.
• The IRS does not have an explicit rule covering OBCs, but cash-equivalent rewards typically fall under 26 U.S. Code § 61 (Gross Income).

If you click on the map and turn the guy around, it looks like there is a shuttle van parked under the tree. Behind the shuttle van is the Tranchetto water taxi station.

Maybe that's exactly where we meet our driver.

I do have a call in to GoOpti asking them for a map with a pinned drop spot so I can better understand.

Thanks for the link.

Next,,, do you recommend I pre-book, or just let the hotel call one for us?

We are spending 4 days pre-cruise in Venice. Staying at a very nice hotel on the Grand Canal near Rialto.

Our current plans have us meeting our GoOpti driver at  Tronchetto - Piazzale People Mover (next to people mover entrance/exit) to take us to Trieste.

I've used Google Earth and other means to find this exact location and having problems. (I like to visually recon places and locations).  So, maybe someone has a better link or an idea I haven't considered yet, I would appreciate it.

Also, I haven't arranged transportation from our hotel (which has its own boat dock) to Tronchetto. I'm thinking Private water taxi which is okay with me. However, do I pre-book? or do I ask the hotel to call a taxi for me on the day needed. Along those lines, if we just tell the drive we need to meet our GoOpti driver at the above location, do they know the location from experience and can just drop us off as close as possible.

Thanks

I had to ask ChatGPT about this to get official source. Well, not sure Cruisefever.net is an "official" source, but I'll go with it.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has introduced a late check-out program for select European sailings in 2025, allowing guests to remain on board until 1:00 PM on disembarkation day for an additional fee. This option is particularly beneficial for those with later travel arrangements, offering a more relaxed departure experience.

Details of the Late Check-Out Program:

• Availability: This service is offered exclusively on select ships and dates during European sailings in 2025. For the Norwegian Breakaway, the late check-out option is available from March 28 to November 7, 2025.

  cruisefever.net

• Cost:

  • Adults: $49 per person
  • Children (ages 3-12): $39 per person

• Luggage Handling: Guests opting for the late check-out can have their luggage stored by the cruise line and retrieve it upon final disembarkation. It's unclear if self-carrying luggage off the ship is permitted under this program.

  cruisefever.net

This program is ideal for guests with late flights or those who prefer to spend additional time on the ship rather than waiting at the airport. The extra time on board allows for a more leisurely departure and the opportunity to enjoy another meal before leaving.

Heard a story that NCL Breakaway and other ships sailing European cruises this summer will have a program whereas a passenger can pay to stay on the ship until 1PM on the day of debarkation.

Have only heard of this program thru a YouTube influencer who is quite popular.

anybody else hear this?

is this new or every year?

If you have experienced this, how, when, & how much is this offering?

My sailing does not show any excursions for debarkation day yet.

42 minutes ago, Joyball said:

I can not find the Roll Call for The Breakaway Cruise Barcelona to Trieste August 10-21 2025

The link to it is literally in post #2.

3 hours ago, JTufty said:

Hi all

My partner and I are booked for a 2 night cruise with MSC in May. We've never been on a cruise before, so this is all new to us.

Ive got a few questions please:

1) Should I go with one of the insurance options offered by MSC? (I did do a quick check, and it will cost about £10, which is nothing really)
2) Or would I be better to go with another insurance company, if so who?
3) Is there anything in particular I should look for in the small print?
4) I dont know if this is even an option, but if it is, are we better off getting insurance as a couple, or individually?

Thanks
 

If you were in the US, I personally would recommend that you stay away from the product the cruise line offers because in the US, cruise lines offer Travel Protection rather than Travel Insurance. What the cruise line offers is not legally defined as an "insurance". In the US, insurance is regulated by each US State whereas Travel Protection is not regulated.

However, things may be different in the UK.

(But I would still recommend a non-cruise line policy. It may be a bit more expensive, but I think the old saying of you get what you pay for holds true everywhere.)

Just be sure the policy you choose protects you against the potential losses that are most important to you.

You probably want to post this on your Roll Call here 

as opposed to walking or riding on a tour bus with 45 to 60 of my closest friends? I found it to be very tolerable.

But it does say over current protection, over voltage protection, etc.

I would read that to say that it is designed with some sort of surge protector

You really don't have options as to what it can be used for and what it can't. 

You can' t just walk up to make a purchase and say "I want this to come off of OBC". You just charge to the account and OBC gets debited from your account until it's all gone, then future charges are credited to your account.

3 hours ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

Note:  This is for INSURANCE only.

This *probably* will NOT help if you get something that seems to be like insurance but is called a trip "PROTECTION PLAN" or something similar, without claiming to be actual "insurance".  That can get tricky, and in some cases the "protection plans" seem to me to try to be misleading to have someone think it is actually really "insurance", when it's not.

 

GC

So, I asked this question of ChatGPT

What's the difference legally between a cruise line that sells a "Trip Protection" plan vs a Travel Insurance plan?

The response was:

The key legal difference between Trip Protection and Travel Insurance comes down to regulation and coverage:

1. Trip Protection Plan

• Not insurance: These plans are usually not regulated by state insurance laws because they are classified as "protection" rather than "insurance."
• Offered by cruise lines or travel providers: Cruise lines sell these directly or through a third party.
• Limited coverage: Typically covers trip cancellation, trip interruption, and sometimes onboard medical expenses, but with many exclusions and caps.
• Refunds or credits: Instead of cash reimbursement, you might receive a future cruise credit instead of money back.
• No financial backing by insurance regulations: If the cruise line goes bankrupt, the trip protection plan may be worthless.

2. Travel Insurance Plan

• Regulated insurance: Sold by licensed insurance companies and regulated by state insurance laws.
• More comprehensive coverage: Includes trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical expenses, medical evacuation, lost baggage, and more.
• Cash reimbursements: You typically receive money back for covered claims rather than just future travel credits.
• Third-party coverage: If the cruise line goes out of business, a travel insurance policy from an independent insurer still provides protection.

1. What Coverage Applies?

• Trip Delay Coverage – Covers additional expenses (lodging, meals, and rebooking flights) if your return is delayed for a covered reason. Policies often specify a minimum delay (e.g., 6-12 hours) before coverage kicks in.
• Missed Connection Coverage – Helps with rebooking flights and extra accommodations if you miss your scheduled return due to reasons beyond your control. Some policies only cover if the delay exceeds a set number of hours.
• Trip Interruption Coverage – Some policies may classify a cruise delay as an "interruption" if it causes you to miss pre-paid, non-refundable travel arrangements.

2. How to Document the Delay?

To file a claim, you’ll need:
✅ A letter from the cruise line confirming the delay, its cause (e.g., medical emergency), and how long the delay lasted.
✅ Receipts for additional expenses (hotel, food, transportation, flight rebooking).
✅ Original and new travel itinerary showing your missed and rebooked flights.
✅ Proof of payment for affected flights and additional expenses.

Hypothetically speaking, of course.

I hope that if you booked your holiday thru this company or any of their other holdings that you somehow can recover.

Jetline Travel holiday company goes bust and it's bad news for thousands of Brits - Mirror Online

29 minutes ago, KEN31VA said:

My plan is to purchase insurance just before final payment IF there are no medical issues in the stated look back period.  If there are, I will self insure for trip cancellation as my medical insurance covers emergencies outside the US.  Can anyone offer issues with this plan?

My thoughts only

I "always" purchase my travel insurance to meet the conditions necessary to receive the waiver for pre-existing conditions. My reason? Insurance companies are going to dig very hard and find or make up reasons not to pay out. I do take medications, but they do meet the "look back" period. But I also want to take away the insurance companies' opportunity to make up an excuse. Therefore, I get the waiver.

Before I retired, I also had great insurance that did provide coverage outside the US. However, I called them directly and asked VERY specific questions. At the end of the conversation, I decided that it would be in my best interest to use my work insurance coverage as a supplement to a good "primary" medical travel insurance.

Questions like:

Will you work with the international provider to direct pay or at least send some money upfront in case I can't cover the expense? No

At what rate do you reimburse? Customary and usual at out of network costs

After I'm stabilized, will you pay to medivac me back home for continuation of care? No

If I should die, will you pay to repatriate my remains? No

etc

etc

This was with a BCBS plan

2 hours ago, weregoingcruising said:

I have Geoblue and their web site and app you can lookup doctors and hospitals out of the US in their  network for direct pay. You type in the city and it provides a list of them. I did it by reading all the info before buying their product. I have had a policy for the last 6yrs and have used it for shipboard medical only. It was easy to file claims that were paid promtly.

Hank is a GeoBlue advocate.

I would surmise that what Hank is referring to is that when you are laying on the ground in a full-blown heart attack on the Champs Elysse, nobody is going to being saying wait a second while I look up to see what hospital is in the GeoBlue network. You're going where they decide you can best be treated.

You are correct though that in a non-life threatening emergency, GeoBlue does have a network of hospitals worldwide that they work with. (If someone in the party is calm enough to think of it.)

17 minutes ago, Asawi said:

My thoughts are with you! 😄 But surely you don't HAVE TO get off ship that early? Some days maybe, but not all!

Dude!  When we're not on holiday, she sets an alarm to get up at 10AM she is so not a morning person. The coffee is NOT to get off the ship at 6AM. It to present to her when she wakes up at 6, or 6:30, so we can prepare for the early morning excursions.