Big Easy Posted August 25, 2015 #1 Share Posted August 25, 2015 We just cancelled a reservation made in May 2014 for a cruise leaving in December 2015 (this year). Oceania is refunding $250 of the $750 deposit, but is retaining the other $500 to go towards any future cruise we book within 24 months. I'm told if we do not book a future cruise, the $500 is lost. Was this policy in effect at my time of booking (May 2014)? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanandJim Posted August 25, 2015 #2 Share Posted August 25, 2015 Yes, that was the deposit policy throughout all of 2014. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamthesea Posted August 25, 2015 #3 Share Posted August 25, 2015 (edited) And it is policy to retain the $250 pp after a certain date BEFORE final payment. 121 days or more prior to departure 0% of full fare 120 to 91 days prior to departure $250 per person Edited August 25, 2015 by Iamthesea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted August 25, 2015 #4 Share Posted August 25, 2015 This is why it's a good idea to book travel insurance for the amount of the deposit when you book the cruise, especially if you are a senior. You can add the remainder when you get to final payment. But you are protected in case you have to cancel in these periods. (Younger people generally don't have the health issues to consider, although anyone can be in an accident that would require an unexpected cancellation.) The policies have become more and more restrictive over time. I remember when a deposit was $500 and fully refundable as long as you cancelled before the final payment date -- which back then, as I recall, was 90 days. Later on they came up with a longer time frame plus the "administrative fee" of $100 (I guess it is now $250). They also required higher deposits on the top suites plus final payment dates much more than 191 days. Progress! It helps to know the policies when you book, especially if you think you might have to cancel. Younger people should also consider that they might have to cancel at the last minute if one of their older relatives became seriously ill. We were on a Viking riverboat cruise in April 2012 when my BIL was hospitalized. We'd have been out a lot of money had to come home at the time but his children didn't tell us the seriousness of Dan's condition and so we continued our trip thinking there was no real worry even though he was 85 and had a number of problems. He died a few died after we returned. Before we started cruising we mainly did independent trips which really didn't require travel insurance because even if we'd have had to cancel we wouldn't have been out much. But whenever you are taking group travel, whatever your age, you should consider it. As I said earlier, you never know when you might have to cancel at the last minute ... you could be in an accident, have an unanticipated medical problem. Young people sometimes have heart attacks, too! For the OP, you do get your $500 if you book another Oceania cruise within the 2 years, which is small consolation if you don't find one you want to take! If you are like me, you can always find one! But not everyone feels the way I do. :) My condolences. We've been sweating that we might have to cancel our upcoming NCL cruise because of some vision problems DH is having but it looks like we'll make it. We do have pre-existing coverage because I booked the insurance when we booked the cruise, but I haven't always followed my own advice. Mura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Easy Posted August 26, 2015 Author #5 Share Posted August 26, 2015 Thanks Stan & Jim and Mura. I knew you guys would be a big help. If the health situation stabilizes, we will definitely use the $500 on another cruise. Mike[/b] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potterhill Posted August 26, 2015 #6 Share Posted August 26, 2015 And it's not just older people who break hips. My 22 year old son went up the skateboard ramp on wheels and came down without. Fortunately it's an undisplaced fracture but so unusual for a young person to break a hip. You never know from one day to the next. Having said that, we self insure. Mo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamthesea Posted August 26, 2015 #7 Share Posted August 26, 2015 Big Easy - Was your cruise a longer cruise that required final payment earlier than normal? If not, seems like your penalty period should not even be coming up until next month, or you barely missed the cut off by a few days. :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 26, 2015 #8 Share Posted August 26, 2015 Big Easy - Was your cruise a longer cruise that required final payment earlier than normal? If not, seems like your penalty period should not even be coming up until next month, or you barely missed the cut off by a few days. :confused: The admin fee kicks in about a month before final payment check your invoice for exact dates or the T & C 's https://www.oceaniacruises.com/legal/ticket-contract/ It is all there in Black & white Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamthesea Posted August 27, 2015 #9 Share Posted August 27, 2015 (edited) I know about the penalty deadlines. I am the one that posted them in the 3rd post. :) I was asking the OP how long the cruise was suppose to be because according to my calculations, that penalty period should not be until next month unless their cruise is longer than 7 days. It really depends on the December date of their cruise. Edited August 27, 2015 by Iamthesea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 27, 2015 #10 Share Posted August 27, 2015 (edited) I know about the penalty deadlines. I am the one that posted them in the 3rd post. :) I was asking the OP how long the cruise was suppose to be because according to my calculations, that penalty period should not be until next month unless their cruise is longer than 7 days. It really depends on the December date of their cruise. Their cruise was Dec 2nd FP would be about Sep 2nd the admin fee would kick in about Aug 2nd For cruises 14 days & under it kicks in at 120 days Since the admin fee was withheld I am guessing they were on the 10 day cruise Edited August 27, 2015 by LHT28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmoe38 Posted August 27, 2015 #11 Share Posted August 27, 2015 Thanks Stan & Jim and Mura. I knew you guys would be a big help. If the health situation stabilizes, we will definitely use the $500 on another cruise.Mike[/b] Mike Sorry to hear about the health issues, we'll miss you on Dec 2nd. Congratulations again on your upcoming anniversary. Randy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Easy Posted August 28, 2015 Author #12 Share Posted August 28, 2015 Their cruise was Dec 2nd FP would be about Sep 2nd the admin fee would kick in about Aug 2nd For cruises 14 days & under it kicks in at 120 daysSince the admin fee was withheld I am guessing they were on the 10 day cruise Yes, it was the 10 day cruise leaving December 2. Thanks for taking the time to help me. God willing, we may yet be on that cruise. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 28, 2015 #13 Share Posted August 28, 2015 Yes, it was the 10 day cruise leaving December 2. Thanks for taking the time to help me. God willing, we may yet be on that cruise. Mike I hope you can on the cruise also sometimes life gets in the way of cruising ;) Feel better soon Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MVPinBoynton Posted August 29, 2015 #14 Share Posted August 29, 2015 This is why it's a good idea to book travel insurance for the amount of the deposit when you book the cruise, especially if you are a senior. You can add the remainder when you get to final payment. But you are protected in case you have to cancel in these periods. (Younger people generally don't have the health issues to consider, although anyone can be in an accident that would require an unexpected cancellation.) The policies have become more and more restrictive over time. I remember when a deposit was $500 and fully refundable as long as you cancelled before the final payment date -- which back then, as I recall, was 90 days. Later on they came up with a longer time frame plus the "administrative fee" of $100 (I guess it is now $250). They also required higher deposits on the top suites plus final payment dates much more than 191 days. Progress! It helps to know the policies when you book, especially if you think you might have to cancel. Younger people should also consider that they might have to cancel at the last minute if one of their older relatives became seriously ill. We were on a Viking riverboat cruise in April 2012 when my BIL was hospitalized. We'd have been out a lot of money had to come home at the time but his children didn't tell us the seriousness of Dan's condition and so we continued our trip thinking there was no real worry even though he was 85 and had a number of problems. He died a few died after we returned. Before we started cruising we mainly did independent trips which really didn't require travel insurance because even if we'd have had to cancel we wouldn't have been out much. But whenever you are taking group travel, whatever your age, you should consider it. As I said earlier, you never know when you might have to cancel at the last minute ... you could be in an accident, have an unanticipated medical problem. Young people sometimes have heart attacks, too! For the OP, you do get your $500 if you book another Oceania cruise within the 2 years, which is small consolation if you don't find one you want to take! If you are like me, you can always find one! But not everyone feels the way I do. :) My condolences. We've been sweating that we might have to cancel our upcoming NCL cruise because of some vision problems DH is having but it looks like we'll make it. We do have pre-existing coverage because I booked the insurance when we booked the cruise, but I haven't always followed my own advice. Mura My goodness Mura, I can't believe that I never thought of doing the insurance just for the initial deposit after booking. That is such a great idea! That way pre-exisiting conditions aren't an issue and the initial insurance cost is much lower in case we need to cancel. Thanks so much for the idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DOJO466 Posted August 29, 2015 #15 Share Posted August 29, 2015 My goodness Mura, I can't believe that I never thought of doing the insurance just for the initial deposit after booking. That is such a great idea! That way pre-exisiting conditions aren't an issue and the initial insurance cost is much lower in case we need to cancel. Thanks so much for the idea. You are not the only one. A gent I met onboard asked me why I paid the whole amount upfront when I could just pay the deposit and still have coverage DUH:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DOJO466 Posted August 29, 2015 #16 Share Posted August 29, 2015 Just make sure that as you add on airfare, hotels etc that you contact the Insurer asap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted August 29, 2015 #17 Share Posted August 29, 2015 Righto! But I can't take credit for this idea ... someone mentioned it to be ages ago. It might even (gasp) have been my husband! In general we don't worry about insuring for hotels since virtually all of the time we can cancel 24-48 hours in advance. But if you are booking with a hotel that wants 2 weeks' notice, then for sure include that cost. It's those non-refundable items you want to insure. It looks like we're going to have to cancel the NCL cruise leaving on Sept. 11th because my husband is almost certainly going to have retina surgery this week which will prevent his traveling for at least a month or two. So I'm very glad we have the pre-existing condition waiver on this trip! Mura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orchestrapal Posted August 29, 2015 #18 Share Posted August 29, 2015 Righto! But I can't take credit for this idea ... someone mentioned it to be ages ago. It might even (gasp) have been my husband! Y It's those non-refundable items you want to insure. It looks like we're going to have to cancel the NCL cruise leaving on Sept. 11th because my husband is almost certainly going to have retina surgery this week which will prevent his traveling for at least a month or two. So I'm very glad we have the pre-existing condition waiver on this trip! Mura Best wishes for a very speedy recovery to your husband. Sorry you will have to miss your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MVPinBoynton Posted August 29, 2015 #19 Share Posted August 29, 2015 Righto! But I can't take credit for this idea ... someone mentioned it to be ages ago. It might even (gasp) have been my husband! In general we don't worry about insuring for hotels since virtually all of the time we can cancel 24-48 hours in advance. But if you are booking with a hotel that wants 2 weeks' notice, then for sure include that cost. It's those non-refundable items you want to insure. It looks like we're going to have to cancel the NCL cruise leaving on Sept. 11th because my husband is almost certainly going to have retina surgery this week which will prevent his traveling for at least a month or two. So I'm very glad we have the pre-existing condition waiver on this trip! Mura Eye issues are always scary. Best of luck on a successful surgery and fast recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 29, 2015 #20 Share Posted August 29, 2015 It looks like we're going to have to cancel the NCL cruise leaving on Sept. 11th because my husband is almost certainly going to have retina surgery this week which will prevent his traveling for at least a month or two. So I'm very glad we have the pre-existing condition waiver on this trip! Mura Hope all goes well for Howard & a speedy recovery Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted August 29, 2015 #21 Share Posted August 29, 2015 Thanks, everyone. We appreciate your concern. Mura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaitape Posted August 29, 2015 #22 Share Posted August 29, 2015 We send our best wishes and positive thoughts to Howard (and you too!) for a speedy, comfortable recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally_bushy Posted August 30, 2015 #23 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Mura We have never met or know each other but I feel some connection through CC. You are always sensible with your posts and have responded to a number of my requests. I wish both of you the best for the future and hope to meet one day. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Noxequifans Posted August 30, 2015 #24 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Best Wishes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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