GeezerCouple

Is the patient admitted to a hospital as an inpatient? Is there an airfield nearby for fixed wing aircraft? And of course, is the patient stable enough for a full medevac aircraft? If yes, then why not? They let the client select the hospital, but it might need to be in home country... but if one has MJA, isn't that what one would want? GC

I really do hope that you realize that it is almost certain that "the toilet paper truck" (or "the vodka truck", etc.) is not meant literally? However, "liquor supplies" or "paper/hygiene/cleaning supplies" might indeed be meant literally, but not whether each individual item has its own "item truck". 😉 As for the TP quality... ah, yes... 😱 It would be tempting to bring some along, but we aren't eager to clog up the systems more than they tend to do without any help from us.... OTOH, I'm not sure that's the only reason for the particular choice of the flimsy stuff. I assume at least some of the choice is based upon cost.... GC

We don't have experience with charge card travel claims, even though we might have been eligible for some coverage. That's because we always get third party travel insurance that we *know* will cover what we might need (which might include something related to a pre-existing condition, for example). The "trip interruption" coverage (as distinct from "trip cancellation" coverage) includes payment of covered expenses up to 150% of the original amount of the coverage (100% is what "trip cancellation" would pay). This would go much farther if one needed to buy new airline tickets, for example, or exchange for higher-priced tickets. It would also help cover some of those return expenses in addition to covering any lost non-refundable pre-payments for travel services not yet taken that will be forfeited. And everything covered is paid in cash, no "credits" that require using a specific travel vendor or with any deadline. The fact that we get coverage that doesn't exclude pre-existing conditions also means that the claim might be processed more quickly; there'd be no need to scroll through any medical records to double check that no pre-existing condition was involved. We've had quite a few claims, including some large ones, and have never had a claim denied. GC

Several years ago (it was less than 10 years ago, and more than 5, in case that precision is of any help! 😉 ) a group we were vaguely associated with sent out a notice that there would be the chance to have lunch aboard the Riviera while it was docked nearby for the day during a cruise. We hadn't yet been on Oceania, but we were hoping to have a chance, so we were *very* eager to take a look. There was no charge, but we did have to submit all sorts of ID information, such as passports, and it was checked very carefully before we were let on. I replied almost instantaneously; the number of slots was filled really fast, that first day. They were supposed to let us see a sampling of different levels of cabins and suites. However, everything was running very late, so we got a minimal peak in what was probably a regular balcony cabin not too far from the MDR, and that was it. Very few of members of the group were travel agents. I don't remember the "why" of this particular invitation, and we've never had any offer like that again, unfortunately. The meal was excellent, no surprise. And of course, the MDR was looking beautiful. Waaay back, in the summer of 1968, I spent the summer in mid-town Manhattan, and one day we wandered over to "where the ships were", and had a chance to go aboard what I think was a HAL ship. This was in the day when there apparently were regular "sailaway parties" with friends who were not sailing. There were mutiple announcements about "leaving the ship", etc. I was absolutely fascinated. My actual cruising started a few years later. 🙂 GC

What kind of "other illness" quarantine, and how long is it likely to last? (If it's Monkeypox, I think the contagion time is longer than with Covid. Is there something else specific of concern?) This would depend upon your specific policy. There is rarely anything that is uniformly "how travel insurance companies" do things. As long as they clearly specify the terms and those terms are in compliance with the state's insurance regulators, there's likely to be variation in coverage. GC

Hmmm.... well, when I wrote what I wrote, I didn't realize that those powders triggered the TSA scanner... Maybe that changes things; I have no idea. What the port screeners detect may be different. Good luck, and let us know. GC

We *always* make our own air reservations. (For long-haul, we use awards and fly in comfort, but to get to another domestic port city, we just buy the tickets and keep an eye on things, including the weather. It's not worth risking the entire vacation...) Do a thought experiment: How would you feel, next April, if it turned out that the Cheapie Tickets that NCL got for you were some connecting flights, however silly that might seem now. They're going for "cheap", NOT "convenient". ... and then if there is bad weather (not to mention another wave of Covid or a Pox of some sort, or perhaps locusts 😠 !?), and things are very delayed or a flight is actually cancelled and there's no availability on "the next flight or the one after that", etc. ... and then you're thinking, for less than $800, we could have controlled our own reservations, "and be there already..." Of course, there's no guarantee that even with you controlling your own air reservations, there won't be some sort of snafu, but... I'd certainly prefer those odds, including the ability to make any changes if necessary. GC

We went to the Curacao liquor factory. It was so much smaller than we were expecting. They had some really interesting flavors of their liquor, ones that we have not been able to find anywhere since. We got several assortments of their tiny bottles, and everyone we gave them to *loved* them... and asked about getting more. Nope. We even tried to have some shipped to us, but because of liquor control laws, that's not possible. Even a neighborhood liquor/wine store couldn't do it. They'd have had to go throught a major importer/wholesaler type of company, and we couldn't possible use the quantities they'd have required. We also walked around town a bit. We try to get private tours when we are at ports, so we can spend our time the way we want, and decide to spend "more time here and less time there" if that seems right... and especially if it's a place we may not get back to. GC

Ooops, yes I missed that part! Duh on me! Obviously, we've never had the pleasure of interacting with Naughty Room Festivities. 🙂 GC

They screen luggage that is *leaving* the ship?? GC

This looks to be still at the port, not on board. How does someone know they need to check here before boarding? (I had always imagined the "naughty room" to be on board the ship, and one could go there "whenever", even after sailaway. But one wouldn't have any of the other contents of that piece of luggage until one did that, of course.) Thanks. GC

Take a photo of the label of the original container. Tape a copy to one of them (or even several). My guess is they won't even be noticed, especially in a regular screening device. That's not what they tend to be looking for with those (usually more like liquids). I'm not sure how different it would look under a scan than, say, a container of talcum powder, for example. We bring meds, lots of meds (alas). And we bring them in tiny ziplocs for the length of the trip (plus extras!), each with an original pharmacy Rx label. We request these extras a week or two before a trip, so the pharmacist isn't rushed. And we've never had them questioned. If they were ever even noticed, we are unaware of that. (And yes, the collection includes a controlled substance, but the rest are not. There are two epi-pens, and another injectible. We've never been asked about any of them, not at ports or at airports.) They'd probably do better going after "other substances" with sniffer dogs, although that's only a guess. Relax, but "just in case", be prepared to continue the cruise without them. One never knows for sure. GC

What does your insurance policy say about this? Either it's covered.... or not. (When we purchase policies when traveling with others, we make sure that all of us would be covered if any of us got sick; this includes pre-covid days, and also covid.) If you aren't sure from reading your policy, ask your travel insurer or the agent you purchased it from. And make sure that you know exactly how you'd need to document it all, if it is covered. Hopefully, you won't need it! GC

It definitely does on at least some ships. (Perhaps not all NCL ships?) Having the power shut off left a very warm suite, especially if it was a side where the sun was shining... Our Butler suggested leaving a card in the slot for this specific purpose. (I don't remember which ship that was on; it may or may not have been NCL, but I think it was.) GC

The TSA screening at airports is quite different from the screening when boarding NCL (or most other cruise ships). GC

To keep the AC on? That's our concern when we are out for any extended time. It's not charging devices. It's trying really hard NOT to return to a hot cabin/suite, one that could take considerable time to cool off again, especially if we were gone for a full day or such. GC

Why in the world would one person reporting a different experience imply that *anyone* at all "must be giving false information"? What's that all about? GC

Good to know! Thanks. GC

We continue to be really impressed with Steve (and Deanna and Kim) and their patience in answering questions or just providing thorough information. Very soon after that first claim the first time we used travel insurance, when we were both really eager to reschedule traveling for about 6 months into the future. I called to get another policy. (We had just received a nice check from Travel Insured, so we knew it "worked".) Steve had helped us a bit with that first claim. He started to take the information, and then he stopped. He asked something like, "Is <DH's name> able to travel today, is he all recovered?" Me: "No, he still can't travel *now*, but this is in 6 months, and his doctor is *certain* that he'll be recovered long before then!" Steve: "He needs to be fit to travel on the day the insurance is started, and it doesn't seem like that's the case." I thanked him and cancelled our brand new, refundable deposit. About 2 months later, we had a signed note from the specialist stating something like: "<Name> is cleared to travel as usual, without any medical limitations, starting today." And we came up with a different trip, and called Steve back, started the coverage, and that next trip went just fine. 🙂 Steve once talked us out of buying a policy. I'll never forget that. He had learned a bit about us from the conversations we'd had, plus the help he provided with that first large claim. Anyway, I called to purchase "the same policy again, please", etc. He started to take the information, and then he said something like, "But don't you already <some information about us>?" I discussed it with him some more to make sure we both understood the situation, and... he was absolutely correct. For that particular trip (and no other, at least not yet), we did not need a travel insurance policy. Keep in mind, had *he* not brought it up, he'd have sold us a policy he was thinking we probably didn't need, when we wouldn't have realized that. I think that speaks volumes! And yes, the time they all take to answer questions still impresses us. I must have driven them crazy with the... "Well, what if X happens?" "But what if Y happens?" "And if X and Z both happen when we are at such-and-such?" I really did want to be as sure as possible that we'd really be "covered". I'm someone who feels free to complain if I think it is warranted. But because of that, I also think I should give credit where due! (I've called supervisors/managers/etc., to compliment a particular rep at times, and they almost always seem startled that it's not a complaint.) GC

When we needed proof of delay... and then flight cancellation.... we had been capturing screen shots of the plane's progress. Er, lack of progress. But then we asked the airline (not AC) for documentation of when the flight was supposed to depart and when it actually did depart (the next day), and we printed that out to submit with our hotel and meal receipts. GC

Thank you for posting this! Perhaps you could re-post it on the Travel Insurance sub-forum here on CC? This is really important for others to know about more generally... both about "reading the terms carefully" and also about how it might be worth it if you think the denial isn't appropriate. GC

To get the best choice of coverage types, you should start the insurance within 10-20 days of making the first payment (such as the deposit, refundable or not). The timing depends upon state of residence. If you've missed that, there are still many good policies. GC

We are also satisfied customers of TIS, and that includes having purchased quite a few policies... and having several claims, including some large ones. All were paid without nonsense. (And Steve can help with claims if needed. We asked for some guidance the first time.) I strongly encourage you to CALL and not rely upon the website alone. That is great for an overview, but there's no way those policy summaries can include "all the fine print", etc. Also, with 8 people in your group, there are probably different addresses and perhaps states. So let TIS help you coordinate so you all have the coverages you need (it's regulated by the states). GC

"Jim Badger"? Might that be (in order of appearance per Google): - Bank VP, marketing? - Director of Operations, Crunchbase? - Board Member, muscular dystrophy? - Cyclist in the UK? . . . Or...?? GC

Do you have a link to the photo? That would be very interesting. Thanks! GC