jennas_mum

17 hours ago, GeezerCouple said:

For ANY travel insurance policy, make sure you understand the terms and conditions.

 

With annual plans, also pay special attention to things that might be different from getting separate "per-trip" policies.  Some things to check include (this is NOT a complete list) how pre-existing medical conditions are handled, and also the total amount of coverage available for the entire year. You wouldn't want to run out while there are still trips pending, especially if it might be too late on short notice to get suitable per-trip coverage, etc.

 

9 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

We have for the past few years bought an annual plan and saved LOTS of money, but that savings comes with some financial risk.

 

I know that my experience is with Canadian insurance and it can differ from US insurance, but what I have learned with annual plans is this:

 

(Remember these are Canadian conditions that may or may not exist with your annual plan, so ask the questions of your insurance provider.)

 

1) The annual plan we are with now, has a limit of $5,000.00 per person cancellation, but we can have as many 17 day trips in the year as we like and each one is covered, but only to that $5K per person.  So, I could end up cancelling 2 trips and get back $10,000.00 per person, or 3 trips and get back $15,000.00 per person if the cancellation was for a covered reason.

2) We can choose when buying the annual plan between 17 day trips or 30 day trips and if a trip extends past what we have purchased we can purchase an add on package for the extra days.

 

Some of our trips are more than $5,000.00 per person and so we are hedging the penalties and banking on the fact that unless our need to cancel is extremely last minute, we will come out even, or only a slight cost to us.

 

For instance, if we were to go on three cruises and insure them separately we would pay about $4,500.00 for the three policies combined.  With this annual plan we are paying $1,300.00 total.  So there is financial risk, but we are willing to take that.

 

SOME POLICIES that I have investigated let you designate a total amount of coverage that you want over the year for multiple trips.  These policies see that coverage level as a "bucket" and once you have claimed against that then there is no insurance left.  So, if you had a serious incident come up and you made a claim, you may not have coverage for other trips in that year.  I find theae policies to be as expensive as purchasing for individual trips.

 

PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS:  With my annual policy, pre-existing conditions are dealt with by each individual trip in the year.  If I need to cancel a trip for a covered reason that is medical, and that medical reason relates to a pre-existing condition, then the pre-existing condition must have been stable for 3 months prior to the trip departure date.  If I am to claim for medical assistance while on a trip and that medical assistance is in relation to a pre-existing condition then that pre-existing condition must have been stable for 6 months prior to the trip departure date.  All other covered reasons are clear cut, it is just the pre-existing conditions that are a concern to us on the annual plan.

 

Some or all of these things may or may not relate to a policy that you are looking at but they are all things to consider with your provider.

GC

Thank you both so much for the replies. Gives me alot of information, 

Donna

I have 6 cruises coming up in the next year. Is there anything I should be worried about if I purchase an annual plan? 

Thanks, 

Donna

I have a few  cruises coming up this year. Most of them are Caribbean cruises that are less expensive. Was looking at going with the premier plan. I am doing a cruise from Rome next year also so may need a little more coverage for that. Do you know if you can ask (and pay) for more coverage for one particular cruise. 

Also, just curious, do you tell them when you have a trip planned? 

Thanks, 

Donna 

15 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

Booking an Uber in advance from LGA - MVille seems insane, even for NYC on a holiday weekend. Either a cab is in play, or I’ll check Lyft and Uber when I land. 
 

 

I booked a ride thru goairlinkshuttle.com. It was $33.60 for a shared ride. My daughter is coming in 4 hours later to a different airport so we are going to meet at the hotel. I am flying into Newark Airport and staying at Pods at Time Square. Hoping its close enough we can just walk to the port. 

19 hours ago, Crusin Karen said:

Sorry for your loss  Jenna’s mum. My Jim passed and I cruise solo now. Cruised Venezia 8 days June ‘23, 8 days Jan ‘24, 11 days March ‘24 and 11 days 5/6-5/17. Will be on her again may, ‘25! And will follow you on yours! 👏

Thank you so much!! Haven't cruised solo yet but definitely not opposed to it! 

I will also be going on this cruise. My husband and I did a 12 night one on her last October. Had a great time. The ship is definitely a little different but much of the same. My husband passed away April 7th so I needed a cruise partner so my youngest daughter is going. She is 24. She lives in the Dallas area and is also a teacher so she is ready to get away. Hope to meet you. Will be following your review. 

I have never been on celebration although I would go in a heart beat. We did a 10 day on Venetian last October and loved it. I am very sensitive to smoke but didn't notice the ship being to smoky. The casino waz very smoky but they do have a non smoking casino. I would enjoy either one. Definitely a hard choice.

19 hours ago, vadersprincess12 said:

The smoke was a big deal for us too.  We go to the casino on some of the ships, but this one was so bad we didn't want to go near it or the areas you talk about.  Unfortunately we booked for February before our November sailing, and they won't allow us to transfer our date so, they won't get any casino money or shopping money from us on this upcoming cruise.

Why not go to the non smoking casino? You don't have to walk thru the casino to get there. Yes, you do smell it a little as you walk down the hall to the non smoking casino but not much. I didn't smell any smoke in the non smoking casino and I am very sensitive to it. 

On 11/17/2023 at 3:02 PM, TxTeach79 said:

 

Haha Thanks, I appreciate it! I'm playing with the idea of moving up to high school sooner than later.... I do love my kids and I've been here for a long time and am pretty comfortable/ingrained in the community, but it's also been 15 years and I'm starting to get that itch for a change. Who knows. It's happened before, and sometimes a little Vitamin Sea (Sea what i did there?) charges the batteries right back up...

My daughter is a middle school social studies teacher in the Dallas area. She taught high school the last 2 year and moved to middle school this year. It has definitely been eye opening! I definitely could not do it! 

13 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

Hey Cruise Critic family! Today is all about football and beer,  so I won't be adding anything on to the review today. Have a great Sunday everyone! 😀

How many football games were shown today? We get on as you are getting off and my husband is also a big football fan. 

Enjoying your review! 

Definitely their deserts. I am not very picky and can always find something but if only their deserts tasted as good as they looked. I am usually a pretty simple person and would love a soft brownie or cookie. 

18 hours ago, Pattonjoseph78 said:

Ok I'm going through the same thing. I paid everything and my 2nd person may cancel. I talked to a casino representative "hypothetically" if my s.o. missed the sailing I'd get a check refunded in the mail in 6-8 wks for the port fees and taxes and insurance.. my question is if we had the cheers pks also, couldn't that $ just go on my s&s card as obc?? Would make it much easier. Idc to pay the supplement if it's only $200 and it's a full capacity cruise so they can't switch me rms can they?  

We had my daughter be a no show a few months back. We paid via gift card and received a new gift card via my email about a week after we returned home from the cruise. Definitely didn't take 6-8 weeks. 

We cruised last month on The Legend and periodically a text would come thru from an iphone. Most of the time though we were not able to text. We did not get any wifi packages. Not sure why sometimes it came thru and the other times it didn't. We just made sure we were on airplane mode. 

This happened to me a few months ago. Called to cancel third person and was told there would be a cancellation fee. So I just added my daughters name and she ended up being a no show. No fee and got my port fees and taxes back within 2 weeks of returning home.

Another question since you have all been so helpful! We plan on staying around the 911 museum as that is the main thing we want to see. Is there any must sees close to there what we can walk to? My DH can't walk long distance but okay with shorter distances. 

Thanks, 

Donna

My son has a G-Tubs and eats nothing my mouth. We take all his food with us. Have never had a problem. I would definitely contact the special needs department though and hopefully you can get confirmation that you can bring it on board. 

I can say I did not think about luggage being a problem. With my son it is really hard to travel light. Between diapers, food, his G-Tube supplies. Guess if it comes down to it I can have him ride with my husband and I take a seperate uber/lyft. 

Thanks for all you great info!!

Thanks so much everyone for the helpful information. Booked our flights with Southwest today. Between the sale they have going on, credits, and points we are paying half the price for flights for 3 people than we would only for parking.

We usually drive everywhere we go due to my son being in a wheelchair. With flights being so cheap and parking being so expensive looking into flying in. Found that they do have taxis and a few businesses that specialize in handicap transportation but wanting to know if anyone has any experience in it? The flights are cheaper than the parking for 12 days. We are also wanting to go a few days early to see some of the sights. Figured we would need dropped off at the hotel and walk wherever we need to go. Then we would need transportation to the cruise port and then transportation to the hotel after. 

Thanks so much!

Donna

On 5/25/2023 at 9:37 PM, krissyj89 said:

 

But I have a question. I had a free account from a few years ago and I used that to sign up. But for some reason the rewards page still says I'm not a paid member. Does it just take time to process or should I contact AARP?

I paid for a membership a few months back and it took a few hours until I could buy them. I tried online and on the app. Hopefully you will be able to purchase one soon. 

23 minutes ago, Roscoe13 said:

There was a former president that Tweeted like that...then all heck broke loose...

So sorry, my grandson got ahold of my computer. 😅😅

`wqqqq

I have redeemed giftcards at a kiosk on my last 3 cruises without any issues. 

12 hours ago, seaman11 said:

So once i see available cruises using my vvip number every cruise i select says sold out no matter the room type is this a glitch? 

Same thing is happening to me. I can see some selling out or in someones cart for a time, but not all of them. If I find one I am really interested in I will call my PVP. I like to look at the different options before hand though. 

We were on the Spirit last August and the Legend last week. Food was actually pretty good. When someone uses the word inedible, I totally discount their opinion.