Travel Insurance Cancellation for Hurricanes

[Kokomo91165]

We live in the Florida Keys and are planning to do a cruise in August - almost the height of hurricane season. Since our property would need to be protected if there were a threat of an approaching storm, I am wondering if anyone has experience with a travel insurance plan that would offer 100% refund for a cancellation if there were an approaching hurricane.

 

Any info on experiences would be appreciated.

[39august]

I suggest you call isuremytrip.com. The toll free number is on the web site. They represent dozens of travel insurance policies.

[cruiseco]

We live in the Florida Keys and are planning to do a cruise in August - almost the height of hurricane season. Since our property would need to be protected if there were a threat of an approaching storm, I am wondering if anyone has experience with a travel insurance plan that would offer 100% refund for a cancellation if there were an approaching hurricane.

 

Any info on experiences would be appreciated.

 

Most will let you cancel if your house is actually damaged but not if there is a possibility of damage. For example, this is from Travelex:

 

"your Home made uninhabitable by fire, flood, volcano, earthquake, hurricane or other natural disaster;"

 

So having to stay home to board up your house would not be a covered reason for trip cancellation. However, you might email the insurer to find out if being under a mandatory evacuation order qualifies as having rendered your house "uninhabitable". I think that you could make a good argument that it does, in which case even if your house escapes any serious damage you might still have a valid cancellation claim. The insurer, however, might have different thoughts about that. Get it in writing!

 

The plans that offer a Cancel For Any Reason benefit would be a good choice but they would not offer a 100% refund -- probably only about 75% if it's a late cancellation as this type of circumstance probably would be.

 

Many cruise lines offer insurance that will provide you with a credit toward a future cruise equal to anywhere from 75% to 100% of your penalties but it's not a refund. If you haven't yet chosen a cruise line I believe HAL is the most flexible as they let you cancel for any reason and give cash back, not a credit. Here's from their web site:

 

"YOU CAN CANCEL BEFORE DEPARTURE FOR ANY REASON. Even if it's up to 24 hours before departure under our Standard Plan or right up to departure with our Platinum Plan. For any reason whatsoever, your reservation may be cancelled with ease.

 

YOU GET MONEY BACK. Only Holland America Line refunds 80-90% of eligible amounts paid, regardless of your reason for canceling, as long as you cancel more than 24 hours prior to departure (right up to departure with the Platinum Plan). "

 

So, yes it's a refund but not 100%.

 

The only other thing I can think of is this from TravelSafe:

 

"t) a cancellation of Your Trip within 24 hours of Your Scheduled Departure Date and time if Your Trip destination is under a hurricane warning issued by the NOAA National Hurricane Center, provided the cancellation of Your Trip occurs more than 15 days following Your Effective Date of coverage for the Trip Cancellation Benefits; "

 

Unfortunately, it specifies your destination and not your home being under the hurricane watch. But you might want to contact them to see if maybe they're flexible on that. Worth a call.