Island Excursions and Travel Insurance

[hartskys]

We bought Travelex Select. We are thinking about booking a private tour on Grand Cayman. Does our insurance cover us if for some unlikley reason we do not get back to the ship on time and miss the departure? Our tour shows to be returned to the pier 2 hours in advance but I was just wondering if something happened would our trip insurance catch us up to the ship on the next island?

[cruiseco]

We bought Travelex Select. We are thinking about booking a private tour on Grand Cayman. Does our insurance cover us if for some unlikley reason we do not get back to the ship on time and miss the departure? Our tour shows to be returned to the pier 2 hours in advance but I was just wondering if something happened would our trip insurance catch us up to the ship on the next island?

 

That would be a trip interruption. You need to read the plan's covered reasons for trip interruption and if your situation falls under one of those covered reasons the benefit would apply. If not, you're on your own.

 

For example, it covers this:

 

"2. Common Carrier delays resulting from inclement

weather, or mechanical breakdown or organized

labor strikes that affect public transportation;"

 

So if you miss the ship's departure because your tour bus broke down you'd probably be covered. But if you rented a car or took a taxi and it broke down you probably wouldn't be covered as those are generally not considered to be a "common carrier." It's all in the details.

[hartskys]

Thanks :)

[klfrodo]

Just a side note. You probably know this but somebody reading may not know.

 

IF the insurance does cover your situation,,,, Insurance will not purchase your flight to catch up to the ship. YOU would have to purchase your flights. Insurance will only reimburse you (up to max amount covered) once you return from your vacation/holiday and file the claim.

[sirwired]

Hmmm... I'm going to have to disagree that it is generally covered. Firstly, it's going to be a bit of dispute as to if a Tour Operator is a "Common Carrier." Even if they are, the coverage in the example policy is rather limited to weather, breakdown, or a labor strike.

 

Not Covered: Traffic jams, schedule problems, personnel showing up late, delays for waiting for a passenger showing up late to go back to the ship, etc. I'd say that most delays that would effect a shore excursion would NOT be covered.

 

And even if the delay was due to breakdown or weather, you'll need to have somebody at the tour company produce a written statement to that effect to file a claim.

[dsrdsrdsr]

On a ship's tour, it wouldn't be an issue. The ship would either wait or would get you to the next port. On a private tour, it entirely depends on your policy; but even if it is covered, you'd better have good documentation explaining why you were late. Insurance companies aren't known for being anxious to pay out.