Cancelled Cruise

[geoherb]

We were booked to sail on the Amsterdam in 10 days. Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to go. Thank goodness for insurance to get our money back. I called and emailed my TA on Monday and noticed the refund posted on my credit card today. That's 80 percent. My credit card will cover the other 20 percent once I send in the note from my doctor.

 

Time to start looking for a cruise later in the year to make up for missing this one. We'll have to wait until next year for another one to Alaska, though.

[RuthC]

So sorry you have to miss your cruise. And so close to leaving, too! At least you were still home when the decision had to be made, but that isn't much consolation right now.

Happy you can look forward to booking another cruise. And very happy you will get your money back!

[CaveDiving]

We were booked to sail on the Amsterdam in 10 days. Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to go. Thank goodness for insurance to get our money back. I called and emailed my TA on Monday and noticed the refund posted on my credit card today. That's 80 percent. My credit card will cover the other 20 percent once I send in the note from my doctor.

 

Could you please give some additional information about your credit card. Thanks.

 

Scott & Karen

[gpb11]

My Citi card has this protection, see https://www.cardbenefits.citi.com/Products/Trip-Cancellation-Interruption-Protection

[doublebzz]

Could you please give some additional information about your credit card. Thanks.

 

Scott & Karen

 

Chase Sapphire Preferred also has trip cancellation included among the benefits.

 

These credit cards insure either up to $5,000 or $10,000 per event if the trip was charged to that card. However, they are the "secondary" insurer in case the insured has trip insurance by some other means. That is apparently the OP's case where the primary insurer covered 80% of the loss and the credit card the remaining 20%. Most of my cruises are less than $5,000 so I can rely on the credit card coverage alone. If the trip cost exceeds the $5,000, then I will only insure the difference between the trip cost and $5,000. Also, the credit card does not insure for emergency evacuation or other medical emergencies during the trip so one might want to purchase a limited policy for these situations.

[geoherb]

Thanks. I'm feeling much better than I was a month ago, but the procedure to address my problem is scheduled to conflict with the cruise--the soonest appointment time the specialist could arrange for me to have it done.

 

My credit card is one of the Citi credit cards that has the travel protection. I used it for booking a nonrefundable rate for our hotel room for before the cruise as well. But the booking agent said there may be something they can do for me once I submit the note from my doctor. Our airline tickets were through Southwest, so I have that money in credit to use in the next 10 months (from the date of purchase).

[doublebzz]

But the booking agent said there may be something they can do for me once I submit the note from my doctor.

 

Don't understand how the "booking agent" enters into it if your making a claim against the credit card's insurer. Wouldn't you send the claim and supporting documentation to the insurer noted in your credit card agreement?

[ger_77]

I'm sorry to hear you had to cancel your cruise - hopefully healthier and happier days are ahead of you!

 

Smooth Sailing ! :) :) :)

[CJcruzer]

Glad to hear that you will recoup your expenses, and I wish you all the best for your procedure/recovery.

 

Several things to note when one is figuring trip cancellation and costs for either purchasing insurance or topping up above a credit card provision:

 

1- government fees and port taxes will be refunded by the cruiseline, back onto credit card, once they have been notified of cancellation..,DO NOT figure in those amounts for trip cancellation coverage. Most of the time they are not much money, but for some itineraries - Asia, etc, I have seen port fees and gov't taxes as high as $500 pp)

 

2- only insure NON refundable air component...If the airline gives a credit for a future flight, then you will not be able to get that back from insurance, so do not insure.

 

3- I always total up these first 2 components, and any tours (tours by locals, or Paypal deposits for tours) and call my insurance to get a quote for topping up above my credit card limit. I then ALSO ask, for that price, what is the upper limit of coverage - and then I know what leeway I have for that price range. Dependent on that, I might or might not prepay a hotel if there is significant savings, or other such things. It does not pay me to move up to the next bracket of insurnce premium if it will cost me more than the hotel savings, or other similar bookings,

 

My TA's invoice always has cruisefare separated from govt taxes and port fees on the invoice.

 

Carol

Edited August 11, 2016 by CJcruzer

[Krazy Kruizers]

Sorry that you had to cancel your cruise.

Hopefully you will be well soon and cruising.

[fatcat04]

Chase Sapphire Preferred also has trip cancellation included among the benefits.

 

These credit cards insure either up to $5,000 or $10,000 per event if the trip was charged to that card. However, they are the "secondary" insurer in case the insured has trip insurance by some other means. That is apparently the OP's case where the primary insurer covered 80% of the loss and the credit card the remaining 20%. Most of my cruises are less than $5,000 so I can rely on the credit card coverage alone. If the trip cost exceeds the $5,000, then I will only insure the difference between the trip cost and $5,000. Also, the credit card does not insure for emergency evacuation or other medical emergencies during the trip so one might want to purchase a limited policy for these situations.

 

Thank you for this info. I have this card and had no idea! :)

[geoherb]

Don't understand how the "booking agent" enters into it if your making a claim against the credit card's insurer. Wouldn't you send the claim and supporting documentation to the insurer noted in your credit card agreement?

Because when I called to cancel my reservation, knowing that it was a nonrefundable booking, I was asking for proof of the cancellation. When she asked me why, she said that they may be able to work out something for my situation. I need to go through that process with the note from my doctor before pursuing any claim with my credit card company under its travel protection benefit.

[mustgo]

We also have the Chase Visa Signature card, have used the insurance feature and are very satisfied with it. We have had one claim. We are older cruisers and what we fear the most is a possible accident or illness while on the cruise. We check insuremytrip.com and find a policy with high limits for those 2 features, then buy a low cost policy for 0 trip cost. The insurance for up to a month of travel is usually about $140 for the two of us. Not all companies allow you to do it this way, but some do.

[doublebzz]

We also have the Chase Visa Signature card, have used the insurance feature and are very satisfied with it. We have had one claim. We are older cruisers and what we fear the most is a possible accident or illness while on the cruise. We check insuremytrip.com and find a policy with high limits for those 2 features, then buy a low cost policy for 0 trip cost. The insurance for up to a month of travel is usually about $140 for the two of us. Not all companies allow you to do it this way, but some do.

 

I completely agree with your insurance strategy; we are in the same boat (excuse the pun).

While I believe its unwise not to insure a trip, I also believe its equally unwise to over-insure. The credit cards that include trip insurance more than pay for themselves in reduced insurance costs without even considering the added benefits they provide.

[easyboy]

I completely agree with your insurance strategy; we are in the same boat (excuse the pun).

While I believe its unwise not to insure a trip, I also believe its equally unwise to over-insure. The credit cards that include trip insurance more than pay for themselves in reduced insurance costs without even considering the added benefits they provide.

I totally agree. Some overlook this point.

[geoherb]

It was sad to watch the Amsterdam sail away yesterday afternoon on the Space Needle webcam. I hadn't thought about looking until DH mentioned it. We actually missed the ship's departure--but played back the webcam to see it leave.

 

Yesterday afternoon the driver for the shuttle service that was supposed to take us to the pier called me on my cell phone. It's the one thing I forgot to cancel. I appreciated the call and the great attitude of the driver.

 

I cooked us a special dinner--chilled watermelon soup, fresh Alaskan salmon, jasmine rice, sauteed mushrooms, and wilted kale. We had a special dessert Saturday night--miniature croquembouches filled with a spiced rum pastry cream.