One out of two

[Zeg]

Wondering what happens when only one of the booked party is fit and able to embark a Cunard ship, either before embarkation day or on embarkation day. 
 

[buchanan101]

Might depend on your insurance - I can't see how you'd get a refund from Cunard as they charge the same for single occupancy

[exlondoner]

26 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

Might depend on your insurance - I can't see how you'd get a refund from Cunard as they charge the same for single occupancy

A lot of insurance policies say something about illness of travelling companion. But the OP does not say the fit one doesn’t want to travel. This may be a query about the practicalities of so doing.

[buchanan101]

1 minute ago, exlondoner said:

A lot of insurance policies say something about illness of travelling companion. But the OP does not say the fit one doesn’t want to travel. This may be a query about the practicalities of so doing.

Does illness cover in insurance policies cover pre-existing conditions at time insurance was taken out...?

 

If the fit one still wants to travel, it'd still depend on insurance - but I guess insurance would rather pay 50% of the cost rather than all of it?

 

(I'm going to keep on renewing my insurance with Staysure as they paid out for ER in NYC when I had onset of atrial fibrillation the day after arriving on QM2; not that that would stop me going on a cruise if it happened again)

[TowandaUK]

Might it depend on whether the first named is travelling?  I don’t think Cunard will change the name of the first named so may not transfer it to the second named passenger. 

[exlondoner]

2 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

Does illness cover in insurance policies cover pre-existing conditions at time insurance was taken out...?

 

If the fit one still wants to travel, it'd still depend on insurance - but I guess insurance would rather pay 50% of the cost rather than all of it?

 

(I'm going to keep on renewing my insurance with Staysure as they paid out for ER in NYC when I had onset of atrial fibrillation the day after arriving on QM2; not that that would stop me going on a cruise if it happened again)

If travelling to US, it is wise to have as comprehensive insurance as you can, I think. Slightly different in Europe with our GHIC cards. My husband has had AF for years, and I think once the medics know you’ve got it and have applied their minds to it, usually it does not give further trouble. We don’t go near the US now though.

[buchanan101]

@exlondoner I've had it twice but both time straightened up with cardioversion; had to as it makes me breathless (2nd time less so as I am on betablockers and that can reduce severity when it trips). It affects some a lot less and they can live with it permanently; some don't know they have it

 

I take out proper travel insurance rather than relying on insurance with credit cards - specifically including cruise cover.

 

Interestingly the Staysure insurance asks if you are going to Spain or not - presumably that costs more for some reason

 

[exlondoner]

Just now, buchanan101 said:

@exlondoner I've had it twice but both time straightened up with cardioversion; had to as it makes me breathless (2nd time less so as I am on betablockers and that can reduce severity when it trips). It affects some a lot less and they can live with it permanently; some don't know they have it

 

I take out proper travel insurance rather than relying on insurance with credit cards - specifically including cruise cover.

 

Interestingly the Staysure insurance asks if you are going to Spain or not - presumably that costs more for some reason

 

I think it is the hundreds of thousands who don’t know they have it who are in the greatest danger. My husband is on various pills, inc. beta blockers which seem to control it very well, so he is lucky. Yes, there is something about Spain which makes it dearer, but I can’t remember what.

[buchanan101]

2 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

I think it is the hundreds of thousands who don’t know they have it who are in the greatest danger. My husband is on various pills, inc. beta blockers which seem to control it very well, so he is lucky. Yes, there is something about Spain which makes it dearer, but I can’t remember what.

My Apple Watch told me both times that I was in fibrillation, though I didn't feel well, especially the first time.

 

[exlondoner]

2 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

My Apple Watch told me both times that I was in fibrillation, though I didn't feel well, especially the first time.

 

Isn’t science wonderful? All my watch does is tell the time, if I am lucky. 😀

[buchanan101]

2 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Isn’t science wonderful? All my watch does is tell the time, if I am lucky. 😀

My Apple Watch also tells the time!

[exlondoner]

4 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

My Apple Watch also tells the time!

And probably considerably more accurately than mine. 😀

[buchanan101]

Just now, exlondoner said:

And probably considerably more accurately than mine. 😀

To the second. And it changes by an hour automatically in March and October

[D&N]

27 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

Interestingly the Staysure insurance asks if you are going to Spain or not - presumably that costs more for some reason

Not sure why that is, but for their expat policies that they sell to residents of France, Portugal or Spain they offer the cheapest Europe price excluding: Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Spain, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco & Tunisia.

We've no plans to go to any of them in next 12 months. We'll change it to worldwide with cruise next April.

And thanks for reminding me, I'd forgotten renewal was due although we do have CEAM cards for medical cover on visits to Italy and UK.

[Victoria2]

1 hour ago, buchanan101 said:

@exlondoner I've had it twice but both time straightened up with cardioversion; had to as it makes me breathless (2nd time less so as I am on betablockers and that can reduce severity when it trips). It affects some a lot less and they can live with it permanently; some don't know they have it

 

I take out proper travel insurance rather than relying on insurance with credit cards - specifically including cruise cover.

 

Interestingly the Staysure insurance asks if you are going to Spain or not - presumably that costs more for some reason

 

When Cunard promoted their 'sunshine cruises to nowhere' summer'22, we booked QE for the first July one which was cancelled [one of very many cancellations for us]  and the insurance question was a real issue. As our bank insurance was dithering as to whether they could add a clause which allowed a cruise to nowhere which they did but after we'd made sure by booking a single travel policy with Staysure.

 

However, not being used to single polices, we then realised as we were in international waters near Spain and had to add Spain as an extra which bumped up the premium, not by a lot but was annoying as we didn't sail!

 

Interesting. We were informed, on asking why, it's to do with the cost of their private hospitals. Not something we were used to as our annual ins. covers us world wide.

[Pushpit]

Yes, the insurance companies in the UK work on the basis that medical costs in Europe aren't usually very significant due to the agreement that the NHS has with most European countries, usually in respect of critical care and emergency care. So many insurers expect you to have an EHIC card, or the post Brexit equivalent GHIC, though in most cases actual presentation of the card helps only to facilitate paperwork. You will still get treated without it, and the insurance companies will typically only pay a small amount after the reciprocities are all sorted out.

 

The problem is that some conditions in some countries are not regarded as critical or emergency care items, since in some European countries they would be dealt with by the same specialist hospitals and wards that handle long term care. Cardiac events and COPD are typical examples where different countries won't take someone to Accident and Emergency / Emergency Room but to a more expensive institution. Consequently the risk to the insurance company is a great deal higher if you are travelling with that condition and to particular countries, compared to healthy travellers having a minor incident.

 

But here's a good reminder to check your EHIC/GHIC status.

[Host Hattie]

3 hours ago, Zeg said:

Wondering what happens when only one of the booked party is fit and able to embark a Cunard ship, either before embarkation day or on embarkation day. 
 

Your question seems to have caused a discussion about travel insurance, I'm not sure that's what you had in mind. What do you want to know ?

As far as I know the party unable to travel will be marked as a No show but there will be no refund from Cunard. The other party can travel as a single occupant of the booked cabin.

(This is not from personal experience just from my reading of these boards)

[Zeg]

7 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

Your question seems to have caused a discussion about travel insurance, I'm not sure that's what you had in mind. What do you want to know ?

As far as I know the party unable to travel will be marked as a No show but there will be no refund from Cunard. The other party can travel as a single occupant of the booked cabin.

(This is not from personal experience just from my reading of these boards)

You are exactly right. I’m not over bothered about insurance. That is another matter altogether. I’m interested to know whether the fit passenger is permitted to travel alone. 

[Bell Boy]

59 minutes ago, Zeg said:

You are exactly right. I’m not over bothered about insurance. That is another matter altogether. I’m interested to know whether the fit passenger is permitted to travel alone. 

Yes the fit passenger is able to continue with their travel plans Cunard are not unduly bothered , the  travel companion is logged as a no show - no questions are asked . 

[D&N]

1 hour ago, Zeg said:

You are exactly right. I’m not over bothered about insurance. That is another matter altogether. I’m interested to know whether the fit passenger is permitted to travel alone. 

It might be best to make sure Cunard modify the booking in advance in case you plan to buy any of the drink packages. If their system thinks there are two guests in the cabin it would insist on buying for both. And they might charge the Hotel and Dining service charge for both if the records weren't updated.

[Zeg]

2 hours ago, D&N said:

It might be best to make sure Cunard modify the booking in advance in case you plan to buy any of the drink packages. If their system thinks there are two guests in the cabin it would insist on buying for both. And they might charge the Hotel and Dining service charge for both if the records weren't updated.

I’d hope that would be noted and recorded on check in?

[D&N]

1 minute ago, Zeg said:

I’d hope that would be noted and recorded on check in?

I don't know.

Which is why I would make sure that administrative detail was recorded in advance.

Unless you are suggesting you won't know until check in if the other booked passenger can't travel. In that case I suppose it wouldn't be possible.

[buchanan101]

1 hour ago, Zeg said:

I’d hope that would be noted and recorded on check in?

...if not easily sorted at Pursers Office

[Megabear2]

Having had exactly the scenario the OP is asking about, I can confirm that it is covered in the T&Cs at point 5. under the section Contract.  

 

Quote

 

5. A Passenger shall not have the right to exclusive occupancy of a stateroom with two or more berths unless the single person supplement is paid. If a cancellation results in a Passenger becoming the sole occupant of a stateroom with two or more berths, the remaining Passenger shall be liable to pay the single person supplement. If a cancellation reduces the number of Passengers originally booked in a stateroom together, the remaining Passengers shall each be liable to pay any increase in the fare arising as a result of such reduction. In the event that all Passengers who are booked in a stateroom permanently disembark the ship before the end of the Cruise, then the stateroom will revert to Cunard’s inventory.

 

Unquote

 

My travelling companion had passed away and I was directed to this clause when enquiring what my choices were.  I subsequently added my husband to travel with me and a rather embarrassed agent had to charge me £100 for a booking amendment.

Edited April 13 by Megabear2

[Bell Boy]

The above T&C 5 is only applicable 'before the final balance' has been paid.

If the full balance has already been paid and one of the two drops out then they are listed as a no show on embarkation day 

This happened to me some years when a travel companion dropped out ( after final balance) I incurred no extra charge.  Travel companion claimed through their travel insurance  .