blog post

I'd like to offer a Q & A forum here -- the latest hurricanes and tropical storms have more people asking about the necessity of travel insurance and exactly what is covered.

I use an independent (not associated with any cruise line or travel provider) that is affiliated with American Express, as is Cruise Planners.  They do provide coverage, but under specific conditions.  You can't just decide you don't want to go, and you can't buy it and be protected after it is determined that a hurricane is headed toward your destination.

* The policy covers "Home Uninhabitable," and "Destination Uninhabitable" because of a natural disaster, fire, flood, burglary, or vandalism.

* The policy covers "Canceled Services" when your travel supplier stops offering all services for at least 24 consecutive hours where you're departing, arriving, or making a connection because of a natural disaster, severe weather, a strike, or an FAA mandate.

* The policy covers "Missed Connection" if severe weather cancels one of your flights en route to the connection or cruise, or delays it for at least three hours.  You must have allowed enough time in your itinerary to reach your flight or cruise on time and are unable to reach your connecting flight or cruise another way.

However, coverage is excluded for problems and events that could have "reasonably been foreseen or expected when you purchased your plan."  Another good reason to book in advance and purchase travel protection at least by your final payment date!  Once a disaster is forecast you are not going to be covered.

Please e-mail me or leave a comment with specific questions and I'll try to help you work through your particular situation.  Thanks and talk soon -- Janet

jmclaren@cruiseplanners.com, 972-231-0066