Many travelers are experiencing regrets over not having bought travel insurance when a recent winter storm cancelled their flights to make a connection with a cruise vacation. After Christmas there was a blizzard in much of the northeast US that cancelled as many as 7,000 flights.Passengers who booked their flights through their cruise line companies were mostly likely able to reschedule without a penalty fee. Passengers who had travel insurance of the right type would have been compensated for the cancellation of their flight and lost cruise vacation.
Carnival Cruise line spokesperson Vance Bulliksen said, “Those who booked their air transportation through Carnival are being provided a future cruise credit.” He also said, “For those who booked their air on their own, Carnival’s normal cancellation penalties apply. Carnival strongly encourages guests to purchase travel insurance which would provide guests with a future cruise credit in these types of circumstances, as well as other benefits for trip cancellation or delay.”
Not all travel insurance would provide this kind of protection, so investigating the terms of the policy before purchase is recommended.
Another precaution travelers could take is to schedule their flight the day before a connection to a cruise ship departure. This would provide a cushion or time for weather-related or mechanical delays.
Some experienced travelers of the opinion that travel insurance is overrated. One commented, “Travel insurance might cost, say, $200 for a $2000 cruise for two with airfare. About 10% of the cost of your trip. There is no way you are going to miss 10% of your trips due to these type weather related delays. You’d save money by never getting insurance and just eating the loss for the one out of 20 or whatever trips you end up missing for weather reasons.”
People with frequent health problems may find it wise to buy health insurance. Also people who must travel farther, such as to Europe or the Far East, to connect with their cruise vacation departure are likelier to have circumstances arise to interrupt their flights.
