GeezerCouple

We always have an annual MJA plan (well, when we are traveling, pre-COVID, and hopefully again in the not too distant future). We would almost definitely want to be taken to our regular medical center, which is a top teaching hospital/medical school, etc. We'd want to go there, as they have our medical records and they "understand" us and our health care, etc. It would have to be really extraordinary that our physicians couldn't arrange for us to be admitted, although something like the early days of COVID, when there weren't hospital beds available anywhere... in which case there are no doubt more serious "issues". About the after age 75 health screening, we were quite concerned about that when DH was turning 75 just before our most recent trip. We were figuring (hoping?) that IF MJA excluded seniors if they have relatively common things like high blood pressure or cholesterol, etc., conditions that are controlled with meds, they probably wouldn't be covering many over 75's at all, so why go to the expense of screening applications, etc. And similarly, if other relatively frequent vagaries of aging would be excluded... So we weren't sure what to expect... more screening questions? Copies of medical records? Much more detailed forms to be completed by the physician beyond the initial form? As it turned out, we sent the regular forms in, including a short form from his physician, and in just a few days, without any additional comment or inquiries, DH was approved for coverage. I don't know at what point they wouldn't accept someone over 75, but they certainly aren't requiring that someone be a senior tri-athlete or such! 🙂 GC

Oh right... I remember when first traveling overseas (maybe I had overlooked it previously in the USA?), but the question of "Is superior 'better' than deluxe or is it the other way around?" drove me nuts. And I don't think there was any consistent usage among various providers! Yes, GRRRRR! Apologies! GC

This "inappropriate" use of the term "suite" isn't restricted to HAL, unfortunately. "Suite" shouldn't be used anywhere if the "suite category" includes anything special at all. To find out that, "Oh, *that* suite - *your* suite* - does NOT include the "suite benefits" is, at best, unfortunate. Yes, one could/should read the fine print, but especially for newbies some of this can be overwhelming... plus, WHY should someone need to double check if "THIS suite" includes "suite perks"? Shouldn't the category make that obvious? Alas, not always. I have never understood why, on ships, they use "suite" when it... isn't, but there *are* special "suite perks". Why not call it a "Deluxe Balcony cabin" or a "Special Super Deluxe Jumbo Balcony cabin" or whatever? To later claim that a "[Name] Suite" isn't a "real suite" is... <insert preferred term>... 😠 We fortunately never got stung by this, so our attitude certainly isn't sour grapes. It only makes sense. Would they call a cabin an "ocean view cabin" if there were no view of the ocean? "Oh, that's just what we call that cabin!" I haven't found that anywhere (yet!??). </rant> RM

Obviously not Jazzbeau, but our policies also let us increase the amount of coverage as one goes along. We [used to, in the before days 😞 ] tend to make reservations very far in advance (1-2+ years), so we can get a cabin/suite that we want, *and* we sometimes change our plans, we don't want to pay far in advance for insurance for the entire cost of what may be a pricey cruise. And we'd rather not pay all of that upfront anyway, if it can be avoided. We get Travel Insured coverage through www.TripInsuranceStore.com - if you call them you can get all the exact details for any of these policies that they offer. So we pay the premium for just the deposit (refundable or not) when we make that, and then, as we up the non-refundable payments for other parts of the trip, we notify TIS and they bill us for the additional. Rinse and repeat. Note: Some of this is because we want to start the coverage within 10-20 days (depends upon state of residence; this is for USA residents) so that there are *no* exclusions for pre-existing conditions. Aside from that being a benefit of its own, we suspect it speeds up the claims process for any claim with a medical basis, be it medical costs or trip cancellation. There's no need for the insurer to "double check" that the condition generating the need for a claim was/was not "pre-existing". Also note: We also want to get the Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. This pays 75% cash back without the need to prove that the reason for the claim was a "covered reason". This does cost extra, and although we've had quite a few travel insurance claims (alas!), including some high claims, we've never yet made a CFAR claim. However, we have several times "almost" made a CFAR claim (and this now includes travel "Interruption", not just full cancellation) and during those times, *knowing* we had that option was a considerable help. It's definitely an additional SWAN thing (Sleep Well At Night)! 🙂 Some policies will let you start the coverage closer to the travel date and still include any pre-existing conditions, but one must always be "fit to travel" on the day the policy is started. Thus, if we are in penalty phase of reservation and get sick, we may not be able to start the coverage. But I don't think any policy will allow one to include CFAR coverage after that 10-20 day window after the first trip payment is made. Again, call Steve or others at TIS. They are incredibly patient with newbies (or oldies, too 😉) and they'll sometimes ask extra questions of you so they can better understand which policies might work best for you, or which may not work at all for your needs. GC

Also take a look at the Travel Insurance section of CC: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/499-cruisetravel-insurance/ GC

I think it was this promo that led someone else to complain that with the "promo", the base fare and all was much higher, so there wasn't really any savings. Always look at and compare the final *total* costs. GC

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this, and first things first, I hope your father is okay! Travel insurance policies can vary in their coverage. The type we get absolutely does cover this situation; we had a very similar claim, but it was very elderly MIL with a sudden heart problem. She wanted us to go, but the doctors told us, "Uh, no, you probably shouldn't leave town just now". She was mid/late 90s, and she did make it through (though she passed about a year or two ago, five weeks short of her 100th (fully alert until the last few days). I'll second the suggestion that you contact Steve at www.TripInsuranceStore.com - but CALL him/them, don't rely only on the short onling policy summaries. There's no way they can capture all of the possible situations you might be likely to want insured. They'll ask you questions about things like pre-existing conditions, and if there are any non-traveling family members that might be a concern, etc. We get insurance from Travel Insured, through TIS. They can also help with claims, or any unusual or difficult situations (probably for insurance from any of the vetted insurers they work with). We had a check for the full amount within about two weeks of submitting the complete claims forms. GC

Thanks very much. I'm really glad this topic of the seabass for two at Jacques cropped up here. I don't think we really even considered it in the past. DH has taken quite a liking to fish on our last few trips (not cruises), and although I'm less enthusiastic about "fish", it's healthier than the "red meat" I often enjoy when dining out. And I *love* the sea bass at Red Ginger. 🙂 (Yes, I'll be getting that, too, of course!) GC

richardabc: You've got about 2 weeks to go, or a bit less now. Because you mentioned a visa, this probably is *not* some sort "very short/not terribly expensive" cruise... probably something you've been arranging for while? In your situation, I'd be planning to head to a State Department/Federal Office building, with all travel documents in hand (and perhaps the messages to/from NCL), to get an emergency-basis passport that can be issued really quickly. Then, would you have time to get confirmation of that visa? Hard to know, without knowing which country it is (or get a new visa?). This is something I've heard much less about than with than emergency USA passports. It's certainly "possible" that youll get your passport from NCL in time, but is it "probable"? As pointed out already, it's probably cutting it awfully close under the best of circumstances. And unfortunately... this isn't anywhere close to "best of circumstances", with holiday travel and weather snafus. I wouldn't want to take that risk, not if I really did want to take that cruise and the rest of that planned trip... At least you found out somewhat in advance like this, and not the evening before you were leaving home, or even that very morning! Good luck, and hopefully a very Happy Holiday season to you! GC

That's all we see. But hey, that's okay. We'll just print them out, and then have some extra blank paper to use! 🤣 GC

This ^^ Ask once on board, right at the start, and make sure you explain that this is *not* an "extra" dining request but rather you are trying to get "your one guaranteed" reservation at whichever restaurant. You may not get the evening or the time you most prefer, but you will have an opportunity to eat there. (Include that you want just a table for two; give a reason if you wish, or not. I'm sure they have heard all kinds of special requests.) Don't start off with a negative attitude such as "being locked out" before the cruise has even started. Many difficulties can be remedied, and some/most of them without any difficulties. GC

Maybe it was just a kitchen mistake, and they were served a scallop instead! 😉 I also love the foie gras, a real treat. But we've never tried the Seabass in puff pastry for two. We've enjoyed other foods (not on Oceania) in delicate puff pastry. We both are crazy about the glazed sea bass in Red Ginger. How does the seabass compare between the Jacques and Red Ginger? Ah, how we miss our traveling... GC

Something to consider if you do have insurance that includes foreign travel is what amount of reimbursement it will cover. There are usually some regular limits that relate to customary fees/etc., and perhaps different criteria for emergencies... or coverage may be *only* for emergencies if overseas (or away from regular health care system). I'm not sure if travel insurance tends to have "customary fee" restrictions. We haven't seen any indication of "maximum amounts", but we also haven't submitted any "very high" medical bills. I suspect they'd investigate if costs seemed exceptionally high (?). In many cases medical care seems to be less expensive outside the USA than within, but this certainly isn't guaranteed. GC

You have something in writing from NCL, correct? Why not file a chargeback to the charge card you DID use to pay the NCL fare? That is where any credit should be posted. GC

Cruise line perhaps, and also cabin category/cost. There are often higher "service charges" for suites or such, but it's typically not a lot more. But it's the same, as far as I know, for all or most of the "regular" cabins. And those price points can vary dramatically, from the ultra-cheap insides to some of the nicer "just barely under suite" category. That service charge will be a much higher percentage for those lower cost cabins, and might "make a real difference" for someone who is barely able to afford the trip. I wouldn't expect those who can barely afford to cruise (this is different from those who can easily afford it but just want to be frugal and an "inside" is quite fine, etc.) IF they remove the service fee to then tip separately. Or not most of that group anyway. Perhaps some of them wouldn't take the cruise if the service fee was bundled into the cruise fare, but I wish they would do the bundling. I suspect many of them would still take the cruise. The stewards also work hard to change linens and clean bathrooms, etc, in the inside cabins, not just in the higher priced-accommodations. I remember way back, mid-70s, when the "tips" were handled by the steward arriving the final evening/night, to the cabin, to collect the "tip envelope" that had already been provided, complete with cabin number pre-printed. It was a very unpleasant "in your face" coercion-like experience, and it eliminated any good feelings about giving a tip for good service. GC

Do the final stage of your recovery on a warm weather cruise. Just consider it as a "floating rest hotel" (can't think of better terminology). Don't plan any excursions. Have room service as much as you wish. Sit in the sun, or the shade, as preferred. Make sure you have a balcony large enough for a lounger. We had a cruise planned shortly after I somehow ended up with a torn rotator cuff which was horrendously painful, but I had meds to make it vaguely bearable. My physician would have preferred to write a letter for a travel insurance claim, but he agreed that if I "took it easy" (the pain made anything else almost impossible anyway!), he'd be okay with it. DH had to help me dress, cut some of my food for me, etc. We cannot think of a better way to have spent that time! 🙂 GC

Uh oh... Triplicate!! 😡

It might be worse that this. At least some CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason) policies require that you cancel at least 48 hours before planned departure. GC

duplicate - sorry!

Yes, "things happen". It can be scary to contemplate, because the "thing" could be almost anything, and at any time. When that volcano on White Island erupted, we were just off a different NZ/Australia cruise and still in Sydney before flying home. I don't think that our cruise had offered that particular excursion. However, it did make us think of the bubbling "drive in volcano" in St. Lucia. We had a chance to see that when no one else was around, which made it a bit more spooky (and the White Island catastrophe had not yet happened). We were fascinated and also vaguely alarmed to think we were right at the top of a living, breathing volcano, albeit not one that is considered as a "real volcano" by comparisons with volcanoes like in Hawaii. It was an uncomfortable feeling, and we didn't stay very long for that reason. But there is a very short sort of boardwalk, and then one is just about "right there". The first time we encountered it, it was mobbed, with many big tourist buses, so we didn't stop. We went back during our next trip to St. Lucia, and our guide arranged a time when there wouldn't be tour groups. However, we didn't expect to be all alone. As we were leaving, two other people arrived. The solitude made it even more eerie. Now, thinking of White Island... I don't know. I can't imagine we'd go near the place in St. Lucia again. There had been recent warnings about White Island, with the risk/warning level higher. Afterwards. there was considerable discussion about whether anyone should have been there then at all. It was just awful, and it certainly did cast a pall over our immediate memories of our time in New Zealand a week or two earlier (and our later memories, now, as well). Very, very sad. I think that at our ages, having seen more of life - and death - we have become even more risk averse than we already were. White Island definitely added to that concern. OMG! When I just went to find a better photo of the "bubbling", I learned that there WAS ANOTHER ERUPTION IN APRIL, 2021! NOTE: This is the volcano a neighboring island, St. Vincent. Still... much too close for comfort. (Yes, there was sufficient advance notice, with evacuations, thank goodness.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Soufrière_(volcano) https://disasterphilanthropy.org/disasters/la-soufriere-volcano-eruption/ photo from https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/04/1089722 DH and I are looking at each other now, wide-eyed. Like I wrote above, it felt uncomfortable when we were there, and we didn't stay as long as we would have liked... (I have not edited my comments above the red text, but... I would have written them quite differently if I had done my homework *before* writing rather than after!) As airboss1998 wrote above, we "don't live life in fear, but [we] might do [our] homework a bit more..." 😱 GC

We get travel insurance, and we've had several claims, including some large ones. However, the first time we had a claim for medical expenses, the total wasn't much, some charges from the ship's medical center/staff, plus a few hours spent at a land-based ER (where they told us that the ship's physician had done "exactly the right thing, and we'll just keep you here for a couple of hours to make sure you are stable..." And our regular health insurance covers us "anywhere" in an emergency. So we dutifully sent in COPIES of the receipts from the ship and the ER. NOTE: Good thing it was "copies" because our ordinarily good insurance kept losing the documents... after acknowledging receipt. We finally had to go to the head of HR/Benefits at Employer to complain. She then took over (thank goodness it wasn't anything sensitive!), and they played the *same* games with her. Then... they ran out the clock for our travel insurance for us to make the claim that our primary insurer had denied the claim... because they still hadn't even done that! We told Employer at that point that we were going to file a complaint with the Insurance Commissioner's Office. We were beyond furious. Note that our Employer "self insures"; the "insurer" simply processes claims, or, er, does *not* process them. (We suspect that at that point, Employer may have directed our insurer to PAY, and perhaps Employer even paid extra, but we'll never know if that happened.) After that, we *always* get PRIMARY travel insurance, meaning we do not need to be declined by some other insurer first. We NEVER had any such nonsense from our travel insurer, even for large claims! And we never have problems like that with our regular health care claims. That HR/Benefits head said that she thought that "maybe they don't do many international claims and just didn't know how to handle them..." That doesn't really account for the repeated many times, "We can't find the forms you submitted, could you send them again?" to both us and then later to her. 😡 Note that I emphasized sending COPIES above! Never send "only copies" of anything! GC

Jersey42 has given you a clear explanation of why this is NOT any type of fraud. Disliking the terms of a policy after you have a claim and find that something wasn't ever included in the first place... that's not fraud. In this case, it's you not reading the policy thoroughly enough to understand it. IF you hadn't liked these terms, you could have gotten a different policy, or not gotten any at all (they are probably all similar in this respect, but I'm not sure). And posting this same complaint in 4 places in about 24 hours isn't going to help, either. GC

Ah yes, we have used our travel insurance, although we certainly wish there had been no need to do so. ALL of the assorted claims were paid very promptly, and without nonsense. A few of them were large claims. We purchased policies from Travel Insured, through TripInsuranceStore.com, an insurance broker who offer a variety of policies from several vetted insurers. Our claims have dealt with everything from our very first insured trip, when at the last minute (well, last 2 weeks before planned departure), DH had a medical emergency, and the only travel we did for several weeks was among various medical facilities. ALL of our non-refundable costs (which were 100% of everything at that late date) were paid in about 2 weeks after we sent in the claim form and our receipts plus a form from the physician. We also had to cancel a trip because very elderly MIL landed in hospital about a week before a planned trip. We had a flight home from Barbados where the incoming flight never arrived, so we went back to our 5* resort where fortunately they still had a room for us (week before Christmas); the flight arrived and then departed the following morning. I landed in hospital overseas, and instead of one night at a 5* hotel before heading to visit dear friends, DH spent several nights alone there, until I was able to join him. But I was judged too sick to travel for a few more days, so we stayed about a week. We then needed special transportation in order to recover the final week of our trip. There were a few other claims. We have no quarrel whatsoever. Quite the opposite; we've been very pleased (except for the need actually use the insurance in the first place, of course). However, note that it is VERY important that one gets the *right* type of policy for your situation (pre-existing conditions? family members not traveling with you? Etc....) AND that you submit *receipts* along with any other requested documentation. We get travel insurance for *all* of our overseas trips! GC

Is there any reason why starting in Panama City, heading to Miami, would miss anything important (other than whatever previous ports of call there may have been)? Thanks. GC

The local news (USA) just has a brief interview with a traveler stuck in Machu Picchu. She, and others, have run out of medications. She said a few others needed meds such as blood pressure meds, and they were able to get some there. However, she said that her med is not available there; she has some in Cusco, but she isn't there, of course, and she's completely out. They all took enough for a 2 or 3 day excursion or whatever. This type of thing is always in the back of our minds. I always take "extra" even on a short excursion, but there is "extra" and there's "extra". I don't typically think of, say, a week! More like one day... One thing that made me start thinking more this was was when there was that emergency when Insignia was at St. Lucia. I remember how some local aid was trying to get meds for some of the passengers who couldn't get back on the ship even to retrieve essentials. We may keep a slightly larger supply of anything critical, and even more so if it's something that may be difficult to find locally. Um, that assumes we ever travel again. Sigh. We both are very high risk, and we haven't really gone anywhere since almost exactly 3 years ago, when we returned from an amazing NZ/Australia cruise. That woman being interviewed said that they had been notified that some helicopters were coming to help evacuate them, but there was a comment after the interview that the helicopter(s?) did not arrive after all. GC