Babr

If I may - The Risk Free Guarantee Voucher was a temporary amendment to the Viking cancellation policy separate from the Viking sponsored insurance policy. That offer has expired for new bookings. Just about all the cruise lines offered similar programs to encourage guests to return to cruising with some assurance that COVID would not put them at financial risk. The the cruise-line branded policy sold by Viking is insurance underwritten by Generali and administered by TripMate. The insurance policy reimburses in cash for covered reasons. The policy also includes a CFAR provision with FCC from Viking if the cancellation is rejected by the insurance portion of the policy because it was not for a covered reason. You are exactly correct to call it an incentive by the cruise line. They sell the policy with their name on it and include CFAR at little cost to them because it offers another source of profit. They don’t even have to underwrite the cost or process the claims. All cruise-line insurance offering CFAR (except HAL) works this way. If you want CFAR with cash reimbursement, you have to buy a third-party policy within a defined period after your initial cruise payment and pay an additional premium. Otherwise, the standard cancellation penalties apply.

Evacuation in travel insurance provides for hospital-to-hospital transfer if you require a higher level of care. It must be medically necessary and involves approval of the participating doctors, the receiving hospital, and the insurance provider. Typically, you are treated in-country and returned home by commercial air once you are able to travel. That is why many recommend MedJet. It is a membership service that allows you to make the decision about being transferred. Evacuation does not mean air/sea rescue. That maneuver is performed by specially trained military units of the nearest country capable of providing the service. If you are out of range, it does not happen. As another post describes, the captain diverts to the nearest port, and the patient is disembarked. In the meantime, the ship’s doctors provide the best care they are equipped to deliver. In any event, travel insurance does not pay for air/sea rescue. It is provided at no cost as part of the mission to aid ships at sea. Your cost (and travel insurance coverage) begins when the helicopter touches land.

That’s it. Good reason (defined in policy) = cash reimbursement. Arbitrary reason (anything else) = FCC. Apparently Viking offers another option with the risk-free voucher; but, in general, CFAR covers cancellation for any reason other than those defined in the policy. These days COVID is treated as any other illness. With proper documentation such as test results and a doctor’s advice not to travel, it qualifies as a covered reason. Holland America is the only cruise line policy that is truly CFAR. All cancellations are treated the same regardless of the reason. Reimbursement is 90% cash for the Platinum, 80% for Standard. Third-party policies offer it for an additional premium but reimburse at a much lower level - 50% to 75%.

Insurance that allows for cancellation due to inclement weather requires that public roadways be closed by official order. If you just don’t want to make the drive because of treacherous road conditions even though they remain open, you will not be covered. In that case, CFAR is the only option. Cruise line insurance usually offers this with FCC reimbursement rather than cash. It may be a cost- effective choice if all other provisions and coverage are acceptable to you. Consider comparing the cruise line policy and third-party insurance. You’ll pay extra for CFAR, and it is a time sensitive purchase, but you’ll be reimbursed in cash albeit at a reduced rate. Talk to the folks at Trip Insurance Store. They may have a better suggestion.

I’m pretty sure they are processing it as Trip Delay because it happened after you disembarked. You were delayed en route to returning home. That is why you are eligible only for the $500 reimbursement. Covered Hazard for delay includes quarantine, but that is not the same thing as being required to produce documentation to fly. Even though it is related, there is no black letter provision for it in the policy. As a side note, AON is the administrator who processes the claim. They do that for a number of cruise line policies. If you want to avoid them, be sure to check for who processes the claims regardless of the underwriter or cruise line.

I took a look at the NCL Platinum Plan, then reread your post. I see that you tested positive two days after leaving the ship. The crux of the matter seems to be how you tested and what documentation you have to support your claim. In order to qualify for Trip Interruption, you must be restricted from travel by doctor’s orders or be quarantined by a government official or doctor. Do you have any paperwork to substantiate either? Are you getting Trip Interruption or Trip Delay? They are not the same thing. The dollar limit for Trip Delay is $500, and it covers quarantine as a hazard but not illness. Maybe that is why they are asking for a quarantine order. I’m not sure the CDC statement by itself will be much help. You first have to show that you tested positive and received official orders not to travel in order to satisfy the terms of the policy. At the very least, you’d need documented test results. If you do not have anything else, send the proof of each test result along with the CDC document. I don’t have enough information about your circumstances to offer any other recommendation.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/28/2021-01977/requirement-for-negative-pre-departure-covid-19-test-result-or-documentation-of-recovery-from How about this? It is a link to the CDC order for a pre-departure negative test. It does not mention quarantine; nevertheless, you could not fly without a negative test. That should still qualify for Trip Delay, though I have not read the NCL policy. Did you test positive on the ship? Did they give you any documentation?

I was thinking of medical coverage for doctors, treatments, medication or hospitalization. The medical evacuation covers hospital-to-hospital transfer if you need a higher level of care. It involves the approval of the participating doctors, the receiving hospital, and the insurance company. You’ll be treated in country and returned home by commercial air once able to travel. Your supplemental medical policy likely offers the same kind of coverage for evacuation. If you want the option to make the decision for yourself to return home for treatment, look into a membership in MedJet Assist.

The Chase card is primarily for cancellation - up to the policy limits- if it is not related to a pre-existing condition. Trip Interruption reimburses unused prepaid nonrefundable expenses if you must cut your trip short. Third-party policies also pay for the increased cost of transportation home, but Chase allows for only a change fee. As Dave says, Trip Interruption does not apply to onboard quarantine for the reason you have already expressed. There is no reimbursable loss if one remains on the ship and continues to receive services. I expect the same is true for third-party policies, but it is difficult to speak in absolutes when discussing insurance because there are so many variations. Speak to a travel insurance professional if you are interested in this coverage to see if it is available. The portion of a travel policy that would cover shoreside quarantine if required is Trip Delay, which will pay for hotel and meals if one is delayed for a covered reason. The Chase card covers delay caused by Common Carrier only - not illness - to a maximum of $500. The biggest financial risk one faces with travel is medical. Chase offers no coverage. You’d have to depend on your primary insurance at home. Check to see how it covers you when you are out of the country. In short, Chase offers limited coverage. It is not intended to replace a comprehensive travel policy. It is a perk you get in exchange for your annual fee that will provide a bit of relief in specific instances.

I have heard of that happening when a ship misses a port. Cruise lines often estimate port fees and taxes but reserve the right to charge more if there is a significant difference. It could be that the amount for missing a single port was retained to make up for a shortage in the original assessment. If you can’t board because of COVID, that is a cancellation. You’ll be refunded taxes and fees. Your concern is for trip interruption. If you are considering the Allianz annual plan, the $2,000 option for cancellation gets you $2,000 in trip interruption as well. Perhaps you are looking at a different company.

Port fees and taxes are refundable. Period. They are collected by the cruise line to pay port authorities and government agencies based on tonnage of the ship and number of passengers. It is a separate line-item for that specific purpose. Cruise lines are not allowed to keep this money in the event of cancellation or missed ports because it is not part of the cruise fare. It is refunded automatically even if the ship misses a port while you are on a cruise. Insurance will reimburse only the prepaid nonrefundable unused portion of expenses.

Yes, there are differences in policies depending on state laws that govern them, but it does appear that the Trip Interruption provision still applies. I hope Viking can provide you with the necessary documentation so that the process goes well from here on. Calculate a per diem cost for the cruise day missed and any pre-cruise arrangements made by Viking such as a hotel stay.

The travel benefits offered by credit cards are underwritten by those insurance companies you hate so you are not assured that the claims process will be any less onerous.

Yes, Steve and his associates are an excellent resource for helping to find the right policy and, in situations like this, assisting in filing a claim. In the meantime, file this claim under Trip Interruption according to provisions in the policy. Your policy was in effect on the Scheduled Departure date, but you were prevented from leaving as scheduled because of an injury. You are entitled to recover losses for unused part of the trip, transportation to join the trip, and excess medical expense not covered by your primary medical insurance.

https://www.tripmate.com/plan/print_certificate/59EAE8E6-508C-4A82-BDFA-A48D32AF65A0 You probably have a copy of the policy, but I am putting a link here for quick reference. I think your claim comes under Trip Interruption. Scroll down to that section of the policy (page 16 of 44). This provision reimburses you for the unused portion of the trip (missed day in Venice) and transportation to catch up to your trip if you must leave after your scheduled departure date because of a covered reason (injury/surgery).

CFAR with cruise-line sponsored insurance has no impact on the cost because it is not insurance. It is an incentive provided by the cruise line. You are reimbursed in future cruise credits not cash, which costs them little except for administration. They are simply giving you a voucher for your money which they already have and will retain until you use the voucher. If you don’t use it, you lose the money. It is true that CFAR in third-party policies requires an additional premium, and its purchase is time-sensitive. In that case, you are reimbursed in cash but at a reduced rate - usually 75%. So, yes, some people do buy cruise-line sponsored insurance to get CFAR because it is less expensive that way - not more. If there is a difference in cost, it is for other reasons. Third-party policies consider age, amount insured, length of trip, and levels of coverage.

If you are using miles, don’t insure the flight. Insurance will not reimburse. Airlines had dropped fees to redeposit miles during COVID, but there are policies that will cover the fee if you are interested in that coverage. Your other post-departure benefits remain in place such as Trip Delay or Trip Interruption. If you are concerned about flight problems that could keep you from getting to the ship in time, be sure the policy has a Missed Connection provision and look for language that says it will reimburse unused portion of trip if you are delayed by Common Carrier. As always, mention it to Steve when you call just to be sure you are getting the correct information.

Travel insurance, including Visa, requires that cancellation be for a covered reason. Failure to provide proper documentation is not covered.

It is always best to ask the insurer, but I don’t think it is anything to be alarmed about. That is the way CFAR works in cruise line sponsored policies. You are denied a cash reimbursement by the insurance company because the claim is not for a covered reason. CFAR provided by the cruise line is for any other reason not covered by insurance. You just have to present the rejected claim in order to get the FCC. The only truly CFAR is Holland America. All cancellations are treated the same - a 90% cash reimbursement regardless of the reason.

It may be that they don’t just say “any reason” because they want to differentiate between those circumstances that are covered under the provisions of the policy and those that are not. Illness would be covered unless it is restricted by the pre-existing conditions clause. CFAR is for situations not covered in the first place or are otherwise restricted by limitations defined in the policy. It is semantics, but wording is carefully chosen for a reason. The policy is divided between benefits provided by insurance and the extra protection of FCC provided by Celebrity, which is not insurance. The process requires you to file a claim that will be denied by the insurance part of the policy, then Celebrity will grant FCC under the non-insurance provision.

I don’t think you can just get off the ship and do as you please. Disembarking early requires coordination with immigration and local authorities. Sometimes the cruise line holds everyone’s passport to facilitate port entry. I don’t think it is as simple as just walking off.

Are you asking about travel insurance or are you asking about Celebrity’s COVID policy? They are two separate things.

That is one of the advantages of cruise line sponsored plans, but it pays out in FCC, not cash (except for Holland America.) Third-party policies with this feature come with increased cost, as you pointed out, as well as time limits for purchase.

The cruise line simply sells a policy with its brand on it. The policy is actually underwritten and administered by others. As with any travel insurance, you pay upfront for any service and file for reimbursement whether onboard or shoreside. Buying through the cruise line provides no advantage in the claims process. The medical services onboard are provided by contractors. They bill you for treatment, medicines, and supplies. It will be added to you account which must be settled before you disembark.

There is no reason to expect a refund except in the case of COVID. Otherwise, the standard cancellation policy and penalties apply.