bee-ess

I wrote to Staysure as follows and got a pretty unhelpful reply -

We have a Staysure Annual Worldwide Travel Insurance Policy and have a specific question regarding a Cruise we plan to take to the Canary Islands.

I understand that if myself or my wife test Positive for Covid-19 that we will be quarantined ashore in Spain as that is the current procedure as per the current Spanish Covid directive. What is not clear is if one of us tests positive and the other negative, are we both still covered for the cost of quarantine and repatriation once the quarantine ends on our joint policy with Staysure?

I also have the same question regarding cover if one or both of us have to quarantine ashore because we are deemed to be a ‘close-contact’ of someone who tests positive but we test negative.

This appears to be a Travel Insurance grey-area regarding cruises calling at Spanish ports with some people reporting that their Travel Insurance companies did not cover them in these circumstances and that they also had no recourse to reclaim costs from the cruise line.

I would assume that as we have both Cruise Cover and Covid-19 Cover that we are covered for the scenarios described above, please can you confirm that we will be covered for either of the above scenarios.

REPLY

Thank you for your email.
 
Whilst we would certainly cover Emergency Medical and Repatriation expenses as per your chosen policy limits for any insured traveller who contracts Covid19 whilst travelling on an insured trip, any cover for additional travellers or where you are deemed a close contact would need to be authorised by our medical officer.
 
If this situation were to arise, we would just ask that you called our 24hour medical assistance team on the contact number provided in your policy documents in order to discuss how we can help.

1 hour ago, clearblueseas said:

This is the straightforward reply my travel companions received from Staysure today.

‘’ Thank you for your email.      In response to your questions please see below;    Sadly, any costs incurred due to a change in list, or restrictions etc. including but not limited to additional testing and hotel quarantine, cannot be claimed on your travel insurance.  We can  only cover costs if you were to get a positive test.      I am sorry for the inconvenience. “   Quite unbelievable and very worrying indeed.

Thanks for this - its certainly a straightforward reply, but not the one we wanted as we are insured with Staysure. I agree this whole situation is unbelievable.

What a ridiculous situation this is. We are unable to insure ourselves against a real scenario that could happen to any of us although the odds are very low against it happening. Even if the insurance companies made it a small supplementary policy I'm sure we would all pay it.

My opinion is that the cruise line should just pick up the cost weighed out against the extra people that will cruise if they are fully covered.

Puts me off cruising really until this is resolved.

1 hour ago, howmuch! said:

Its like 'pass the parcel' , but we have no idea who's controlling the music!

Somebody has to be left holding the parcel and unfairly at the moment that is the passenger !

Surely if the insurance companies won't pay out unless testing positive then you would think for the small number of cases involved that the cruise line would pick up the bill. I would think that would give  the passengers more security  knowing that the cruise line will pay if the insurance won't and that in turn that would make more people cruise.

18 minutes ago, wowzz said:

This topic was touched on in the thread about laundry, but rather than hijack that thread,  I thought I'd start a new one.

It's been some years since I priced up a Caribbean cruise, so I did some dummy bookings for January 2023. Just a normal balcony cabin, select fare, is coming in at around the £6000 mark for the two of us ! Is it me, or does that seem expensive ?

By comparison, the same cabin grade on Princess, complete with Princess Plus (so all drinks included) is around £4000. Obviously air fare and a pre-cruise hotel is required, but even so, the overall cost will still be lower, and one could argue,  the quality of the cruise will be better.

Feel free to call me a mean old sod - I won't be offended! 

I noticed that as well, 22/23 is more expensive than 23/24 for the Caribbean , don't really know why.

Our 14 night Fly cruise to E.Med in July cost us £2400pp (£60 pp OBC)for a HB Balcony booked at launch.

Is now £3500pp (£170pp OBC) for the same. Happy with that,  we always book on launch.

Thanks for your detailed report Izzywiz. I'm sorry to read that you and your husband are in isolation, although it's not an ideal situation it seems from your report that it is a better scenario than being quarantined in Spain and that P&O are looking after you. Incidentally we were originally booked on this cruise but moved it on payment date.

Unless P&O are going to allow all passengers to move their cruise after payment I  think that to give ALL customers the opportunity to assess the situation as late as possible that payment terms should be reduced to 30 days. No-one can predict what the situation will be in 3 months time (longer if you use some TA's). 

It is obvious from reading this forum that a lot of people who are not cruising at the moment are not doing so because of the current quarantine rules, namely being taken ashore to quarantine hotels. I cannot understand why various countries would welcome this arrangement, unless it is some sort of moneymaking exercise. I'm sure that many would take a chance on catching Covid if they had the security of knowing they could isolate on the ship, unless of course they had serious illness. The odds of catching covid on the ship are low and everyone will have been vaccinated, so that reduces the chances further.

Surely the cruise lines should be trying to negotiate with the countries involved to get agreement to quarantine on the ship if that is even possible.

14 hours ago, Bon0 said:

If it helps..

 

I completed my Health Declaration today for a holiday which starts in a couple of days.  I must not have answered the questions to their satisfaction - some of the people we spent Christmas with have come down with COVID (we are still testing negative).  However, long story short, they have cancelled our holiday and will refund the full balance as FCC..

I think this is what I would be doing !

4 minutes ago, Eddie99 said:

… it makes the January 35 nighter on Ventura look pretty precarious.

 

Long ago and far away I was booked on it - having moved to it from  a 2020 booking, in hope that 2022 might see us free of this curse.  How optimistic we were then.  I think that original October 2020 cruise has been transferred 4 times now … what do you reckon are my chances for March 2024 to the Med?

 

Seriously - I feel for those who still have a Ventura booking for January.  What a dilemma if P&O don’t pull it.  What a disappointment for some if they do

I think I would be looking to move it if they would let me, if not I'd be hoping it is cancelled. I would not like to be going on a 5 week cruise at this time.

7 minutes ago, davecttr said:

As mentioned elsewhere I phoned P&O today and they are dealing on a case by case basis. I now have a new cruise for January 2023 and have already received the booking confirmation - phew!

Well Done !

1 hour ago, terrierjohn said:

Do you remember if the end Jan date quoted referred to the period in which you could cancel, or did it refer to when the cruise was due to depart?

I think It was the period in which you could cancel because our cruise was in March.

I would talk to them about moving your cruise even though you have paid, they seemed open to that when I spoke to them recently. We were at payment time and I was told that I could pay and move later (up until the end of Jan was quoted) We decided not to do that and we just moved our March cruise until Sept but the option was there and that may suit you as you have already paid.

I would ditch and switch. my complaint is that you are being asked to make a decision on what things will be like in April, who knows ? I think in the current circumstances there should be 30 day payment terms at which time you would have a clearer picture of conditions.

52 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

We've just enjoyed the carol concert in the atrium so on a happy note I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and good health for 2022.

 

Thanks for all your help and information regarding quarantine and insurance. I hope your current cruise continues to work our for you and you have a great Christmas on board.

3 hours ago, cruising.mark.uk said:

Thanks you so much Megabear and Molecrochip for your informed, balanced and sensible reporting of the facts which, for me, counter balances so much of the ill-informed speculation and rumour-mongering which is prevalent on here.  And, Megabear, so pleased that those who are actually cruising are having a fantastic time.  Your thread mirrors many similarly upbeat reports from current cruisers across a wide variety of lines on other boards.  I'm very pleased that so many are having fantastic cruise holidays, despite the inevitable hurdles and inconveniences, notwithstanding all of the nonsense on here from armchair cruisers (many of whom have expressed firm intentions not to cruise under current circumstances) suggesting - in so many words - that the world is about to end.  My wife and I had a similarly excellent time on staycaytions in August and October and your reports make me certain that we will have another fantastic cruise in February, albeit we will embark with eyes wide open about the possible risks.

I think this is a little harsh. I am one that does not want to cruise in the current situation, particularly because of the issue quarantine in a foreign country. I have never said that I won't cruise again or that the world is going to end. Nor have I posted any ill-informed speculation or rumour mongering. It is a question of risk and at the moment it is a risk I am not prepared to make. Many on here who fall in the group you have maligned are experienced cruises and have enough experience of life to make their own decision without being lectured to.

12 minutes ago, bobstheboy said:

Thank you for your reply confirming social media reports of Covid on Iona. Your comments are dismissive of the seriousness to passengers, who are being put ashore on Spanish territory, isolated and have to fly home. Many, my wife and I included, do not want this and it is not the holiday we signed up for. You only mention the arrangements onboard, not what happens when you reach the first Spanish port.

 

Enjoy your holiday. How can you when you live in fear of the above situation ?

I agree and the quarantine issue is the reason that we have moved both our January and March cruises. In my opinion I cannot see how you can enjoy a cruise with all the restrictions and the fear of getting infected and being quarantined ashore.

This is just my opinion but I think that the cruise lines need to do the responsible thing and curtail cruising at this time.

1 hour ago, Cristaltips said:

11 February, USA and Caribbean on Ventura 35 nights 

I was told by P&O that the 'offer' to move paid up cruises is currently only until the end of January, so that is probably the reason. May we worth trying again nearer the end of January, they may have extended the period by then.

40 minutes ago, zap99 said:

Did you all watch P&O's. ' upon a star '?. Did you win a cruise?. No, me neither🤧

Nor Me

37 minutes ago, bobstheboy said:

So PandO are still only going outside their published T&C''s to those in the know ?

I was told that this is not a change to T and C's but some additional help to those who don't feel comfortable travelling at this time. I think if they change the T&C''s they may get a flood of people wanting to change. and that they are happier handling it on a request basis

On 12/15/2021 at 9:08 AM, terrierjohn said:

You have your get out then, if you dont want to cruise just now.

Yes, I spoke to them today and was told that you can move your cruise to any cruise currently being sold even if you have paid your balance. I was told that this option is available from 5th Dec until the end of January for anyone who has paid their balance.

2 hours ago, Glitterati said:

We are meant to join Azura on Christmas Day. All of us will have had our booster, so that is slightly more reassuring. Really wish P&O had a better cancellation policy like RCI/X. We have no choice but to go or loose £10k. 
 

The news is worrying, but as many have said, being on a cruise with double vax, double tested people is probably the safest place to be over Christmas. 
 

Whatever happens, I just want P&O to keep us informed!!

I believe if you contact P&O you can still move your cruise if you are unsure about going. I spoke to them today and was told you can move your cruise to any cruise currently being sold even if you have paid your balance. I was told that this option is available from 5th Dec until the end of January for anyone who has paid their balance.

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

Which is what we will do with our Princess and Saga cruises later next year as well.

As adults, we can make our own decisions based on the information available at the time. Government edicts (both British and continental) are constantly changing,  and expecting 100% clarity now on the possible situation in three months time is unrealistic. 

If anyone is unhappy about the information they have at present,  cancel the  cruise, because there certainly will not be any more information today, despite Bob saying an announcement was imminent.

Of course it is, I'm not expecting that. What I expect from P&O is clarity on how they plan to manage cruises to Spain for all, not just a few who have been offered it, if there is a reason for offering it to some thenit should be in the current rules for all.

45 minutes ago, bobstheboy said:

Come on P& O,  we need updated info, not the situation at the moment when some are being treated differently to others, and I know I am not talking directly to the company, but they do get passengers concerns through at least one person on here.

I agree, as it stands currently we run the risk of paying up our balance and the being refused the option to move the cruise later, which is the option that others seem to have been allowed to do. We need clarity by amending the rules for all (or none !). With 5 cruises booked I would like to think we would be allowed to move a cruise but who knows ! I would like clarification as I have a balance to pay on Friday.