soccersharon

12 hours ago, MR_T said:

We got our 3rd shot and wasn’t even asked why we wanted it, all we were asked was what vaccines we had so they could make sure we got what we needed. At no point was we asked why or what sort of travel we were getting it for, also, the nurse mentioned they were getting a lot of people getting the 3rd shot for vacations/cruises. 
 

 

Interesting!  I think what the government says and what happens “on the ground” can differ.  Glad you were able to receive your third dose.

3 hours ago, DebbieActon said:

Manulife's Covid policy doesn't cover Covid for medical expenses for cruisers under the government's current travel advisory against cruising.   Blue Cross is now covering medical expenses for Covid for cruisers, as a normal unexpected medical event regardless of vaccination status.  But please check with them to confirm, as travel insurance is complicated right now.

Trying to find the cruise insurance on the Blue Cross Quebec site - and there’s nothing 😞  Not cruising until next April (recently cancelled for November).  Things can change, but would like to review the plan.

3 hours ago, ilovetotravel1977 said:

Just read this that Blue Cross is resuming cruise insurance:

 

https://news.paxeditions.com/news/cruise/blue-cross-has-resumed-selling-travel-insurance-cruises-canadians

It doesn’t specifically mention insurance for any Covid related emergencies though.  

On 8/5/2021 at 4:00 PM, brontravel said:

I’ve read the policy a few times to see what the exclusions are. It clearly states that there is no emergency medical coverage if it is related to the level 4 travel advisory, which is the level Canada has for cruises right now. If it drops to a level 3, Avoid all Non Essential travel then it will cover Covid related expenses. Medical expenses not related to the advisory are still covered. Insurance is so confusing. You really gotta read through the policy or get it in writing that what you want is covered. Verbal isn’t enough. 

Thank you!  There is another thread on this board where one of the posters insisted Cruises are covered for Covid related medical, etc.  Even after a couple of us has contacted them - and we’re told no.

14 minutes ago, archer_310 said:

I've contacted the Quebec health agency and they indicated that you had to live or work in Quebec in order to get a 3rd dose for traveling.  I'm from Ontario.  Does anyone from Quebec know if this is accurate and if there is a way for someone from another province to get a 3rd dose?  I need to get one by this Sunday or we have to cancel our upcoming cruise.

Québec confirmed last week I believe, that 3rd doses will only be administered for “essential” travel. 
 

Link:  https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/advice-and-prevention/vaccination/covid-19-vaccine#c108629

Of course here in Quebec, we were encouraged to take the first vaccine we could as well.  But I was monitoring the vaccine delivery schedules, and this paid off for me.  I waited an extra couple of weeks, and Pfizer became available.  I wasn’t comfortable personally with taking AZ, and now I’m really happy I waited.  Double dosed with Pfizer now.

3 hours ago, Fouremco said:

The problem here is that the question asked was too broad. If asked whether they provide medical-only coverage for COVID-19 rather than "travel insurance", the response would have been different.

 

As I noted in this post, @AlbertaCruisers took the time to ask the right questions when speaking to a Manulife representative and was given an affirmative answer on the availability of medical coverage: 

 

 

As there written policy states that they provide medical coverage, travel advisories notwithstanding, and as someone asking the appropriate questions with a Manulife representative was given the same information, I can only conclude that the company does in fact offer the coverage.

 

 

 

On that we can agree! 😇 Our next booking isn't until March, and hopefully many of the current issues will be well behind us by then.

Amen to that!

2 hours ago, Fouremco said:

I don't know what to tell you at this point, as the agent you spoke to contradicted the Manulife Travel Insurance COVID-19 Pandemic Travel Plan for Travelling Canadians. You are welcome to read the entire policy document   

(https://www.coverme.com/content/dam/affinity/coverme/english/documents/coverme-covid-19-pandemic-travel-plan-policy.pdf )

but the pertinent information can be found in SECTION 8 – Emergency Medical Exclusions & Limitations, paragraph 25:

 

Any act of terrorism or any medical condition you suffer or contract when an official travel advisory issued by the Government of Canada states, "Avoid all non-essential travel" regarding the country, region or city of your destination, before your effective date. To view the travel advisories, visit the Government of Canada Travel site. For claims due to Coronavirus (COVID-19), this exclusion does not apply. Exception: Treatment for Coronavirus (COVID-19) and related complications that you suffer or contract while you are on a cruise or any destination included in your cruise itinerary is not covered if you have not received the vaccine. [emphasis added]

 

That paragraph clearly states that if you are vaccinated, COVID medical claims are not excluded because of the existence of a travel advisory. My best guess is that the agent to whom you spoke was simply unaware of the exclusion to the exclusion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Either way, most of (even with insurance), cannot risk being quarantined for 14 days outside the country.  Cruising will have to wait until 2022 for us now.  Hoping things will have improved dramatically by then.

2 hours ago, petuniaflower said:

Our blue cross does not cover, so Im looking for alternatives.

This was my chat with Manulife..

 

Also looked into Johnson, found this, I read it to mean they include covid emergency medical (but maybe not trip canellation) regardless of travel advisory (bottom sentence), but doesnt specifically mention cruises..not sure if Im reading the exclusions correctly though..its page 23 under exclusions if anyone wants to take a read..so I decided to call before I posted this, Johnson said they do provide the covid emergency medical regardless of travel advisory, just not trip cancellation, and cruises are treated no different than land vacations.

I should mention she asked me what affiliation I had, so I went online to see what options there were and I am a Centennial College grad so I said that and she said sometimes that makes a difference, so Im not exactly sure what that means..

Yup!  The Cover Me Covid-19 plan does not include cruises - as I was told as well.

5 hours ago, Fouremco said:

Yes, for cruises too.

 

@AlbertaCruisers called both Manulife and Johnson and was given the same positive response:

 

 

As my post above clearly shows, Johnson/Medoc states that:

 

Emergency Medical Insurance benefits continue to provide coverage for eligible emergencies related to COVID-19, even while a Canadian travel advisory related to COVID-19 is in effect.

 

Note that they don't specify what travel advisory, other than one "related to COVID-19". They do not differentiate between land travel and cruising.

 

In any event, there is little sense in debating the issue here any further. If you continue to disbelieve the information that you have been provided, I suggest that you telephone the companies yourself.

 

 

I did call Manulife last week - and it was an emphatic “no” to cruises while the Level 4 (a.k.a.  do not travel) advisory is in place.  I questioned the agent about cruising in particular - and it was a firm no.  I know the passages in the policy make it seem like cruise travel is covered (called the agent put on that.  Her answer was “people should be reading the exclusions”.  Sigh.

Either way, I hope folks have a quarantine plan in place, are able to be away from home, and miss work for 14 days if a positive test is revealed before travelling home.  That was a deal-breaker for us.

On 7/27/2021 at 12:12 PM, Fouremco said:

As @d9704011 says, there certainly are companies providing insurance even while the travel advisory is in effect. Here's an excerpt from one of Medoc's documents provided with my annual renewal:

 

COVID-19 coverage available for Emergency Medical Insurance benefits

Emergency Medical Insurance benefits continue to provide coverage for eligible emergencies related to COVID-19, even while a Canadian travel advisory related to COVID-19 is in effect.

For cruise ship travel too?  For land vacations yes - since non-essential travel is a level 3, you can certainly find policies which cover Covid related issues.

But not for cruises.

On 7/24/2021 at 6:19 AM, d9704011 said:

Absolutely not true.  Manulife Cover Me travel insurance is being sold with coverage for cruise travel as long as the traveler is vaccinated.

 

Manulife is not the only insurer selling foreign travel policies with cruise travel included (Johnson is another).

 

I don't suppose you could move on from this particlar falsehood of yours?

They will not cover cruise travel while the Level 4 Travel Advisory is in effect.

Your rate should be listed under “Guest Notes” on the bottom of your confirmation/invoice emailed to your by your TA or Carnival.

Love this idea!  Happy to see a group dedicated to Canadian cruisers!

7 hours ago, Magicat said:

Hmmm, we got vaccinated in the US.  I wonder if I can input that information to Ontario health and get a certificate.  But then we have CDC cards which I would imagine be accepted.  I will keep you posted.

In Quebec at least, you can.  My husband was vaccinated in the US while away for an extended time in the US.  He had to submit his info and the rep made a copy of his CDC card.  Took a little while, but he just heard that his vaccination was recognized by QC and received his QR code.

Video from the Pride November 2019.  Rough seas and high winds caused us to return to Baltimore Monday instead of Sunday.  Great cruise, though!

49 minutes ago, crewsweeper said:

Well, the CDC just released another study similar to the one back in October that basically says, masks don't prevent spread, but wear them anyway.  So if they can't be clear on masks how in the heck do you expect them to be clear on when cruise ships can sail again?

Could you provide a link to the CDC article?  It seems that masks, when worn correctly, do prevent droplets from entering the air.

On 3/5/2021 at 7:36 AM, ProgRockCruiser said:

And maybe this is where the RFID wristbands or similar (e.g. Medallion) may be the way to go - you can't enter if the door won't open for you...

Not sure about now, but on the Vista in 2016, we have Havana stickers on our S&S cards as well.

2 hours ago, rodndonna said:

 

We're Canadian and I get them constantly from CCL and also Players Club (also seperate emails to both of us). It seems daily and can be more than once a day. If I click in and go look at any particular cruise to mock book for a price -  well - then they seem to just stalk me with targeted emails at that cruise for a bit as well.

 

I kinda like them right now ... nice break from Covid news and easy enough to delete. 

Would rather get CCL emails too!

I usually book with my TA - wondering if that's why I don't receive any emails.  Regardless, just happy to have a few cruises to look forward to.  Be safe!

1 hour ago, Aplmac said:

 

Do you have an account at their website,

and do they have your email address? I'd make sure of that.

 

Yes to both!  Been sailing with CCL since 2008.  No biggie.

5 hours ago, Aplmac said:

 

Something's wrong ^

 

Look where I live -and I have no cruises booked

but then maybe that's your 'problem' - you have 4 cruises booked.

No need to reach out to you. Could that be it?

Maybe 😁  It would be nice to hear from them a little though 😉 

I have the opposite problem:  I don't receive any marketing emails.  None.  Nada.  Wondering if it's because I'm Canadian, with 4 cruises booked.  No clue 🤷🏻‍♀️ 

Based on my experience on the Vista class ships, the only people who you should see while enjoying your patio, are your fellow Havana guests.  I can't imagine this would be different on the Celebration.

November 2021 on the Magic.  Hopeful, but not counting on it.  I'm also booked on the Horizon in 2022 and the Panorama in 2023.  Can't wait to get back!

Not to mention the states with the most popular embark ports (Florida, Texas, and California) are experiencing a surge of cases.