Friend had to cancel/no insurance. Is there anything that can be done?

[edmusic]

Michael wrote: Like you say, life has a way... But life isn't black and white, without any of the shades of gray. Should Carnival acquiesce in her favor, it has no bearing on what any other customer should expect. It's nothing personal, just business.

I'm just afraid of a slippery slope with cruise lines which occurred years ago in the airline industry. You used to be able to get a low priced air fare due to 'bereavement' reasons; you know when you got that call that a loved one had died and the funeral was in a couple of days. Well, as you can imagine, 'everyone' started claiming 'bereavement' to get a low fare in short notice and it ruined it for those who truly had the need, so the airlines did away with it entirely. No bereavement fares now for anyone. They don't care who died or how much you loved them; you pay full pop now.

 

I see the same thing happening here. It's not that I don't think the cruise line could make an exception, because I think at times showing compassion and bending the rules is the right thing to do. But, as word gets out that all you have to do is claim hardship and provide some type of documentation to back it up, then people will take advantage of it and spoil it for those who truly need it. Just MHO

[BoooBooKitEFk]

life sometimes gets in the way of our plans and at one point do we as adults take responsibility for our decisions? She was presented with the option of buying trip insurance and chose not to. Didn't that tell her that should a situation arise she would not get credited and have to take the loss?

 

Human nature desires us to get somethin' for nothin' but mature people live with their decisions and not cry foul when their decisions don't work out the way they hoped.

 

can you call an auto insurance company and buy insurance after an accident?

Can you buy health insurance after you're admitted to the hospital for a surgery?

i know my opinion is not the popular one but it's the logical one. I guess she can try to plead her case but shouldn't be disappointed when the answer comes down.

 

And i do believe that if carnival acquiesces to her plea, then they would be setting a precedence for all future situations and really open a pandora's box.

 

+1 --- like!

[BoooBooKitEFk]

While my comments are not the most popular on this subject, I am not without compassion and sympathy. I just thought of an idea to help the couple out and show our gratitude as American citizens for the service her husband has given for all of us to be free.

 

Why don't we as CC members offer to pay for a future cruise for the couple?

 

I'd be willing to send the first check in to Carnival to fund this cruise. Perhaps someone who is close to the Carnival Corp could look into how a fund can be established where we could all contribute to. I am certainly not wealthy by any means but I have been blessed and am willing to help out in this worthy cause.

 

Any others think this is a good idea and can help out financially? Hey, why don't we shoot for a 7 day cruise instead of a 3 day and really show our appreciation?

 

 

I REALLY hope this was done with sarcasm, as it's hard to tell with the "typed word", so to speak. :confused:

 

Not that I don't feel for the OP and her situation, but honestly... that's what insurance is for --- the UNKNOWN. :confused:

[edmusic]

Boo wrote: I REALLY hope this was done with sarcasm, as it's hard to tell with the "typed word", so to speak. :confused:

 

Not that I don't feel for the OP and her situation, but honestly... that's what insurance is for --- the UNKNOWN. :confused:

No sarcasm meant whatsoever. I am dead serious and if we can find a way to work it out with Carnival, I'll send the first check. If you read my initial posts, you'll see I am in the 'tough luck' camp but after thinking about it, I came up with what I think is a very worthwhile proposition.

 

I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is, or rather where my typing fingers are, and want to see if others will join me.

[golfadj]

Let me see... a spouse was serving in our armed forces and then the death of a parent.

 

So why not get on the soap box and teach them a life lesson. That should make us feel better, making sure someone does get special treatment.

 

Why is it some feel happy that someone else lost something? Pitiful... Perhaps on military pay the cost of insurance was out of their budget at the time?

 

Write a letter, send in a color copy of the death certificate and the notice of deployment from the military. Make sure they ask for credit on a future cruise and not a cash refund.

 

And do one more thing, thank the person that served for our freedom thank you.

 

.

 

Excellent post, thank you.

[H82seaUgo]

A friend of mine booked a cruise for the second week in December. She is a first time cruiser and did not buy insurance. Mainly because cruise was booked only a few weeks out. Husband was deployed so upon his return they decided they needed a short vacation to reconnect as a family. They chose a short 3 day cruise as a tester cruise to see if they liked it before booking a longer cruise. Unfortunately, her father passed away from a sudden illness and died the week they were to leave. She knows that without the insurance they are out the money but I told her I would just check here on the boards to see if there is anything that she might could do. They did call Carnival but of course were told that nothing could be done. Would it help if she wrote a letter to someone? Where and to whom? Any idea if there is anything that they might could do? She is not expecting a refund but perhaps a credit on a future cruise. Lesson learned to always buy insurance! I knew you guys might have suggestions for her, they have been thru so much lately with the deployment and then her dads death, I wanted to try to help if I could. Thanks!

 

i guess she just doesn't understand how insurance works. people pay premiums, where some never collect, whose funds do go to those that do. I'm sure she made the decision not to buy it, and now realizes that was wrong, and wants someone else to pay for her mistake.

 

if it were legal, try driving a car without insurance and then wonder who would pay if you have an accident.

 

but writing a letter can't hurt, expecting nothing. if written correctly, she could end up with a cruise credit.

 

not buying insurance is always a gamble. you can save money until you need it.

[RuthlessBoss]

A friend of mine booked a cruise for the second week in December. She is a first time cruiser and did not buy insurance. Mainly because cruise was booked only a few weeks out. Husband was deployed so upon his return they decided they needed a short vacation to reconnect as a family. They chose a short 3 day cruise as a tester cruise to see if they liked it before booking a longer cruise. Unfortunately, her father passed away from a sudden illness and died the week they were to leave. She knows that without the insurance they are out the money but I told her I would just check here on the boards to see if there is anything that she might could do. They did call Carnival but of course were told that nothing could be done. Would it help if she wrote a letter to someone? Where and to whom? Any idea if there is anything that they might could do? She is not expecting a refund but perhaps a credit on a future cruise. Lesson learned to always buy insurance! I knew you guys might have suggestions for her, they have been thru so much lately with the deployment and then her dads death, I wanted to try to help if I could. Thanks!

Okay, I've got a new spin to the subject (I know you were asking for help). It sounds like I'm shifting blame though. If you knew of the situation upon the death, why did you NOT step in then, offer to reschedule or something before the cruise date?

[mommiemudd]

Thanks again for the advice. She is not expecting anything, I just told her that it probably wouldn't hurt to write a letter because you never know what Carnival might do. I buy insurance for every cruise but I wouldn't feel cheated because she is my friend. I want her to love cruising as much as we do and would hate for her first experience to turn out this way. And I know they really need the break now after her dad's death. I've passed this info along to her and she is in the process of writing a letter. Even if Carnival can't provide a cruise credit I think she will be ok. She will at least feel like she tried something. She is by no means expecting a refund or even a credit for the full amount.

[cruisewritercarol]

Hi Mommiemudd. I am writing an article for Cruise Critic about cruise cancellation policies. Would your friend mind being interviewed?