Cruise Cancellation may be necessary-Advise Needed

[Fitzroy 4]

Hal cancelation insurance is excellent. You don't have to give a reason. If you have to cancel you get 80% back or 90% with Platinum.

[RJ2002]

I knew I went to the right place for advice!

 

We checked with our credit card company and it will reimburse half of our payments before trip. That is good enough for us and better than we expected if we need to cancel!

 

At this moment, I am planning to go. Seeing my dr. today to get her on board for sending enough meds with me should I have another flare-up and to get started with some PT, etc. I will ask for chair help at airports just to eliminate extra stress on body. We have airport lounge access and that will help for layovers. May have to upgrade our flights using air miles, but am happy to have that option.

 

Got an upsell email today and am thinking that a Lanai cabin might be nicer than inside for moving around and not feeling so isolated if I am bed or room bound.

 

Again, thanks for your help. Even the anticipated slightly preachy advice was understood and processed;)! The supportive emails were thoughtful sincerely appreciated!

 

Best to all,

Debbie

 

Sounds like you have a good plan!

 

Hope you are feeling better soon, and are able to go on your cruise.

[comfortcove]

I second the " go anyway " sentiment. As long as you do not disregard medical advice, go and enjoy all that you can. You may need a walker and/or a wheelchair, but hopefully your condition will respond to treatment quickly and you will recover before you sail.

 

I hope you feel better!

[Yokeko]

Hal cancelation insurance is excellent. You don't have to give a reason. If you have to cancel you get 80% back or 90% with Platinum.

 

We just checked this out today and I agree. Probably cannot do better at this point. Might even take advantage of the upsell notice we got today!

Thanks!

[sail7seas]

Don't you have to purchase HAL cancellation coverage when you make final payment?

 

Can one purchase it at a date later than final payment?

[jtl513]

Can one purchase it at a date later than final payment?

No later than the day before final payment is due. It used to be that you had to purchase within 10 days of booking for it to cover pre-existing conditions, but that changed a couple of years ago. Edited November 12, 2013 by jtl513

[sail7seas]

Thanks, John. :)

[mamaofami]

To the OP. I feel your pain, literally. I had an acute attack of sciatica several years ago and the pain was excruciating. All I can advise is, if you go on the trip, make sure your doctor gives you enough pain meds because although the ship might be able to help you out, they only have a certain amount they will dispense. Been there and done that.

 

Also, that travel scoot is great and so is renting a wheel chair.

 

I've stayed in a lanai cabin and it has its pros and cons. It is a smaller cabin, but does give you access to a deck chair right on the promenade deck where you can sit and watch the world go by.Not to mention the ocean. I picked that cabin twice because I didn't think I could walk very far.

[Yokeko]

Don't you have to purchase HAL cancellation coverage when you make final payment?

 

Can one purchase it at a date later than final payment?

 

Here is the policy, so yes, you are correct. http://media.hollandamerica.com/CPP/cpp_details.html

 

Next question- if we take advantage of today's upsell offer, we will making a final payment and shouldn't we be able to add the insurance then?

 

I wonder...

[twentyknots]

First, you have my sympathy for your sciatica and the stress of potentially having to cancel your upcoming cruise. Let's hope that you will be able to go pain free.

 

I have a long history of recurring back pain, including sciatica. I had an attack on the first evening of a cruise in April this year. I was extremely uncomfortable and barely able to walk. I always bring my trusted anti inflammatory med Volteran with me when I travel, just in case and started dosing myself right away. I found some comfortable chairs on one of the decks and sat there for an hour or so until the pain subsided enough for me to walk slowly without pain. The next day I was better and after a few days I was pain free. The good news is sciatica often resolves in a few days with rest and meds.

 

When I retuned from the cruise I tried to see my Ortho doc, but could not get an appoint for several weeks, so I went to my primary care doc. I had never been to him for back problems. He refilled my Volteran and suggested I see a PT, which no one had ever recommended for me. I was so encouraged after my first visit with the PT. He told me he was certain the exercises would help me and would give me exercises to do for strengthening and special exercises for whenever I had another attack. Since then, I have had a few episodes but I used the special exercises and the sciatica was relieved almost immediately. I continue to do my everyday exercises too.

 

My hope is you will find a good PT, get an anti inflammatory med, and be in good shape for your cruise.

[sail7seas]

Here is the policy, so yes, you are correct. http://media.hollandamerica.com/CPP/cpp_details.html

 

Next question- if we take advantage of today's upsell offer, we will making a final payment and shouldn't we be able to add the insurance then?

 

I wonder...

 

You will have to verify but I suspect when you made your final payment originally, the clock shut off. If you are buying an upsell, it is not actually final payment, which has already occured, but an 'added extra', IMO.

 

Same as you cannot buy flood insurance the day they begin to announce the river in your area is expected to overflow its banks. You cannot buy insurance to cover a condition you have already been diagnosed to be suffering. You can't buy homeowner's fire insurance when the fire breaks out.

 

I seriously doubt a claim would be honored. Not to mention, but you have, for all intents and purposes, advised HAL you have this condition. The internet Cruise Message Boards are read by all the cruise lines.

 

Hopefully, you will heal well enough to be able to travel.

Wishing you all the best.

 

Edited November 12, 2013 by sail7seas

[mescat4]

You might look into consulting a pain specialist for an epidural injection in the back. It helped me after PT and acupuncture failed to give me any relief. Needed the course of three shots to become pain free. Completed the procedure in May and was able to take 2 trips this summer including a 14 day AK cruise in July.

 

Ev

[serendipity1499]

Here is the policy, so yes, you are correct. http://media.hollandamerica.com/CPP/cpp_details.html

 

Next question- if we take advantage of today's upsell offer, we will making a final payment and shouldn't we be able to add the insurance then?

 

I wonder...

 

You will have to verify but I suspect when you made your final payment originally, the clock shut off. If you are buying an upsell, it is not actually final payment, which has already occured, but an 'added extra', IMO.

 

Same as you cannot buy flood insurance the day they begin to announce the river in your area is expected to overflow its banks. You cannot buy insurance to cover a condition you have already been diagnosed to be suffering. You can't buy homeowner's fire insurance when the fire breaks out.

 

I seriously doubt a claim would be honored. Not to mention, but you have, for all intents and purposes, advised HAL you have this condition. The internet Cruise Message Boards are read by all the cruise lines.

 

Hopefully, you will heal well enough to be able to travel.

Wishing you all the best.

 

 

Judy.. Mostly agree with you, but there are some insurance policies which cover pre-existing conditions...Not sure if your sentence

 

"You cannot buy insurance to cover a condition you have already been diagnosed to be suffering."

 

is entirely correct? However, as you say these policies must be purchased right after you make a down payment & some even before one makes their final patent on the booking which does not include an upsell.. Each policy is different..

Betty

[serendipity1499]

You might look into consulting a pain specialist for an epidural injection in the back. It helped me after PT and acupuncture failed to give me any relief. Needed the course of three shots to become pain free. Completed the procedure in May and was able to take 2 trips this summer including a 14 day AK cruise in July.

 

Ev

 

Completely agree...I've had back pain for many years.. For flare-ups, my Orthopedist has given me epidural injections.. In addition, my hip had almost collapsed in 2011, which necessitated an emergency replacement...Still using a cane when I become overly tired.. Always sure to take good walking shoes & my heating pad, with auto shut-off, on cruises, plus good pain Meds just in case of a bad flare-up! :eek: Avoiding back surgery at all costs..

 

So far it's working! :):):)

 

Betty

[Taxguy77]

You might look into consulting a pain specialist for an epidural injection in the back. It helped me after PT and acupuncture failed to give me any relief. Needed the course of three shots to become pain free. Completed the procedure in May and was able to take 2 trips this summer including a 14 day AK cruise in July.

 

Ev

 

Absolutely!

Took me a long time to find the right Dr., but a pain specialist is the category.

Good luck.

[sail7seas]

Judy.. Mostly agree with you, but there are some insurance policies which cover pre-existing conditions...Not sure if your sentence

 

"You cannot buy insurance to cover a condition you have already been diagnosed to be suffering."

 

is entirely correct? However, as you say these policies must be purchased right after you make a down payment & some even before one makes their final patent on the booking which does not include an upsell.. Each policy is different..

 

Betty

 

You're right my sentence about pre-exisiting condition is poorly worded.

 

What I meant, I thought would come through and that was you cannot have the heart attack and then buy the insurance for cancellation in case you have a heart attack. You certainly can purchase pre-existing coverage (and we do) within a prescribed number of days after our initial deposit that will cover pre-existing conditions.

 

You can't call the fire department for your house fire and then call the insurance company to write a policy. :eek:

 

 

Edited November 12, 2013 by sail7seas

[RJ2002]

You're right my sentence about pre-exisiting condition is poorly worded.

 

What I meant, I thought would come through and that was you cannot have the heart attack and then buy the insurance for cancellation in case you have a heart attack. You certainly can purchase pre-existing coverage (and we do) within a prescribed number of days after our initial deposit that will cover pre-existing conditions.

 

You can't call the fire department for your house fire and then call the insurance company to write a policy. :eek:

 

 

 

I am not so sure the highlighted section above is correct. Are you saying that someone who has had a heart attack in the past would not be covered under the pre-existing condition waiver if they had another heart attack prior to the start of their trip or while on their trip?

[mamaofami]

I am not so sure the highlighted section above is correct. Are you saying that someone who has had a heart attack in the past would not be covered under the pre-existing condition waiver if they had another heart attack prior to the start of their trip or while on their trip?

 

Not Sail, but I believe what is meant here is that if you have had a heart attack, you must buy insurance that covers a pre existing condition within the time frame set out by the insurance company. Some want it in x number of days after you first put down a deposit on a cruise, some want it at final payment, etc.

 

What you can't do is make final payment on your c ruise, have a heart attack after that, and then try to buy insurance covering that pre existing condition.

[RJ2002]

Not Sail, but I believe what is meant here is that if you have had a heart attack, you must buy insurance that covers a pre existing condition within the time frame set out by the insurance company. Some want it in x number of days after you first put down a deposit on a cruise, some want it at final payment, etc.

 

What you can't do is make final payment on your c ruise, have a heart attack after that, and then try to buy insurance covering that pre existing condition.

 

Yes, that is what I understand as well. :)