What would you do?

[cdubmom]

Here's our situation...we booked a cruise since our 8 month old niece went through some wild health issues, but then was given a clean bill of health. Our family decided to celebrate by booking a last minute summer cruise. We thought why wait...you never know what tomorrow could bring. Today we learned that the tumour has grown back very aggressively, against all odds. Even the surgeons cannot believe it. We're not sure of next step yet since two other hospitals have been contacted for consultations.

 

We are 17 days out from cruising.

 

I didn't take the insurance when booking (so can't quality for the any reason insurance claim), but called back to add the regular insurance. Now when I called to cancel, I learned two things that cause us to be denied a claim: it was a pre-existing condition that we were aware of. I was told that they look back at health records for 1 year AND since she is our niece and not immediate family, this is not covered.

 

So options are:

 

1) Cancel before day 14 arrives and lose $1460, but get back $825.

 

2) Hope for the best that maybe we can still go, but run the chance of not going and losing all of our money. My sister wants us to go and not change our plans, but you all know that we will obviously not be going if things are not going well.

 

I asked to Carnival transfer the booking to friends, but at least one original name would have to stay on the booking and that's not really feasible.

 

I am so torn as to what to do with so many things in the air....what would you do?

 

Thanks for prayers for our little one. Hoping a skilled doctor has some answers and can fix her!

 

 

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[journeymore]

Here's our situation...we booked a cruise since our 8 month old niece went through some wild health issues, but then was given a clean bill of health. Our family decided to celebrate by booking a last minute summer cruise. We thought why wait...you never know what tomorrow could bring. Today we learned that the tumour has grown back very aggressively, against all odds. Even the surgeons cannot believe it. We're not sure of next step yet since two other hospitals have been contacted for consultations.

 

We are 17 days out from cruising.

 

I didn't take the insurance when booking (so can't quality for the any reason insurance claim), but called back to add the regular insurance. Now when I called to cancel, I learned two things that cause us to be denied a claim: it was a pre-existing condition that we were aware of. I was told that they look back at health records for 1 year AND since she is our niece and not immediate family, this is not covered.

 

So options are:

 

1) Cancel before day 14 arrives and lose $1460, but get back $825.

 

2) Hope for the best that maybe we can still go, but run the chance of not going and losing all of our money. My sister wants us to go and not change our plans, but you all know that we will obviously not be going if things are not going well.

 

I asked to Carnival transfer the booking to friends, but at least one original name would have to stay on the booking and that's not really feasible.

 

I am so torn as to what to do with so many things in the air....what would you do?

 

Thanks for prayers for our little one. Hoping a skilled doctor has some answers and can fix her!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

I am so sorry to hear about your niece.

 

Did you ask the cruise line if you could change the date of your cruise? About 9 years ago I was scheduled on a Celebrity Cruise and had to have surgery. I called the cruise line and they changed the date of my cruise to 3 months later. I had insurance but would have lost part of my money paid. I think I would have got back 75 or 80%. If you haven't, check with the cruise line and see if you can change your cruise to another date.

 

Good luck.

[Tapi]

As a father of 2 little ones, my heart goes out to you.

 

There's a way to transfer the booking to two friends. You can change your booking from a double to a triple cabin. You do a name change for one of the new passengers and add the second new passenger as the third passenger. The booking will still show a third passenger (one of the original names), but on embarkation day, that third person can be a "no show".

 

Charge the new couple for the original cost of the cruise and all you have to pay will be the cost of the reduced 3rd person. This "technique" will not allow you to recover all of your money but it will minimize the amount of money that you'll loose.

 

Hope it all works out.

 

 

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[sjcruiser]

Thoughts and prayers are with your niece and family. If your sister wanted you to go, I would still go ahead, and maybe check in with them while on the cruise via the internet or email. Tapi has a great suggestion that would work, so I would look at the option if you decide to go.

[bury me at sea]

Personally, if my sister was sincere in urging me to go I would go.

 

However I would never advise anyone else what to do. The situation you describe is much too personal for me to presume what might be best for you and your family. My best wishes for all of you.

[mousey]

My suggestion is what others have already said...call and see if you can change the date of your cruise to another time.

 

Whatever you decide, I wish you and your family well and for a miracle for your niece. Prayers go out for your niece and you and your family.

[laurged]

Firstly, my thoughts are with your niece. I hope everything is okay.

 

I'm a travel agent, and unfortunately we come across situations like this more often then not. Each suggestion is definitely worth a try.

 

Good luck!

[YubaSutter]

I would go on the cruise.

[marshhawk]

I am so sorry about your niece. Cancer does what it wants regardless of surgery or treatment. It's just something that some bodies cannot defend themselves from.

 

My DH sprung it on me three weeks ago that he was going to have hip replacement surgery-their fiscal year started in April, so he has no vacation or sick time built up. Our cruise was paid for. And no insurance. For the first time, no insurance.

 

Option 1 cancel well we called about this, and we would lose more than half of the cost.

Option 2 move the cruise to a later date-turns out that since it was paid in full moving it would be a cancellation, still lose more than half.

Option 3 change the name of one person, DH says go, take a girl friend. I call regarding that and they want 200 for the new person, and they will give DH 150.00 in OBC on his next cruise.

 

I call and get a third person to talk with, she makes the name change, and doesn't charge me anything. DH doesn't get an OBC either.

 

OK, we are going, DH finds out that his cancer is back, the hip surgery is on hold, and I am thinking-do you want to be put back on this cruise????NO! He wants the hip replacement following whatever treatment they do for his cancer. Story is, call back and get someone else.

 

Or have who ever you were going with, get someone and go in your place. But I like Tapi's idea. What a way to get what you want, but fun.!

Edited June 26, 2014 by marshhawk

[Badfinger]

I would go on the cruise as well.

[Sparky2]

Sending prayers for your dear niece. Hope she gets well soon.

[cdubmom]

Thanks all! Appreciate the good ideas. Tapi, I called Carnival again today and they said that two passengers could be changed, but since I booked it with a casino rate under my name and my husband didn't get that offer, I would have to be on the ship for the rate to apply. So the transfer idea was great, but won't work in our case.

 

I tried to move it. Nope.

 

I tried to get 1/2 back as a future cruise credit. Nope.

 

She was so rude that I called back and tried someone else. Nicer, but same result.

 

So...we've decided to play it by ear. Keeping the reservation and hoping that things work out. If not, we will be no-shows. I told the rude Carnival lady it would make me feel better that Carnival won't be able to re-sell the cabin and make double the money since they are unwilling to be accommodated. She then proceeded to tell me that was such a terrible thing to do. I said we're praying when July 13 rolls around, we'll be celebrating again!

 

The tumour is actually benign, but keeps growing. It was 20cm when they removed it last time, and it's up to 15cm again. The issue is that no one seems to know how to control or eliminate it. They even told us, if it was cancerous, they would know how to proceed. :(

 

So sorry to hear of the other similar situations. I know they have a business to run, but.... :(

 

Thanks again all! :)

 

 

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[hirent]

So...we've decided to play it by ear. Keeping the reservation and hoping that things work out. If not, we will be no-shows.

 

Did you use a credit card for payment?

Some cards have travel insurance built-in if you use the card to purchase the trip.

 

Prayers for your niece, hope some doctor figures it out.

Edited June 26, 2014 by hirent

[cdubmom]

Did you use a credit card for payment?

Some cards have travel insurance built-in if you use the card to purchase the trip.

 

Prayers for your niece, hope some doctor figures it out.

 

 

Thanks! I paid with my US credit card so no travel insurance. Had I paid with my Canadian card, there's insurance, but again not for a niece or pre-existing issues.

 

 

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[chachi]

I would go on the cruise. As sad as it is, there is nothing that you can do at home to help your niece. If your sister is telling you to go, I would.

[kona_wahine]

I would also play it by ear and go if at all possible. Obviously if things get bad just before you would want to cancel. But not going isn't going to change anything. Sometimes life just stinks.

[cb at sea]

I would plan on going....the mother of the child wants you to, and the child won't be helped by your staying. Yes...it sucks, but that's the way things happen sometimes. Life isn't fair.

If the child was older and knew what was happening, I'm sure she'd tell you to have fun while you can.

Sounds callous, but it is what it is...hopefully, she won't suffer too long. Quality over quantity.

[kelly.campbell]

Just saw this. We went through this with my niece. She developed med-resistant seizures and had 4 brain surgeries in 6 months. The last one was crippling, but you do what you have to do to try and save her life. (She's still alive, but just a shell of herself.)

 

Anyways, we had the cruise booked before this all happened. So, long story short... We checked our text messages twice on the 7 day cruise, hoped she didn't die while we were gone, and tried to relax.

 

It wasn't the most fun, but the vacation was needed. You have to do what you can live with. Wishing happiness, healthiness, and healing to you and yours.

 

 

Ecstasy December 2004

Triumph December 2011

Magic March 2012

Magic December 2012

Liberty August 2014

[Syrenitee]

I'm so sorry to hear about your niece.

 

In all honesty, change your husband and get your sister to go. I'm assuming your sister wants the young lady to have a wonderful experience, plus after getting the bad news about her health this cruise is the only thing she has. Please do not take your niece without her mum, the temperature/altitude/region change might affect her health. Her mum should be with her just in case something happens

 

 

:D

[RuthlessBoss]

Any updates on the baby's condition. It's been 10 days since this dilemma came up.

[jakzak10]

Since you now have some insurance, can you ask a family doctor to give you a note saying you can't travel because of an inner ear infection or similar. This way the cancellation is not caused by a pre existing condition...just a thought

[StaceySteveDMB]

Thanks all! Appreciate the good ideas. Tapi, I called Carnival again today and they said that two passengers could be changed, but since I booked it with a casino rate under my name and my husband didn't get that offer, I would have to be on the ship for the rate to apply. So the transfer idea was great, but won't work in our case.

 

I tried to move it. Nope.

 

I tried to get 1/2 back as a future cruise credit. Nope.

 

She was so rude that I called back and tried someone else. Nicer, but same result.

 

So...we've decided to play it by ear. Keeping the reservation and hoping that things work out. If not, we will be no-shows. I told the rude Carnival lady it would make me feel better that Carnival won't be able to re-sell the cabin and make double the money since they are unwilling to be accommodated. She then proceeded to tell me that was such a terrible thing to do. I said we're praying when July 13 rolls around, we'll be celebrating again!

 

The tumour is actually benign, but keeps growing. It was 20cm when they removed it last time, and it's up to 15cm again. The issue is that no one seems to know how to control or eliminate it. They even told us, if it was cancerous, they would know how to proceed. :(

 

So sorry to hear of the other similar situations. I know they have a business to run, but.... :(

 

Thanks again all! :)

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

 

If it is benign and the mom is telling you to go then I would go.

 

 

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[Velvetwater]

Hubby and I are in a sort of similar position.

 

 

His Granddad was diagnosed with terminal cancer last year and was given til Christmas that year, he defied that and although it was still in his system he was doing ok and having check ups and pils. He recently got more pain and was told it was back in his neck and I have told hubby I will support and do whatever he wants holiday wise.

 

We booked none refundable transatlantic flights and are 40 days out so we would only get back £945 ($1400) back from our £4500 ($6000) trip but you cant tell with these things. We have insurance but it is a existing condition thats not immediate family.

 

We are going to play it by ear and see...hoping he defies predictions again.

Edited July 6, 2014 by Velvetwater

[Amatuer_Travel_Agent]

I don't know what to say about this, I to have lost my niece to early. I have always believed that the dying would always have you choose living over doting over them. If youre sister truly said to go, I would go even though everyone here understands that you would never be able to enjoy yourself as if the cancer would not have returned. Look at this cruise as a rejuvenation period where you can prepare yourself to give your sister the attention and the assistance she would need.

 

Prayers to you and your family.

Edited July 6, 2014 by Amatuer_Travel_Agent

[RuthlessBoss]

I don't know what to say about this, I to have lost my niece to early. I have always believed that the dying would always have you choose living over doting over them. If youre sister truly said to go, I would go even though everyone here understands that you would never be able to enjoy yourself as if the cancer would not have returned. Look at this cruise as a rejuvenation period where you can prepare yourself to give your sister the attention and the assistance she would need.

 

Prayers to you and your family.

 

It's benign, not cancer. That's why the doctors are stumped. If it was cancer, there are treatments for it.