Will Carnival let you reschedule for medical situation?

[mamadee53]

Due to sail on Valor Feb 1. Hubs had an unexpected medical emergency this past weekend which may prevent our being able to sail at this time. Will find out tomorrow when we see a specialist. We purchased travel insurance through the airline but not through Carnival. We want to still cruise but may need to postpone a month or so. Have any of you had an experience like this? How did you handle it? Was Carnival cooperative and helpful and willing to transfer your reservation to another week?

[Tapi]

There's no such a thing as "transferring dates". In Carnival's eyes, you are canceling your cruise and then booking another one for the new date.

 

You will be charged the appropriate cancelation penalty. You will then need to contact your travel insurance company to file a claim. They will ask for supporting paperwork (everything from your booking info, to proof of how you paid for the cruise, to medical documents verifying your husbands medical condition). Save EVERY little piece of paper. Insurance companies want to see EVERYTHING.

 

Whatever amount of money you receive beyond what you're entitled from Carnival at the time of cancellation will be refunded directly from the insurance company, not from Carnival. Best of luck and wishing a fast recovery for your husband.

 

 

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Edited January 21, 2015 by Tapi

[IndyDenise]

If I think your out of luck unless you purchased trip insurance for the cruise.

 

Sorry for the bad turn of events and I hope your husband gets well soon.

 

 

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[mamadee53]

The clincher is that it may be in the best interest of Carnival and fellow cruisers to not have hubs on the ship...we will know after a visit to a specialist tomorrow.

[pe4all]

The clincher is that it may be in the best interest of Carnival and fellow cruisers to not have hubs on the ship...we will know after a visit to a specialist tomorrow.

Sounds contagious!!:eek: Good luck tomorrow. If you just bought insurance for air, you probably won't get any help from CCL with the cruise portion, as the travel insurance may just cover your airfare. You will get back your port taxes, etc. from Carnival, but they probably won't transfer you to a later sailing. However - it never hurts to call once you find out the diagnosis. You may be lucky and get someone who is compassionate enough to help.

[happy cruzin]

The clincher is that it may be in the best interest of Carnival and fellow cruisers to not have hubs on the ship...we will know after a visit to a specialist tomorrow.

 

If it is in fact a risk as you imply - I suppose you could call Carnival - report the situation and ask for guidance.

 

I'm not sure if they would then "forbid" your boarding or if in the big picture it would make any difference - but might be worth the try.

[Miller_KC]

It makes a difference what kind of Rate you booked. Some do not allow any changes, some allow changes with a fee. Not many Rates let you change after the final payment is made. Best bet is to call and ask. You might be able to get to someone who can help. It didn't work for me with Early Saver but we had travel insurance so didn't lose anything.

[firespud]

If you paid for your cruise with a credit card check with them. We have travel insurance coverage through our credit card if we use it to pay with. We always make sure to pay with the card that provides this coverage. Hoping that your husband makes a speedy recovery.

[Surfdiva83]

The daughter of a friend of ours broke her arm the day before they were set to cruise. They did not purchase insurance, but called Carnival and explained the situation. Carnival did not refund, but after providing supporting medical documents they were allowed to credit the money paid to a future cruise within a certain amount of time. It never hurts to call and ask. Customer retention is sometimes more important to a business than just that one transaction.

[cruiser fanatic]

They might but they don't have to. When I call Carnival and don't like the answer I get I hang up and call again because it will be a completely different answer. :) Try that and good luck!

[mamadee53]

Thanks for the well wishes. We will hopefully find out tomorrow if he has to continue IV antibiotics and whether or not he would be considered infectious. And if so, we will ask the doc for a report. Of course, our hope is that he will have a VERY quick recovery and the doc will give the go ahead to cruise. We really need a vacation!! Thanks for the feedback....

[RuthlessBoss]

You say you bought insurance through the airline. Is it just for the flights or is it going to cover the cruise too?

[LPut714]

Same thing happened to our neighbor. Carnival did work with them. They had to get a letter from their doctor. They did manage to reschedule the cruise. Good luck

 

Due to sail on Valor Feb 1. Hubs had an unexpected medical emergency this past weekend which may prevent our being able to sail at this time. Will find out tomorrow when we see a specialist. We purchased travel insurance through the airline but not through Carnival. We want to still cruise but may need to postpone a month or so. Have any of you had an experience like this? How did you handle it? Was Carnival cooperative and helpful and willing to transfer your reservation to another week?

[Homosassa]

The clincher is that it may be in the best interest of Carnival and fellow cruisers to not have hubs on the ship...we will know after a visit to a specialist tomorrow.

 

All this means is that if you try to board the ship, the cruise line will have their medical staff evaluate your husband dockside. If he is deemed not well enough to travel or a risk to others, he will be denied boarding.

[Elaine5715]

Thanks for the well wishes. We will hopefully find out tomorrow if he has to continue IV antibiotics and whether or not he would be considered infectious. And if so, we will ask the doc for a report. Of course, our hope is that he will have a VERY quick recovery and the doc will give the go ahead to cruise. We really need a vacation!! Thanks for the feedback....

 

I hope your husband is well. However, you will be required to sign a health form before boarding. They can and will deny boarding to anyone who appears unwell. They also can require medical certification to board if they suspect illness.

[RuthlessBoss]

I hope your husband is well. However, you will be required to sign a health form before boarding. They can and will deny boarding to anyone who appears unwell. They also can require medical certification to board if they suspect illness.

 

I don't remember which questions are on the ship form, but I'd definitely have a doctor's certificate with me in case.

[Cruisegirl6]

I hope everything works out, depending upon the medical situation its possible you may be able to go? Carnival or any other cruise line in that matter. I also would check your credit card and see if you have any travel insurance on that. Always purchase the travel insurance for the most costly of the trip which is your cruise. At least you get the airline rate back but I am sure the cruise was the bulk, I am so sorry this is happening but your main concern should be your health, money is money but your health is your life. ;)

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

I totally empathize with the original poster, I have had my husband miss a cruise for medical issues. That being said...It does annoy me that the safeguard of purchasing travel insurance becomes mute if the cruise line caves and refunds the cruise cost whether in the form of money or credit. Unless the refund ALWAYS occurs consumers are being treated unfairly when they DO purchase insurance. And, irregardless of the compelling reason for not sailing, this is one issue where I don't think the traveler is ever right.

[judycruiser]

I totally empathize with the original poster, I have had my husband miss a cruise for medical issues. That being said...It does annoy me that the safeguard of purchasing travel insurance becomes mute if the cruise line caves and refunds the cruise cost whether in the form of money or credit. Unless the refund ALWAYS occurs consumers are being treated unfairly when they DO purchase insurance. And, irregardless of the compelling reason for not sailing, this is one issue where I don't think the traveler is ever right.

 

Totally agree.

 

We have missed several cruises due to husband's medical issues but we had insurance.

 

Judy

[Cruisegirl6]

Since I have medical issues and my father in law is elderly, we always purchase cruise insurance, in fact, I was originally booked up for the Oasis of the Seas for may and booked with a cruise agency which I purchased the insurance through them, we decided to cancel that cruise and go on the Valor, cruise agency tells me that I cannot transfer my insurance over which ended up a lie because I called the insurance company directly and they politely and immediately transferred the insurance to my Carnival Valor cruise, so again, we are covered. (we booked directly with Carnival)

Edited January 22, 2015 by lyndamr

[going2cruz]

I totally empathize with the original poster, I have had my husband miss a cruise for medical issues. That being said...It does annoy me that the safeguard of purchasing travel insurance becomes mute if the cruise line caves and refunds the cruise cost whether in the form of money or credit. Unless the refund ALWAYS occurs consumers are being treated unfairly when they DO purchase insurance. And, irregardless of the compelling reason for not sailing, this is one issue where I don't think the traveler is ever right.

 

How's it mute....trip insurance covers a lot more than just cancelations.

 

I would think they would work with them if they have a bonafide reason ......

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

How's it mute....trip insurance covers a lot more than just cancelations.

 

I would think they would work with them if they have a bonafide reason ......

 

But, the point is, that if you get a refund for whatever reason why buy trip insurance...that is unfair and a bad practice considering all the folks that do buy insurance. And who decides if the reason is bonafide...the 18 year call service kid on the other end of the phone who cries at every sob story.

[judycruiser]

How's it mute....trip insurance covers a lot more than just cancelations.

 

I would think they would work with them if they have a bonafide reason ......

 

Yes, travel insurance does cover a lot more than camcellations; all the more reason to buy it.

The issue is: Cruise lines do not work with everyone. They should work with EVERYONE or NO ONE. BE CONSISTENT!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Judy

[pe4all]

Yes, travel insurance does cover a lot more than camcellations; all the more reason to buy it.

The issue is: Cruise lines do not work with everyone. They should work with EVERYONE or NO ONE. BE CONSISTENT!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Judy

I totally agree with this. If I buy extra insurance, and go through the extra expense of having it (which I always do), to have someone without it call up and get their money back kind of defeats the purpose/expense I go through getting it. No one ever expects an emergency situation to arise - that is why it is called an "emergency." Consistency would be nice.

[Cruisegirl6]

I feel the same way I pay for my insurance for a reason, don't want to pay knowing others get their money back not having paid for it.