Hflors Posted October 17, 2017 #1 Share Posted October 17, 2017 My sister who isn't very cruise savvy booked a last minute cruise. She booked it in Sept 17 for a November 17 cruise. She told me when they were doing the booking the rep said she and her husband would be required take HAL insurance. Since it was around/ past final payment she was required to pay for everything including the insurance the same day. When she called me later she asked me if I had ever been required to take Hal's insurance. Yesterday another insurance question came up for another cruise us girls are taking in January and she asked me again. I said I would post the question on CC. Has anybody ever been "required" to take the HAL ins for a last minute booking? Has anyone ever heard of this happening? Thanks in advance for any info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shih-tzu Posted October 17, 2017 #2 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Never heard of it....I know I have separate insurance (but maybe being from Canada it's different due to the "legal-eze" in policies?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted October 17, 2017 #3 Share Posted October 17, 2017 I don't ever remember reading here about people who have booked cruises at the last minute being required to buy HAL's insurance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterbabyfish Posted October 17, 2017 #4 Share Posted October 17, 2017 I always book a month out,never have I been required to purchase insurance whether thru a TA or Hal. They will ask, but you just decline the offer. Sent from my SM-S320VL using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catl331 Posted October 17, 2017 #5 Share Posted October 17, 2017 I don't ever remember reading here about people who have booked cruises at the last minute being required to buy HAL's insurance. Ditto. It sounds to me like a misunderstanding of some sort, or else something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esimon Posted October 17, 2017 #6 Share Posted October 17, 2017 may she just needs to say - No Thank You - louder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenevenpar Posted October 17, 2017 #7 Share Posted October 17, 2017 They may have indicated that if you want HAL insurance, you have to pay for it now. It would be unlike HAL, in my experience, to pressure you into buying it with this tactic. My rep is always straight forward and understanding when I purchase my own insurance or pass on the pre-cruise hotel "deal". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted October 17, 2017 #8 Share Posted October 17, 2017 I have never been required to take insurance (just booked yesterday for example). Likely what the person was told was that since they were past final payment day, IF they wanted HAL insurance they HAD to take it that day (or it would not be available after that). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sage Posted October 17, 2017 #9 Share Posted October 17, 2017 No. I have never been required to take the insurance. But I agree that once it is past final payment date, everything needs to be paid at time of booking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hflors Posted October 17, 2017 Author #10 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Thanks guys for your replies. She must have misunderstood. I know she would not have taken it unless she thought she had to as her husband has terminal cancer. Even though they have insurance I am sure it won't cover him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 17, 2017 #11 Share Posted October 17, 2017 (edited) I don't ever remember reading here about people who have booked cruises at the last minute being required to bauy HAL's insurance. I I have never heard or read of mandatory purchase of HAL's cancellation coverage . It is not travel insurance and I purc hase 3rd party insurance to be sure I have adequate out of country medical insurance. HAL does not offer anything near adequate and I refuse to purchase HAL's cancellation. What kind of money grab gimmick are they up to ? The day they require that, is the day I am Gone !!! Edited October 17, 2017 by sail7seas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 17, 2017 #12 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Hflors, THank you for sarting this thread. It is important reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancal Posted October 17, 2017 #13 Share Posted October 17, 2017 I think that there was a misunderstanding or miscommunication. We typically book inside the final payment window-most often 30-45 days out. We have never been forced to insurance on any cruise line. If this was he case, we would no longer consider that cruise line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tampa Girl Posted October 17, 2017 #14 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Thanks guys for your replies. She must have misunderstood. I know she would not have taken it unless she thought she had to as her husband has terminal cancer. Even though they have insurance I am sure it won't cover him. The HAL CPP is the best cancel for any reason policy that I have found, so they both will be covered if they can't take the cruise. She was wise to take it. I assume your statement that "it won't cover him" refers to another insurance policy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinfool Posted October 17, 2017 #15 Share Posted October 17, 2017 it won't cover him Really? What if he falls down the stairs and breaks an ankle? Or has some other issue not related to his cancer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 17, 2017 #16 Share Posted October 17, 2017 (edited) The HAL CPP is the best cancel for any reason policy that I have found, so they both will be covered if they can't take the cruise. She was wise to take it. I assume your statement that "it won't cover him" refers to another insurance policy? I do n ot want a cancel for any reason policy at the cost of not hav ing adequate medical insuance\ I know the price of the cruise and would not b ook it if I could not affoord it. I DO NOT know the possible cost of out of country medical care should I become ill or have an accidnet while out of U.S. I need to know I have adeequate medical coverage which I get when I purchase thid party insurance. From HAL I get a tiny sum for medical bills Thatt could totlal tens of thousands of dollars. Cancel for any rreason coverage if vvery shorrt sighted IMO for anyone on U.S, medicare that pays rareely for out of country medical I do not put cancellation insurance at the top of possible exposure list. Cost of the cruise is a known amount. POssible medical bills is an unknown amount and can be vry, vrey high. I would far rather lose the price of a cruise if I cancel during penalty period than lose thec ost of possibly very high medical b ills. !!! think about it........... From hAL's cancellation polifcyWhat does $10,00 in medical insuance cover? Not much. C an cellation is the least that really should be insured. IMO IF one does not have medical insuance that pays internationally. Edited October 17, 2017 by sail7seas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taters Posted October 17, 2017 #17 Share Posted October 17, 2017 We just booked 3 weeks out and were not required to purchase the insurance, though it was offered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 17, 2017 #18 Share Posted October 17, 2017 They should offer it and outline what it covers. They should not require it and now appears it was a misundestanding earllier in this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hflors Posted October 17, 2017 Author #19 Share Posted October 17, 2017 The HAL CPP is the best cancel for any reason policy that I have found, so they both will be covered if they can't take the cruise. She was wise to take it. I assume your statement that "it won't cover him" refers to another insurance policy? I meant if his cancer becomes worse (as it is a pre existing condition) I don't think it would cover him if they need to cancel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InTheWASide Posted October 17, 2017 #20 Share Posted October 17, 2017 As a travel agent and former HAL employee, here's an educated guess at what happened. Passengers booked a cruise inside final payment. Then: They asked if they could add insurance and were told since full payment due now you would have to add it now, OR They asked if it's inside penalty how does it work for cancellation and HAL said it would be full penalty but they could add insurance right that minute if they wanted some sort of cancel structure that wasn't "wave goodbye". Obviously I wasn't on that call, not their TA, not a current HAL employee and simply making an educated guess on something without a ton of details... but insurance is never mandatory. I'm not aware of any country that 100% mandates coverage of some sort Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted October 17, 2017 #21 Share Posted October 17, 2017 I never herd of it before. Good sales pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tampa Girl Posted October 17, 2017 #22 Share Posted October 17, 2017 I do n ot want a cancel for any reason policy at the cost of not hav ing adequate medical insuance\ I know the price of the cruise and would not b ook it if I could not affoord it. I DO NOT know the possible cost of out of country medical care should I become ill or have an accidnet while out of U.S. I need to know I have adeequate medical coverage which I get when I purchase thid party insurance. From HAL I get a tiny sum for medical bills Thatt could totlal tens of thousands of dollars. Cancel for any rreason coverage if vvery shorrt sighted IMO for anyone on U.S, medicare that pays rareely for out of country medical I do not put cancellation insurance at the top of possible exposure list. Cost of the cruise is a known amount. POssible medical bills is an unknown amount and can be vry, vrey high. I would far rather lose the price of a cruise if I cancel during penalty period than lose thec ost of possibly very high medical b ills. !!! think about it........... From hAL's cancellation polifcyWhat does $10,00 in medical insuance cover? Not much. C an cellation is the least that really should be insured. IMO IF one does not have medical insuance that pays internationally. You are correct. However, the issue is not whether medical insurance is necessary. It is whether HAL's CPP is a good cancellation policy. It is not, as you pointed out, a medical insurance policy or even travel insurance. If one doesn't have medical insurance which covers you out of the country, which we do have, a med-evac policy is wise. We need a cancel for any reason policy and a med-evac policy. We do not need a medical insurance policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TiogaCruiser Posted October 17, 2017 #23 Share Posted October 17, 2017 I meant if his cancer becomes worse (as it is a pre existing condition) I don't think it would cover him if they need to cancel. Why not? HAL’s Plan includes cancel for any reason. There are no preexisting condition clause I am aware of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 17, 2017 #24 Share Posted October 17, 2017 You are correct. However, the issue is not whether medical insurance is necessary. It is whether HAL's CPP is a good cancellation policy. It is not, as you pointed out, a medical insurance policy or even travel insurance. If one doesn't have medical insurance which covers you out of the country, which we do have, a med-evac policy is wise. We need a cancel for any reason policy and a med-evac policy. We do not need a medical insurance policy. That may not be your issue but it is mine. Keep in mind, Med Jet does nto pay medical biills(for those who have Med Jet Asist policy) , only evacuation. Most third party travel insurance includes med evac depending upon which policy a person chooses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Hlitner Posted October 17, 2017 #25 Share Posted October 17, 2017 After reading and re-reading the OPs post I have a simple question. Did they book direct with HAL...or through a travel/cruise agency. Not all agencies (and agents) are what I would loosely call reputable...and we would not be surprised at some agents steering a novice towards insurance (it increased their commission). Hank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now