urgent help cancellation policy

[fragilek]

Hi I have a cruise booked and paid in full due to go on 11th Oct (60 days) booked through a UK bucket TA.  I have just found out that my insurers may have to withdraw my cover.  I do not want to claim costs through my insurance as I could render myself un-insurable for ever if I did (very long complicated health issues including Lupus, Transverse Myelitis and lastly the biggy  acute. Leukemia).

I have phoned and asked the TA but they say they need to email costa for that info and may not get a reply for up to 72hrs.  I realise if I have a chance to recoup any money I may need to make my mind up fast (and 72hr may be a to long a delay).  If I am not going to get any refund I may just sit and wait until the day I am due to leave as I may get cover from that day as its 8 weeks to the day after a potential blood issue was spotted - 8 weeks is the min time before cover, thus I don't want to cancel if I will not get any money back. But that would leave us in limbo until day of travel.

[fragilek]

Ok travel agent got back to me so I will answer my own question in case anyone searches in the future.  Costa charge £50pp up to 45 days before but agents also charge a further £50pp so I will loose a total of £100 pp.

[tenpin]

Even though you paid in full or even just the 25% deposit you only lose £50 each if you cancel within 56 days, it then increases each 14 days until 7 days before cruise when the whole cost is non-refundable.

 

This came in last year before which we only paid £100 deposit balance due 56 days prior to cruise.

[fragilek]

This is a bit worring as agent said 45 days.  Has my agent got it wrong?  56days would be this week and I was was hoping for a breather to check if bloods go back to normal this friday.  

[alicat58]

6. CANCELLATION BY THE PASSENGER

6.1 In accordance with Art. 42 of the Tourism Code, a Passenger may withdraw from the contract, at no additional cost, only in the cases and subject to the terms in Art. 5, as well as in the event of the holiday package being cancelled before departure for any reason, unless this is due to the fault of the Passenger. A Passenger who exercises their right to withdraw shall have the right to an alternative holiday package of equivalent or higher value at no additional cost, or to a holiday package of lower value with reimbursement of the difference; otherwise, they shall be reimbursed for any amounts already paid within seven working days of the date of withdrawal or cancellation.

6.2 In the cases mentioned in the previous paragraph, the Passenger shall have the right to compensation for any further damages due to non-performance of the contract.

6.3 Paragraph 6.2 does not apply if the holiday package is cancelled due to lack of the minimum number of participants required, where applicable, and the Passenger is informed in writing at least twenty days before the scheduled departure date, or due to force majeure, excluding overbooking.

6.4 A Passenger who withdraws from the contract for reasons other than those specified in the previous paragraph will be charged the following amounts as a percentage of the price of the package:

 

COMFORT:

£50 FOR CANCELLATIONS AT LEAST 45 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE;

25% OF THE PRICE OF THE PACKAGE FOR CANCELLATIONS BETWEEN 45 AND 30 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE;

50% OF THE PRICE OF THE PACKAGE FOR CANCELLATIONS BETWEEN 30 AND 15 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE;

75% OF THE PRICE OF THE PACKAGE FOR CANCELLATIONS BETWEEN 15 AND 5 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE;

100% OF THE PRICE OF THE PACKAGE FOR CANCELLATIONS FROM 5 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE AND THE DEPARTURE;

 

BASIC:

25% OF THE PRICE OF THE CRUISEFOR CANCELLATIONS AT LEAST 45 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE;

50% OF THE PRICE OF THE CRUISE FOR CANCELLATION BETWEEN 45 AND 30 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE;

75% OF THE PRICE OF THE CRUISE FOR CANCELLATION BETWEEN 30 AND 15 BEFORE DEPARTURE;

100% OF THE PRICE OF THE CRUISE FOR CANCELLATION FROM 15 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE AND THE DEPARTURE

 

AROUND THE WORLD CRUISES AND SINGLES SEGMENTS:

15% OF THE PRICE OF THE PACKAGE FOR CANCELLATIONS UNTIL 90 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE;

25% OF THE PRICE OF THE PACKAGE FOR CANCELLATIONS BETWEEN 90 AND 60 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE;

50% OF THE PRICE OF THE PACKAGE FOR CANCELLATIONS BETWEEN 59 AND 15 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE;

75% OF THE PRICE OF THE PACKAGE FOR CANCELLATIONS BETWEEN 14 AND 10 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE;

100% OF THE PRICE OF THE PACKAGE FOR CANCELLATIONS BETWEEN 09 AND THE DEPARTURE DATE ;

 

6.5 In the event of cancellation covered by an insurance policy, the Organizer shall be notified of this at the same time as the claim is submitted to the insurer. Any difference between the amounts due from the passenger under the terms of 6.4 above and the sums paid by the insurance company shall be payable by the Passenger.

6.6 In the event of failure to use the air transportation purchased with the cruise, the penalties and other relevant terms of the general contractual conditions of the air carrier and/or air transport contract shall apply.

6.7 For bookings made by phone on 0800 3890622 or via the website www.costacruises.co.uk, in accordance with Art. 32 of the Tourism Code, the right to withdraw from the contract is explicitly excluded.

 

Just copied of Costa website.

 

Riana

[tenpin]

Hi Riana,

                That is okay in practice however just had a big row with Costa over that exact wording in T & C's.

 

Phoned them in Southampton & after a long winded argument where they kept asking for final payment they agreed that although somewhere it states 30 days before departure or 45 days it was in fact 56. Finally they agreed 30 days, next day got a phone call from H.O. in Genoa demanding payment but stating your list above for any cancellation, although we don't really care when we pay for cruise with our travel insurance it's covered. 

 

Since then I posted a new thread about this and replies from different Countries are applied, like everything with Costa.

 

One other thing T.A's often ask for final payment in advance of Costa's.

[fragilek]

Update-  Thanks for the input but luckily next set of results came back OK so I have managed to get insurance- Looks like I will get to try Costa cruises after all. 

[Janet&Carl]

10 hours ago, fragilek said:

Update-  Thanks for the input but luckily next set of results came back OK so I have managed to get insurance- Looks like I will get to try Costa cruises after all. 

 

 

Have a fabulous cruise 🙂

 

[ciaobella55]

Glad to hear it worked out for you. You were lucky you didn't have to cancel - I had a cruise booking in November which I had to cancel and have just been screwed by Costa, whose website clearly shows Cancelling your cruise 60 days before sailing incurs no penalty (only cost for opening reservation - 50 AUD p.p. administrative fee) but in reality they point you to an obscure clause which says the deposit is not refundable. I have already reported them to our consumer affairs. I enjoyed my first Costa cruise but I hate dishonest companies so I definitely won't be cruising with them again. BEWARE COSTA CRUISES!

[tenpin]

I really think Costa need to sort this out.

Last year we had to cancel our September cruise around your 60 days before departure, yet we only lost £100 they returned the remainder of the 25% deposit it was in our bank within the week.

 

Seem like there are different rules for different Countries, not only with this but also other on-board perks. OBC and even some transfers. These with the introduction of the 'New Club Rules' are making mockery of the word LOYALTY.  

[maryann2]

7 hours ago, ciaobella55 said:

Glad to hear it worked out for you. You were lucky you didn't have to cancel - I had a cruise booking in November which I had to cancel and have just been screwed by Costa, whose website clearly shows Cancelling your cruise 60 days before sailing incurs no penalty (only cost for opening reservation - 50 AUD p.p. administrative fee) but in reality they point you to an obscure clause which says the deposit is not refundable. I have already reported them to our consumer affairs. I enjoyed my first Costa cruise but I hate dishonest companies so I definitely won't be cruising with them again. BEWARE COSTA CRUISES!

Sorry to hear that this happened to you.  I think it depends if you book with Premium rate or Basic rate.

 

Also it could be that the cruise you cancelled could be what they call " World cruise or segment"  The longer repositioning cruise often are.

 

AROUND THE WORLD CRUISES AND SINGLES SEGMENTS:

15% OF THE PRICE OF THE PACKAGE FOR CANCELLATIONS UNTIL 90 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE;

25% OF THE PRICE OF THE PACKAGE FOR CANCELLATIONS BETWEEN 90 AND 60 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE;

 

 

[maryann2]

23 hours ago, fragilek said:

Update-  Thanks for the input but luckily next set of results came back OK so I have managed to get insurance- Looks like I will get to try Costa cruises after all. 

Have a great trip.

[Dancer Bob]

The OP was worried about making a claim, but around here it's the initial questionnaire which determines insurability. And my current (annual) policy, the "change" and "stability" clauses are so vague, I would probably have to wait 6 months even after a negative result. Can any of our UK friends clarify? And I understand UK has a special medical deal with the EU- will a no-deal Brexit mess that up too?

[tenpin]

AS far as I know we only have limited health protection from the E.U. countries we visit on a cruise my insurance (annual) also has a clause which voids the policy after a hospital stay for the following six months..

Brexit will stop the benefit but we must take out insurance on cruises although some people don't it use to be examined at cruise check-in's.

I think everyone when travelling should have full health cover, over one hundred million pounds last year not paid for N.H. S given to overseas visitors to the UK.

My annual Insurance is roughly £600.00 yet I don't mind for the assurance that when things do go wrong I am covered.

 

Okay now I'll get of my high horse & stop moaning about freeloaders who come to this Country to get NHS care. 

Edited August 28, 2019 by tenpin

[fragilek]

13 hours ago, Dancer Bob said:

The OP was worried about making a claim, but around here it's the initial questionnaire which determines insurability. And my current (annual) policy, the "change" and "stability" clauses are so vague, I would probably have to wait 6 months even after a negative result. Can any of our UK friends clarify? And I understand UK has a special medical deal with the EU- will a no-deal Brexit mess that up too?

 I am in a slightly different situation - As I have many issues Lupus, Transverse Myelitis and now also remission from Leukemia, I cannot get any long term annual cover policy.  I can only be covered for each trip separately and no trip longer than 14 days (so far) is allowed.  I use a specialist insurer who only deals with complex medical clients. I phoned to check about the one off blood result (just a liver function test so unrelated to any of the conditions) but as it was just over the normal border line then went straight back down to normal the following week with no further follow up the company didn't need to take it into consideration. I also have a very large excess that have to pay if I need treatment for any of the pre-conditions covered (although for my next trip this has come down quite a bit, must be as I am now longer in remission than July's trip) .  I am sure all our policy costs will rise  for EU travel once we leave the EU as at the moment we pay more to include travel cover outside EU regions.