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HAL's COVID-19 Protection Program


VMax1700
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https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/news/coronavirus-travel-advisory/covid-19-protection-program.html

 

 

Is this new?   I hadn't noticed it until today.

 

COVID-19 Protection Program

 

This new element of the Cruise with Confidence program provides further peace of mind for guests within 30 days of embarkation through disembarkation for bookings made prior to June 30, 2021 and sailing on or before December 31, 2021. It is designed to assist guests who, as a result of being suspected of having COVID-19 or testing positive for COVID-19, may be unable to travel to embarkation, may be denied boarding, may be quarantined on board or disembarked early. The program outlined below will apply to the affected guests and their immediate travel party in the same stateroom.

Pre-Embarkation:

  1. Future Cruise Credit (FCC) for 100% of the cancellation fee amount of non-refundable unused services, and a refund to the original form of payment for all taxes, fees, port expenses, and pre-paid onboard experiences and shore excursions purchased through the cruise line. Applicable, for guests and their immediate travel party in the same stateroom if any guest tests positive for COVID-19 within 30 days prior to embarkation.

On Board:

  1. FCC worth 100% of the per-day cruise fare for the missed days and a refundable credit to their onboard account for missed pre-paid onboard experiences and shore excursions purchased through cruise line, and for the refundable portion of taxes, fees, and port expenses for ports visited after disembarkation.
  2. Onboard COVID-related medical center visits and testing of suspected COVID-19 cases will be free of charge.

Shoreside:

  1. Reimbursement of expenses for COVID-related medical care including during any medically required shoreside quarantine period for guests and their immediate travel party if any such guest(s) test positive for COVID-19 during their cruise. This includes air change fees in the case onward travel plans need to change.
  2. Any shoreside meals will be covered by a per-diem meal allowance as communicated by the family assistance coordinator upon disembarkation (no receipt retention is required).
  3. Dedicated Family Assistance Program liaison for care and logistical shoreside support until medically cleared to travel home.
  4. Assistance opening COVID-related insurance claims (for those who are eligible under their insurance policies or travel protection plans)
    1. This program is not intended to replace insurance or travel protection there are many non-COVID related reasons for travel protection plans.
    2. Insurance may allow for refunds in some cases otherwise covered by FCC only.
    3. Insurance coverage is subject to the applicable policy.

General:

  1. Guests with insurance will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, as defined below, incurred but not covered by their insurance meaning that the guest must file a claim with their primary insurer, and submit any excluded or uncovered expense.
  2. This program shall not be applicable to a guest or any member(s) of their immediate travel party if such individual makes any false statements to the cruise line as to such individual’s COVID-19 vaccination status. The cruise line reserves the right to revoke any of the goodwill benefits provided in this program in the event of discovery of such false statements.
  3. This program is not intended to provide long-term care for issues arising from COVID-19 and there will be no reimbursement of any expenses incurred after guest is medically cleared to travel home.
Edited by VMax1700
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  • VMax1700 changed the title to HAL's COVID-19 Protection Program

This is well thought out protocol for dealing with the "what if" for re-starting cruising. It also is a good indication that along with Greece, passengers will also be aboard other ships and sailings sooner rather than later IMO. 

 

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8 minutes ago, kazu said:

Thanks for the update @VMax1700

 

Good to see there is a plan in place for the “what if” scenario and seems to be pretty comprehensive.

Agree that its good they have a plan in place, but trying to get my head around if this means that they will sail with unvaccinated pax.

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I suppose this would encourage hesitant people to go ahead and make final payments for booked cruises coming up before the end of this year.  We have such a booking and are wishy-washy about it -- thinking maybe just wait until the next year to cruise.  Probably lots of others are pondering this, too.

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This is a well concieved "what if" plan. It is encouraging for those of us anxious for a return to cruising. At the same time, the company is certainly not going to be anxious to provide those benefits unles they have to. They emphasised that no benefits would go to anyone who made any false statements about their vaccination status. It only makes sense for the company to minimize their own risk exposure (paying out benefits) as much as possible. I don't think it is out of the question for them to limit initial cruises to those who are fully vaccinated.

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If you are sailing with only vaccinated passengers, the risk is quite low that anyone would ever make a claim.  That makes for a cheap peace of mind policy for those customers worried about it.

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3 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

General:

  1. This program shall not be applicable to a guest or any member(s) of their immediate travel party if such individual makes any false statements to the cruise line as to such individual’s COVID-19 vaccination status. The cruise line reserves the right to revoke any of the goodwill benefits provided in this program in the event of discovery of such false statements.
  2. This program is not intended to provide long-term care for issues arising from COVID-19 and there will be no reimbursement of any expenses incurred after guest is medically cleared to travel home.

 

 

Note the clause pertaining to false statements about the vaccination status of an individual or any member of their immediate travel party. 

I’m guessing this will become a very common clause as cruising resumes. 

Edited by Horizon chaser 1957
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Gus Antorcha briefly touched on this during the recent live interview: 

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2779762-gus-antorcha-live/page/3/?tab=comments#comment-61088385

 

I am glad they are doing this, as it alleviates some of the “what if” stress. I would also like to know under what circumstances a cruise in process would have to be interrupted (e.g., how many positive cases during the sailing, etc.).

 

Happy (future) Travels!

Edited by syesmar
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