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Fly/Cruise Fully Comp Insurer Recommendations Please (indirect covid cover).


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For all those contemplating a long haul fly/cruise holiday We all know that most Insurers will cover the direct effects of a Covid claim i.e. medical and repatriation costs if you test positive. However, in a possible scenario where you are flying this Winter to say, the Caribbean or Florida and one of the passengers on your flight, tests positive at the cruise terminal.

 

Obviously the protocols and rules of the various ports/countries on the schedule, will play a part in the CEO's decision, as to whether you and the remaining passengers are allowed on board. The 'Cancellation Clause' won't kick in, if 9 out of the 10 flights serving this cruise, are Covid clean and the sailing will go ahead.

 

I've written to Marella and Princess for a financial ruling effecting those unfortunate, to be refused boarding, as an indirect result of a negative Covid test. There's hotel and flight costs plus the cost of the cruise itself. Ok I'm aware that the choice is mine on whether I go to Final Balance stage on 3 cruises I've booked but for piece of mind I'm asking if there's anyone who knows of a Insurer with say, a Platinum Policy, that's Fully Comp and will compensate for anything that is not the responsibility of the cruise company, I would very much appreciate it.  Thanks in anticipation.

 

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Look into the Princess Covid Assistance plan. It is part of their Cruise with Confidence program and provides for quarantine (hotel, meals, airline change fees) and medical expenses as well as FCC for the unused cruise fare. It is included at no extra cost for sailings through December, 2021 if they were booked by September, 2021. The disclaimer states that it is not intended to replace travel insurance because it does not cover everything (non-Covid related) in the same way a comprehensive travel policy does. It is intended for Covid assistance only, but that may meet your needs.

 

You can find a complete description of the terms on the Princess website.

Edited by Babr
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36 minutes ago, Babr said:

 

The disclaimer states that it is not intended to replace travel insurance because it does not cover everything (non-Covid related) in the same way a comprehensive travel policy does. It is intended for Covid assistance only, but that may meet your needs.

 

You can find a complete description of the terms on the Princess website.

Ah thanks for that, I'll visit Princess and look at the detail. I suspect there's no such thing as a Fully Com Insurance that covers everything, as the cost would be too prohibitive.

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I think there may be some choices. I just have not researched them myself.

 

I know that Royal Caribbean will be requiring unvaccinated guests to provide their own insurance once the Royal assistance plan expires. They have included it in their cruise line travel protection plans. I expect that third-party insurers have such plans as well, and we will begin to find out more about them when people start shopping for insurance.

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9 hours ago, Babr said:

I expect that third-party insurers have such plans as well, and we will begin to find out more about them when people start shopping for insurance.

Agreed, there are bound to be some specialist Insurers, who will be looking to plug gaps in cover not provided by the cruise company or competing Insurers.

 

I wrote to 3 Insurance companies and 2 replied stating firmly that boarding refusal was not covered by their policy. A 3rd Insurer stated that the above scenario (fellow plane passenger positive) was "hypothetical" and therefore cannot be considered.

 

I didn't write to the Post Office as their policy details is available on line. They're a huge insurer due to their access to folk queuing up for foreign currency etc. However, their exclusion clauses are many. Exclusion #30 on page 51 states " .. any claim which arises directly or indirectly from you not being allowed to board a flight, train, sea vessel, coach or bus, for any reason".

 

https://travelinsurance1.postoffice.co.uk/Content/POMS/files/Documents/V9/WordingCollinson.pdf 

 

Clearly Insurers are concerned, cruise and flights, particularly in Winter, is not without it's risks. I believe the onus is on the cruise companies to make an announcement on concerns regarding boarding refusal before final balances are due.

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9 hours ago, Bertie Doe said:

Agreed, there are bound to be some specialist Insurers, who will be looking to plug gaps in cover not provided by the cruise company or competing Insurers.

 

I wrote to 3 Insurance companies and 2 replied stating firmly that boarding refusal was not covered by their policy. A 3rd Insurer stated that the above scenario (fellow plane passenger positive) was "hypothetical" and therefore cannot be considered.

 

I didn't write to the Post Office as their policy details is available on line. They're a huge insurer due to their access to folk queuing up for foreign currency etc. However, their exclusion clauses are many. Exclusion #30 on page 51 states " .. any claim which arises directly or indirectly from you not being allowed to board a flight, train, sea vessel, coach or bus, for any reason".

 

https://travelinsurance1.postoffice.co.uk/Content/POMS/files/Documents/V9/WordingCollinson.pdf 

 

Clearly Insurers are concerned, cruise and flights, particularly in Winter, is not without it's risks. I believe the onus is on the cruise companies to make an announcement on concerns regarding boarding refusal before final balances are due.


As far as boarding refusal because of a positive test, I think it would require follow up with a physician. If he confirmed that you should not travel, then your insurance should apply as long as it does not specifically exclude Covid related expenses. The same is true for quarantine if it is ordered by authorities or a doctor and you are confined to a hotel room before your negative test allows you to return home.

 

So it is not necessarily something provided by a special policy. I think the key is that the policy treats Covid as any other illness and that a doctor orders or confirms any travel restrictions.

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3 hours ago, Babr said:


As far as boarding refusal because of a positive test, I think it would require follow up with a physician. If he confirmed that you should not travel, then your insurance should apply as long as it does not specifically exclude Covid related expenses. The same is true for quarantine if it is ordered by authorities or a doctor and you are confined to a hotel room before your negative test allows you to return home.

 

So it is not necessarily something provided by a special policy. I think the key is that the policy treats Covid as any other illness and that a doctor orders or confirms any travel restrictions.

 

Just to recap. There's 150 passengers (reduced capacity) on a plane. At the cruise terminal one of the passengers tests positive. The remaining 149 passengers test negative. Looking at the UK govts 'Framework for UK cruise operations during Cov - 19:- 

 

"You will be screened prior to embarking on the cruise, and if you are identified as having been exposed or potentially infected by COVID-19 you may be denied boarding"

 

So you arrived at the cruise terminal at say, Barbados, Montego Bay or Ft. Lauderdale, you've tested negative but the captain or local authority may refuse you or the other 148 passengers from boarding because the 5 hour flight means you've been exposed to a positive passenger.

 

Some of the say, 850 pax already on the ship, may not be comfortable, that the 148 exposed passengers, be allowed on board.

 

I guess we'll have to wait till November, when the Winter fly/cruise season gets into full swing and find out what the cruise lines reaction is. Will they compensate or repatriate the 148 exposed passengers. I don't think HM Government will be keen to pick up the tab for a plane charter at short notice. Maybe in the next couple of months, an insurer will come up with a fully com policy - but it won't be cheap. The single trip cover from Post Office works out at £300 for me and it doesn't cover boarding refusal.

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You present an interesting scenario, but it is one I certainly can’t answer. The only help I can offer is that you will be covered by the Princess Covid Assistance Plan until the end of the year. 
 

 

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9 hours ago, Babr said:

You present an interesting scenario, but it is one I certainly can’t answer. The only help I can offer is that you will be covered by the Princess Covid Assistance Plan until the end of the year. 
 

 

Thanks for your input, maybe there'll be other shipmates who are planning a fly/cruise holiday, will contact  their fave Insurer and get a positive reply from them. There will be a big price to pay.

 

Princesswise our next two cruises with them are next summer, Norway and Iceland/Greenland. They are both from Southampton, so no flights involved. Cruising from there seems quite popular, on the Southampton live-cam I've  seen quite quite a few comings-and-goings. Lots more planned :-

https://www.southamptonvts.co.uk//Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/ 

Edited by Bertie Doe
two not to - oops having a Senior Moment
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