Really Confused about Trip Cancellation/Interruption aspect of travel insurance

[Smitheroo]

I have done a lot of reading to avoid asking repetitive questions.  I am still baffled.

 

If your trip is straight forward like "I am going on a cruise on 3/24 for 7 days" I have no problem understanding that the cruise would end 7 days later, 3/31.

 

But what about the following scenario:   You're still going on this cruise on 3/24.  But you've decided to leave 4 days early and go to NYC where you will book a hotel for a couple of nights, then take a plane to your port of embarkation, get on the cruise. 7 days later you disembark and continue your vacation sightseeing in NYC again. More hotels. (let's assume they are nonrefundable)  More nonrefundable expenses

 

In this second scenario would the first day of your trip be 3/20?  And  would expenses that came from  the cruise being delayed  fall under "trip delay?"   Or if you became ill in the 4 days before  embarking would that be trip cancellation?  

 

I'm confused about the "starting day" of a trip and what the cruise is categorized as since its in the middle of your trip?

[GeezerCouple]

8 minutes ago, Smitheroo said:

I have done a lot of reading to avoid asking repetitive questions.  I am still baffled.

 

If your trip is straight forward like "I am going on a cruise on 3/24 for 7 days" I have no problem understanding that the cruise would end 7 days later, 3/31.

 

But what about the following scenario:   You're still going on this cruise on 3/24.  But you've decided to leave 4 days early and go to NYC where you will book a hotel for a couple of nights, then take a plane to your port of embarkation, get on the cruise. 7 days later you disembark and continue your vacation sightseeing in NYC again. More hotels. (let's assume they are nonrefundable)  More nonrefundable expenses

 

In this second scenario would the first day of your trip be 3/20?  And  would expenses that came from  the cruise being delayed  fall under "trip delay?"   Or if you became ill in the 4 days before  embarking would that be trip cancellation?  

 

I'm confused about the "starting day" of a trip and what the cruise is categorized as since its in the middle of your trip?

 

Third-party travel insurance policies that we've had experience with start when one walks out the door, and end when one returns and walks back in the door.

It's not complicated.

 

Policies from, say, a cruise line might - MIGHT (I don't know) only cover the cruise dates or the time including air tickets if you purchase them from the airline.

All of this should be spelled out VERY explicitly.

You seem to be making this much more difficult for yourself by asking questions rather than speaking with an insurer or, better in our minds, speaking with a broker.

 

GC

[Smitheroo]

9 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

Third-party travel insurance policies that we've had experience with start when one walks out the door, and end when one returns and walks back in the door.

It's not complicated.

 

Policies from, say, a cruise line might - MIGHT (I don't know) only cover the cruise dates or the time including air tickets if you purchase them from the airline.

All of this should be spelled out VERY explicitly.

You seem to be making this much more difficult for yourself by asking questions rather than speaking with an insurer or, better in our minds, speaking with a broker.

 

GC

But isnt it the point of this forum to ask questions?    That doesnt mean I'm going to make life altering decisions based on the answers I receive here but I thought the forum was here to ask questions of people who have "been there, done that"  What is an easy question to some might be impossible for someone else to answer.   The person asking the question should realize this that not everyone will have an answer, but some might.

 

Unfortunately it is the nature of insurance not to have it spelled out explicity.   Which is a selling point for a broker.   

 

You did clear up several parts of my question when you said insurance was from when you walk out the door to when you walk back in (providing you supply those dates when you apply)   and you are right, it sounds like cruise only insurance might only cover the cruise (I dont know for sure as I have never looked at "cruise only")  I'm just wondering if a cruise happening just after you walk out the door (of your home) is in a different payment category than a cruise in the middle of the dates you supplied when applying.   *That part* might be overthinking it , or a question for someone like a broker, but again, ask, but you might not get an answer

[GeezerCouple]

32 minutes ago, Smitheroo said:

But isnt it the point of this forum to ask questions?    That doesnt mean I'm going to make life altering decisions based on the answers I receive here but I thought the forum was here to ask questions of people who have "been there, done that"  What is an easy question to some might be impossible for someone else to answer.   The person asking the question should realize this that not everyone will have an answer, but some might.

 

Unfortunately it is the nature of insurance not to have it spelled out explicity.   Which is a selling point for a broker.   

 

You did clear up several parts of my question when you said insurance was from when you walk out the door to when you walk back in (providing you supply those dates when you apply)   and you are right, it sounds like cruise only insurance might only cover the cruise (I dont know for sure as I have never looked at "cruise only")  I'm just wondering if a cruise happening just after you walk out the door (of your home) is in a different payment category than a cruise in the middle of the dates you supplied when applying.   *That part* might be overthinking it , or a question for someone like a broker, but again, ask, but you might not get an answer

 

Sure, this is for questions.  Mostly general ones.

Given that policies can *vary*, one MUST ask specific question that would be actionable from the vendor/broker.  Otherwise, one could make plans and then find the policy isn't available.  Or worse, get the wrong policy!

 

GC

Edited November 16, 2023 by GeezerCouple

[iamtrustworthy]

9 hours ago, Smitheroo said:

I have done a lot of reading to avoid asking repetitive questions.  I am still baffled.

 

If your trip is straight forward like "I am going on a cruise on 3/24 for 7 days" I have no problem understanding that the cruise would end 7 days later, 3/31.

 

But what about the following scenario:   You're still going on this cruise on 3/24.  But you've decided to leave 4 days early and go to NYC where you will book a hotel for a couple of nights, then take a plane to your port of embarkation, get on the cruise. 7 days later you disembark and continue your vacation sightseeing in NYC again. More hotels. (let's assume they are nonrefundable)  More nonrefundable expenses

 

In this second scenario would the first day of your trip be 3/20?  And  would expenses that came from  the cruise being delayed  fall under "trip delay?"   Or if you became ill in the 4 days before  embarking would that be trip cancellation?  

 

I'm confused about the "starting day" of a trip and what the cruise is categorized as since its in the middle of your trip?

Hi Smitheroo,

 

I wrote about this in my Blog on October 7, 2023:

 

What Are the Right Travel Dates to Insure?

https://tripinsurancestore.com/blog/what-are-the-right-travel-dates-to-insure/

 

Steve Dasseos

[Coral]

Sadly - I have experience with this.

 

I had planned a trip to Canada (Whistler) and insured only the hotel with Allianz (but the dates covered the entire trip because they have better medical coverage). I struggled to get home on the dates I wanted to due to Canadian Thanksgiving. I booked a last minute cruise on Princess from Vancouver to LA. I bought Princess's insurance (AON) if I wanted to cancel for no reason the cruise portion. This was a last minute trip and a cheap trip as I had used FF miles and the hotel and cruise were cheap (off season, last minute).

 

On day 1 in Vancouver - even before I reached Whistler, I broke my wrist.

 

Since I had already started my journey - trip cancellation did not fall under the Allianz policy. It was trip interruption. The hotel had been charged a few days before my arrival. 

 

With Allianz - I had a medical claim, trip interruption claim and medical repatriation claim.

 

To save the long story short - Allianz was great! I called them at 7 am on Sunday to tell them I broke my wrist (needed surgery) and wanted to return home for surgery. They gave me guidance on my policy, suggested some hotels to stay at and to keep my receipts. Monday morning they sent me flights to approve and I flew home Tuesday morning with a paramedic escort in Business Class. We had several calls back and fourth as I had to go back to the ER and have my cast cut to fly but I have to say I was impressed with Allianz. I should add this was a holiday weekend in Canada also which was even more impressive on how quickly this was handled (and it wasn't life and death).

 

Trip interruption allowance included my hotels I stayed at in Vancouver, my hotel I never made it to in Whistler, food and taxi's to the airport/hospital. I paid for these on my credit card.

 

Medical covered ambulance and 2 ER visits. I did not pay for these in advance (had to give them my passport and email address). They were sent to me a month later. I uploaded these to Allianz and they were paid promptly.

 

Medical repatriation I did not pay for. They arranged (and paid for upfront) my flights back to the US. The paramedic met me in my hotel home and stayed with me all the way to my house and handled all of my luggage, etc....

 

I had called my travel agent and she cancelled the Princess cruise. Once home, I sent them my ER records and they (AON) paid for my cruise under trip cancellation.

 

I guess I am a little unique in which I had 2 policies. No regrets on how I did this. I had already booked the land trip and Allianz plan when I booked the hotel in Whistler (I don't have good insurance outside of the US). I later added the cruise. The cruise insurance was cheaper than adding to Allianz plan so I added the cruise insurance for the time of the cruise. Though it goes to answer the question - about trip cancellation and interruption. If you start your trip (get on a plane) - it is now trip interruption and not cancellation.

 

Allianz was great to work with.

 

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by Coral