Insurance pitfalls

I bought standard insurance from HAL and a few days ago thought I might have
to cancel my cruise.
I called to see what the penalty would be and was told $240 because I was 17
days from sailing.
Two days later I called to confirm it would be $240 and was told it was now
$480. Double in two days! Because I was now 15 days from sailing.
HAL's Standard Insurance Policy says you can cancel for any reason up to 24
hours and receive a cash refund equal to 80% of the "applicable cancellation
fee." Quotes mine.
Note it is not 80% of the cruise fare but of the FEE, which is not stated.
Don't know if other lines are similar, but my advice is to ask your agent or
call the line to find out what the cutoff dates are that increase the
penalty.
Bill
ps: I am going to take the cruise... I couldn't afford not to!

"Bill" wrote in message
news:8EcZe.76961$Sj1.72323@okepread04...
I bought standard insurance from HAL and a few days ago thought I might
have to cancel my cruise.
I called to see what the penalty would be and was told $240 because I was
17 days from sailing.
Two days later I called to confirm it would be $240 and was told it was
now $480. Double in two days! Because I was now 15 days from sailing.
HAL's Standard Insurance Policy says you can cancel for any reason up to
24 hours and receive a cash refund equal to 80% of the "applicable
cancellation fee." Quotes mine.
Note it is not 80% of the cruise fare but of the FEE, which is not stated.
Don't know if other lines are similar, but my advice is to ask your agent
or call the line to find out what the cutoff dates are that increase the
penalty.
Bill
ps: I am going to take the cruise... I couldn't afford not to!



The cancellation charges are stated in their brouchers. These are available
on-line and in print. Not at all sure what you expected, but it seems to be
an odd expectation.

Paul

"Bill" wrote in message
news:8EcZe.76961$Sj1.72323@okepread04...
I bought standard insurance from HAL and a few days ago thought I might
have to cancel my cruise.
I called to see what the penalty would be and was told $240 because I was
17 days from sailing.
Two days later I called to confirm it would be $240 and was told it was
now $480. Double in two days! Because I was now 15 days from sailing.
HAL's Standard Insurance Policy says you can cancel for any reason up to
24 hours and receive a cash refund equal to 80% of the "applicable
cancellation fee." Quotes mine.
Note it is not 80% of the cruise fare but of the FEE, which is not stated.
Don't know if other lines are similar, but my advice is to ask your agent
or call the line to find out what the cutoff dates are that increase the
penalty.
Bill
ps: I am going to take the cruise... I couldn't afford not to!



The cancellation charges are stated in their literature. This is available
on-line and in print. Not at all sure what you expected, but it seems to be
an odd expectation.

Paul

I have the brochure, it only says... cancel for any reason up to 24 hours
and receive a cash refund equal to 80% of the applicable cancellation fee.
It does not say what the fee is or that it increases as the number of days
go down.
I only expected the facts.
Bill


"pfriedmanNoSpam" wrote in message
...
"Bill" wrote in message
news:8EcZe.76961$Sj1.72323@okepread04...
I bought standard insurance from HAL and a few days ago thought I might
have to cancel my cruise.
I called to see what the penalty would be and was told $240 because I was
17 days from sailing.
Two days later I called to confirm it would be $240 and was told it was
now $480. Double in two days! Because I was now 15 days from sailing.
HAL's Standard Insurance Policy says you can cancel for any reason up to
24 hours and receive a cash refund equal to 80% of the "applicable
cancellation fee." Quotes mine.
Note it is not 80% of the cruise fare but of the FEE, which is not
stated.
Don't know if other lines are similar, but my advice is to ask your agent
or call the line to find out what the cutoff dates are that increase the
penalty.
Bill
ps: I am going to take the cruise... I couldn't afford not to!



The cancellation charges are stated in their brouchers. These are
available on-line and in print. Not at all sure what you expected, but it
seems to be an odd expectation.

Paul

"pfriedmanNoSpam" wrote in message
...
"Bill" wrote in message
news:8EcZe.76961$Sj1.72323@okepread04...
I bought standard insurance from HAL and a few days ago thought I might
have to cancel my cruise.
I called to see what the penalty would be and was told $240 because I
was
17 days from sailing.
Two days later I called to confirm it would be $240 and was told it was
now $480. Double in two days! Because I was now 15 days from sailing.
HAL's Standard Insurance Policy says you can cancel for any reason up to
24 hours and receive a cash refund equal to 80% of the "applicable
cancellation fee." Quotes mine.
Note it is not 80% of the cruise fare but of the FEE, which is not
stated.
Don't know if other lines are similar, but my advice is to ask your
agent
or call the line to find out what the cutoff dates are that increase
the
penalty.
Bill
ps: I am going to take the cruise... I couldn't afford not to!



The cancellation charges are stated in their literature. This is available
on-line and in print. Not at all sure what you expected, but it seems to
be
an odd expectation.

Paul




Paul's answer was correct twice! Here is the HAL cancellation policy notes
that apply, and that are on their site at http://www.halreservations.com/.

Choose Terms & Conditions at bottom of page.

Choose Holland America Line at bottom of page under CRUISE LINE CANCELLATION
POLICY.

There you will find the following:

"Cancellation Policies
For most cruises and cruisetours, a full refund (except for amounts paid for
Cancellation Protection Plan) will be made for written cancellations
received by Holland America, 300 Elliott Ave. West, Seattle, WA 98119 at
least 76 days before the date on which you are to commence travel (by air,
rail, sea or otherwise). Passengers who cancel after that date for any
reason, including medical or family reasons, are subject to the following
per-person cancellation fees:

75-57 days before commencing travel: an amount equal to deposit requirement;
56-29 days before commencing travel: 50% of gross fare;
28-16 days before commencing travel: 75% of gross fare;
15 days or less before commencing travel: 100% of gross fare."

Hope you have a good time on your cruise.
-
Joe in Georgetown, Texas, USA
Remove spam from address
to respond directly.

On Sat, 24 Sep 2005 07:32:31 -0700, "Bill" wrote:

I have the brochure, it only says... cancel for any reason up to 24 hours
and receive a cash refund equal to 80% of the applicable cancellation fee.
It does not say what the fee is or that it increases as the number of days
go down.
I only expected the facts.

Hi Bill,

I am not sure I understand. I believe you have stated that you are a
travel agent who specializes in Holland America. How do you not know
this information and counsel your clients? Forgive me if I am
misunderstanding you. Please clarify. FWIW, the penalties are listed
in the brochures under "cancellation Policy" and includes the
penalties by days before the cruise.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

"Bill" wrote in message
news:8EcZe.76961$Sj1.72323@okepread04...
I bought standard insurance from HAL and a few days ago thought I might
have to cancel my cruise.
I called to see what the penalty would be and was told $240 because I was
17 days from sailing.
Two days later I called to confirm it would be $240 and was told it was
now $480. Double in two days! Because I was now 15 days from sailing.
HAL's Standard Insurance Policy says you can cancel for any reason up to
24 hours and receive a cash refund equal to 80% of the "applicable
cancellation fee." Quotes mine.
Note it is not 80% of the cruise fare but of the FEE, which is not stated.
Don't know if other lines are similar, but my advice is to ask your agent
or call the line to find out what the cutoff dates are that increase the
penalty.
Bill
ps: I am going to take the cruise... I couldn't afford not to!

You didn't buy INSURANCE. You paid the cruise line additional money to
reduce your cancellation penalties. (If the line had gone out of business,
your "insurance" would have been worthless.)

Insurance is sold by 3rd party travel insurance companies.

Bill:

The CRUISE brochure has the cancellation fee information. I think you are
referring to the non-insurance cancellation protection brochure. Let's
pretend that it is really insurance and compare it to car insurance. Do you
expect your auto insurance policy to tell you how much a new panel costs?

Paul


"Bill" wrote in message
news:0sdZe.76966$Sj1.32552@okepread04...
I have the brochure, it only says... cancel for any reason up to 24 hours
and receive a cash refund equal to 80% of the applicable cancellation fee.
It does not say what the fee is or that it increases as the number of days
go down.
I only expected the facts.
Bill


"pfriedmanNoSpam" wrote in message
...
"Bill" wrote in message
news:8EcZe.76961$Sj1.72323@okepread04...
I bought standard insurance from HAL and a few days ago thought I might
have to cancel my cruise.
I called to see what the penalty would be and was told $240 because I
was 17 days from sailing.
Two days later I called to confirm it would be $240 and was told it was
now $480. Double in two days! Because I was now 15 days from sailing.
HAL's Standard Insurance Policy says you can cancel for any reason up to
24 hours and receive a cash refund equal to 80% of the "applicable
cancellation fee." Quotes mine.
Note it is not 80% of the cruise fare but of the FEE, which is not
stated.
Don't know if other lines are similar, but my advice is to ask your
agent or call the line to find out what the cutoff dates are that
increase the penalty.
Bill
ps: I am going to take the cruise... I couldn't afford not to!



The cancellation charges are stated in their brouchers. These are
available on-line and in print. Not at all sure what you expected, but it
seems to be an odd expectation.

Paul