— Ginette, we should wait until we’re in Florida before booking our cruise. I hear it’s cheaper to book once we’re there!
— Maybe, Roger… but if we book it three months in advance, we’ll definitely need cancellation insurance.
— Don’t worry about that! We’ll buy it at the same time we book the cruise.
Ginette looks at Roger without showing the slightest sign of worry.
— Are you sure we’ll be able to buy the insurance once we’re in Florida? Maybe we’d be better off calling our broker first… or even booking our cruise directly from Quebec.
For once, Ginette’s concern is entirely justified.
Some individual insurance policies must be purchased before leaving Quebec and within a specific timeframe following the first non-refundable deposit. Group insurance or credit card insurance that’s already in effect might work differently.
However, you need to check whether it covers the entire duration of the trip, the cost of the cruise, and, most importantly, the reasons that could lead to its cancellation.
Standard cancellation insurance does not allow you to cancel simply because you’ve changed your mind. The reason must be specified in the contract: sufficiently serious illness, death, quarantine, government advisory, job loss, visa denial, damage to your home, or transportation issues, for example.
There is also the “cancellation for any reason” option. This may allow you to cancel for a reason not covered by the standard policy, but the reimbursement is usually only partial. This option must be purchased very soon after the initial deposit, and the cancellation must comply with the deadline specified in the policy.
Now let’s consider Monique and Gilles, just a few days before their departure.
— Monique, the vet wants to perform emergency surgery on Ti-Loup tomorrow! What should we do about our trip?
— Take a deep breath, Gilles… and call our broker before you cancel anything!
Surprise: Some insurers, such as Tour+Med and Blue Cross, recognize emergency surgery or the death of your cat or dog within 15 days prior to departure as a valid reason for cancellation, subject to the terms of the policy.
Croix Bleue also covers certain situations, such as a delay in passport issuance. Tour+Med specifically covers the cancellation of a cruise caused by mechanical failure, grounding, quarantine, or repositioning due to weather.
Medical stability, a pre-existing condition, the purchase deadline, notification to the insurer, and credits offered by the provider: a simple difference between two policies can determine whether you’ll be reimbursed… or not.
With trip cancellation insurance, it’s not just what happens to you that matters… it’s also how your policy covers it.
Translated with Deepl