jonhall
Contributor
Wasn't quite sure where to post this thread so it wound up here. Hope that other members here can provide valuable info for future cruisers/divers.
The basic question is whether there is a travel insurance that covers the cost of prepaid dives in the event that a dive is cancelled due to 1) weather; (and the things I didn't think about) 2) cruise ship fails to arrive in time or not at all; 3) you miss the pickup.
The following from a St. Lucia dive op's website is the reason I ask:
Cancellation Policy for Cruise Ship Customers
If you cancel:-
More than 14 days before the booking start date = Full deposit refund.
Between 14 days and 8 days from the booking start date = No deposit refund.
7 days or less from the booking start date = Full balance payable, charged to the credit card used to pay your deposit. If we are able to resell your spaces we will refund your payment less a US$25 admin and bank charges fee.
If your ship fails to arrive, or if you are late and miss the pick up, or only some of your party show up or you fail to produce satisfactory proof of diver certification (certified divers only), the full amount is payable and there will be no refund whatsoever.
If we are forced to cancel for whatever reason you will receive a full refund of the unexpired portion of your booking.
Dives/snorkeling not taken are not refundable or transferable.
Hurricane or Named Tropical Storm Guarantee
If your ship does not arrive in St Lucia on the scheduled day due to a Hurricane or named Tropical Storm and we have not cancelled the diving or snorkeling because the conditions here are still suitable, we will offer a 100% store credit for 12 months towards a future booking. If we cancel your tour you will receive a 100% refund to your credit card.
I know the following:
* DAN dive insurance (at least the Guardian and Preferred plans) will cover lost dives due to sickness and injury only.
* DiveAssure will cover lost dives due to medical and weather. The policy is only good for traveling outside the country - domestic coverage is not available.
* World Nomad covers lost dives due to weather - saw this in another thread and found it in the details on their website when I first looked, but can't find it it now. The SB member who posted was reimbursed $350 for a shark dive cancelled due to weather that the dive op would not reimburse.
* Allianz's trip interruption coverage may cover lost dives if the travel carrier (cruise ship) can't get you to an original itinerary destination for various reasons including weather
Specific questions are that come to mind are:
1. Do you prepay for dives when going on a cruise - either before leaving on your trip or while already on the cruise?
2. What insurance do you use and do you know that it specifically covers lost dives due to any situations mentioned above?
As an FYI, I plan to do at least one day of diving while on a cruise that we will be on in late January. I've researched 2-3 dive ops that are either close to or pick up from the cruise ship in each port we will be in. St. Lucia, with the one op with the crazy cancellation policy, and the high taxi rates I would have to pay to get to the other rule out diving there. Wasn't high on the list anyway.
The basic question is whether there is a travel insurance that covers the cost of prepaid dives in the event that a dive is cancelled due to 1) weather; (and the things I didn't think about) 2) cruise ship fails to arrive in time or not at all; 3) you miss the pickup.
The following from a St. Lucia dive op's website is the reason I ask:
Cancellation Policy for Cruise Ship Customers
If you cancel:-
More than 14 days before the booking start date = Full deposit refund.
Between 14 days and 8 days from the booking start date = No deposit refund.
7 days or less from the booking start date = Full balance payable, charged to the credit card used to pay your deposit. If we are able to resell your spaces we will refund your payment less a US$25 admin and bank charges fee.
If your ship fails to arrive, or if you are late and miss the pick up, or only some of your party show up or you fail to produce satisfactory proof of diver certification (certified divers only), the full amount is payable and there will be no refund whatsoever.
If we are forced to cancel for whatever reason you will receive a full refund of the unexpired portion of your booking.
Dives/snorkeling not taken are not refundable or transferable.
Hurricane or Named Tropical Storm Guarantee
If your ship does not arrive in St Lucia on the scheduled day due to a Hurricane or named Tropical Storm and we have not cancelled the diving or snorkeling because the conditions here are still suitable, we will offer a 100% store credit for 12 months towards a future booking. If we cancel your tour you will receive a 100% refund to your credit card.
I know the following:
* DAN dive insurance (at least the Guardian and Preferred plans) will cover lost dives due to sickness and injury only.
* DiveAssure will cover lost dives due to medical and weather. The policy is only good for traveling outside the country - domestic coverage is not available.
* World Nomad covers lost dives due to weather - saw this in another thread and found it in the details on their website when I first looked, but can't find it it now. The SB member who posted was reimbursed $350 for a shark dive cancelled due to weather that the dive op would not reimburse.
* Allianz's trip interruption coverage may cover lost dives if the travel carrier (cruise ship) can't get you to an original itinerary destination for various reasons including weather
Specific questions are that come to mind are:
1. Do you prepay for dives when going on a cruise - either before leaving on your trip or while already on the cruise?
2. What insurance do you use and do you know that it specifically covers lost dives due to any situations mentioned above?
As an FYI, I plan to do at least one day of diving while on a cruise that we will be on in late January. I've researched 2-3 dive ops that are either close to or pick up from the cruise ship in each port we will be in. St. Lucia, with the one op with the crazy cancellation policy, and the high taxi rates I would have to pay to get to the other rule out diving there. Wasn't high on the list anyway.