Liveaboard Cancellation Policies: Medical Emergencies

[drbill]

I was scheduled to leave May 3rd on a three week trip to the Maldives to film for a new video. I made the reservations fairly late, a few weeks before departure. There was no foreseeable reason I might have to cancel so I did not buy trip insurance. I did not receive notification of the operator's cancellation policy until after I had paid.

The unforeseeable happened and two days before my departure I was taken off the island by the Coast Guard for emergency medical surgery. I was released by the hospital the day I was to depart with a letter from the facility saying I was unable to travel or dive.

I immediately contacted the booking agent, the airline, my hotel and the liveaboard operator sending each a copy of the letter. My hotel immediately assured me they would not charge me, the airline is processing my request and the liveaboard operator has offered a small percentage as a refund.

My question here is what are the usual policies regarding cancellation for emergency (life saving) medical situations? I have contacted several operators I've dived with in the past and each one said they would offer a full credit toward future dives with them.

I am trying to get an idea of how other operators would or have handled such situations in the past. Thanks in advance for anything you care to post.

 

[KeithG]

we just finished a trip on the turks and caicos explorer, so i looked up their cancellation policy http://explorerventures.com/pdf/ApplicationReleaseCarib.pdf

they range from %10 to %30 percent cancellation fee, but no cancellations within 60 days of the trip.

we used to purchase insurance (or not) on a trip by trip basis. this made us very nervous about a few trips were we decided to self insure. We are mostly concerned about trip interruption due to winter storms. We have made 3 claims so far, 1 included a VERY expensive water taxi ride to catch up to a liveaboard. once we discovered that an annual product was cheaper than 2 trips worth of insurance it was a no brainer. Since we travel multiple times each year (scuba and other) we now purchase an annual travel insurance product that covers trip cancellation, trip interruption and all of our medical insurance needs.

 

[Sam Miller III]

Bill,
I sincerely hope nothing serious !
I wish you God Speed in your recovery

SDM

 

[Tippytoes12]

Sorry to hear that you have been ill. My husband and I were passengers on a Maldives LOB two weeks ago. A passenger named Bill cancelled at relatively short notice ...it must have been you ! The trip was wonderful by the way.

Personally I have never heard of an operator refunding in this situation , my understanding has always been that any such claim should be made via travel insurance. The rival operators will tell you that yes of course they would have done so, but is this to get future business. As the purchaser of this service , you should have asked for the terms and conditions before you parted with your cash. Not having insurance is a huge risk , as you found out sadly. This company have special offers at very low fares , an outfit charging $4000 for a trip may be able to afford this.

Try not to stress about this and concentrate on getting better from what sounds like a very serious issues. This could have happened on the boat in the Maldives.

Best fishes xxx

 

[BDSC]

I have seen refund policies all over the place. We had someone cancel (at the last minute) a land based trip I put together for medical reasons and they were charged a $200 fee but given credit for the remaining amount to be used in 24 months. I have also had two folks back out on a liveaboard trip literally the day before we were flying out and they lost their money.

What I have found is that no matter what the cancellation policy is, a lot of resorts and liveaboards will look at situations on a case by case basis and can be flexible. But I also know of a couple of liveaboards that are pretty strict about it and will tell you that's why trip insurance is out there.

Most resorts or liveaboards have their refund policies posted on their websites. I'm surprised your liveaboard company did not.

I hope you are making a full recovery and will be able to resume your diving.

By the way, I don't know how you book your travel but I use Scuba Travel Ventures. Because a company like this books a lot of travel with many operators all over the world, sometimes they have more pull and could possibly get something worked where it would be more difficult on your own.

 

[drbill]

By the way, I don't know how you book your travel but I use Scuba Travel Ventures. Because a company like this books a lot of travel with many operators all over the world, sometimes they have more pull and could possibly get something worked where it would be more difficult on your own.

I booked through an agent but they were not of much help despite booking high volume

 

[BDSC]

I booked through an agent but they were not of much help despite booking high volume

Well so much for my theory on that. Sorry.

 

[iamrushman]

please get well soon....

 

[drbill]

Well, the plot sickens. Had my follow-up with the surgeon yesterday. Turns out the appendix was cancerous and she wants to do another surgery to remove 1/3rd of my colon (a preventative measure). Prognosis is very good though. However that means another five weeks with no diving even locally. Two cancelled trips (Palau and Maldives) and now the surgeries... not a great spring and summer for my diving, but I'd rather play it safe than be sorry in the future.

 

[iamrushman]

good luck and best wishes from your south Florida followers.....