Year in and year out, it happens each at the end of each summer. Unfortunately, hurricane season is inevitable. While we can’t change the weather, we can be proactive in our approach.
Three lessons can be learned from this week:
1. The value of a travel agent
2. The true value of travel insurance
3. The value of that little blue book – a travel passport
How would you feel coming to the pier only to find your ship gone? What would you do? Who would you call? Complain or just scream? Four hundred forty five people got that feeling this week while vacationing on the Carnival Victory and the Serenade of the Seas. San Juan Port Authorities ordered both ships to evacuate ahead of schedule to avoid Hurricane Irene. Carnival passengers were offered the option to fly to the next port of call – granted they had their passports on them. Similarly Royal Caribbean offered the same option to those who purchased their air and insurance through the company. And everyone else? A much different story.
When considering a cruise vacation, it’s not just budgeting for the airfare and cruise, insurance is just as much a crucial factor giving how much you are investing into your trip already. Just as you would make sure to set money aside for onboard activities and drinks, travel insurance should come just as obvious. As a travel agent, I make sure to send my clients waivers for those who forego travel insurance to be aware of all the risks. Surprising as it is, cruise lines do not control the weather, and thus it is standard for cruise lines to reroute ports of call due to extreme situations. Working with travel agent in such situations is another way to protect your investment, as we are able to make sure you get where you need to be.