BEFORE YOU CANCEL YOUR CORONAVIRUS AFFECTED TRAVEL, READ THIS FIRST!
Has the Coronavirus pulled the rug out from under your travel plans? With cruise lines dangling cruise line future travel vouchers for cancellations, it should just be a matter of a quick phone call them to cancel your cruise, right? But, wait, cancelling your cruise might be the last thing you would want to do, and here is why…
What Will Happen To My Travel Plans?
The current Coronavirus, is certainly a daunting uncertainty for travelers, clouding future travel plans. Temporary as it may be, and hopefully soon to subside, it is not unlikely that this is the last of such viral impediments to world-wide travel. Therefore it is important to evaluate our options carefully and garner our resources for the next big one.
So, it is not without good reason, that we, as travel providers, must be patient and effective in tempering the fallout and continue offering viable client alternatives. I can only ask that you pay close attention to what I have to say. Making any untoward travel changes might cause subsequent unforeseen and regrettable consequences.
After decades of experience assisting tens of thousands of travelers, as both a cruise line and independent travel adviser, through the energy crisis, post 9/11, the swine flu, gulf red tides and whatever other travel perils can be cooked up, I must insist that it is absolutely essential that you proceed with extreme caution before upending your travel plans.
Smart Pre-Planning Traveler Decisions
Before you even consider accepting a cancellation or postponement to your vacation we hope that you have made wise decisions on how you planned, scheduled, booked and followed up on your vacation. First and foremost, hopefully you have used an experienced travel planner who has guided you through your vacation planning process to create the optimal and worry-free vacation.
The more all-inclusive your vacation, with air, hotels, cruise included with a historically reputable travel vendor like Viking who offer their all-inclusive travel clients clear and fair risk-free options, the easier it is to cancel or make changes.
Cancel-for-any-reason insurance is always a good value, however beware of cruise lines policies which only offer non-cash future cruise credits instead of cash out options. Be sure to read my blog, Travel Woes, Getting Travel Insurance, for more vital information on travel protection.
OK, maybe it is too late, we cannot turn back the clock, but as previously cautioned, this probably won’t be the last travel crisis to hit planet earth, so take note. Next time, don’t spread out your travel logistics all over the place and seek out reliable travel counsel prior to booking.
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Before You Cancel Your Vacation, Do This…
Even if your vacation has been precluded by current Government sanctions, such as travel bans, (refer to the current travel bans under my Travel Resource Page, Coronavirus advisories) it is still important to protect your own interests.
Pick up a folder, you know the old paper ones and print off all the different bookings. Scribble any vendor names and phone numbers and any information you have have on deadlines for cancellation marked clearly placing them in date order of priority.
Extinguish The Flames Using The Triage Principal
Just as emergency rooms handle patient ailments based on need, proper assessment of circumstances for each case will result in a stress free resolution for every scenario. Important things to consider:
- Deadlines
- What is refundable versus non-refundable.
- What items are consequential for others
- How to tell when a circumstance is handled
1) Deadlines – What are the dates that affect your cancellations? Be sure to carefully mark these in the files and handle the most pressing ones first. If the vendor is giving you up to the last minute to claim your voucher, why cancel today?
I had a client that recently took an, apparently more than generous, offer from a cruise lin, allowing him to receive a voucher or 100% of what he paid for his cruise to be used for a future vacation, waiving all imposed penalties. The next day, the line issued this decree, allowing for a 125% voucher, however the guest was not able to change his voucher to the new value.
This caution, I am giving here, can similarly be applied to offers from such lines as Regent Seven Seas, AmaWaterways, Crystal Cruise lines, Uniworld, etc.
However, we as travel advisers, have an opportunity here, to serve as travel client advocates, discerning the fine print and advising the safest and most beneficial paths for our travelers.
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Ask us about our added incentives on new & existing travel bookings
954-290-8626
hello@cruisinwithtedcom
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2) Refundable Versus Non-Refundable – Some reservations can be cancelled without penalties, or be protected with a future travel voucher. Some vendors are not offering any money back but are allowing date changes or vouchers up to as little as 24 hours prior to travel.
3) Consequences – Cruise lines may offer vouchers guaranteeing future travel. However if you purchased third party travel insurance, postponing the travel by extending the vacation with a date well into the future, may enable to salvage your existing policy.
Also, remember, vouchers are usually issued only in the names of travelers, regardless of who covered the costs. What of the cancelled parties who will not be traveling again and likely stuck with useless vouchers, when father paid for everything? Can dad get the future credits changed to his name? Unfortunately he probably can’t. This is where cancel for any reason insurance would have served you better.
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4) Handled Versus Not Handled – When working with a travel adviser or directly with a vendor, try to keep major travel adjustments in writing, at least by email followed up by phone calls to further clarify and verify execution of these changes. As a client advocate I insist on frequently repeating travel names, ship and sail date and reservation number verbally and/or in writing, again and again.
Just as hospitals verify name and birth dates of individual patients, so must we do as travelers. It would pose serious consequences if the wrong reservation is mistakenly cancelled. If working with a travel adviser, insist on live three way phone conferencing with guest, agent and vendor for major vacation adjustments.
As a trusted adviser, I always try to conference my guests when making major changes, payments or other updates to ensure that everything is on a verifiable and recoverable recording. This prevents confusion or mistakes. Then insist on an immediate written confirmation of the changes, verifying that they are correct.
Follow up later in a day or so, verifying all the changes made. I cannot tell you how many times I have called a vendor back, only to find nothing from the prior conversation had been handled or duly noted. Insist on receiving the cancellation notice in writing.
Print off everything and put all your notes and print-outs into your file. Make sure you keep track of any extra credits from your travel adviser so that they may be redeemed later.
Keep Your Eyes On The Big Picture
Remember that the media are going to be dragging out every permutation of the crisis- that is their job; to keep people glued to their sets. And it is likely that this situation will get far worse, before it reaches its valley and things creep back to normal.
Travel advisers will again be busy helping clients redeem all their vouchers and preaching the virtues of cancel-for-any-reason insurance, careful pre-planning and such, so that when the next big one hits again, we all will take it in stride like nothing ever happened.
I hope this article has helped us all understand how to best deal with the current virus situation and get ready for the next one. If you found this article beneficial, we hope that you will leave us a comment below, and use the handy share buttons provided to spread this message far and wide on all possible avenues.
Cruisin’ With Ted, Ted Karbowski:
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memories that last a lifetime.”
