A young couple about to get married has been trying to change a cruise they booked months ago, and what they've learned is a good lesson for anyone planning to book an expensive trip.
It's their honeymoon cruise, something they should be looking forward to.
Unfortunately, the cruise is scheduled to go to hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico.
Planned months in advance
"We decided to do a cruise for our honeymoon, do four or five days in San Juan, and afterwards go on and enjoy the rest of the Caribbean," said Kyle Cunha.
They booked a Carnival cruise. But then hurricanes Irma and Maria hit.
Cunha figured Carnival would switch the cruise to another island. But when he called, he couldn't believe what a rep told him.
"They basically said we are going, because our cruise port is good to go. But you look at the news and search anything, and all you see is devastation," he said.
Cunha says he was told there would be no changes to the cruise, because the port of San Juan is now re-opened.
He says he would be fine with San Juan being a one-day port of call, and would be happy to buy clothing and food to help the local economy get back on its feet.
But he says the problem is that San Juan is his ship's home port. He and his bride would need to stay there for several days this fall, during what's supposed to be a week of newly-wedded bliss.
Unfortunately, Carnival states in its contracts that if you cancel within 14 days of the cruise, you forfeit 100 percent of the cost.
"We paid in full, so we would lose the full price," he said.
Good news: After we contacted Carnival, the cruise line reviewed their case and made an exception to the rules, and will let the newlyweds take a later cruise, at no penalty.
How to protect yourself
But this is good lesson to all travelers booking an expensive trip.
To protect yourself, the insurance comparison website InsureMyTrip.com says look for insurance that includes:
- Cancellation coverage, in the event you can't go. Ideally, pay a bit more for a "cancel for any reason" policy, which includes cold feet, job loss or any number of reasons.
- Trip interruption coverage, if illness or a storm cuts the trip short.
- Medical insurance that covers you outside the United States. Many travelers don't realize that their employer's health plan may not pay for hospitalization outside the country.
Finally, know the risk of traveling to the Caribbean in the fall, during peak hurricane season.
Sure, prices are lower. But even if your ship diverts around the storm, passengers sometimes report choppy waters, overcast days and stiff winds that prevent them from lounging on the deck.
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