Cruise help if parent is critically ill

Toni.mc94

Hello

I booked a cruise in January for my boyfriends 30th birthday, we are due to go on 8th December everything has been paid for in full on a credit card. Unfortunately his fathers health has deteriorated really quickly the past week and Drs have been told they can only make him comfortable and for the family to start saying their goodbyes, obviously this is devastating for all of us involved, his dad is still awake and talking and said he’s trying to hang on for us to go on the cruise, obviously we don’t want this as he’s in pain and cannot eat, is there any way royal Caribbean are able to transfer our places on the cruise for one at a later date? We don’t want to cancel as we still want to take the trip just possibly at a later date. I did buy insurance but when I’ve googled it it says they won’t pay out if it’s a pre existing condition (which is bizarre as are we not supposed to book holidays if parents/in laws have conditions that we think are stable and then drop?) 

I’ve emailed RC to see if they can help but not been able to get any response. 

We are happy to provide them with any Drs notes and a death certificate when the time comes. 

His dad is hanging on for us to go on this holiday as it took me two years to save for when we’re not very well off and the guilt for him feeling like that is killing me 

any help would be greatly appreciated 

la531983

Have you contacted the travel company by phone yet to ask if they can do anything?

Sadly here the payment method is irrelevant. The trip is still available and the credit card company and travel company have done nothing wrong, so you cant put any form of claim in.

TELLIT01

I find the pre-existing conditions of a close family member exclusion bizarre. Although the OP in this instance is aware of the parent's medical history, not everybody will be.  Many people either don't want to worry other family members or simply don't want to discuss their medical situation.  How is anybody going to declare medical conditions they are unaware of ?

Caz3121

have a read of the terms and conditions - 1.11 refers to changes
https://www.royalcaribbean.com/guest-terms/gb/united-kingdom-english/

if flights are involved then the money for those is likely lost. Probably best to phone RC to see what your options may be

Alan_Bowen

If your boyfriend's father was not known to be ill with whatever is now reducing him to palliative care, and I send you my best wishes in that respect, then the illness cannot be said to have been pre-existing and the insurance policy should cover your losses which almost certainly will be close to 100% of the cost of the cruise. You will need his doctor to confirm at the time of booking and taking out the policy, that the current illness was not identified as a serious health risk, if the doctor cannot, or will not do so, the insurers will be able to justify the refusal.

At that point, you are at the mercy of Royal Caribbean, not known to be overly generous, and if you booked through a travel agency, it would certainly be worth asking them to help you at this point. Good luck!

elsien

You say you've googled the insurance - have you read the specific terms and conditions of the policy that you took out as they do vary. Particularly check for any duty of disclosure about the health of someone not named on the policy - eg close relatives. 

I would suggest your first step should be to see what the cruise provider can offer.
If they won't swap and you are not able to go you would need to make the insurance claim anyway, then take it via their complaints procedure to the Ombudsman if you still thought that the condition was unfair. 

Change in health (financial-ombudsman.org.uk) - look at the section about people not on the policy. 

silvercar

TELLIT01 said:

I find the pre-existing conditions of a close family member exclusion bizarre. Although the OP in this instance is aware of the parent's medical history, not everybody will be.  Many people either don't want to worry other family members or simply don't want to discuss their medical situation.  How is anybody going to declare medical conditions they are unaware of ?

This seems a general problem. We have between us 3 elderly parents with a multitude of health conditions. There is no option to declare their conditions on our bank benefit travel insurance. Even if you could, I would imagine that the premiums would make coverage unaffordable.

As has been said, if the medical condition was not expected to be terminal, an insurer may pay out. It could depend on what the death certificate states. 

From an insurer point of view, flying people home mid holiday is not that costly compared to having a medical issue with the policy holder.

I wish you all well, in very difficult circumstances.

k12479

TELLIT01 said:

I find the pre-existing conditions of a close family member exclusion bizarre. Although the OP in this instance is aware of the parent's medical history, not everybody will be.  Many people either don't want to worry other family members or simply don't want to discuss their medical situation.  How is anybody going to declare medical conditions they are unaware of ?

People can a) continue with their plans or b) take the financial hit themselves. But why should other customers pay, via higher premiums, for people's lack of communication with those close to them?

Toni.mc94

Thank you everyone for your comments, if I’m being 100% truthful I didn’t ever think you had to take wider family members health into consideration when booking a holiday and/or insurance, I lost both my parents unexpectedly when I was 18 so when going on holiday I’ve only ever had to consider myself. I’m going to call RC today and see if they can help I am totally at their mercy. I’m going to leave contacting the insurance maybe until he’s passed as I can’t imagine insurance companies to be too sympathetic. If worse case scenario and nobody can help can cruises be sold on to others and they pay for a name change? 

Also thanks for everyone’s sympathy in these hard times I’ve never experienced something like this so it’s hard to navigate  

Bicycleman22

Definitely go to royalcarribbean politely at first and see if they will transfer the dates. If not escalate it as high as you can go with them  and really push. Your insurance may pay out as mentioned  above but the process could well be drawn out until after your departure date which is why I would recommend trying to deal with R.C. today if possible...... Also it will take just one person to help you out and it wont be the lower level call centre worker and unliklely to happen on email...... Try to speak to a manager as soon as possible in your conversations and escalate two or three times if needed.

Flugelhorn

k12479 said:

TELLIT01 said:

I find the pre-existing conditions of a close family member exclusion bizarre. Although the OP in this instance is aware of the parent's medical history, not everybody will be.  Many people either don't want to worry other family members or simply don't want to discuss their medical situation.  How is anybody going to declare medical conditions they are unaware of ?

People can a) continue with their plans or b) take the financial hit themselves. But why should other customers pay, via higher premiums, for people's lack of communication with those close to them?

other people's medical conditions are private and confidential to them - they shouldn't have to pass bulletins around the family just in case someone is arranging travel insurance. I am sure I did the "doctor's end" of one of these claims in the past - I had to state a date when the ill person was determined to have been "end of life" - presume the claim was OK , I didn't hear any more about it