You are excited for your upcoming trip to Alaska, but then something happens. A family member dies or you suffer an injury and your doctor restricts you from traveling. So, when people call to cancel their reservation at the last-minute, one of my first questions is, “Do you have trip insurance?”

In every welcome letter, I share with passengers our cancellation policy and urge them to get trip insurance. Having trip insurance makes all the difference when the unexpected happens. Also, if you have aging parents or a serious health condition you might want the peace of mind that comes along with procuring trip insurance. 

I am not a trip insurance specialist, so I point passengers towards a couple of trip insurance providers for them to compare rates and coverages. I encourage them to get “cancel for any reason” and “evacuation” coverages. Trip insurance premiums and coverages tend to be the best when you first make your reservation and become more expensive as the trip date approaches.

Without trip insurance, if you must cancel less than 90 days before the trip sails and are already paid in full, then we cannot refund your payments. If the trip is more than 90 days away, we allow passengers to reschedule and that way we still have time to sell the now open spot on that trip. We always strive to do our best and be flexible for passengers, all while running a small business.

I do my best to assist passengers making a claim with the insurance company in what is already a difficult time for them. When a passenger has trip insurance, I can provide them with a letter officially canceling their reservation, a statement of what they paid and that the reservation has not been transferred to another date or passenger.

 

Overlooking the David B at Fords Terror

We think that adventures on the David B are a once-in-a-lifetime experience and therefore would hate to have you cancel for any reason. I can understand that trip insurance is another expense that adds to the cost of travel, but it is minor compared to losing your entire trip payment due to an unplanned event or injury. Trip insurance can provide you with some solace and get your money back so you can reschedule and ultimately join us at a later date. 

Sincerely,

Sarah
Reservations, Shore Support and Cat Staff