Check your cruise requirements, then check again

Seasoned travelers are aware of the multi-leveled airline fees to take into account when making travel plans, but the fine print in cruise clauses can also be costly.

Stories abound of hefty cancellation fees, especially by first-timers who take the word of their travel agent or cruise customer service representative that there will be a full refund if the buyers have to cancel their voyage.

The fine print in many cases will clarify that there is a 75% cancellation fee so the refund is but 25% of the total cost.

As sailings are gaining in popularity since the COVID-19 shutdown has passed, cruise lines have been raking in easy money from folks who don’t read their contracts carefully.

Wannabe cruisers also are making all kinds of mistakes, from not remembering to check their testing requirements to overlooking their passport expirations.

Representatives of the cruise lines may be able to assure people with health conditions or impairments that they can be accommodated comfortably aboard ship, but there’s no mention of the problems they might have boarding the airliner that will fly them to and from the vessel.

A major mistake many make is ignoring international travel requirements. Entry requirements vary by country, and they’ve changed a lot since the pandemic, so passengers have to familiarize themselves with the entry requirements in the ports their ship will visit. Travel experts recommend you take your COVID-19 vaccine certificate with you. Don’t forget to get up to date on the cruise line’s requirements. Even if you’ve sailed on its ships before, rules and regulations have changed.

If you have a voucher for future cruise credits, check the expiration date on the voucher. Most of these vouchers are valid for two years after the date they were issued.

What happens if you get sick on the voyage? While we refer to “post-pandemic time,” the confining culture is still with us, so get sufficient travel insurance to cover you should you be quarantined in a foreign port for a couple of weeks before you get home.

After you’ve done all this, confirm and reconfirm your travel requirements before your cruise because requirements change.

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