Carnival’s New Vacation Protection Plan Provisions - Good Enough?

How could I even ask such a question? Aren't new features almost always good? Not if they don't go far enough toward covering what YOU need.

Carnival announced today that they are adding job loss assurance and severe weather watch/warning protection to their Cruise Vacation Protection Plan offered on Carnival cruises.

The severe weather watch/warning protection provides reimbursement in the event the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and/or National Weather Service issues or maintains a severe weather watch or warning within 48 hours of a cruise departure. Should the watch or warning affect either the cruise departure city or the guest's route to that city, the plan will allow for cancellation and reimbursement up to the full amount of the cruise cost.

Another new weather protection feature provides that if a guest is traveling to the cruise departure port via a common carrier (airplane, bus, train, etc.) and inclement weather ultimately causes the guest to miss 50 percent or more of the cruise vacation, the guest may receive reimbursement up to the total cost of the cruise.

The new job loss plan will provide reimbursement up to the total cruise cost if individuals who have booked a cruise and purchased the plan are subsequently terminated by their employer and have worked for that employer for at least one continuous year.

These two additions definitely have value, and could be important to some travelers. However, like most cruiseline-offered policies, they may not be the right solution for you or provide as comprehensive insurance as do independent policies.

I make no secret that in most situations, I'm not a fan of the policies offered by cruise lines. There are several reasons for this: they don't cover any arrangements you book independently, such as airfare, hotels or excursions; they usually don't cover pre-existing conditions; many don't offer refunds but instead offer future cruise credits if you cancel under their "any reason" provisions; they don't protect against supplier default; their coverage limits aren't terribly generous with regard to medical and evacuation coverages; and sometimes limit coverage for illness to non-traveling family members.

Carnival's policy isn't bad, it just doesn't provide comprehensive coverage. It does refund in cash if you need to cancel for a medical reason. It does allow cancellation for the illness of a non-traveling immediate family member. The job loss and weather additions are nice bonuses. But the medical limit is $10,000, and evacuation is only $30,000, neither of which is adequate in this day and age, especially for those covered under Medicare which doesn't allow claims for treatment outside the US. In addition, there is no waiver for pre-existing medical conditions, though if you do need to cancel for a pre-existing condition, they will give you a future cruise credit. And of course there's no provision for coverage for any other aspects of your cruise vacation which weren't booked through Carnival.

I applaud Carnival's enhancements, but as always, I recommend you discuss with your travel advisor your particular needs and what coverage might best suit your situation. In most cases, I feel that independent coverage offers superior protection, often at or close to the same cost as that offered through the cruises. There are exceptions, always, and it's important to look at your specific situation and decide based on that what form of coverage is best for you.