For the first time in more than 100 years, Americans are eyeing the very real and potentially devastating possibility that the U.S. will be struck by back-to-back Category 4 (or higher) hurricanes.

If you’re traveling this week, hopefully, your travel professional has already helped you purchase travel insurance. for your trip. Right about now, though, you might also be wondering just what is covered if a hurricane wrecks your plans for a much-needed getaway.

In a post on their website, Allianz Global, a leading specialty insurance provider details just what your insurance does and doesn’t cover if you’re facing extreme weather or a hurricane on your next trip.

If your trip is canceled or cut short, a policy provided by Allianz Global Assistance will likely include reimbursement for your travel costs as well as any costs incurred if you have to fly home early. If you can’t get home, your insurance will probably also reimburse any costs associated with extra nights at your hotel, meals and other essentials. And, of course, if you're injured, travel insurance will help you find medical services—including medical transportation—for any injuries that might occur, while also defraying those costs.

What else should you know about travel insurance?

If you’re headed to Florida but haven’t yet committed to travel insurance, while you will still likely be able to purchase a travel policy it probably won’t cover any damages incurred due to Hurricane Irma.

“Travel insurance is designed to offer protection against sudden and unforeseen situations and events,” says Allianz Global. “When a hurricane (or any storm) becomes a named storm, it also becomes a ‘foreseeable event’ with known potential to affect your travel. If you buy travel insurance after a storm is named, your plan won't provide coverage for storm-related claims.”

Travel insurance comparison website, SquareMouth says that in order for a traveler to be covered for Irma-related costs, you must have bought your policy on or before August 30, when Irma was named.

Chalk up yet another reason for purchasing insurance as soon as you book your trip.

When it comes to flight delays, sitting in an airport for hours—or even days—could make even the most patient traveler decide to give up and head home.

“Don’t do it,” says Allianz Global. You need to have lost at least half of your scheduled trip due to a travel delay and you must have shown a good-faith attempt to try to get to your destination before insurance will even consider covering you.

If the airline does ultimately cancel your flight due to Irma—and you’ve purchased the proper insurance in time—SquareMouth also recommends you keep a copy of your original itinerary and obtain a statement or updated itinerary from your airline verifying that the original flight was canceled.

As for cruise passengers, travel insurance will likely not cover your costs if you decide to change your trip before your cruise line cancels the itinerary.

The “weather event must force your airline, cruise line or tour operator to stop offering all services for at least 24 hours,” said Allianz Global. “Once that happens, your travel insurance would reimburse you for non-refundable travel costs.”

It also good to note that if your cruise line changes your itinerary at the last-minute due to inclement weather, you must accept the change. As long as the new itinerary has the same “value” as your original itinerary, your insurance company doesn’t consider that you’ve suffered “a financial loss.”

On the other hand, your insurance should protect you if you need to change hotels because weather damage made the property uninhabitable. Keep in mind that what annoys you might not necessarily be classified as uninhabitable by the insurance company. If your golf vacation is on the rocks thanks to weather damage to the golf course, for example, but the hotel can still accommodate you, it is unlikely you’ll be reimbursed for any changes.

If your hotel does prove to be uninhabitable or if it is evacuated, again Squaremouth recommends you receive documentation, such as a local news story announcing the evacuation or a statement from the hotel as proof.

It’s important to note that if local authorities order a “preemptive evacuation,” that will probably also not be covered by your policy.

The most important thing to know when purchasing travel insurance is to read your inclusions and exclusions very carefully before setting off on your trip. It can help to have a seasoned travel professional on your side who can work with you to get exactly the right policy you need.

Or, check out www.allianztravelinsurance.com or SquareMouth’s Hurricane Irma Fact Sheet for more information.

Article Courtesy Travel Pulse and Seven Sea Journeys/News 

Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more.

Photo: Pixabay Free Images

[Do you have a holiday cruise planned this month? If not, don't despair. After all, it's never too early to start planning for next Christmas! Here are some suggestions for great holiday cruising from "Travel Pulse" magazine.)

Instead of spending Christmas with the in-laws, hop aboard a festive cruise ship and celebrate at sea. A number of cruise lines offer unusual, Christmas-themed itineraries to far-off destinations with the Christmas spirit found onboard the ship and on land.

Warm up with a mug of hot chocolate at a European Christmas market, see the northern lights twinkling, or join a tropical holiday party on a private island. These six cruises are stand-out alternatives to staying home for the holidays.

Viking River Cruises on the Danube

European cities along the “Blue Danube” become winter wonderlands with vendors selling homemade gingerbread houses, handicrafts, ornaments, toys, and jewelry. After touring open-air Christmas markets in Vienna and Budapest or exploring a Benedictine abbey, passengers on the “Romantic Danube” cruise can retreat to the warmth of the new, luxurious “Viking Longships.” Onboard activities include concerts from local choirs, wreath decorating, cookie-making demonstrations and holiday trivia.

Disney’s Caribbean Cruises

The magic of Christmas meets the magic of Disney on Caribbean cruises this December. Holiday voyages aboard Disney’s vessels call on Castaway Cay, the cruise line’s privately-owned island in the Bahamas. Once ashore, expect “snow” flurries, a Christmas tree, and Mr. and Mrs. Snowman sporting tropical shirts.

Onboard the ship, festive décor includes a life-sized gingerbread house, a 24-foot Christmas tree, and shimmering lights. Passengers can join in a tropical holiday party (think: candy cane limbo), holiday storytelling, a tree lighting ceremony, and meet-and-greets with Santa and the elves.

Christmas in Norway on a Cruise Ferry

Hurtigruten’s Norwegian passenger ferries offer the chance to celebrate the holidays with locals onboard the vessel. Daily departures on these rare freighter cruises from Bergen range from six to 12 days, and take passengers over the Arctic Circle to snow-capped Norwegian coastal towns – all decked for the holidays. Christmas traditions in Norway are rooted in legends of trolls, Yule tide tales, sleighs and magical reindeer.

Onboard, a Norwegian Christmas dinner is served and passengers and crew celebrate together with carols, presents, and a visit from Santa. If guests are lucky, there’s also a strong chance of seeing the northern lights.

Old-Fashioned Christmas on a Mississippi Riverboat

The American Queen is a regal paddle wheeler inspired by the steamboats of a bygone era and is filled with beautiful antiques and modern amenities. For a taste of a southern-style Christmas, it sails from New Orleans up the Mississippi River to Memphis.

Chef Regina Charboneau will prepare a Creole Réveillon Christmas dinner and holiday shows will kick off in the two-story Grand Saloon. Other activities include tree trimming and door-decorating contests, as well as wood carving demonstrations and the Louisiana tradition of bonfires on the levees.

Palm Trees and Glaciers in South America

For a taste of tropical weather and majestic glaciers – on the same cruise – Princess has a unique two-week voyage from Santiago, Chile aboard the Golden Princess. The ship sails around the tip of South America, past Cape Horn and Patagonia. Passengers spend Christmas in the colorful coastal town of Ushuaia (in Tierra del Fuego) before heading north to Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. Onboard the ship, waiters don Santa hats, carolers make their rounds, and the ship is decked in wreaths, holly, and mistletoe.

AmaWaterways Christmas on the Rhine

The Rhine River winds through the German countryside, past medieval castles dusted in snow and quaint villages with bustling holiday markets selling crafts, mulled ciders, and rich hot chocolate. Ships are cheerfully decorated with lights and a lobby Christmas tree, while special events include tree decorating, carolers, stories about European Christmas traditions, a Christmas dinner and captain’s party.

AmaWaterways’ Christmas on the Rhine package includes seven nights sailing to cities like Cologne for a cathedral visit, the fairy-tale like city of Strasbourg, and shopping in the markets of Amsterdam, Breisach, and Basel.

By Amber Nolan, for "Travel Pulse" ("Celebration at Sea-Best Christmas Cruises", Nov. 30, 2014)

Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more.

Please visit CruiseCrazies.com for more cruise news & articles.

Featured photo credit: Dollar Photo Club

(Here is a helpful article on cruise ships that explore New England and Canada foliage. Tip: For peak times to see the best colors of autumn, visit the Yankee Foliage website - Jan N.)

One of Mother Nature's best shows takes place along the Eastern Seaboard in late September and October when colorful leaves are on full display. Cruises provide views of peak foliage in New England and Canada.

You can visit places including Acadia National Park in Maine and the St. Lawrence Seaway in Quebec, without the detraction of highways filled with other leaf-peepers. Bonus: From your ship you're also likely to spot migrating humpback whales.

There are also other places to see colorful foliage, including along the cruising routes in the Pacific Northwest, Hudson Valley and along the Tennessee River.

Here are the best cruises for viewing fall foliage.

Maasdam: This 1,258-passenger Holland America Line ship sails from both Boston and Montreal on seven- to 14-day itineraries, either round-trip or one-way. You visit Bar Harbor, Maine (for Acadia), cruise into the narrow channels of the St. Lawrence Seaway, with colorful leaves on both sides, and visit ports including Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Fares from $599.

Royal Princess: This beautiful year-old, 3,560-passenger Princess Cruises ship, with its expansive Piazza and fountain pool, cruises round-trip from New York (Brooklyn). The one-week itineraries include port calls in St. John, New Brunswick, tony Newport, Rhode Island, Boston, Bar Harbor and Halifax. From $999.

Regatta: Cruise on this 694-passenger Oceania Cruises ship between New York and Montreal on 10- to 12-day itineraries that visit Newport, Portland (Maine), Boston and Bar Harbor as well as ports in Atlantic Canada, with some cruises including Corner Brook, Newfoundland. An October 10 sailing gets you to Saguenay National Park, the great tree-lined fjord, which cuts through what may be the oldest rocks on the planet. From $2,949.

Brilliance of the Seas: Check out the views from the rock-climbing wall aboard this 2,112-passenger Royal Caribbean ship, as you cruise for a week, round-trip from Boston to Portland, Bar Harbor, St. John and Halifax, fares from $599.

Seabourn Quest: Enjoy suite accommodations onboard Seabourn's 450-passenger luxury ship as you cruise between Boston and Montreal, on one of four 10-day itineraries. You'll overnight in Quebec City, visit Charlottetown, Halifax, Bar Harbor and Saguenay, and also spend time in the scenic St. Lawrence River and the Quebec cities of Baie-Comeau and Gaspe. Fares from $3,999.

Norwegian Gem: Cruise from New York on a one-week itinerary that includes port calls in Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, St. John and Halifax. Fares are from $699. While onboard thisNorwegian Cruise Line ship, visit the bowling lanes in the retro-chic Bliss Ultra Lounge.

S.S. Legacy: See colorful leaves, deep gorges and waterfalls as you trace the route of Lewis & Clark on the Columbia, Snake and Willamette rivers. Un-Cruise has booked historians and Heritage guides are to provide guests with a narrative. The 88-passenger ship, a replica of a steamer, does one-week sailings from Portland, Oregon through November. Fares from $3,195.

American Queen: Red and gold leaves create beautiful landscapes on the Tennessee River. Cruise between Chattanooga and Memphis or Nashville in October on this 436-passengerAmerican Queen Steamboat Company paddlewheeler on nine-day itineraries, priced from $2,549. The October 24 departure is a Country Music-themed sailing.

American Star: This 100-passenger ship operated by American Cruise Lines has October sailings from New York through the Hudson Valley, getting you to places including Sleepy Hollow, Catskill and West Point. Fares from $3,810.

Crystal Serenity: Do a five- to 30-day cruise in luxurious surrounds onboard this 1,070-passenger Crystal Cruises ship. Most of the sailings are from Quebec City or New York, but there's also a five-day sailing from Halifax to New York, priced from $1,780, that visits Bar Harbor, Boston and Newport. A new feature is running tours in select ports of call – including an escorted 5k run on scenic carriage roads in Acadia National Park.

By Fran Golden (USA Today, "Falling for Foliage: The Best Cruises for Leaf Peeping")

Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more.

Please visit CruiseCrazies.com for more cruise news & articles.

Featured photo credit: USA Today

Need a gift for the cruiser in your life? No fear – help is here! I’ve put together a list of practical travel-related gifts for both cruisers and landlubbers alike. Whether a seasoned seafarer or first-time ocean voyager, your gift recipient will appreciate any of these travel essentials.

1. Luggage. One can’t travel without luggage, right? A whole set or just one or two select pieces will send them off in style.

2. Cruise-theme photo album or frame. Even if the recipient is the type who stores and displays vacation pics electronically, a small photo “brag book” or frame can be a great way to display those portraits and candid shots purchased on board.

3. Waterproof Pouch. These are invaluable for carrying credit cards, ID and cash safely and securely while swimming, snorkeling or diving. They come in several varieties – from plastic “vaults” that hang around the neck to airtight bags that wrap around the waist.

4. Waterproof digital camera. Perfect for photographing coral, fish and other marine life while snorkeling. Pair it up with a waterproof pouch, and you’ve got a great gift for the water-sports enthusiast on your list.

5. Travel Mug. No need to lug a 24-pack of water bottles along with you. Save your friends and loved ones the hassle and save the environment, too. A reusable water bottle or mug and some water from the bathroom tap (don’t worry – it’s clean and safe) will be a lifesaver, both onboard and in port.

6. Nightlight or Mini-Flashlight. For those folks who choose to save money on with an inside windowless cabin, a little light will come in real handy!

7. Pocket-Size Destination Guide. Better than lugging a big travel book around, these handy little guides are just the right size to use in a flash.

8. Travel Journal. Got a blogger on your list? A journal is great for recording notes, ideas and reviews of visited destinations.

9. Binoculars. Indispensable – especially for spotting wildlife in Alaska!

10. Digital Camera. No traveler should leave home without one!

11. Electronic reader. Is there a voracious reader on your list? Books take up space and ad weight to luggage. A reader will store all the books and magazines they need.

12. Travel Alarm. No need for a wake-up call if you have one of these personal wake-up gadgets.

13. Hanging pocket organizer. Not just for shoes, it can be used as extra storage for bathroom items.

14. Compact umbrella & rain jacket. One never knows when a rain shower will surface. Keep them in your backpack or daypack and always be ready.

15. Daypack/Backpack. A must-have while touring in port, to hold digital camera, sunglasses, raingear, granola bars, beach and snorkel gear.

16. Wine. Most cruise lines allow guests to bring a bottle or two onboard at embarkation.

17. Shipboard/Excursion Credit. Do you have a friend or family member already booked on a cruise? Contact their agent or the cruise line and purchase credit to be used for the spa, a shore excursion, alcoholic beverages, and more.

18. Special occasion package. Are your friends celebrating an anniversary or birthday? Just like shipboard credit, special occasion packages and other gifts can be purchased from the cruise line through an agent or the cruise line directly.

19. Create your own gift pack. Buy a colorful tote bag and fill it with handy little necessities like lanyards, luggage tags, notebook, pens, highlighters, sticky notes, travel-size toiletries, sunscreen, clothing gift certificates, and any of the other items listed above.

20. A Cruise. Buy them the whole vacation! Not feeling that generous? A short weekend cruise or a cruise to nowhere might fit your budget, and the gift certificate is easy to wrap!

By Janice Neves, CruiseCrazies Contributor

For more cruise news & articles go to http://www.cruisecra....com/index.html

Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more

Photo credit: D. Neves

Decked out and dancing under a clear sky or in an elaborately decorated lounge, water views galore, champagne flowing, a live band playing, balloon drops and maybe even fireworks. If that sounds like your kind of New Year's Eve celebration head to a cruise ship.

There is still some space available on these cruises, near and far. Where will you ring in the New Year?

Australia/New Zealand

Guests onboard Seabourn Odyssey will be sipping complimentary champagne after cruising all day in New Zealand's breathtaking Milford Sound and Fjordlands National Park, then spend New Year's Day among the bird life of sparsely populated Oban, N.Z.

Bahamas

Mickey and friends will entertain cruisers during a deck party on the Disney Magic. Bonus: You spend the first day of the New Year docked at Disney's Castaway Cay.

Caribbean

Passengers on the Azamara Quest will be ringing in the New Year in high style in the harbor of chic St. Barth's, with views of the island's fireworks display.

South America

Book the New Year's cruise on Silversea’s Silver Cloud and say hello to 2014 while sailing in the Chilean Fjords.

Asia

Passengers on the SeaDream II will spend New Year's Eve in Phuket, Thailand, where Paris Hilton will be hosting a star-studded beach party. Bonus: Fireworks and traditional lighted lanterns.

Europe

Passengers on the AmaWaterways river ship AmaPrima will spend New Year's Eve docked in lively Amsterdam.

Tahiti

As if visiting paradise is not enough, those celebrating New Year's on the Ocean Princess can also screen college football games on New Year's Day (complete with a junk-food buffet).

Myanmar

Talk about an exotic way to start the New Year: passengers on the river ship Road to Madalay will celebrate New Year's with a chef's feast and live band, after first touring the U Bein Bridge in Mandalay and King Bodawpaya's pagoda at Amarapura.

Mexico

Revelers on the Carnival Miracle can get an early start on New Year's Eve with a day in the fun-in-the-sun destination of Cabo San Lucas, enjoy a party at sea (complete with free champagne, party hats and noisemakers), and return to Cabo for New Year's Day.

Hawaii

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America will spend New Year's Eve off the Big Island, meaning passengers may spot eruptions of Kilauea volcano — talk about starting the year off with a bang!

By Fran Golden (USA Today, "10 Coolest Cruises for Celebrating New Year's")

For more cruise news & articles go to http://www.cruisecra....com/index.html

Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more

Photo credit: PRNewPhoto/Crystal Cruises

Santa met us at the embarkation gangway. He was five days early for gift-giving, but he set the tone for a two-week holiday cruise to the Caribbean. Behind him on Oceania’s Riviera, docked last December in Miami, four carolers, dressed in English style from the Dickens era, sang for each new group of passengers checking in.

Don’t plan a holiday cruise to get away from it all, if “all” includes the seasonal music, pots of poinsettias, and a Christmas goose served in the main dining room.

While some cruise lines do more than others to hark and herald, most ships are decked out for the December holidays, and elevators are awash in seasonal tunes.

You can expect more children aboard, too, traveling not only with their parents but also with their grandparents or perhaps aunts and uncles, as multi-generational cruising takes an uptick at holiday time.

All of which recommends paying attention to your wants and expectations, as well as a cruise line’s reputation for tinsel tossing. If you are cruising round trip out of Florida — the most economical of the holiday cruises — you may want to ask how much seasoning is likely to be added to the usual Caribbean spice.

Spokespersons from several cruise lines pointed out that ships on weekly round trips typically offer significantly different atmospheres when comparing Christmas and New Year’s voyages, with far more children aboard during Christmas week, and more of an adult party over New Year’s. This year, those two major holidays fall mid-week, so festivities on cruises that begin on the weekends will not spill into the other holiday week. (Hanukkah, by the way, is early this year, starting Nov. 27, the evening before Thanksgiving.)

Most ships plan a Santa with gift giving for children on Christmas day — Celebrity Cruises promises a gift for every child ages 3-17 — and all ships prepare special dinners and brunches for Christmas and New Year’s. Many provide leaders for weekend religious services, as well as for Hanukah and Christmas. Ask your travel agent or cruise line for details.

Crystal Cruises, which has a reputation for decorations and festivities, has one ship deployed in South America in December, while the other is sailing out of Miami for 14 days, starting Dec. 21. You can expect more children on the Miami cruise.

“It’s huge for families,” says Crystal’s Mimi Weisband. “We have more than 100 children on holiday cruises, but many of our programs strategically take kids behind the scenes so even those who don’t want to be around children are not bothered. For Hanukah, we have a life-size menorah and light the candles (which carry no flame because of maritime rules). We also have dreidl games and give out gold chocolate coins.”

On Riviera last December, most of the holiday decorating was subtle — a Nutcracker here, a gingerbread house there.

“The key is to make everyone feel comfortable, to make everyone welcome,” said Thierry Tholon, Riviera’s hotel general manager. “For Christmas, we decorate each ship, but we don’t overdo it. The goal is stylish, not overwhelming. Even on a Christmas cruise, we draw about 100 guests for Friday night (Jewish) services.”

Still, there were 110 poinsettias, greenery lined the grand staircase to the lobby, and a Santa statue stood watch next to the reception desk.

If you were up and about on Christmas morning at 8, Santa and several elves strolled through the buffet restaurant on Deck 12, down an elevator to deck 6, through the main dining room, then down the grand staircase to the lobby, where a pile of presents awaited to satisfy the 52 children onboard. (The cruise line, which does not encourage children, brought on two extra employees to oversee their activities on this voyage).

“Someone, go round up the children,” said Santa about 8:30, as the lobby was empty of all but a dozen adults hanging around, waiting for what the occasion might bring. Business was slow, despite a shipboard announcement heralding Santa’s mission.

At 8:40, Olivia, 10, arrived with her sleepy father. She sat at Santa’s knee, chatted a bit, smiled, and walked away with two presents. By 9, after fewer than a dozen children had showed up, Santa called it a day. For the record, the temperature outside, at the port city of Kingstown, St. Vincent, was 85 degrees, perfect for a long hike in the forest.

On New Year’s Eve, Oceania’s Riviera put on a pool deck party that drew hundreds (the ship sailed with more than 1,200 aboard) for drinks, snacks, and dancing deep into the night, which, thanks to the guidance of some young folks, included my writhing about, Gangnam Style.

Riviera’s herd of chefs arrived before midnight, dragging out a four-piece ice sculpture. They set it up beside the pool for all to see the “2 0 1 2.” As the New Year arrived with the traditional singing and champagne toasts, the chefs appeared with one new piece of ice, to complete the dripping sculpture that now read “2 0 1 3.”

Though the holidays still are months away, booking is most economical in summer, as discounts for the late December cruises tend to end by Labor Day, or sooner.

And it’s not too early to plan ahead for December 2014 if you have a specific cabin suite or exotic destination in mind. Passengers onboard Azamara Journey’s 12-night Southern Hemisphere cruise in 2014 will spend New Year’s Eve anchored off Copacabana Beach, Brazil, for the midnight fireworks.

By David G. Molyneaux (“No Place Like a Cruise Ship for the Holidays” - The Miami Herald, 8/17/13)

For more cruise news & articles go to http://www.cruisecra....com/index.html

Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more

Photo credit: CruiseMiss.com

Sailing the seas when they are throwing tantrums may appear a less-than-intuitive idea, but there are ways to cheat Mother Nature of her badly timed ill temper. Of course, no sane traveler would knowingly book a vacation when his/her plans could easily be washed out to sea, but then again, rates are way cheaper and destinations less crowded. Any activity that is water-related could potentially be a hit-or-miss proposition, but that's not necessarily a good enough reason to deter you from booking your next cruise during hurricane season.

The following 5 tips provide guidelines on booking a cruise vacation during hurricane system.

With an open-minded attitude, adequate preparation, and unwavering hope for the best, cruising during hurricane season can be just as fun (and maybe even more exciting) as any other part of the year. So, if you're like many veteran cruisers, don't let hurricane season spoil your cruising fun.