If you are Planning a Cruise during Hurricane Season, read this first.

Many people strategically plan their vacation cruises during times that prices are significantly lower in order to get the best deals. Many times, however, this "great deal" comes with hazards; one in particular being hurricane season. If you are planning a cruise during traditional hurricane season, there are a few things you need to seriously consider.

During any vacation pitfalls may occur that interfere with well laid plans. However, when planning a vacation during a time that interference such as inclement weather is not only a strong possibility but a probability, people need to take extra precautions. While it is a gamble to take a cruise during the traditional hurricane season, there are never any certainties that one will actually happen, and absolutely no guarantees that they won't.

Insurance brings the sometimes false sense of security to passengers; believing it to actually completely cover most or all situations. First and foremost, it is important to read in full any insurance binders, and understand them completely. Cruise line insurance, travel insurance and "cancel-for-any-reason" insurances are available to every traveler.

Many of these policies carry exclusions and restrictions, however, that may very well affect your situation. During Hurricane Ike which involved Carnival Cruises, passengers holding Carnival's Cruise Vacation Protection Plan discovered they were not covered to be reimbursed if a hurricane affected their destination. Since the ship was re-routed to another port for disembarking, many passengers needed to find transport back to the point of origination at their own cost due to this exclusion.

Also, many passengers count on the ability to collect a refund in the event all does not go well with their cruise. While refund policies exist, it is wise to aware of the terms. Itinerary changes are one reason you can cancel a cruise and receive a refund. Understanding the cruise line's refund policy was a financial bonus for one Carnival passenger during Hurricane Ike; she phoned the cruise line a day ahead and learned of an itinerary change due to the path of the hurricane, and received her requested refund. Others were not as lucky.

Carnival also has a "vacation guarantee" that enables passengers to receive a refund if not completely satisfied with their cruise, but notice must be given of dissatisfaction before reaching the first port of call. For the Ecstasy passengers during Ike, learning of the change in the return port after the first port of call, it was too late to act on this guarantee.

What is the bottom line? If you’re taking the chance to cruise during traditional hurricane season, be sure to become very knowledgeable in the cruise line's insurance and refund policies before the ship is scheduled to sail. You can also obtain more information relating to this issue by visiting our cruise ship travel guide page.

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