The European Headache

Although air traffic in Europe is gradually starting to take off, it is still heavily tied to the changeable ash cloud resulting from the volcanic eruption in Iceland, and the situation remains volatile at best. British Airways had hoped to start operating long-haul flights out of Heathrow this evening; sadly, they have had to cancel all long-haul and short haul flights once again.
Complaints written by angry travelers who have missed their cruises due to canceled flights are already starting to pour onto online cruise communities like CruiseCritic. Unfortunately, people are still very unaware of what responsibilities the cruise line has toward you – which is why we’ve prepared this rundown.


My flight was cancelled and I missed my cruise. Can I get a refund?

Unless the cruise line actually cancels your sailing, you are not entitled to any sort of refund or credit for your cruise. You have to work with your insurance provider to try to get the balance of the cruise back, as well as any in-transit costs if you were delayed en-route.


I didn’t purchase Trip Interruption or Cancelation Insurance. Can I get a refund?

No. If you didn’t purchase trip cancellation insurance – either through the cruise line or a third-party insurer, you are sadly NOT entitled to a refund. The only thing that would be refunded would be your airfare, because the airlines canceled all or part of your flights.


My final payment for my upcoming Europe cruise is due this week. Should I cancel?

This is a tough one. If you have insurance that would cover the full cost of the cruise, you can roll the dice and take the chance, with the knowledge that you may end up without a vacation should the volcano (or volcanoes) choose to erupt again. If you have NOT PURCHASED TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE, you are potentially playing with fire. In the event of flight cancellations, you will not receive any monies back for your cruise. At this point, even with insurance, it’s a gamble – particularly for trips departing in the next couple of weeks or months.


I already booked and paid for my Europe cruise, but didn’t purchase cancellation insurance. Can I purchase it now?

You can, but you won’t be covered if the volcano erupts again, as it’s now considered to be a “Known Event” – something that you were aware of before travelling, and thus, are liable for. Many insurance policies purchased after April 13, 2010 will NOT cover this volcanic eruption, or any subsequent eruptions.


Will the cruise lines hold ships back in North America, or reposition them to North America if this continues?

While information from the majority of cruise lines regarding the volcanic activity has been lethargic at best, it is highly unlikely that any ships would not complete their European seasons as scheduled. On many sailings, North American’s account for half of the passenger base or less. In other words – they can most likely fill the ship to the brim with European travelers if they have to.


We will continue to monitor this event as it continues to unfold, and report back here on From the Deck Chair whenever possible.