Ahoy there, Jennifer! Welcome aboard planDisney! In just a few short months, hopefully, you'll be weighing anchor and setting sail on an incredible Disney Cruise Line vacation! But it also looks like you want to be sure to have all your Donalds and Daisies in a row...
Get it...ducks...in a...nevermind...
As someone who has had to cancel a few cruises over the years, I always purchase the Vacation Protection Plan for the peace of mind it offers, not only for covered illnesses but for all the potential issues that we could run into when traveling to, from, or on our vacation! While I've never had to actually use the Vacation Protection Plan, just knowing it's there is one less thing I have to worry about - I can actually relax, instead of always being on high-alert "dad mode!"
Still, determining whether to purchase the Vacation Protection Plan is up to you, and one thing to remember is that Disney Cruise Line's current temporary Covid-19 Flexible Refund policies automatically take effect if you or someone in your sailing party experience one of the following on embarkation day and is denied boarding:
- Have symptoms of COVID-19
- Have a temperature of 100.4°F or greater
- Have had known exposure to a person with COVID-19 within the previous 14 days
- Have tested positive for COVID-19
If this is the case, in addition to my heartfelt apologies, Guests who are denied boarding will receive a Denied Boarding Voucher for the full amount of their sailing or a refund without Disney-imposed cancellation fees. While being turned away after being so close to a Disney Cruise is a heartbreaking thought, having the opportunity to reschedule once everyone is healthy is a fantastic consolation.
For this situation, not even the Vacation Protection Plan would be needed! And if you or someone in your party experience any of these issues within 14 days of your sailing, the Flexible Refund Policy allows you to cancel or reschedule your cruise without penalty - before even having to leave for your trip. Our trip in January 2022 was canceled this way since we were exposed to Covid-19 at work, and we rescheduled for one in September! Disney Cruise Line made it easy to pick a new sail date that worked for us - even though we didn't end up sick after that exposure!
One thing to remember is that the "Cancel for Any Reason" feature is only for those reasons NOT covered by the insurance portion of the plan, so it wouldn't be applicable to being denied boarding because of Covid. I definitely suggest everyone considering the Vacation Protection Plan read the details of the plan closely and be sure to select your state on the information page! While the plan covers many illnesses, travel delays, trip interruptions, and other unfortunate events, there still are some situations where you'd definitely want the Cancel for Any Reason feature.
I hope that helps you clear the way for smooth sailing this October, Jennifer! Thank you so much for your question, and if you have any others as your trip crests the horizon, please drop another message in a bottle my way!
Fair winds, following seas, and negative test results for you and your crew!
Andrew