Will DCL be kind about a cancellation for a broken arm?

[Rebecca Pocahontas]

My mom just broke her arm and the doctors won’t cast the arm until 10 days for the swelling to go down.

We are sailing on this Sunday 9/08. We don’t have insurance. Is there any way that DCL will take pity on us and give us cruise credit?

Does anyone have experience with something like this? We will go on the cruise if we can’t cancel/get credit, but if we could reschedule that would be the best option.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My mom just broke her arm and the doctors won’t cast the arm until 10 days for the swelling to go down.

We are sailing on this Sunday 9/08. We don’t have insurance. Is there any way that DCL will take pity on us and give us cruise credit?

Does anyone have experience with something like this? We will go on the cruise if we can’t cancel/get credit, but if we could reschedule that would be the best option.

You certainly could ask, but, generally, no insurance you're out of luck. That said, there have been exceptions.

 

[TiszBear]

You can ask but I’m going to say they won’t do anything snd that’s from personal experience. In September 2023 my mom & I were being picked up at the hotel and there was an accident and my mom got hurt and ended up in the hospital. I booked the cruise through DVC (as I’m the member) and I got nothing. So instead of a week on DCL I spent it at a hotel and going back and forth to the hospital. The points I used and money I spent I lost. I was also told even if I had insurance there was a good chance it wouldn’t have helped. But again it doesn’t hurt to ask. Good luck.

 

[ironz]

There is a small chance they may offer you a deal to move the cruise date, for a fee. But this is definitely one of the circumstances that travel insurance is intended for.
We were in a nearly exact situation 2 years ago, when my husband had an accidental injury that kept us from cruising. But we had travel insurance, so recovered our cruise fare.

 

[Girl of the South]

Could you just delay a week until the arm was set? Not ideal but maybe Disney would be better about it than you waiting 6 months to take your trip.

Also, check the credit card you used to see if it has:

“

• Trip interruption or cancellation: These coverages protect you if your travels are interrupted or canceled for a covered reason, such as an illness or severe weather.”

 

[unrequited23]

It never hurts to ask. From everything I've read, only use the word reschedule not cancel. Be prepared with some options that would work with both of your schedules--you might have better luck with cruises offering *GT rates. Hope your mom feels better soon.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

I doubt (yeah yeah thats what trip insurance is for but that doesnt help you) unless may be you are willing to tell them an exact sailing to move to in the very near future? As others said, no harm in asking!

 

[ladyofthetramp]

oh no! I would not use the word cancel. Be prepared to move or shift your cruise out a week and see. Doesn't hurt to ask. Have you explained to the physician? Maybe they would consider casting the day before you leave or at least checking her status. Ask them if she is fit for travel. If not, that may help your situation with DCL.

 

[brentm77]

My mom just broke her arm and the doctors won’t cast the arm until 10 days for the swelling to go down.

We are sailing on this Sunday 9/08. We don’t have insurance. Is there any way that DCL will take pity on us and give us cruise credit?

Does anyone have experience with something like this? We will go on the cruise if we can’t cancel/get credit, but if we could reschedule that would be the best option.

Others have answered, but if Disney won't move it, for a $50 fee, you can substitute your mom with someone else and still cruise, assuming you are comfortable leaving her behind.

 

[Deanna Lamz]

Unfortunately, Disney Cruise Line usually has strict policies on cancellations and rescheduling, especially on short notice. If you haven’t already, it might be worth giving them a call to explain your situation and see if they can offer any leniency.

 

[Cheburashka]

Certainly try and ask them. If they say no, you could sail solo or possibly sail with someone else if your mother would be okay on her own at home.

Travel insurance for cruises is important, especially when traveling with the elderly.

I hope your mother's arm heals quickly and completely.

 

[DCLMP]

I agree with other poster don't use the word cancel. I would ask to move the cruise. You may still incur a penalty and the new cruise might be non-refundable, but its worth a shot.

 

[dreamer17555]

Any luck talking to DCL shoreside?

 

[obsesseddisneyfan]

My daughter broke her arm two weeks before we left for Disney Land. It was a clean break and did not need sugary. However the break was so high on the arm it could not be cast without it being a full body cast. If she was easy on it and did not fall again she could just wear a sling. The doctor even cleared us to do all the rides at Disney but the upside down rollercoaster. I would talk to the doctor about just wearing a sling for a week. See if you are careful if that is an option. Disney Cruises are not crazy active. My daughter could even go in the water and cool down. I just kept myself on her left side so no one bumped into her arm.

 

[Evil Queen 2]

My past experience is what others have mentioned, don't ask about cancelling, ask about rescheduling. Back in 2013 we had an extended family Alaska cruise planned for mid-August. July 3rd my mother in law fell and required brain surgery to relieve pressure. We had cruise insurance but when I talked with DCL I just asked if we would be able to reschedule, even if we had to wait for the next season. Also, would they need anything special from her doctor stating she was clear to travel. They were helpful and said to check back with them in a few days when we had a better handle on her status and they would try to help us out. Things worked out for us and she was cleared to travel for the cruise since she would have family with her.

 

[JWG]

Our experience is a bit different but:
In December 2022, we were on the first sailing of a back-to-back cruise on the Disney Wish. My wife's mom (back shoreside) had a massive stroke and we weren't sure if she'd even survive (she did, thankfully). We obviously found out while onboard the first of the two sailings.

We spoke to onboard guest services who had to have us call shoreside guest services since they didn't have access to the next cruise yet. We called and they absolutely did not do anything for us. Matter of fact, when we said we would need transport back to the airport the next day when the current cruise disembarked as we could not reembark, they obliged and charged us for it even through we'd already paid for it for the cruise we couldn't take.

We did have 3rd party cruise insurance so it did work out for us, we got everything reimbursed, but Disney was of zero help. It was actually easier working with the airline to change our flights. I was shocked and extremely disappointed. Not that they didn't break the rules for us, we knew what the rules were, but in how we were treated by shoreside. The person was more worried about informing the port we wouldn't be reboarding and releasing the room than helping us. It was bad.

Separately, I had to call DVC to cancel a points booking as we originally were going to head to WDW for a night after the 2nd cruise and they refunded the points no questions asked.

I wish you a better experience and more luck than we had! I do know if you ask about moving/changing, for a per person fee they will typically do that (but it's something like $200-$300 per person to move is what we were told - unsure if real given how bad of an experience we had).

 

[Genie+]

I was also told even if I had insurance there was a good chance it wouldn’t have helped.

DCL told you that, or DVC, and was it regarding either of those insurances?

It would be covered by insurance if the policy you choose covers those type of circumstances. Now that our parents are getting elderly we started buying travel insurance again but first we spend time making sure it will cover any reasons related to them getting sick or having an emergency.

 

[TiszBear]

Genie+. It was DVC who told me that. I even called DCL and was told there was nothing they could do as I made the reservation through DVC. When I talked to DVC I asked for a manager and explained everything on what happened and I even commented on how I’ve been a member for 25 years and I couldn’t believe nothing could be done. Still nothing. But there was a bright side - Delta airlines was fantastic and especially helpful in getting mom and I home. Plus the car service in Florida and in Wisconsin went above and beyond to help. I was just disappointed in DVC

Jennifer

 

[Genie+]

Genie+. It was DVC who told me that. I even called DCL and was told there was nothing they could do as I made the reservation through DVC. When I talked to DVC I asked for a manager and explained everything on what happened and I even commented on how I’ve been a member for 25 years and I couldn’t believe nothing could be done. Still nothing. But there was a bright side - Delta airlines was fantastic and especially helpful in getting mom and I home. Plus the car service in Florida and in Wisconsin went above and beyond to help. I was just disappointed in DVC

Jennifer

Thank you Jennifer. I’ve been debating whether or not to get the $99 Travelex insurance for 2025’s DVC points. Doesn’t cover everything, just alleviates some pain should things go wrong. Like it doesn’t cover full cost of points, instead it only covers the dues cost along with things like flights, luggage, car rental, med evac, etc under certain circumstances. $99 for some basic coverages over a whole year of DVC points related trips. Could be a decent value for those booking multiple trips and using a high amount of points annually.

There has been a few experiences shared around here* and they’ve helped me better understand what it would cover or not. From what I’ve read, DVC’s response to trip disruptions changed after they added this basic reasonably priced insurance option. I’m trying to get a better picture of what details regarding your trip made it unlikely trip insurance could’ve helped.

If anybody knows, does using DVC points for a cruise change anything about $99 Travelex coverage? I’m trying to figure out what details of having a car accident on the way to DCL cruise using DVC points would disqualify all or some of the coverage. We are weighing more expensive coverage next year, or just adding on $99 coverage.


*:

The Travelex plan covers all rooms booked with your DVC contracts for one use year for $99. That includes everyone registered in any DVC room booked with your membership. I got reimbursed for 5 flights for a medical condition a family member came down with several months before a trip a few years ago, and they reimbursed me for my MCO hotel and a pizza delivery when my flight home was cancelled during southwest's first meltdown in October 2021.

I'm generally wary of buying ANY type of extra insurance since most are basically scams, but $99 to cover that many expenses for an entire year of all my DVC contracts and often multiple 2-bedroom villas for 8 or more people, plus 2-3 solo weeks in a studio... and with how quickly and easily they paid my claims both times, I would honestly recommend this plan (depending on your situation, obviously).

 

[lovin'fl]

OP's cruise was today. I wonder what happened. In May my mom and I were supposed to go on the Wonder of the Seas (RCI). About 9 days prior to the cruise she had bad GI bleed and was in the hospital getting multiple blood transfusions. She was there several days and then was released but a few days later, on our cruise departure day, she was back in for GI bleeding and had more transfusions. She paid the initial cruise fare for an inside cabin and I did an upgrade bid for an ocean balcony and won it. We had trip insurance on the original cabin. Never was informed of the need to increase our insurance to cover the upgraded cabin fare. We used a popular online travel planning company (a specific person there that my mom and her friends used often). She didn't inform us. I was not refunded the upgrade amount and it was pretty steep. Sorry OP is having a similar issue. But I am thinking no dice on any help from the cruise line.