Booking Antarctic cruise 22 months in advance, and insurance?

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MR61

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Dear AFF Forum Team,

After much fantasising, research, more research and then some more research (and a lot done on this website), we are about to put down a deposit on a 16 day cruise to Antarctica - Falklands, South Georgia, Antarctica - in January/February 2021 ! Yikes, I never thought I'd be booking anything that far in advance ! I understand that with a short season of four or five months, select cruise operators and maybe 55,000 cruise spots available, long term planning for this destination is the norm. But how do folks manage insurance ? I thought my Amex platinum charge card would cover the trip, but Chubb and the PDS fine print say that activation of insurance is triggered only on booking flights from Australia. And that isn't likely to happen for at least another year, because I'll be using points, and therefore only able to book 11 months in advance. I asked Ponant, with whom we're about to book, if they have insurance, and they do not. I called the Insurance Council of Australia, and they were not helpful. I called 1Cover and they do not insure beyond one year. So my question to this brains trust is: would anyone know of an insurer who will cover for trips this far in advance ? Or do we just live with the terms and conditions of Ponant, that in the unlikely event we need to cancel, then we will be refunded our deposit less $400 per person? Any comments and advice most welcome, and with thanks.
 
Dear AFF Forum Team,

After much fantasising, research, more research and then some more research (and a lot done on this website), we are about to put down a deposit on a 16 day cruise to Antarctica - Falklands, South Georgia, Antarctica - in January/February 2021 ! Yikes, I never thought I'd be booking anything that far in advance ! I understand that with a short season of four or five months, select cruise operators and maybe 55,000 cruise spots available, long term planning for this destination is the norm. But how do folks manage insurance ? I thought my Amex platinum charge card would cover the trip, but Chubb and the PDS fine print say that activation of insurance is triggered only on booking flights from Australia. And that isn't likely to happen for at least another year, because I'll be using points, and therefore only able to book 11 months in advance. I asked Ponant, with whom we're about to book, if they have insurance, and they do not. I called the Insurance Council of Australia, and they were not helpful. I called 1Cover and they do not insure beyond one year. So my question to this brains trust is: would anyone know of an insurer who will cover for trips this far in advance ? Or do we just live with the terms and conditions of Ponant, that in the unlikely event we need to cancel, then we will be refunded our deposit less $400 per person? Any comments and advice most welcome, and with thanks.
A quick look at QBE seems to show they insure for 2021. When we went we booked very late so this wasn't an issue. I know Flying Mermaid booked their cruise a long way out. She may have some ideas.
Ponant health form requires a doctor to fill in which caused some angst on MrLtL's part as he had had surgery less than 6 months before but in the end was all OK.
 
Thank you ! I will look at QBE now ... May I ask, how close to departure did you book, and with which cruise operator ?
 
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With Silversea the booking is fully refundable until 120 days less a small admin charge.
120>91 days 15% penalty
90>51 50%
When we have not had an annual policy , we don't insure until 120 days and rely on card insurance for flights prior to that

Are Ponant really expecting you to pay in full non refundable nearly 2 years out ?… amazing ain't in it…..
If so you need to change cruise lines
 
With Silversea the booking is fully refundable until 120 days less a small admin charge.
120>91 days 15% penalty
90>51 50%
When we have not had an annual policy , we don't insure until 120 days and rely on card insurance for flights prior to that

Are Ponant really expecting you to pay in full non refundable nearly 2 years out ?… amazing ain't in it…..
If so you need to change cruise lines
No, Ponant do not expect payment in full, there is a deposit only. The reason we had to pay it all was because it was a late booking. I am not sure about any cancellation fees and the actual amount of the deposit. Australians have always been treated differently when it comes to refunds - in most cases the whole deposit is not returned, unlike bookings through US agents.
 
We went with Ponant. I did a TR about the expedition. It looks like we booked about 8 weeks out. We were the first expedition of the season, so maybe less demand?
Pursuing pingu the penguin

Aha - yes, well, I admit I really need to renovate the kitchen this year ... and booking this far in advance means we enjoy a good discount for the peak month of January, plus another offer as we're first time Ponant cruisers. I would, however, much prefer the sheer exhilaration of booking within one day of the suggestion, and within eight weeks of departure !
 
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