Cruising Through Storms

According to a recent article in the LA Times, travelers should consider independed brokers before buying insurance sold by cruise lines, and here's why:

"Many travel insurance polices will reimburse you -- with various restrictions -- if a hurricane affecting your destination interrupts your trip or causes it to be canceled. But not the Cruise Vacation Protection Plan that Carnival offered.

Under covered reasons for trip interruption and cancellation, that plan listed a hurricane affecting your home but not your destination.

On the sunny side: Because "inclement weather" was covered for trip delays, policy holders who got off the Ecstasy in New Orleans or Houston may be entitled to collect up to $500 for airfare they paid to get home and other costs, according to Carnival and BerkelyCare, the plan's administrator.

Be wary of insurance sold by your travel supplier."