Monday, June 9, 2008

CancellationTravel Insurance

Most people, including myself, purchase cancellation insurance when going on a cruise or any travel arrangement which has a cancellation penalty. While checking rates for a cruise we'd like to take in September, I noticed that some of the ads for cruises offer free cancellation insurance.

After reading that I compared the insurance rates and much to my surprise and dismay, I discovered that some companies will not sell insurance to people over a certain age [75 years].
I was aware that some car rental companies won't rent to people under and over certain ages... the rules vary from company to company as well as from country to country.

In the past we always purchased insurance when we took cruises and our last cruise was in 2006. At that time both of us were over 75 ... which makes me wonder what would have happened, if we'd had to cancel the cruise... We have use that same company in the past. Perhaps they didn't/don't have that clause. I plan to call and ask if they do have age restrictions and if yes, what they are.
I did more research on the Internet and the advice was always 'Read the contract before you sign'. Now I'm wondering how many of the MANY Seniors here in Florida, who take cruises every 3 or 4 months know about the age cutoff. Can you imagine what would happen if they bought insurance and became ill just before the sail date or during the cruise and the insurance company told them they weren't covered.... Ooops!

There may be a 'work around' for us... instead of taking a 7 to 10 day cruise... book last minute 3-5 day cruises.
To be continued.

Friday, June 6, 2008

You think you know people and how they think and then something happens that makes you realize that you really didn't know them at all.

Some one close to me was telling me about a discussion he had with someone on his job. The other person said that they were going to apply for another position... And he told them, "They won't hire you!!". I interrupted and asked him why would he say something like that. Even if it were true, it's not his place to say something like that.
He replied, that he tells people the truth, he doesn't believe in sugar coating the truth.
I told him you shouldn't say things that you know will hurt people's feelings.
He said he 'just tells them the truth. Most people can't handle the truth'.
I reminded him of things that he's said to others and to me in the past that showed total disregard for the feelings of the people he was speaking to.
I told him that he has no right to deliberately hurt people's feelings.
He jumped up... saying "I don't like the atmosphere in here, I'm leaving".
I said, "Yes, you are right, people don't like hearing the truth, that's why you're leaving."
He continued out the door, all the while mumbling about why he knows he's right when he told them what he did. '