What is happening with cruises where people can't get to their ship? Is the falling ash affecting cruise itineraries? Can ships easily take different routes and avoid the fallout?
Anybody have any ideas or knowledge about this? Thanks.

There are cruisers due to fly in from Europe for our cruise next Sunday and they have had to cancel....and of course visa versa.. people all set to cruise Europe who cannot fly into European airports... The big question is.... will travel insurance cover volcano ash..seriously

It is covered by insurance as it is a natural disaster which caused a complete cessation of services by a travel supplier (this includes an airline).

Actual cruise itineraries aren't going to be affected in the slightest. But you do have to get to your ship if cruising in Europe. Luckily, Barcelona and Rome airports are likely to be among the first to reopen. If you can't fly into Paris, look into Nice, a useful alternative in France. Greece seems to be unaffected, ditto Istanbul. And I think Venice is ok as well, or will be soon. The real problem is if you have to change planes in London or Paris, as many people do, or if you are leaving on a cruise from a UK or Scandinavia port. Those will be the most problematic, though Iceland Air is about to re-start their flights into Oslo later today. I think things are going to improve in the coming days unless the second eruption that has started causes more problems.

My understanding is that this particular volcanco last reupted over 200 years ago and the activities went on and off for a year. Does this mean air travel will be affected for a year if it is going to do what it did 200 years ago? How we have taken things for granted ...

Going abck to the original question, what happens if you do not have any travel insurance? If you book on the cruise line's air, they are suppose to get you there. So what happens now?

Airlines are refunding the cost of flights, but I very much doubt the cruise lines will if you don't have insurance. You are pretty much stuck.

If you have booked air through the cruise line and they cannot get you to the ship they will most likely offer you one of three things: 1) a refund; 2) a different European cruise on one of their ships or a different cruise date; 3) an option to cruise elsewhere such as the Caribbean or perhaps even Asia (since Asia flights are very well-priced in the summer and might not cost more than a European flight). I can't guarantee any of these three things will happen, but that's my best guess.

My best advice: Buy insurance on the day you book your cruise and DO get your airfare from the cruise line.

One can't predict what a volcano will do, so it's as likely as not that this eruption will continue through the summer or longer and could spur other eruptions on Iceland, which has happened in the past. Whether that continues to affect air travel is anyone's guess.

As of today, the airlines had threaten to sue EU for the over-reaction on the no fly restriction. EU has lowered the limit of the disrupted area lifted the no fly restriciotn. There was another spectacular eruption earlier today. The saga continues.

For me, it's too late, I have waived the insurance long time ago and final payment is due July. If I can buy insurnace now, I am quite sure I cna buy it then. But they wanted so much money for the insurance ...

Try "insure my trip" website - some companies offer super saver.