Again, most insurance plans do NOT cover epidemics or pandemics. So even if you have insurance, there’s no guarantee that you would get reimbursed for cancellations due to the Coronavirus. It’s always worth asking, but don’t assume that you’re covered for cancellations.

Cathay Pacific has been constantly updating their policies and waiving fees for rescheduling and rerouting. It seems refunds are specific to traveling to the mainland (I could be wrong on that). I was able to get a refund, minus a modest cancellation fee, as we were scheduled to fly HK to the mainland on April 3.

I’m heartbroken that we had to cancel our trip but it’s obviously not even an option anymore.

allyboy, I’m so sorry for what you’re dealing with. It’s so hard to be in the middle of a trip and dealing with so much beyond your control that’s affecting your travels.

On insuremytrip, I located plans that cover me -- at no extra cost -- if CDC issues a warning.

Sorry to hear your plans were so effected. Many thousands world wide have had abrupt changes to their plans. A bummer to be sure. :(

Which insurance company was it as I buy all of my travel insurance on the insuremytrip website?

Happy Travels!

@ Guenmai: As indicated in posts 8 and 12 of this thread:
https://www.fodors.com/community/asi...virus-1677072/
Nationwide and Atlas Insurance through Tokio Marine HCC Medical Insurance.

I don't know if there are others or if the options are country specific, but if you speak with someone at insuremytrip, I suspect they can tell you.

I know I felt a lot more comfortable with booking my flights once I identified coverage should CDC issue a warning!

Hi Allyboy. Sorry to hear of your predicament. I remember from your planning threads how much time and effort you put into planning this trip. Only you can decide whether or not you are comfortable continuing with your trip. As I recall both you and your wife are in your 70’s and would be in what is generally considered the high risk group for the virus and clearly need to do whatever is necessary to minimise risk. I tend to be sanguine about these things and take the view that, at least as far as current statistics are concerned, the mortality rate is the same for Coronavirus as it is for "normal" influenza which is already widespread in Europe and USA as it is in most winters.

At least there seem to be fewer crowds at the major sights around Asia now the Chinese are saying at home.

Good luck to you both and do let us know how it goes.,

Thanks. I'll keep those companies in mind on whenever my next trip comes around.

Happy Travels!

The impact of the virus on tourism seems to be spreading worldwide - https://www.ft.com/content/3c179494-...3-955839e06441

Crellston: Yeah, the impact on tourism is spreading worldwide due to various countries not getting large Mainland Chinese tour groups and other tourists. While I was e-mailing various folks here at home, while still in S.E. Asia, I don't think folks were really thinking about the virus as there was only one U.S. case and in Washington state. But, it's one thing to be in Wuhan virus regions and dealing with it all daily and another to be not really affected by it all due to being thousands of miles away. But, now there are folks here at home rethinking vacation plans and vacation destinations.

While in S.E. Asia, I was watching TV news reports mentioning that parts of Vietnam for example were like ghost towns when it came to Mainland Chinese tourists, their largest tourist population in some areas, and there were other tourists who just didn't want to go to certain areas where there were or had been a lot of Mainland Chinese tourists. Before the planes had stopped flying back and forth from parts of Mainland China into certain countries in the region, there were reports of large tour groups of Mainland Chinese tourists still in various countries in the region as they had entered before the various shut downs of flights.

Happy Travels!

While I may be grateful for the lack of tourists when we get to Bangkok and Vietnam in March/April, it's a lousy way to decrease tourism. I feel terrible for the Chinese who are at ground zero with this virus, and having a government intent on keeping them in the dark for the most part. As much as I may dislike Chinese tourists overtaking sites, I prefer it to having them deal with this terrible virus.

After watching cruise ships get quarantined and isolated we have decided to cancel the cruise we have upcoming in May out of Los Angeles that goes up the California coast and ends in Vancouver. All it takes is one person on that ship to have coronavirus and then who knows how long we may be there and stranded. I did purchase travel insurance so I think I will lose that but princess had a special that you could reserve the cruise with only one dollar down so our financial loss will be rather minimal. By the way I called Princess yesterday and I have until March 13 I think to cancel it without then going into a 50% loss.

I am following one lady on facebook ad she posted pictures of the plane they took off from Japan in. Connie Kalitta has cargo planes and they were on one of his planes outfitted with seats and an isolation room for crew. No frills and maybe they got a boxed lunch for the flight. She ended up in Texas. Some went to Travis and some to Oklahoma. 14 tested positive and they put them in an isolated part of a plane. Hmmm. Connie Kalitta planes would transport remains of soldiers from DAFB. We use to get them into Daytona with soldier remains. This was a 747. Brave crew but they were in hazmat suits.

I think this is such a huge trickle down effect. No crews to even work flights. Not being mean but wonder what Paris is like without all the Chinese tourist? I would see lines outside all the high end stores waiting to buy Gucci, LV, Chanel etc. Not auto parts are being shipped, my husband needs a bike part. NO can do now.

We have two flights in May, UK and Germany. Will see.

Would not let me edit. Nebraska not Oklahoma.

Jacketwatch, did you already cancel? I think that's the cruise I'll be on with family. We board during the stop in San Francisco, ending in Vancouver May 9.
Darn, I wish you were going!! I understand....I'm a bit anxious too, and will follow the news between now and May. NO way will I do something that might jeopardize my family's health. Cruises (which we've done before) are always fraught, as you know, with potential for all sorts of contagion. Soap and water, and gel gel gel...you know the drill, my fellow RN!!

Iirc this is a repositioning cruise coming sailing from Honolulu, so concerns about the California Coastal Cruise will depend partly on the previous cruise through the Hawaiian Islands.

Have been following a couple of threads on cruisecritic. Very sad news just posted that two of the Diamond Princess' passengers have died. Also reports that isolation protocols on the ship were a total fail.

THere were no valid isolation protocols on the ship. There was no infection control or infectious disease person. The crew was not isolated, even after crew members developed the disease. It was a plague ship, abandoned to its fate. The good news is that only two died (so far).

Darn! Missed chance to meet you. I once met members Sassafras and the one and only dogster on a cruise in 2011.
Yes we did cancel. Seeing those ships quarentined for so long just got to us I am afraid. Those poorAmericans on the Diamond Princess had to endure two weeks in port only to be shuttled stuffed into a cargo plane for another two weeks quarentined in the US. So sorry for them.
I did not know this was a repositioning cruise too.
Its unfortunate but prudent I think. We were able to book with only $1.00 down per person, got basically free wifi for 4 devices and had $250.00 OBC but no regrets about the decision. We cancel in time to lose only the $2.00 and I think our trip insurance can be converted into a voucher for a future cruise so all in all it worked out well.

I hope you enjoy it to the fullest.

All the best!

I saw a news report today on GMA that a Japanese couple in their 80's with "preexisting conditions" taken off the Diamond Princess have passed away. :worry:

Old news. See post #55.

Actually I just received an email from Travel Guard and they have agreed to issue a voucher for the insurance we paid for to be used for a future vacation and as we booked a cruise while on board that will cover most of it. :). Our net loss is $2.00.