Scenic has announced that it has partnered with an insurance firm to offer all guests a River Cruising Travel Guarantee starting in 2017.
The insurance plan automatically covers every guest on the commencement of their cruise for any delays or cancellations due to weather, natural disasters, mechanical breakdowns or labor strikes. Coverage will include the high or low water issues that plague the industry every year, Scenic said.
Approved claimants will receive direct monetary refunds, up to $750 per day with a maximum of seven days or $5,250 per guest.
If a Scenic Cruise is delayed or cancelled once it has commenced and before disembarkation, guests will be reimbursed for some or all of their cruise fare (up to the aforementioned cap) under the following circumstances:
- A complete halt to the itinerary where the ship is unable to sail and where Scenic cannot deliver the scheduled shore excursions except by way of coach rides of greater than three hours each way;
- Where Scenic has the ability to accommodate guests on another Scenic Space-Ship due to high/low water but the itinerary is delayed for more than 24 hours;
- If there is a mechanical breakdown on the ship that results in it not being able to continue the cruise and there are no alternative ships available;
- If due to industrial action (strikes, riots, river or canal lock damage or closure) Scenic is unable to pass through a lock stopping the cruise from continuing.
The insurance is designed to insure for unforeseen events rather than minor delays or deviations, Scenic said. Embarkation or disembarkation less than 100 kilometers from the scheduled port, ship swaps that do not incur a delay of more than 24 hours, replacement of scheduled itinerary activities with alternates of similar quality, and short term delays in the itinerary due to high/low water issues are examples of items that do not meet the criteria for insurance coverage.
Scenic also said it strongly recommends its guests purchase personal travel insurance as the River Cruise Guarantee does not cover travelers for the cost of trips should they be unable to commence or finish a trip due to their own personal or medical issues or for medical needs or evacuation during the cruise.
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