spouse of scouse

A word of warning to anyone booking future travel, read the fine print before you purchase travel insurance. Some (many?) insurers who previously issued policies covering travel cancellation/delay/disruption and medical expenses due to a pandemic will no longer provide this cover.

Former Lancastrian

From the official website

In accordance with Proclamation—Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus effective at 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on March 16, 2020, the entry into the United States is suspended for most individuals, other than United States citizens and lawful permanent residents, who have been physically present within the United Kingdom and Ireland within 14 days of travel to the United States. In addition, Proclamation 9993 applicable to the Schengen Area, Proclamation 9992 for travel from Iran, and Proclamation 9984 for travel from the People’s Republic of China all remain in effect. Any traveler with a valid ESTA who attempts to travel the United States in violation of the Proclamations for the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, and Ireland will have their ESTA canceled. ESTA will not refund applications that are canceled due to this Proclamation. Travelers who are subject to the Proclamations should cancel or postpone any travel until no longer subject to the Proclamations, or the Proclamations are rescinded.

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/faq?lang=en

You seem to be asking a lot of What If questions. Just because a Cruise Line is showing potential sailings for late 2021 doesn't mean they will or won't happen. Usually an ESTA application is done within minutes of applying so what is relevant today might not be next month or in 3 months. Why not take a deep breath, relax and wait to see what happens. Making an online application from the UK shouldn't result in application being declined it is merely an application approved for travel to the USA. Many have applied for ESTA and never travelled on it.

petitefrancaise

Andyrebell, I can understand your concern that you might get refused an esta right now and this would mean applying for a visa that you may not get. However, Lancastrian's advice is good - sit tight and wait. If all is good for the cruise in 2021, then I'm assuming the entry restrictions to the USA will also have been lifted. I also wouldn't pay a deposit for a cruise in 2021 right now, no matter how good the discount - no-one knows if there will be a widely available vaccine for next year yet and you are just setting yourself up for a year of worrying about whether your cruise will go ahead or not.
Take a tour around scotland and the islands in June. It's absolutely stunningly beautiful. :-)

scrubbedexpat099

There are exceptions to the ban, not sure the ESTA application would know if you qualify, I guess not many people are booking as nobody knows what the future holds.

andyrebell

We will sit back and wait thanks for the help I think the cruise credit is good till into 2022 to be fair.

robin1234

Good choice

TexanScot

You might even get to enjoy Skye without the throngs of tourists

andyrebell

You would never get there would you? Aren't the caledonian mcbrayne ferries not running at the moment? Isn't that the company name

vespucci

I purchased one before the start of the epidemic for an event that was to take place after the start of the epidemic and they've said that covid-19 is a "known event", an "epidemic" and is not covered. I'll never purchase such insurance again.

scrubbedexpat096

It's a fairly useless product in terms of getting money back. Mine also was bought back in Oct last year when the holiday was booked.

I've managed to get my airbnbs canceled full refunds with no issues, a 95% refund for car parking charges, BA have offered me a voucher valid for two years, i only paid deposit on flights was waiting until last minute to pay full balance.


Works out far cheaper than triggering the excess on insurance.

Insurance is only useful for medical coverage IMO and even that is not always coat effective. I had some minor treatment in the USA on a holiday some years back and a doctor basically told me not to worry they would just bill the NHS...

Jerseygirl

We bought annual travel insurance with TD early March. Called them at the end of March to ask if they would defer the insurance because of lockdown. The answer was no. We will not be getting TD insurance in future.

robin1234

According to my map, you can drive there on the A87, no need of a ferry.

TexanScot

Correct - there’s the Skye Bridge.

Kooky.

Similar - $450 annual policy (for a couple) taken out in February when we had at least 4 international trips planned. Last one finally cancelled on Friday. Going to call Allianz to see if we can defer but not hopeful.

Jerseygirl

we paid over $600. Bloody cheek especially as the lockdown is government mandated.