General
You will need to make your own arrangements to travel to the cruise port. We will advise you on airfare bookings, but we can’t make a reservation for you. We will arrange a block of hotel rooms, but we won’t necessarily handle the reservations. Depending on our agreement with the hotel, you may need to book for yourself using the hotel’s reservations system. We do arrange transportation from the group hotel to the cruise port. However, you are responsible for arranging your own transportation from the airport, whether you are traveling to the group hotel or directly to the cruise port. We will provide plenty of detail on all these topics as we get closer to the sailing date. If you have a travel agent, you can certainly work with them on your airline and/or hotel reservations.
Since we are primarily event planners and needleworkers, and not a full service travel agency, we are not set up to offer travel insurance.
That said, you never know what life may bring, so we do encourage you to purchase an insurance policy. As Jean mentioned in her Facebook post about insurance for the 2017 group, an insurance agent once told her everyone is insured for every thing in their life…the only question is “who is the insurer?” Because if you don’t have a policy, you are self-insured! Although do not offer policies ourselves, we suggest the following resources:
- The cruise line’s travel coverage. Please note: if you choose this coverage, you will need to sign up for it through us as part of our group booking. Just email us and let us know you want to add it. We’ll verify the pricing with our coordinator at at the cruise line, send you a quote, and add the cost to your first fare invoice. There are few things to keep in mind about this policy:
- Everyone in your cabin must purchase the policy
- The policy only covers airfare if you book it through the cruise line’s airfare program
- The policy will not cover things like hotel stays and excursions or classes booked with Stitchers’ Escapes
- We’ve partnered with Kristin Redfield, an Independent Travel Consultant, who can help you with purchasing a policy. You can contact her at 336-995-1535 or find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/RedfieldTravel. A couple of notes from Kristin:
- For some coverages, you may need to purchase your insurance policy within 14 days of paying your deposit
- She can write your policy based on your cruise fare, and as you add other items, such as airfare, shore excursions, or a hotel stay, she can add them to your policy.
- Another online resource with options from a wide variety of providers is https://www.insuremytrip.com/. Even your credit card company may provide coverage.
Regardless of where you obtain coverage, you are responsible for understanding the coverage provided. Stitchers’ Escapes is not able to advise on specific policy details.
Travel insurance is not a one-size-fits all proposition. The cruise line’s travel insurance policy usually requires everyone in the cabin to have the same policy. While we absolutely encourage our group members to have insurance, the cruise line’s coverage might not be the right fit for everyone. When you have two friends traveling together, each person might need different coverage. Additionally, the cruise line’s policy does not cover airfare unless you purchase it through the line. We also often offer pre- and/or post-cruise hotel stays that are not covered, which would mean taking out additional coverage.
Yes! You will be able to link your Stitchers’ Escapes reservation to your membership and will receive credit for the cruise. You’ll be able to use the priority services available for your membership level. You will also receive any onboard benefits associated with that level.