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Passengers should check with the airline, cruise line or their travel agent because your flight or cruise ship may depart early or be delayed. USA Today reports, over 400 passengers missed their cruises last Sunday when two ships were forced to leave San Juan early due to the approaching storm.

The hurricane’s forecast path past Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City and Boston takes it through the country’s busiest airspace, and many airlines are scrambling their schedules to get planes and passengers out of harm’s way. – USA Today

• JetBlue canceled 882 flights
• Southwest will suspend all service at Virginia’s Norfolk International Airport beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET on Saturday
• Amtrak has cancelled train service through August 28 on routes south of Washington D.C

If you are planning to travel this weekend, then here is some practical advice from USA Today:

–”Cancellation and change decisions can change at any time, depending on how the weather progresses. Typically, in the case of hurricanes, they’re looking for a hurricane warning to be issued,” notes Priceline’s Brian Ek. But be persistent: When friends who were scheduled to leave for Italy from Washington’s Dulles International Airport on Sunday tried earlier this week to change their United flight to Friday, they were told no – unless they paid a change fee and fare increase. Two supervisors later, the change was made…with no extra charges.

– Since cruise ship plans may continue to shift as the storm’s impact becomes evident, passengers should check with the cruise line or their travel agent because ships may depart early. About 450 passengers missed their cruises last Sunday when two ships were forced to leave San Juan early due to the approaching storm.

–Many hotels and vacation rentals in Irene’s projected path are issuing refunds or credits for future stays. That includes the 16 hotels offering Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial hotel and ticket packages before Sunday’s dedication ceremony was postponed indefinitely.

But there may be catches: Along North Carolina’s Outer Banks, for example, vacation renters who turn down optional hurricane insurance are not eligible for refunds or pro-rated stays if (as happened with Irene) a mandatory evacuation is ordered.

–Plan ahead for extended delays by making sure you have a list of airline and hotel contacts, electronic chargers and extra food in your carry-on bag (which, in itself, is a good strategy for minimizing headaches on unexpected tight connections).

If you’re stranded at an airport, ask area hotels about discounted “distressed traveler rates” – but you may land an even better price by going through Hotwire or Priceline.

–Check your insurance policy.

If you have purchased our Roundtrip or Trip Protector travel insurance policies, then call the 24 hour worldwide assistance telephone number of live assistance.  Both policies can help you rebook tickets, reserve hotels, change reservations and recover unrefundable trip expenses.  If you are planning a vacation, cruise or trip, then speak with a travel insurance specialists at Insurance Services of America.  Toll free – 800.647.4589 or by email at travel@insurancefortrips.com

Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Lines and Princess Cruises have all deverted their U.S. Virgin routes.  Read more at USA Today.

If you are planning a cruise this summer or fall, then we recommend getting a travel insurance quote which covers trip cancellation or delay resulting from weather. Contact and speak with a trip insurance specialist at Insurance Services of America for a no-obligation quote and proposal.

If you are taking a cruise or traveling by airplane or just about any common carrier, then you have to realize the amount of germs, diseases and viruses that are accumulated from hundreds of different passengers.  Getting sick while you are traveling is very common.  In most cases, it’s nothing to be alarmed about except when the illness requires emergency care.  We recommend purchasing a lost cost travel medical insurance policy which includes emergency medical evacuation and reunion.  Call Insurance Services of America at 800.647.4589 for a free quote or visit us online at www.worldwidemedical.com/home for a instant travel medical insurance quote.

The article does not mention if an air evacuation was arranged a repatriation of the passenger was made.  We do not like to hear of these tragic accidents but it reminds us to have a plan for the unexpected.

This item was written by Johanna Jainchill, who covers cruising for Travel Weekly. Jainchill is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is away.

Is it really possible to write off a week of hiking, fishing and sailing in some of the world’s most beautiful waters?

Yes, according to an article in Frommer’s, there exists a tax-deductible Alaska cruise.

According to Frommer’s cruise expert Matt Hannafin, a small-ship operator called The Boat Company is a non-profit cruise organization, perhaps the only one in the country.

Founded in 1979 by the McIntosh Foundation, a non-profit educational organization created by the heirs to the A&P supermarket chain, the article explains that the cruise line returns all of its profits back into Southeast Alaska conservation efforts, making the line non-profit, and allowing passengers to write off much of their cruise fare.

The story quotes the line’s COO Hunter McIntosh as saying that passengers can write off the portion of the trip, “equal to the amount that the line contributes to its conservation mission.”

Because the small-ship cruises are high-end, starting at $4,895 per person for a week-long sailing, the write-offs can be as high $2,500 and up.

The Boat Company has two small cruise ships, the 20-passenger Liseron and the 24-passenger Mist Cove, and operates what it describes as
“flexible and spontaneous, luxury eco-cruises” that focus on hiking, fishing, canoeing and kayaking.

If you are planning  cruise or a trip to the Carribean, then heed this warning.  Guard your travel investment and purchase our Roundtrip travel insurance plan which reimburses your travel, cruise and excursion expenses if your trip is cancelled or interrupted due to inclement weather.  Get a travel insurance quote.  The Roundtrip also protects your financial investment if you become ill, have a death in the family, there is an airline strike or even if your travel supplier goes bankrupt.  Call Insurance Services of America at 800.647.4589 for a no obligation quote and friendly professional service.

Most travel insuance policies require a letter from the airline is ideal, but sometimes other documentation, such as news articles or web sources, is sufficient.  You can call us at 800.647.4589 with any questions. 

You can find thorough historical details for most U.S. flights (and many international one as well) on FlightStats, a website which compiles data from the Federal Aviation Administration, airlines, airports, and other sources. FlightStats’ records of the delayed Delta flight showed multiple changes to its arrival and departure times as the delays crept on, though it doesn’t list the reasons for those delays.

If you are going on a cruise, then you can avoid trouble if  you can arrive the day before your cruise.  Flight problems can wreak havoc on your trip if you have only a few hours between layovers. Leave yourself adquate time between connecting flights. 

For questions regarding your trip or our travel insurance policies, then please contact Insurance For Trips at 800.647.4589 or travel@insurancefortrips.com.  Visit our office at 1757 E. Baseline Road, Sutie 126 in Gilbert, AZ.

USA Today reports a story of a couple who’s shore excursion which goes awry.  Read more…

Stay informed and check the details for a fun excursion.