Leaves Changing Colors, Pumpkins, and Snow

October Snow Storm Blankets East Coast (More Pics)

 Cruise Passengers

Arrive Back to SNOW

Passengers arriving from MSC Poesia's 7-Night Canada & New England cruise were greeted by a historic October snowstorm.

The Nor'easter dumped record amounts of snow from New Jersey through New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. More than 2 million homes and businesses were without power as a result of the storm and at least three people died from storm-related causes.

With one month remaining in the 2011 Hurricane Season, one might expect cruises to be impacted by tropical storms.  Mother Nature had something else in mind for this last weekend of October.   Flights were cancelled or delayed for hours at all major airports on the East Coast.  That meant that anyone traveling home from a cruise that docked in the East Coast or planning on leaving from one, probably had a weather related event to deal with.

New Jersey Flights Cancelled


Travel agents attending the 2011 NACTA Convention on MSC Poesia were among those impacted by the flight cancellations.  Our friend, Joan, was among them as she attempted to get home from the convention.  Realizing that it wasn't going to happen on Saturday, she booked a local hotel and headed there to make the best of things.

Today she headed to LGA airport again only to find another delay.   This time the delay was due to unavailability of crew.  Finally a second pilot showed up and everyone cheered.  Passengers were able to board shortly after that.  
 
Stories like these happen all the time. Passengers on their way home from cruises, that ended in the East Coast Saturday, had to find local hotels, if they could get them, and make alternative flights home. That meant unexpected out of pocket expenses for food, hotel, transportation, etc.   For those on the way to cruises, the expense, logistics, and impact on vacation plans perhaps was much greater.   In both those situations, you don't have to be alone.  With the purchase of Travel Insurance, such as Travel Guard Companion that we offer our clients, there is a professional staff at your disposal to help make the emergency travel arrangements.