Pregnant South Shore woman demands full refund for Caribbean vacation
A pregnant South Shore woman is frustrated that she can't get a full refund for her Caribbean vacation, which she now wants to cancel because of the Zika virus.
Jennifer Basciano and her mother Joyce Scott were looking forward to their Caribbean cruise since October.
But that was until they found out about the Zika virus — and Basciano found out she was pregnant.
"She said, 'Mum, I don't think we can go because the doctor doesn't advise it.' I said, 'Fine by me. As long as we have a healthy baby,'" Scott said.
The World Health Organization fears that Zika cases among pregnant women could be leading to microcephaly in children, a birth defect where children are born with abnormally small heads.
Transmission of the Zika virus has been reported in 30 different countries, including Mexico, Jamaica and Haiti, where Basciano was set to travel.
But when her travel agent tried to cancel the cruise, Royal Caribbean said it could only give her half her money back -- about $3,000.
They've since offered her a $1,500 credit to be used within two years.
The company also said it offers pregnant women options to reschedule their cruise or pick a new destination.
But with the Zika situation so uncertain and with a baby on the way, Basciano said that's not really an option.
"So basically, I'm out $6,500."
Part of that amount is the $4,500 she spent on Air Canada tickets to Fort Lauderdale, to catch the cruise.
While Air Canada offers refunds to pregnant women with flights to Zika-affected areas, Florida is not on that list.
Sixteen cases of the Zika virus have been reported in Florida, though all were contracted outside the state. However, a public health emergency remains in effect in the area around Fort Lauderdale.
Air Canada told Basciano that she could change the flights for $800. She said she thinks travel companies should be more lenient.
"It's not like I knew I was pregnant before I booked. I didn't know about Zika before I booked," said Bosciano, adding that although she and her mother are disappointed they'll miss their vacation and may lose thousands of dollars, she still feels it's not worth the risk.
