''The policies are killers,'' Anolik said, because they are full of exceptions and complicated definitions.

For instance, travel insurers typically don't cover vehicle losses.

Some travel policies require that a hurricane make your destination uninhabitable, defined in various ways, for you to collect. Or they might require that it cause ''complete cessation'' of travel services for 24 hours. Some cover evacuations, but some don't. How these provisions apply to cruises is not always clear.

Representatives for three insurance companies I interviewed agreed on one point: Their policies won't pay for trip cancellation solely because your destination is under a hurricane warning and you're worried it could affect your trip.

''Insurance does not cover your state of mind,'' said Dan McGinnity, spokesman for AIG Travel Guard in Stevens Point, Wis. ``It covers events that actually occur, not events that might occur.''

Lesson 5: Insurance won't cover everything.

• What about ''cancel-for-any-reason'' coverage?

This might be offered as a stand-alone policy or an optional addition to a traditional travel policy. Details vary, but it typically allows you to cancel your trip for nearly any reason.

It can spare you from haggling with your insurer over definitions. But generally, you won't be reimbursed the full cost of your trip; some policies pay as little as 50 percent. You might not be able to cancel any later than 48 hours before departure, which might be too early for forecasters to predict a hurricane's path. And premiums are often higher.

Lesson 6: The smaller you want to make your risk, the greater your cost.

• Will a credit card save me?

If you buy a product or service with a credit card and fail to receive what you paid for, you are entitled, under the federal Fair Credit Billing Act, to ask the card issuer to remove the charge from your bill. Other means of payment don't have this protection. It's not foolproof, but many travelers get refunds this way.

Lesson 7: Sometimes it makes sense to charge it.

All this brings me back to my original suggestion: Be wary of sailing during hurricane season, no matter how good the deals.

As I was reporting this story, a news release touting fall discounts arrived from Carnival. It said, in part:

'In addition to offering excellent value, October is the perfect time to book a `Fun Ship' cruise for some much-needed R&R as it is positioned perfectly between the busy summer period and the often-hectic holiday season.'' The first cruises mentioned: trips to the Caribbean and Mexico.

The last time I looked at my calendar, October was still part of hurricane season.

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