The Navigator: Want a refund? Read the policy.

It looked like a lost cause.Betty van Iersel had prepaid $3,900 for an all-inclusive seven-day French canal tour on the barge Luciole. But two weeks after she’d wired the money to the cruise line, a financial emergency forced her to cancel.The Luciole’s owners refused to return her money, citing their refund policy. Her travel agency, Annapolis-based Special Places Travel, which specializes in European barge tours, told her that she could only get her money back if her cabin was resold. And that seemed like a remote possibility.“I can’t afford to lose this money,” van Iersel wrote to me. “Do I have any options?”An increasing number of cases that cross my desk look like van Iersel’s: Because of a policy or rule — not always clearly disclosed...

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Going Our Way: An East Coast vacation for a military family

Who: Rob and Andrea Cornfeld of Kensington and their children, Samantha, Kate and MeganWhere: An all-inclusive resort or condo on the East CoastWhy: A little R&R before their summer move and Rob’s upcoming deploymentWhen: 10 days in JuneBudget: $2,000-$3,000“We are interested in water activities — a beach would be great, providing the water isn’t too rough. Our children enjoy playing outside; my wife and I enjoy eating at dives and exploring new places.”Rob and Andrea Cornfeld need a break. With a summer move looming and Rob’s anticipated Army deployment within the year, the Kensington couple and their girls — Samantha, 5; Kate, 3; and Megan, 1 — want to take a fun family trip before the craziness kicks in. They’d prefer an all-inclusive...

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