platinum insurance question

[newcruzer2]

I want to book a cruise for this November, because of work I'm only 50% sure I can go. I have Absolutely No experience with travel insurance. Because of that I ONLY feel comfortable with purchasing insurance thru princess and WILL NOT be using a TA. My questions are

 

1) the platinum(cancel for any reason).... are the steps rather straightforward in submitting a claim (i.e. call princess, call Aon, done)?

 

2) because I'd be canceling for a NON covered reason , I would only get a "store" credit.....can I put those funds toward payment of a already booked Dec 2016 cruise OR are funds only applicable to NEW bookings?

 

3) can I cancel trip/start claim, as late the day before sailing?

 

4) I had heard you must use funds with a year, my cruise in 2016 in MORE than 1 year after cancellation.....Do they mean use funds within a year (make payment) OR travel within a year???

 

Thank you any feedback :)

[Pam in CA]

I want to book a cruise for this November, because of work I'm only 50% sure I can go. I have Absolutely No experience with travel insurance. Because of that I ONLY feel comfortable with purchasing insurance thru princess and WILL NOT be using a TA. My questions are

 

1) the platinum(cancel for any reason).... are the steps rather straightforward in submitting a claim (i.e. call princess, call Aon, done)?

 

2) because I'd be canceling for a NON covered reason , I would only get a "store" credit.....can I put those funds toward payment of a already booked Dec 2016 cruise OR are funds only applicable to NEW bookings?

 

3) can I cancel trip/start claim, as late the day before sailing?

 

4) I had heard you must use funds with a year, my cruise in 2016 in MORE than 1 year after cancellation.....Do they mean use funds within a year (make payment) OR travel within a year???

It's pretty straightforward. You can cancel for any reason, fill out the form and submit a claim. The claim form will have the details of where to submit it. You will receive a credit on your Captain's Circle account for the amount you paid less the cost of the insurance. The "any reason" refund is a credit, not refunded money. It can be applied to any cruise already booked, not just new bookings. It's your money. Yes, you can cancel at any time.

 

I did just this a couple of years ago. I'd booked the Diamond from Beijing to Vancouver and decided to disembark in Anchorage instead. I submitted the claim and the money was applied towards my already-booked Royal Princess cruise.

[newcruzer2]

Thank you :) I was hoping I might get a reply from you (Pam), I have read many many post and there seem to be a handful of experienced cruisers that generally offer ,well rounded advice :) tks again

[cactusrose]

See answers in red.

 

I want to book a cruise for this November, because of work I'm only 50% sure I can go. I have Absolutely No experience with travel insurance. Because of that I ONLY feel comfortable with purchasing insurance thru princess and WILL NOT be using a TA. My questions are

 

1) the platinum(cancel for any reason).... are the steps rather straightforward in submitting a claim (i.e. call princess, call Aon, done)?

 

Very easy to do. Once you notify Princess you just fill out the form and submit it.

 

2) because I'd be canceling for a NON covered reason , I would only get a "store" credit.....can I put those funds toward payment of a already booked Dec 2016 cruise OR are funds only applicable to NEW bookings?

 

Since the credit needs to be used with in a year, you probably won't be able to apply the credit toward you already booked cruise in December 2016.

3) can I cancel trip/start claim, as late the day before sailing?

 

You can cancel up until ships departure..

 

4) I had heard you must use funds with a year, my cruise in 2016 in MORE than 1 year after cancellation.....Do they mean use funds within a year (make payment) OR travel within a year???

 

I believe you have to sail within a year but I'd check with Princess to be sure.

 

Thank you any feedback :)

Edited September 14, 2015 by cactusrose

[newcruzer2]

Yes i'll call and check because that would be a huge issue to HAVE to sail again before Dec 2016, dh is new to cruising and that might overwhelm him. tks for advice :)

[eandj]

I know you mentioned you didnt want to buy a plan elsewhere, but.....If you aren't looking for anything but cancellation, why not just buy a cancel for any reason plan? Then you will get all your money back with no tie to Princess future cruises. I think a better idea than being forced to a schedule you might not be able to use. It is easy to do on your own. No fear.

I wouldn't book with only a 50% chance og getting off work unless I had the policy that pays me the cash back. Not a credit with time limitations. Anything can happen.

Edited September 14, 2015 by eandj

[caribill]

I know you mentioned you didnt want to buy a plan elsewhere, but.....If you aren't looking for anything but cancellation, why not just buy a cancel for any reason plan? Then you will get all your money back with no tie to Princess future cruises. I think a better idea than being forced to a schedule you might not be able to use. It is easy to do on your own. No fear.

I wouldn't book with only a 50% chance og getting off work unless I had the policy that pays me the cash back. Not a credit with time limitations. Anything can happen.

 

Wouldn't that be relatively expensive to have a policy that just covers that?

[ar1950]

Page 4 of the Princess Vacation Protection .pdf file has the "cancel for any reason" terms. They also give a phone number if you have additional questions.

Princess_Vacation_Protection.pdf

[faeriedust101]

You can buy cancel for any reason travel insurance from other insurance companies too. This way you will get your money back as cash, not as money you have to spend with Princess that has restrictions on it. Travel Guard offers a cancel for any reason policy.

[eandj]

Wouldn't that be relatively expensive to have a policy that just covers that?

 

Yes, if the OP isn't sure she'd be able to use the Princess credit in the required time limit, it's the only option to get her money back. Last time I shopped , I saw policies with cancellation specifically for work reasons.

[newcruzer2]

After calling princess, their insurance will not work, because of having to travel with one year....so I'm going to contact travel guard, TKS FOR INFO :)

[eandj]

Happy to hear you discovered bad insurance is worse than no insurance. Some people just buy generic, when they need something specific.

Go to insuremytrip.com. There you can click on the type of insurance you need and they will show you the options with prices. AIG Travel Guard is there as are other good companies. Here or tripinsurancestore.com are great places to call for help.

 

We like AIG, but like to compare two or three companies. And we buy from the company that offers our particular needs.

 

Good luck.

Edited September 15, 2015 by eandj

[ccruisequeen]

We needed to cancel our Pacific coastal two years ago due to my father's medical problems. We submitted the forms as well as doctors letters and received a full refund to our credit card.

 

I still cruise for Warm Chocolate Melting Cake (with 2 sugar-free vanilla ice-creams)

[cheeseclan]

Yes you can get cancel for any reason with travel guard but it is very expensive. If i remember right it only covers up to either 50 or 75 percent. It did not cover the whole amount.

[caribill]

We needed to cancel our Pacific coastal two years ago due to my father's medical problems. We submitted the forms as well as doctors letters and received a full refund to our credit card.

 

 

Obviously you had a covered reason, so you were eligible for a cash refund.