Warning about Princess Cruises

[LARGIN]

[b][color=darkred]Agree with srphnx.. It does look like a duck[/color][/b]

[srphnx]

[quote name='spongerob']Italics added by s'rob.


If that's not a contradiction, I don't know what is.[/QUOTE]

[b][color=black]I believe you do know the score on this one spongerob and to think of all the energy expended defending this cow-flop.[/color][/b]

[hstrybuf]

I see you caught that one too Rob!

Oh and just for the record, I always buy insurance.

Good night! :D

[overthesea]

Had to cancel a cruise a couple of years ago due to myself having emergency
bypass surgery. Never considered contacting the cruise company for any type of considerations since I failed to buy insurance. Had only myself to blame but it definately taught me a lesson.

[NASH99]

He is a travel insurance [COLOR=Navy]troll [/COLOR] agent getting exactly what he wanted. Intimidating everyone to get insurance. And got us at the same time. :mad:
Mission accomplished.... verydisappointed.
As the youngsters say "w" whatever.
Steveo

[NitaBcruising]

[quote name='NASH99']He is a travel insurance [color=navy]troll [/color]agent getting exactly what he wanted. Intimidating everyone to get insurance. And got us at the same time. :mad:
Mission accomplished.... verydisappointed.
As the youngsters say "w" whatever.
Steveo[/QUOTE]
[b][size=3][color=indigo]Hmmmmmmmmmmm, very interesting idea! :eek: :rolleyes: Worked too, didn't it! :mad: [/color][/size][/b]
[b][size=3][color=#4b0082]I wonder if we'll ever see if this was true, or the fake we're beginning to suspect? [/color][/size][/b]

[meyerhaus]

So, you will write the CEO of Princess, but you won't write the cruise insurance company. I am sorry for your father's suffering right now, but you better get your priorities straight. You will vent on this board, write to the wrong person, but the noe thing you won't do is write to the one person that can refund your money? I smell a rat...

[isujim]

Time to let this one go folks..................where is that dead horse icon??

[Screwbit]

frankly, in an age when the concept of "customer service" has become so alien, Princess may want to re-think this one.We always purchase insurance, and, I suppose unfortunately, have had two instances in which to use it. I came down with pneumonia on a Princess cruise several yrs. ago(Ocean Princess, before they moved her to P&O). The medical staff did a wonderful job, and I was back up and at 'em in a day-and-a-half. The bill for medical services was $1500, which we recouped via insurance. Also had a situation with damaged luggage on RCCL, which was taken care of via insurance. I am a strong proponent of same.
However, in this case, if all the facts are being laid out correctly, I am sorely disappointed in Princess' response. Why go thru the "letter from the doctor" scenario? Sure, it's possible P did not know the insurance status when this was requested. And, I think most of us must admit that the vast majority of all the cruise line office personnel spend their time walking around in blissful ignorance. If I were a betting man (and the casino's will tell you I am ;-) ), I'd guess these cabins will get sold, and P comes out smelling like a rose. Meanwhile, they have sorely disappointed a family that was looking forward to a dream vacation. And, please, I don't need to hear the "business is business" argument. I am a businessman. The bottom line is our guiding light, but so is the ability to adjust to individual circumstances that might cause us to deviate from what is corporate policy. Simple compassion might well be called for in this situation. Yes, most lines might respond the same way Princess has- that doesn't make it the right way.

[Pam in CA]

Screwbit... I don't think we have all of the information on this because some of it just doesn't add up. The questions I have are:

* Where did he get the insurance from? Was it Princess insurance or a 3rd party?

* If he got his insurance from Princess, is he bypassing the Princess insurance claim procedure with a demand to Princess for a refund without placing a claim because he thinks it's too much of a hassle?

* Related to the above, if he has the insurance, why doesn't he just submit a claim rather than demand a refund or rebooking? Isn't that double-dipping? Isn't that what the insurance is for?

I understand and sympathize with the circumstances but I don't see where Princess should make a special exception for a passenger who refuses to submit a claim for the insurance? I guess that's what's got me really puzzled.

[Northender]

May this post now Rest In Peace.

Amen

[Screwbit]

I'll see your "Amen", and raise ya one!! I guess the moral of this story is, if you don't take the insurance, don't complain if something goes amiss. And if you do, put forth the "energy" it takes to file the claim.

[Globaliser]

[quote name='Screwbit']And, please, I don't need to hear the "business is business" argument. I am a businessman. The bottom line is our guiding light, but so is the ability to adjust to individual circumstances that might cause us to deviate from what is corporate policy. Simple compassion might well be called for in this situation. Yes, most lines might respond the same way Princess has- that doesn't make it the right way.[/QUOTE]There might be an argument for "compassion" and flexibility if this sort of event was a very occasional one-off event for which an exception could be made. But for the cruise line it isn't that - it's a regular, unexceptional, everyday occurrence for passengers suddenly to become too ill to travel.

When that is happening to a significant proportion of your customers (as it does), "compassion" and flexibility simply turn the cruise line into an insurer of the risk.

[Kaye from Chicagoland]

I thought this was an informative article on travel insurance. Sorry I don't know how to make it clickable:

[url]http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5225439/[/url]

Just thought I would share,
Kaye

[srphnx]

[b][color=black]It was clickable for me, and it was a very good article. [/color][/b]

[b][color=black][/color][/b]
[b][color=black]Only 12% took coverage pre-9/11, from the post on some of the boards, it seemed like everyone did. Still only 20-25%. I have found statistics showing a use of policy figure of around 0.75 percent.[/color][/b]

[harry]

Remember that most of the time it does not cover pre-existing conditions......

[MaryPoppinz]

Harry, most plans cover pre-existing conditions if you purchase the insurance within two weeks of booking your trip and putting down your deposit. If you wait until later, all bets are off. But, if you purchase it right away when you book, they waive the pre-existing conditions for all of the trip policies I've ever had. I wouldn't travel without that waiver.

[srphnx]

[b][color=black]This dead horse has more lives that a cat.[/color][/b]

[NitaBcruising]

[quote name='srphnx'][b][color=black]It was clickable for me, and it was a very good article. [/color][/b]


[b][color=black]Only 12% took coverage pre-9/11, from the post on some of the boards, it seemed like everyone did. Still only 20-25%. I have found statistics showing a use of policy figure of around 0.75 percent.[/color][/b][/QUOTE]
[b][size=3][color=indigo]So Steve, you're saying 0.75% actually needed to use the insurance purchased?[/color][/size][/b]
[b][size=3][color=#4b0082][/color][/size][/b]
[b][size=3][color=#4b0082]I never used to buy the insurance, but have the last 1 1/2 years. DH's younger sister, only 51, died suddenly of a stroke! We were able to see her and the family for a few days in the hospital. But not having insurance, went on our cruise, with the familiy's blessing. We felt bad leaving soon after, but were able to meet the family for a graveside service when we got home. It was a somber, but quiet and relaxing trip for us. I felt guilty for trying to enjoy myself, but had let the family talk us into going, so made the best of it. All that relaxing, not much touring, made for a very pleasant trip for us. (maybe I need to take a relaxing trip more often!!! :rolleyes: )[/color][/size][/b]
[b][size=3][color=#4b0082][/color][/size][/b]
[b][size=3][color=#4b0082]Anyway, we have since bought insurance, for just such instances. Also, I keep thinking about having our appendixes, and could need to be medevacced off of the ship!!![/color][/size][/b]

[srphnx]

[b][color=black]YES that is the number I recall, it makes sense, if you look at the facts, insurace costs on average 3-5% of cruise costs, clearly they can't have claims anywhere near that same number and be viable covering overhead, fees etc. It is pretty well commissioned to TA's etc. It has to be below the sell rate, the ratio is not out of line for most indemnity coverages.[/color][/b]

[quote name='NitaBcruising'][b][size=3][color=indigo]So Steve, you're saying 0.75% actually needed to use the insurance purchased?[/color][/size][/b]

[b][size=3][color=#4b0082]I never used to buy the insurance, but have the last 1 1/2 years. DH's younger sister, only 51, died suddenly of a stroke! We were able to see her and the family for a few days in the hospital. But not having insurance, went on our cruise, with the familiy's blessing. We felt bad leaving soon after, but were able to meet the family for a graveside service when we got home. It was a somber, but quiet and relaxing trip for us. I felt guilty for trying to enjoy myself, but had let the family talk us into going, so made the best of it. All that relaxing, not much touring, made for a very pleasant trip for us. (maybe I need to take a relaxing trip more often!!! :rolleyes: )[/color][/size][/b]

[b][size=3][color=#4b0082]Anyway, we have since bought insurance, for just such instances. Also, I keep thinking about having our appendixes, and could need to be medevacced off of the ship!!![/color][/size][/b][/QUOTE]

[cnmiranda]

Elvis has left the building.........

If you start a thread it is curteous to at least come back and respond to or acknowlege what these dozens of posters have written.;)

[cnmiranda]

I meant "courtesy" ;)

[TexasRed]

I can relate to the emergency situation as well, a co-worker of mine had to cancel their Alaskan cruise a couple of weeks ago because her brother had emergency surgery and was in intensove care for 4 days. They had 8 cabins booked, and I can only imagine the nightmare each of them has been through. I hope your father makes a complete recovery and that you can take that memorable family trip another time.

But as many have already stated, I would never book without insurance, we work hard to save the money to take the trip, and too many things could cause us to have to cancel suddenly...elderly parents, a son in law enforcement, any number of things. I sleep better knowing that the extra hundred or so bucks can save headaches later.

Judy

[BIGDADDYRICH]

First Of All, I Hope Everyone's Physical And Emotional Condition Improves And Life Goes On As Before.

Second, I Read The First 2 Pages Of Replies, And Didn't Feel Like Reading The Rest, As They All Said The Same Thing. If I Missed Something After Page 2, Then This Is Just A Repeat. In Any Case, I Assume You Used A Charge Card To Pay For The Trip. If So, Most Offer Some Kind Of "satisfaction Guarantee" Provision For All Of Your Purchases. I Would Take It To Them.
Even Though It Is Not Their Responsibility, Or Fault, It Is Still Their Offer They Make To You In Wanting Your Business. They May Offer Some Alternatives Or Request Some Documentation (which You Already Have) But It Is A Benefit Of Being A Cardmember.

Third, If You Pursue This Option, Dont Feel "guilty" As The Use Of The Card In Booking The Trip Was Made In Good Faith. This Is Not An Attempt To Exploit Any Buyers Remorse You May Have.

I Would Have Sent An Email But Your Bio Says You Dont Allow Them.

Keep The Peace

[jj'smama]

Big Daddy Rich, in no way what so ever is the credit card company going to refund those charges. Princess has already received payment from the credit card company. A credit card is simply a middle man who is lending you money to purchase something. The OP is not fufilling her end of the deal (ie going on the cruise) but Princess has fufilled their obligation by booking OP on the cruise. A credit card company is not going to eat several thousand $$$$'s in losses because the OP is to lazy to file an insurance claim or too stupid to buy it in the first place. By people trying to exploit the credit card dispute process we all suffer the higher rates they must charge to make up for the losses that you are suggesting they take!!!!!