Princess PVP insurance no longer available to NY residents

[vjmatty]

Does anyone know why? Here is the email with the announcement giving no reason for the change….and we’re the only state in the US in this category 
 

 

 

Edited July 8, 2021 by vjmatty

[Syracusefan44]

I just received the same email.  Once I find out the rationale for NYS to prohibit me from obtaining Princess Vacation Protection I will then be contacting my NYS Senator to see why NYS is prohibiting me from getting travel insurance thru Princess Cruises. 
 

If anyone has additional information it would be greatly appreciated. 

[Iamcruzin]

It might be the cancel for any reason clause. I know in the past when shopping through insure my trip that I could never get cancel for any reason insurance. NYS for some reason doesn't allow it.

[azbirdmom]

3 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

It might be the cancel for any reason clause. I know in the past when shopping through insure my trip that I could never get cancel for any reason insurance. NYS for some reason doesn't allow it.

 

That changed last year https://www.dfs.ny.gov/industry_guidance/circular_letters/cl2020_04 .  I did find it odd that residents of only one state can't purchase PVP but it's there on the PVP page.  https://www.princess.com/plan/princess-vacation-protection/

 

By the way that page also shows insurance coverage is provided by Nationwide, yet the link at the bottom for claims still goes to AON.  Wonder if they are in the process of changing carriers and if it's an issue with Nationwide licensing in the state?

[Syracusefan44]

I was just advised by my cruise vacation planner that I will be able to keep my PVP for all my upcoming booking from now thru 2023 prior to 7/20/21 which is when the NY State law goes into effect.  If I don’t pay Princess by that date I must obtain my own travel insurance 

 

Between the taxes and ridiculous laws like this it’s time to retire to somewhere other than NY.   
 

[NavyVeteran]

1 hour ago, Syracusefan44 said:

I just received the same email.  Once I find out the rationale for NYS to prohibit me from obtaining Princess Vacation Protection I will then be contacting my NYS Senator to see why NYS is prohibiting me from getting travel insurance thru Princess Cruises. 
 

If anyone has additional information it would be greatly appreciated. 

Princess Vacation Protection has always been different for New York State residents. I just looked at an old PVP brochure from several years ago. In every state but New York, the Cancellation Fee Waiver Program  was not insurance and was not underwritten by an insurance company - it was a Passage Contract Addendum provided directly by Princess Cruises. In other words, no one reimbursed Princess for cash refunds for specified reasons. For New York residents, this coverage was underwritten by Stonebridge Casualty Insurance Company, so the insurance company - not Princess - provided the cash refunds.

[NavyVeteran]

1 hour ago, azbirdmom said:

By the way that page also shows insurance coverage is provided by Nationwide, yet the link at the bottom for claims still goes to AON.  Wonder if they are in the process of changing carriers and if it's an issue with Nationwide licensing in the state?

These two statements are not inconsistent. The insurance company underwriting the coverage and the company processing claims can be two different companies.

[Iamcruzin]

43 minutes ago, Syracusefan44 said:

I was just advised by my cruise vacation planner that I will be able to keep my PVP for all my upcoming booking from now thru 2023 prior to 7/20/21 which is when the NY State law goes into effect.  If I don’t pay Princess by that date I must obtain my own travel insurance 

 

Between the taxes and ridiculous laws like this it’s time to retire to somewhere other than NY.   
 

I have been saying this for years. 60 1/2 and counting. 

[caribill]

9 hours ago, Syracusefan44 said:

 

If anyone has additional information it would be greatly appreciated. 

 

9 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

It might be the cancel for any reason clause. I know in the past when shopping through insure my trip that I could never get cancel for any reason insurance. NYS for some reason doesn't allow it.

 

The new NY rules say that CFAR is not insurance and thus although it can be sold, it cannot be part of an insurance policy.

 

The Princess insurance policy includes CFAR and thus is now not allowed by NY.

[Iamcruzin]

4 hours ago, caribill said:

 

 

The new NY rules say that CFAR is not insurance and thus although it can be sold, it cannot be part of an insurance policy.

 

The Princess insurance policy includes CFAR and thus is now not allowed by NY.

Thank you.  

[Roberto256]

 

What about the upgrade to cancel-for-any-reason, for some loyalty levels?

 

Has that been eliminated?

[Treasure Hunter]

Another problem making it difficult to cruise. I am covered for my December cruise because it's thru the Casino and I had to pre pay my share,  but my 2023 Pacific cruise has insurance that costs $1,700 a person and if I pre pay it ( 2 years in advance) and don't go ( only paid $100 deposit pp) I lose it. If I now look for new insurance, I've lost the pre-existing medical benefit! 

[Iamcruzin]

5 hours ago, caribill said:

 

 

The new NY rules say that CFAR is not insurance and thus although it can be sold, it cannot be part of an insurance policy.

 

The Princess insurance policy includes CFAR and thus is now not allowed by NY.

This will affect New Yorkers across the board with all cruise line insurance that offers CFAR which is the only reason I would buy insurance through them.  I always got better coverage with a 3rd party.

[Iamcruzin]

5 hours ago, caribill said:

 

 

The new NY rules say that CFAR is not insurance and thus although it can be sold, it cannot be part of an insurance policy.

 

The Princess insurance policy includes CFAR and thus is now not allowed by NY.

On insure my trip when I checked off the CFAR box nothing ever came up so I guess at that time they weren't offering a separate policy for NY residents.  Truth be told I was only buying it for the medical, evacuation coverage and if one of my elderly parents became sick before the cruise I could cancel. If I book a cruise I have no intention of canceling for any reason other than what is covered.

[Sea Hag]

5 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

 If I book a cruise I have no intention of canceling for any reason other than what is covered.

Neither did we until our cat got sick at the last minute. I was really glad we had CFAR for that booking.

[CruisePrincess6]

Insurance is very expensive for over 75 cruisers. What are our alternatives?

[mycruisey]

I received the same notice from Princess for my upcoming cruise.  I went to the princess site and made a tentative future booking and got the following option:

At-Ease Waiver Program

For peace of mind, Princess Cruises® offers guests from select markets the At-Ease Waiver Program. The program offers a cancellation fee waiver as well as baggage protection in a single package, as neither may be purchased separately. This program is not trip interruption insurance and only covers cancellation fees and guest’s baggage while on the cruise, cruisetour or Cruise Plus.* A guest is not required to purchase the waiver program and is free to purchase travel insurance offered by an outside party.

Program Benefits

Cancellation fee waiver — Upon purchase of the non-refundable At-Ease Program, no cancellation fees will be assessed for a guest’s cancellation of the trip for any reason, provided that Princess Cruises is notified by telephone or in writing at least 72 hours prior to midnight on the guest’s scheduled departure date from the embarkation port.

In the case of Cruise Plus hotel packages or cruisetour, notice must be received at least 72 hours prior to midnight on the commencement of the package date or the embarkation date, whichever is earliest.

Baggage protection — If a guest’s own baggage is lost or damaged during the course of their travels with Princess (including cruise only, Cruise Plus, cruisetour and Princess transfers) they may claim reimbursement of up to $500 per person. This is in excess and additional to baggage limits detailed in the cruise contract.

Payment

Net fare (per person)At-Ease Waiver Cost (per person)

Up to $5,00010% of cruise fare

$5,000 or more8% of cruise fare

This program must be paid for with the deposit and cannot be added at a later date. The program is not available for bookings made within final payment period and is not refundable under any circumstances, once paid.

The At-Ease Waiver is available to residents of the state of New York and international markets including Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Province of Québec; it’s not available to the remainder of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

*General Terms & Conditions: Cancellation fee waiver and baggage protection are available in a single package only and cannot be purchased separately. This program is not trip interruption insurance and only covers cancellation fees and guest’s baggage while on the cruise, cruisetour or Cruise Plus. This program expires 72 hours prior to midnight on the day of commencement of the package or embarkation date, whichever is earliest. Thereafter, cancellation fees are per the normal schedule (i.e. 100%); there is no protection from cancellation fees within 72 hours of sailing date.

Baggage protection is limited to physical loss or damage to personal effects belonging to the guest only and does not include airline reimbursed losses, cash, all cameras, jewelry, securities, radios and tickets of any nature. Princess is not responsible for baggage lost or damaged while in the care of airlines or during shore excursions (whether organized or independent). All lost or damaged baggage must be reported to a Princess representative at the time of the incident and all claims must be made within 10 days.

 

Not exactly cost effective.  

[Syracusefan44]

I would like to purchase my PVP online prior to 7/20/21 thru the cruise personalizer but there does not appear to be a way to select a payment for the insurance premium only.  
 

If pay the exact amount of PVP will they automatically apply this payment to my travel insurance? 

[Coffeeluvr05]

16 hours ago, Syracusefan44 said:

Between the taxes and ridiculous laws like this it’s time to retire to somewhere other than NY.   
 

All the Californian's with similar thoughts beat you to it and drove up the cost of real estate in all the halfway desirable places already.  LOL

[NavyVeteran]

1 hour ago, Syracusefan44 said:

I would like to purchase my PVP online prior to 7/20/21 thru the cruise personalizer but there does not appear to be a way to select a payment for the insurance premium only.  
 

If pay the exact amount of PVP will they automatically apply this payment to my travel insurance? 

No, you can't count on that. You need to call Princess (if you booked direct) or your travel agent (if you booked through one) and specifically tell them to pay for PVP.

[neverbeenhere]

3 hours ago, CruisePrincess6 said:

Insurance is very expensive for over 75 cruisers. What are our alternatives?

https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/travel/seniors/travel-insurance-over-75.htm

 

[Syracusefan44]

1 hour ago, NavyVeteran said:

No, you can't count on that. You need to call Princess (if you booked direct) or your travel agent (if you booked through one) and specifically tell them to pay for PVP.

Thank you.  I contacted Princess directly and the representative was very helpful in processing the transactions and making a notation on each of my six voyages in 2021, 2022, and 2023 that the payments were to be applied to my PVP.  

[Orangefan]

20 hours ago, Syracusefan44 said:

I just received the same email.  Once I find out the rationale for NYS to prohibit me from obtaining Princess Vacation Protection I will then be contacting my NYS Senator to see why NYS is prohibiting me from getting travel insurance thru Princess Cruises. 
 

If anyone has additional information it would be greatly appreciated. 

I have been going through this also.  I am very angry that Princess chose this moment in time.   I get this email on July 9 and it is due by July 20. Princess is already hard to speak to anyone and wait for hours on the phone. It has not been a pleasant day. I have left email and messages for my agent as he was on vacation. So Monday I hope to connect.

 

What I liked about the Princess insurance was it carried the medical insurance for evacuation.  I have seen 3 helicopter evacuations from the ship. Also when I fly E-Z air   they will get me on other flights if my flight doesn't get to the ship  and they will get me there.

 

If I didn't like cruising so much, I felt like cancelling all the cruises. They have made everything hard. 

 

Please post here if anybody gets more info   about any of the above problems.

Sali

 

 

 

[NavyVeteran]

24 minutes ago, Orangefan said:

I have been going through this also.  I am very angry that Princess chose this moment in time.   I get this email on July 9 and it is due by July 20. Princess is already hard to speak to anyone and wait for hours on the phone. It has not been a pleasant day. I have left email and messages for my agent as he was on vacation. So Monday I hope to connect.

 

What I liked about the Princess insurance was it carried the medical insurance for evacuation.  I have seen 3 helicopter evacuations from the ship. Also when I fly E-Z air   they will get me on other flights if my flight doesn't get to the ship  and they will get me there.

 

If I didn't like cruising so much, I felt like cancelling all the cruises. They have made everything hard. 

 

Please post here if anybody gets more info   about any of the above problems.

Sali

 

 

 

I don't think you have any reason to be angry with Princess. They have to follow the laws in New York. The deadline was not set by Princess - it is the last day you can purchase PVP before the New York law change goes into effect.

[Syracusefan44]

46 minutes ago, Orangefan said:

I have been going through this also.  I am very angry that Princess chose this moment in time.   I get this email on July 9 and it is due by July 20. Princess is already hard to speak to anyone and wait for hours on the phone. It has not been a pleasant day. I have left email and messages for my agent as he was on vacation. So Monday I hope to connect.

 

What I liked about the Princess insurance was it carried the medical insurance for evacuation.  I have seen 3 helicopter evacuations from the ship. Also when I fly E-Z air   they will get me on other flights if my flight doesn't get to the ship  and they will get me there.

 

If I didn't like cruising so much, I felt like cancelling all the cruises. They have made everything hard. 

 

Please post here if anybody gets more info   about any of the above problems.

Sali

 

 

 

I called Princess shortly after 11:00 AM EST and was on hold for about 5 minutes. The Princess representative explained that New York is the only state in the country prohibiting their residents from purchasing PVP but if I made the payment by 7/20/21 I could still be covered for all future bookings.

 

The representative went thru my six bookings from 2021 thru 2023, charged the exact amount of PVP due to my credit card, and made a notation that these funds were to be used to pay for PVP.  It was very simple.

 

I also like the PVP because of the “cancel for any reason” clause but this decision is 100% on the New York State Insurance Commission not Princess.  I am happy that Princess gave me enough advanced notice so I could keep our PVP on all my current bookings.
 

On a side note if you don’t pay by 7/20/21 there are several travel insurance companies that offer much higher limits (PVP- $75,000 Berkshire - $150,000+) for evacuation coverage (Allianz, AIG, Berkshire Hathaway, etc).  See the photo below for Berkshire Hathaway:

Edited July 9, 2021 by Syracusefan44