Are you considering canceling your cruise but unsure if you’ll be able to receive a full refund? Let’s take a closer look at the cancellation policies of major cruise lines and what options are available to you.
Cancellation Policies by Major Cruise Lines
- Royal Caribbean: Guests can cancel up to 48 hours before the sail date for a full refund. However, if guests cancel within 48 hours, they may receive a future cruise credit.
- Carnival Cruise Line: Guests can cancel up to 90 days before the sail date for a full refund. If guests cancel within 89-75 days of sailing, they will receive a 75% refund. Cancellations made within 74-61 days of sailing result in a 50% refund, and cancellations made within 60-30 days of sailing result in a 25% refund.
No refunds are given for cancellations made within 30 days of sailing.
- Norwegian Cruise Line: Guests can cancel up to 120 days before the sail date for a full refund. If guests cancel within 119-91 days of sailing, they will receive a 75% refund. Cancellations made within 90-61 days of sailing result in a 50% refund, and cancellations made within 60-31 days of sailing result in a 25% refund. No refunds are given for cancellations made within 30 days of sailing.
Exceptions to Cancellation Policies
It’s important to note that certain circumstances may result in exceptions to these cancellation policies. For example, if the cruise line cancels the trip due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather-related issues or mechanical problems, guests will usually receive a full refund or a future cruise credit.
Additionally, some cruise lines offer “cancel for any reason” insurance policies that allow guests to cancel their trip for any reason and receive a full refund or future cruise credit. However, these policies often come with additional fees and must be purchased at the time of booking.
What to Do if You Want to Cancel
If you decide to cancel your cruise, it’s important to contact the cruise line as soon as possible. Most cruise lines allow cancellations via phone or online, but it’s best to double-check with the specific cruise line for their cancellation policy and procedures.
It’s also important to keep in mind that cancelling a trip may result in penalties such as losing your deposit or being charged cancellation fees. However, if you’re within the allowed cancellation period, you should be able to receive a full refund according to the cruise line’s policy.
Conclusion
In summary, each major cruise line has its own cancellation policy regarding refunds. It’s important to review these policies before booking your trip and keep them in mind if you decide to cancel. While there may be exceptions and additional fees for certain circumstances, guests can usually receive a full refund within the allotted cancellation period.