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Here Are the Standard Cancellation Policies for Each Major Cruise Line

by Dori Saltzman / September 20, 2024
Here Are the Standard Cancellation Policies for Each Major Cruise Line

Cruise line cancellation policies are as varied as the cruise lines themselves. Some cruise lines let clients cancel up to three months before sailing with no penalty. Others charge an administrative fee for a cancellation from the minute a cruise has been booked.

One universal truth does apply, though: the more expensive or longer the cruise, the less time people have to cancel their sailing with the least penalty.

To help advisors quickly and easily identify the cancellation policy for ocean-going cruise lines, Travel Market Report has rounded up each line’s standard policy.

This roundup does not include any special promotions that require either a non-refundable deposit or a non-refundable fare. Additionally, unless noted otherwise, cancellation charges are person.

In this article: American Cruise Lines | Azamara | Atlas Ocean Voyages | Carnival Cruise Line | Celebrity Cruises | Celestyal Cruises | Cunard | Disney Cruise Line | Holland America Line | Lindblad Expeditions | MSC Cruises | Norwegian Cruise Line | Oceania Cruises | Paul Gauguin Cruises | Princess Cruises | Regent Seven Seas Cruises | Royal Caribbean | Scenic | Seabourn | Silversea Cruises | UnCruise Adventures | Viking | Virgin Voyages | Windstar Cruises

American Cruise Lines

  • 91 days or more | $250 per person (unless cancelled within 24 hours of booking)
  • 90-46 days | 50% + $250 per person
  • 45 days or less | 100% + $250 per person
Azamara Onward cruise ship
Photo: Azamara Cruises

Azamara

  • 121+ days | $75 per person
  • 120-91 days | 25% of booked fare
  • 90-61 days | 50% of booked fare
  • 60-31 days | 75% of booked fare
  • 30 days or less | 100% of booked fare

For all bookings made ON OR AFTER December 18, 2024

  • 150+ days | $150
  • 150-121 days | 25%
  • 120-91 days | 50%
  • 90-61 days | 75%
  • 60 days or less | 100%

Atlas Ocean Voyages

  • Deposit-121 days | $250 per person
  • 121-91 days | 25% cancellation fee
  • 90-76 days | 50% cancellation fee
  • 75-46 days | 75% cancellation fee
  • 45 days or less | 100% cancellation fee
Carnival Jubilee
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line

For 2- to 5-day cruises (excluding Alaskan, European, Transatlantic and Panama Canal Cruises)

  • Up to 76 days | None (except cruise fares with nonrefundable payments)
  • 75-56 days | Deposit
  • 55-30 days | 50% of booked fare (or standard deposit, whichever is greater)
  • 29-15 days | 75% of booked fare (or standard deposit, whichever is greater)
  • 14 days or less | 100% of booked fare

For 6-day or longer cruises as well as Alaska, Europe, Transatlantic and Panama Canal Cruises

  • Up to 91 days | None (except cruise fares with nonrefundable payments)
  • 90-56 days | Deposit
  • 55-30 days | 50% of booked fare (or standard deposit, whichever is greater)
  • 29-15 days | 75% of booked fare (or standard deposit, whichever is greater)
  • 14 days or less | 100% of booked fare

Celebrity Cruises

For 1- to 4-night cruises

  • 75 or more days | None (except nonrefundable deposit amounts)
  • 74-61 days | 50% of total price
  • 60-31 days | 75% of total price
  • 30 days or less | 100% of total price

For cruises of 5 to 14 nights

  • 90 or more days | None (except nonrefundable deposit amounts)
  • 89-75 days | 25% of total price
  • 74-61 days | 50% of total price
  • 60-31 days | 75% of total price
  • 30 days or less | 100% of total price

For cruises of 15 nights or longer

  • 120 or more days | None (except nonrefundable deposit amounts)
  • 119-75 days | 25% of total price
  • 74-61 days | 50% of total price
  • 60-31 days | 75% of total price
  • 30 days or less | 100% of total price

All Galapagos cruises

  • 150 days or more | Full refund
  • 140 to 121 days | 10% of total price
  • 120 to 91 days | 25% of total price
  • 90-61 days | 50% of total price
  • 60-31 days | 75% of total price
  • 30 days or less | 100% of total price
Celestyal Journey
Photo: Celestyal

Celestyal Cruises

  • 90 days | €50 per stateroom administrative fee
  • 89-30 days | full deposit
  • 29 days or less | 100% (minus port and service charges)

Cunard

For voyages of 30 nights or less

  • 120 to 90 days | 25% or deposit amount
  • 89-61 days | 40% of full fare
  • 60-31 days | 50% of full fare
  • 30-15 days | 75% of full fare
  • 14 days or less | 100% of full fare

For voyages of 31 nights or longer

  • 150 to 120 days | 20% or deposit amount
  • 119 to 91 days | 40% of full fare
  •  90-64 days | 50% of full fare
  • 63-43 days | 75% of full fare
  • 42 days or less | 100% of full fare

For cruises of less than 31 nights with a reduced deposit

  • 120-91 days | reduced deposit amount
  • 89 days or less | standard cancellation fees apply

For cruises of 31 nights or longer with a reduced deposit

  • 150-120 days | reduced deposit amount
  • 119 days or less | standard cancellation fees apply
Disney Wonder
Photo: Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line

Cruises of 1 to 5 nights (excluding suites and concierge staterooms)

  • 89-45 days | full deposit per guest
  • 44-30 days | 50% of vacation fare per guest
  • 29-15 days | 75% of vacation fare per guest
  • 14 days or less | 100% of vacation fare

Cruises of 6 nights or more (excluding suites and concierge staterooms)

  • 119-56 days | full deposit per guest
  • 55-30 days | 50% of vacation fare per guest
  • 29-15 days | 75% of vacation fare per guest
  • 14 days or less | 100% of vacation fare

Suites and Concierge staterooms

  • 90 days or more | full deposit per guest
  • 89-56 days | 50% of vacation fare per guest
  • 55-30 days | 75% of vacation fare per guest
  • 29 days or less | 100% of vacation fare

Reservations for inside, outside, or verandah categories with restrictions

  • 100% of vacation fare from time of payment

Holland America Line

Bookings made on or after Nov. 10, 2023
Voyages up to 4 nights

  • 75 days or more | Full refund
  • 74-68 days | Full refund less required deposit amount
  • 67-31 days | 50% of gross fare
  • 30 days or less | 100% of gross fare

Voyages of 5 to 24 nights

  • 90 days or more | Full refund
  • 89-83 days | Full refund less required deposit amount
  • 82-46 days | 50% of gross fare
  • 45 days or less | 100% of gross fare

Voyages of 25 nights or longer, plus Grand World, Grand Voyages, and segments of a Grand World or Grand Voyage

  • 120 days or more | Full refund
  • 119-113 days | Full refund less required deposit amount
  • 112-76 days | 50% of gross fare
  • 75 days or less | 100% of gross fare

Bookings made Nov. 9, 2023 or earlier
Voyages up to 5 nights

  • 75 days or more | Full refund
  • 74-57 days | Full refund less required deposit amount
  • 56-29 days | 50% of gross fare
  • 28-16 days | 75% of gross fare
  • 15 days or less | 100% of gross fare

Voyages 6 nights or longer (other than those specified below)

  • 90 days or more | Full refund
  • 89-76 days | Full refund less required deposit amount
  • 75-61 days | 50% of gross fare
  • 60-31 days | 75% of gross fare
  • 30 days or less | 100% of gross fare

Grand World, Grand Voyages, or any segment of either; Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice; Australia Circumnavigation or segment of; 25-day Canada, New England, Greenland, and Iceland; Coral Triangle; Hawaii, Tahiti, and Marquesas; Majestic Japan; Tales of the South Pacific; Amazon Explorer; 30+ day Transatlantic voyages; and any segment of a 30+ Day Transatlantic voyage

  • 120 days or more | Full refund
  • 119-91 days | Full refund less required deposit amount
  • 90-76 days | 40% of gross fare
  • 75 days or less | 100% of gross fare
National Geographic Islander II in the Galapagos
Photo: Dori Saltzman

Lindblad Expeditions

  • 120 or more days | Full deposit (will be credited in the form of a Lindblad Expeditions Travel Certificate, which may be applied toward final payment on any future booking, valid for 12 months from date of cancellation)
  • 119-90 days | 50% of trip cost
  • 89 days or less | 100% of trip cost

The cancellation policy for some longer itineraries and holiday departures may vary due to high demand.

MSC Cruises

Cruises of 4 nights or less

  • 74-51 days | Deposit
  • 50-31 days | 50% penalty
  • 30-16 days | 75% penalty
  • 15 days or less | 100% penalty

Cruises of 5 to 14 nights

  • 89-61 days | Deposit
  • 60-46 days | 50% penalty
  • 45-16 days | 75% penalty
  • 15 days or less | 100% penalty

Cruises of 15 nights or longer

  • 109-61 days | Deposit
  • 60-46 days | 50% penalty
  • 45-16 days | 75% penalty
  • 15 days or less | 100% penalty

MSC Yacht Club Cruises of 4 nights or less

  • 51 days or more | Deposit
  • 50-31 days | 50% penalty
  • 30-16 days | 75% penalty
  • 15 days or less | 100% penalty

MSC Yacht Club Cruises of 5 nights or longer

  • 61 days or more | Deposit
  • 60-46 days | 50% penalty
  • 45-16 days | 75% penalty
  • 15 days or less | 100% penalty

World Cruise 2024, 2025, 2026

  • 90 days or more | 15% penalty
  • 89-10 days | 75% penalty
  • 9 days or less | 100% penalty
Pride of America cruise ship
Photo: NCL

Norwegian Cruise Line

For cruises booked on or before Feb. 14, 2024
The Haven, Suites, Garden Villas, and holiday sailings

  • 119-106 days | 25% of booked fare
  • 105-91 days | 50% of booked fare
  • 90-61 days | 75% of booked fare
  • 60 days or less | 100%

All other bookings (Club Balcony cabins and below)

  • 119-91 days | 25% of booked fare
  • 90-61 days | 50% of booked fare
  • 60-31 days | 75% of booked fare
  • 30 days or less | 100%

For cruises booked on or after Feb. 15, 2024
The Haven, Suites, and Garden Villas

  • 119-106 days | 25% of booked fare
  • 105-91 days | 50% of booked fare
  • 90-61 days | 75% of booked fare
  • 60 days or less | 100%

 All other bookings (Club Balcony cabins and below)

  • 119-91 days | 25% of booked fare
  • 90-61 days | 50% of booked fare
  • 60-31 days | 75% of booked fare
  • 30 days or less | 100%

Oceania Cruises

Categories PH and below

  • 181 or more days | $150 administrative fee per person
  • 180-151 days | $500 administrative fee per person
  • 150-121 days | 25% of fare
  • 120-91 days | 50% of fare
  • 90-61 days | 75% of fare
  • 60 days or less | 100%

Categories OS/VS/OC

  • 181 or more days | $150 administrative fee per person
  • 180-151 days | 10% of fare
  • 150-121 days | 25% of fare
  • 120-91 days | 50% of fare
  • 90-61 days | 75% of fare
  • 60 days or less | 100%

Paul Gauguin Cruises

  • Up to 15 days past deposit |  No fee
  • 16 days past deposit-181 days prior to departure | $250 per person (transferrable to a future booking within 12 months)
  • 180-91 days | 25% of the total amount, per person
  •  90 days or less | 100% of full fare
Caribbean Princess cruise ship
Photo: Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises

Sailings of up to 24 days (including World Cruise segments)

  • 90 days or more | None
  • 75-89 days | 25% of total charges
  • 61-74 days | 50% of total charges
  • 31-60 days | 75% of total charges
  • 30 days or less | 100% of total charges

Sailings of 25 days or more (including Full World Cruise & World Cruise Segments)

  • 120 days or more | None
  • 113-119 days | deposit amount (30% of total charges for World Cruises)
  • 61-112 days | 50% of total charges
  • 60 days or less | 100% of total charges

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Cruises of 14 nights or less

  • Deposit-121 days | Suite category RS – 25% of fare | Suite category MS-H – $100 per person
  • 120-91 days | Suite category RS – 50% of fare | Suite category MS-H – 15% of fare
  • 90-61 days | Suite category RS – 75% of fare | Suite category MS-H – 50% of fare
  • 60-31 days | Suite category RS – 100% of fare | Suite category MS-H – 75% of fare
  • 30 days or less | Suite category RS – 100% of fare | Suite category MS-H – 100% of fare

Cruises of 15-60 nights

  • Deposit-151 days | Suite category RS – 25% of fare | Suite category MS-H – $100 per person
  • 150-121 days | Suite category RS – 50% of fare | Suite category MS-H – 15% of fare
  • 120-91 days | Suite category RS – 75% of fare | Suite category MS-H – 50% of fare
  • 90-76 days | Suite category RS – 100% of fare | Suite category MS-H – 75% of fare
  • 75 days or less | Suite category RS – 100% of fare | Suite category MS-H – 100% of fare

Cruises of 61 nights or longer

  • Deposit-211 days | Suite category MS-HS – 10% of fare / Suite categories A-H – $500
  • 210-151 days | 25% of fare
  • 151-121 days | 50% of fare
  • 120-91 days | 75% of fare
  • 90 days or less | 100% of fare

World Cruises

  • Deposit-181 days | 10% of fare in suite categories MS-HS
  • 180-151 days | 25% of fare
  • 150-121 days | 50% of fare
  • 120-91 days | 75% of fare
  • 90 days or less | 100% of fare
wonder of the seas cruise ship
Photo: Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean International

For cruises of 1 to 4 nights

  • 75 days or more | None except for nonrefundable deposits
  • 74-61 days | 50% of total price
  • 60-31 days | 75% of total price
  • 30 days or less | 100%

For cruises of 5 to 14 nights

  • 90 days or more | None except for nonrefundable deposits
  • 89-75 days | 25% of total price
  • 74-61 days | 50% of total price
  • 60-31 days | 75% of total price
  • 30 days or less | 100%

For cruises of 15 nights or longer

  • 120 days or more | None except for nonrefundable deposits
  • 119-61 days | 25% of total price
  • 60-41 days | 50% of total price
  • 40-25 days | 75% of total price
  • 24 days or less | 100%

Scenic

  • 120 days or more | full deposit
  • 119-91 days | 50%
  • 90 days or less | 100%

Seabourn

Cruises of 25 days or less

  • 120-91 days | 15% of full fare
  • 90-46 days | 50% of full fare
  • 45-31 days | 75% of full fare
  • 30 days or less | 100% of full fare

Cruises of 26 days or longer

  • 150-121 days | 15% of full fare
  • 120-91 days | 50% of full fare
  • 90-76 days | 75% of full fare
  • 75 days or less | 100% of full fare
Silver Ray
Photo: Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises

For door-to-door all-inclusive fares

  • Deposit-151 days | $250 (automatically converted to a future cruise credit within 15 days of cancellation date)
  • 150-121 days | 15% of total cruise fare
  • 120-91 days | 25% of total cruise fare
  • 90-61 days | 50% of the total cruise fare
  • 60-31 days | 75% of the total cruise fare
  • 30 days or less | 100% of the total cruise fare

For port-to-port all-inclusive fares

  • Deposit-151 days | $250 (automatically converted to a future cruise credit within 15 days of cancellation date)
  • 150-121 days | 15% of the total cruise fare
  • 120-91 days | 25% of the total cruise fare
  • 90-61 days | 50% of the total cruise fare
  • 60-31 days | 75% of the total cruise fare
  • 30 days or less | 100% of the total cruise fare

For “Essential” fares

  • Any time before sailing | 100% of the total cruise fare

For 2024 World Cruises and Grand Voyages, and Northwest Passage 2025 (code EV250824023)

  • Deposit-181 days | $500 (automatically converted to a future cruise credit within 15 days from cancellation date)
  • 180-151 days | 25% of the total cruise fare
  • 150-121 days | 50% of the total cruise fare
  • 120-91 days | 75% of the total cruise fare
  • 90 days or less | 100% of total cruise fare

For 2025 World Cruise

  • Deposit-290 days | $500
  • 226-181 days | 20% of the total cruise fare
  • 180-151 days | 25% of the total cruise fare
  • 150-121 days | 50% of the total cruise fare
  • 120-91 days | 75% of the total cruise fare
  • 90 days or less | 100% of the total cruise fare

For 2026 or 2027 World Cruise

  • Deposit- 350 days | $500
  • 349-181 days | 20% of the total cruise fare
  • 180-151 days | 25% of the total cruise fare
  • 150-121 days | 50% of the total cruise fare
  • 120-91 days | 75% of the total cruise fare
  • 90 days or less | 100% of the total cruise fare

UnCruise Adventures

  • 90 days or more | deposit, which is transferrable to a Future Travel Certificate
  • 89-61 days | 67% of the total cruise fare
  • 60 days or less | 100% of gross fare
a Viking ocean cruise ship
Photo: Viking

Viking

For all sailings except Grand & World Cruise Voyages

  • 120 days or more | $100
  • 119-90 days | 20% of full fare
  • 89-70 days | 35% of full fare
  • 69-50 days | 50% of full fare
  • 49-30 days | 75% of full fare
  • 29 days or less | 100% of full fare

For Grand & World Cruise Voyages

  • 180 days or more | $1,000
  • 179-150 days | 20% of full fare
  • 149-120 days | 40% of full fare
  • 119-90 days | 60% of full fare
  • 89-60 days | 80% of full fare
  • 59 days or less | 100% of full fare

Virgin Voyages

  • 120 days or more | Full deposit, if not canceled within seven days of booking (deposit will be converted into a Future Voyage Credit)
  • 119-45 days | All paid funds will be converted to a Future Voyage Credit for use within one year from original voyage start date
  • 44 days or less | 100% penalty, but guests can switch the name on the booking to anyone they’d like up to 48 hours before the sail date

Windstar Cruises

  • 120 days or more | $50 per person
  • 120-90 days | 15% of gross fare (deposit)
  • 89-60 days | 35% of gross fare
  • 59-30 days | 50% of gross fare
  • 29 days or less | 100% of gross fare
  
  
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