Booking & changes

What is the cancellation policy?

A sliding scale. What you lose depends entirely on how many days out you cancel.

Cancellation by cruise line
Cruise lineCancellationSource
Royal Caribbean InternationalSliding scale by cruise length — 100% inside 30 days on most sailings
  • — 1 to 4 night cruises, holidays included: no charge 75 days or more out; 74–61 days 50% of total price; 60–31 days 75%; 30 days or less 100%, no refund.
  • — 5 to 14 night cruises and Cruisetours: no charge 90 days or more out; 89–75 days 25%; 74–61 days 50%; 60–31 days 75%; 30 days or less 100%.
  • — 15 nights or longer: no charge 120 days or more out; 119–61 days 25%; 60–41 days 50%; 40–25 days 75%; 24 days or less 100%.
  • — Some fare programs require a nonrefundable deposit. That amount is never refunded, and change fees apply to those bookings.
Checked 2026-09-21
Carnival Cruise LineSliding scale by cruise length — 100% of fare inside 14 days
  • — 2 to 5 day cruises (not Alaska, Europe, Transatlantic or Panama Canal): no charge up to 76 days out; 75–56 days you lose the deposit; 55–30 days the deposit or 50% of total fare, whichever is greater; 29–15 days the deposit or 75%; 14 days or less 100% of total fare.
  • — 6 day or longer cruises, and all Alaska, Europe, Transatlantic and Panama Canal cruises: no charge up to 91 days out; 90–56 days the deposit; 55–30 days the deposit or 50%; 29–15 days the deposit or 75%; 14 days or less 100%.
  • — Non-refundable payments are charged even inside the free window.
  • — No refunds for no-shows, unused tickets, lost tickets, partly used tickets, or cancellations received late.
  • — Carnival recommends trip cancellation insurance.
Checked 2026-09-21
Norwegian Cruise LineCancellation fees are charged on the fare only, not on taxes and port fees
  • — Cancellation fees are assessed on the advertised price excluding taxes, fees and port expenses.
  • — Taxes, fees and port expenses are refunded when you cancel.
  • — Your cruise confirmation shows the split between cruise fare and taxes, fees and port expenses.
Checked 2026-09-21
Princess CruisesDeposit lost first, then 25–100%; the schedule depends on when you booked
  • — Bookings made on or after September 2, 2026, cruises up to 44 days: deposit at 120+ days; 25% at 113–119 days; 50% at 91–112 days; 75% at 61–90 days; 100% inside 60 days.
  • — Same bookings, cruises of 45+ days: deposit at 121+ days; 30% at 113–120 days; 50% at 61–112 days; 100% inside 60 days.
  • — Bookings made before September 2, 2026, cruises of 1–13 days: deposit at 90+ days; 25% at 75–89; 50% at 61–74; 75% at 31–60; 100% inside 30 days.
  • — Percentages apply to the total cruise price, packages such as Princess Plus and Premier, and any pre-purchased gifts or services.
  • — If you upgraded to a refundable deposit, the deposit tier does not apply.
Checked 2026-09-24
MSC CruisesDeposit lost first, then 50%, 75% and 100% as departure nears
  • — Cancel by phone on 877-665-4655, yourself or through your travel agent.
  • — 4 nights or less: deposit non-refundable 74–51 days out; 50% at 50–31 days; 75% at 30–16 days; 100% inside 15 days.
  • — 5 to 14 nights: deposit non-refundable 89–61 days out; 50% at 60–46 days; 75% at 45–16 days; 100% inside 15 days.
  • — 15 nights or more: deposit non-refundable 109–61 days out; then the same 50/75/100% steps as 5–14 nights.
  • — MSC Yacht Club and sailings that include Asia or the Far East have their own, stricter tables.
  • — World Cruise 2026–2028: 15% at 90 days or more; 75% at 89–10 days; 100% inside 10 days.
  • — Not showing up, or leaving mid-voyage, counts as a cancellation on the day of departure: 100%.
Checked 2026-09-24
Holland America LineFull refund to 120 days out, nothing inside 60
  • — 120 days or more before travel: 100% refund.
  • — 119–91 days: 75% refund of the total cruise price.
  • — 90–61 days: 50% refund.
  • — 60 days or less: no refund.
  • — Grand World and Grand Voyage sailings: 100% refund at 120+ days; 100% less the deposit at 119–113 days; 50% at 112–76 days; nothing inside 75 days.
Checked 2026-09-24
Disney Cruise LineRefunds go back to the original payment method in five to seven working days
  • — When Disney cancels a sailing, guests are refunded the amounts paid, to the original form of payment.
  • — Timing depends on your bank, or on your travel provider if you paid through one.
Checked 2026-09-21
VikingFlat fee far out, rising to 100% inside 29 days
  • — Standard cruise tours booked on or after August 1, 2018: 120 days or more out, US$100 per passenger; 119–90 days 20% of full fare; 89–70 days 35%; 69–50 days 50%; 49–30 days 75%; 29 days or fewer 100%.
  • — Grand and World Cruise Voyages over 35 days: 180 days or more out, US$1,000 per passenger; 179–150 days 20%; 149–120 days 40%; 119–90 days 60%; 89–60 days 80%; 59 days or fewer 100%.
  • — Cancellation fees also apply to changes of departure date and substitutions of itinerary.
  • — Once a booking has a deposit paid, changes cost US$30.00 per change.
  • — Most optional shore excursions are fully refunded if you cancel at least 48 hours ahead.
Checked 2026-09-21
Oceania CruisesAdministrative fee far out, rising to 100% inside 60 days
  • — Horizon Suites and below: 181 days or more out, a US$150 per person administrative fee; 180–151 days US$500 per person; 150–121 days 25% of cruise fare; 120–91 days 50%; 90–61 days 75%; 60–0 days 100%.
  • — Owner's, Vista and Oceania Suites: 181 days or more US$150 per person; 180–151 days 10% of cruise fare; then the same 25/50/75/100% steps.
  • — A 100% cancellation fee applies if you do not appear at the port at the scheduled departure time, or if written notice is not received in time.
Checked 2026-09-21
Celebrity CruisesNot recorded yet.Not checked yet
Virgin VoyagesNot recorded yet.Not checked yet
Cunard LineNot recorded yet.Not checked yet

9 of 12 lines recorded. Blank rows are gaps in our data, not gaps in the line’s policy.