Carnival Cruise Line Updates Cancellation Policy, Adds Incentives for Guests Who Sail

Carnival Cruise Line has updated its cancellation policy in the wake of the spread of travel disruptions due to coronavirus (COVID-19), and has added some incentives to help keep bookings intact. 

In a letter to its guests this morning, Carnival said it wanted to “provide options and flexibility should you want to reschedule your vacation booked between now and May 31, 2020, as well as incentives to proceed with your plans.”

For those who booked prior to March 6 for sailings between now and May 31 who want to change, Carnival is allowing guests to switch their sailing date and receive a future cruise credit for 100% of the non-refundable cancellation fee. The credit is eligible to use on a sailing by March 31, 2021.

For those departing between March 9 and March 31, Carnival is allowing a change to a future date up to three days before sailing. And for those who are scheduled to depart between April 1 and May 31, Carnival is allowing guests to move to a future date by March 31.

Guests who are staying onboard sailings scheduled between March 6 and May 31 will be rewarded: Carnival is giving those scheduled for three- and four-day sailings $100 in onboard credit per cabin; those scheduled for five-day sailings $150; and those scheduled for sailings six-days or longer $200 per cabin.

All the credits will be applied automatically by Carnival.

Carnival said in the letter that it continues “to implement increased monitoring, screening and sanitation protocols to protect the health of our guests, crew and the residents of the destinations we serve. Our measures are designed to be flexible to adapt to changing conditions and recommended best practices.”

The full list of what Carnival is doing is available on its website.