Here Are the Standard Cancellation Policies for Each Major Cruise Line

by Dori Saltzman / September 20, 2024

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.

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

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

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 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

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

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

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