No one likes to think about it, but occasionally there is a need to cancel a Royal Caribbean cruise.
Whether you are flat out cancelling the reservation or opting to postpone the cruise to a future sail date, there are important rules and policies to be aware of before you call in to change your booking.
No matter what the rationale, here is what you need to know on how to cancel a Royal Caribbean cruise.
Updated: May 12, 2022
Know the cancellation policy
Before you cancel, you should be aware of the terms of cancellation you agreed to when placing that initial deposit.
Cruise Fares
There are two types of cruise fare deposits: refundable and non-refundable.
If you booked refundable cruise fare, and have not yet made your final payment, you can cancel for a full refund of your deposit and any money paid.
If you booked a non-refundable cruise fare, and are outside of final payment, you will receive a Future Cruise Certificate in the amount of the cruise deposit, less a $100 per guest change fee.
Once you pass the final payment date, you may be subject to cancelation charges that vary depending on how close you are to your sailing.
A traditional cruise cancellation will provide cash back, but potentially with penalties.
Cancellation Window
Once you pass the final payment date, cancellations that occur may incur a cancellation charge that depends on how close to sailing you decide not to cruise.
| FOR 1 TO 4 NIGHT CRUISES (including Holiday sailings) IF CANCELLATION IS MADE | CANCELLATION CHARGE |
| 75 days or more prior to the first day of the Cruise | No charge (except for Nonrefundable Deposit amounts) |
| 74 to 61 days | 50% of total price |
| 60 to 31 days | 75% of total price |
| 30 days or less | 100% of total price (No refund) |
| FOR 5 NIGHTS OR LONGER CRUISES (including Holiday sailings and Cruisetours) IF CANCELLATION IS MADE | CANCELLATION CHARGE |
| 90 days or more prior to the first day of the Cruise | No charge (except for Nonrefundable Deposit amounts) |
| 89 to 75 days | 25% of total price |
| 74 to 61 days | 50% of total price |
| 60 to 31 days | 75% of total price |
| 30 days or less | 100% of total price (No refund) |
How to cancel a cruise
Once you determine you want to cancel your cruise, you need to contact whomever you booked your cruise with to make the change.
If you booked directly with Royal Caribbean via its website or on their site, you can call Royal Caribbean to cancel the reservation.
If you prefer to cancel a cruise online, you can refer to the online cancellation form that will provide the different options you have for cancellation.
If you booked the cruise with a travel agent, and/or any website other than Royal Caribbean's site, you must go through your travel provider to cancel the cruise.
Can I get a refund on my Royal Caribbean cruise?
You may be able to get a refund for your cruise, depending on how far in advance you cancel you cruise and the type of cruise deposit booked. It is critical you understand the terms and conditions of your cruise contract before booking a cruise to prevent any surprises if you decide to cancel later on.
Refer to the chart above for specific cancellation charges, but if you inform Royal Caribbean at least 90 days prior to your sailing date for 5-night or longer cruises (including Holiday sailings and Cruisetours), or 75 days for 1-4 night cruises (including Holiday sailings), you may qualify for a full or partial refund.
The type of cruise fare deposit on the reservation and timing of the decision to cancel will ultimately dictate how much of a refund you will receive.
Can I cancel my cruise if I booked it during Covid-19?
Depending on when you booked your cruise, your reservation may still qualify for a flexible cancellation policy.
For much of the public health emergency in 2020 and 2021, Royal Caribbean offered customers the "Cruise with Confidence" program that allowed for cancelling or changing cruise plans without the usual penalties or fees associated with typically cancelling a cruise.
If your cruise was booked before March 31, 2022 and is scheduled to sail on or before September 30, 2022, then your reservation can be cancelled up to 48 hours before the sailing is scheduled to begin in exchange for a 100% future cruise credit.
The future cruise credit you receive must be used on a sailing that departs within one year of when the FCC is issued.
Cruise with Confidence covers even non-refundable deposits, which means no penalty for cancelling under Cruise with Confidence.
Can I cancel my cruise if someone tests positive for Covid-19?
While the Cruise with Confidence program is no longer being offered, Royal Caribbean still offers a full refund if you or someone in your group tests positive for Covid-19.
Royal Caribbean's Covid-19 assistance program covers guests who test positive for covid at no extra charge.
If you, or anyone in your traveling party, tests positive for Covid-19 within 10 days before your cruise begins (or at the cruise terminal), Royal Caribbean will refund 100% of the cruise fare to all of you. You also have the option for a future cruise credit (FCC) instead.
Royal Caribbean defines "traveling party" as your family members living with you in the same household and traveling companions assigned to your stateroom on the cruise.
This applies to cruises departing on or before March 31, 2023.
Royal Caribbean says your test result must be submitted as proof of a positive result in order to qualify for a refund, unless you tested positive from a test administered by Royal Caribbean.
Can I cancel my Royal Caribbean cruise online?
In order to expedite the amount of requests for cancellations, Royal Caribbean has set up an online form to cancel your cruise.
You will need the Booking ID, Ship, Sail Date, and Last Name from the reservation you wish to cancel. At that point, the website will present options available to you.
If you booked with a travel agent, I strongly advise that you speak with them first to determine your options. Moreover, an agent can handle the paperwork required for a refund; and serve as a go-between when (not if) refund delays occur.
How can I get my money back if I want to cancel?
If you are interested in getting your cash back, here are the options available to you:
Traditional cancellations will provide cash back, minus any change fees or associated penalties. Quite often, guests run into penalties because they booked a non-refundable cruise fare and/or they are past the final payment date.
What about travel insurance?
Travel insurance covers a great deal of scenarios, but cancelling your vacation because you want to cancel is usually not covered.
Refer to your travel insurance policy, but unless you have a 'Cancel For Any Reason' policy, most travel insurance does not kick in until an outside influence occurs that prevents you from going on the cruise, such as becoming ill or another covered scenario.
Non-Royal Caribbean related refunds
Of course, you may have other purchases made in conjunction with your cruise vacation that is outside of Royal Caribbean.
Each company you work with will have different cancellation policies, with some being far more flexible than others.
The airlines have modified their cancellation terms to be more flexible, although each airline has different rules regarding travel credits, refunds, or both. One loophole to getting a refund is if the airline cancels or changes your flight time, you may be able to jump in on a refund request.
Hotels have traditionally offered flexible cancellation terms, provided you did not opt for a non-refundable deposit.
Perhaps car rentals have the most customer-friendly cancellations available; but you will have to refer to your rental reservation.
Regardless of which refund you are requesting, the key is to be persistent and polite about getting answers to options available to you.
