Planning a cruise with Royal Caribbean International is an exciting endeavor. However, unforeseen circumstances may necessitate canceling your trip. It's crucial to comprehend the specific cancellation policies to manage expectations and minimize potential financial losses.

Cancellation Timeframes and Refund Eligibility

Royal Caribbean's cancellation policy is structured based on the length of the cruise and the timing of the cancellation. Below is a detailed breakdown:

For Cruises of 1 to 4 Nights (Including Holiday Sailings)

  • 75 days or more before departure: No cancellation charge, except for nonrefundable deposits(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

  • 74 to 61 days before departure: 50% of the total price is charged(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

  • 60 to 31 days before departure: 75% of the total price is charged(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

  • 30 days or less before departure: 100% of the total price is charged; no refund is provided(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

For Cruises of 5 to 14 Nights (Including Holiday Sailings and Cruise Tours)

  • 90 days or more before departure: No cancellation charge, except for nonrefundable deposits(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

  • 89 to 75 days before departure: 25% of the total price is charged(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

  • 74 to 61 days before departure: 50% of the total price is charged(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

  • 60 to 31 days before departure: 75% of the total price is charged(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

  • 30 days or less before departure: 100% of the total price is charged; no refund is provided(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

For Cruises of 15 Nights or Longer (Including Holiday Sailings and Cruise Tours)

  • 120 days or more before departure: No cancellation charge, except for nonrefundable deposits(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

  • 119 to 61 days before departure: 25% of the total price is charged(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

  • 60 to 41 days before departure: 50% of the total price is charged(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

  • 40 to 25 days before departure: 75% of the total price is charged(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

  • 24 days or less before departure: 100% of the total price is charged; no refund is provided(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

Nonrefundable Deposit Programs

Certain fare programs require a nonrefundable deposit at the time of booking. This deposit is not refunded under any circumstances after payment. Additionally, change fees apply to bookings with nonrefundable deposits(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１). If a cancellation occurs outside the final payment period, the full deposit amount is retained as a penalty, while any additional payments made are refunded.

Cancellation Process and Refunds

To initiate a cancellation, guests must provide notice to Royal Caribbean. The effective date of cancellation is when the notice is received by the company. Refunds are processed to the original form of payment(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１). For instance, if payment was made via credit card, the refund is credited back to that card. If payment was made through a travel advisor, the refund is provided back to the advisor(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

Special Considerations

  • Taxes/Fees and Fuel Supplement Charges: In the event of a cancellation, any applicable taxes, fees, or fuel supplement charges are refunded(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

  • Air Flights, Hotel Stays, and Other Pre-Purchased Amenities: Cancellations of these services are subject to their respective terms and conditions, which may include separate cancellation charges(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

  • Cruise Tours: Guests who cancel the tour portion of their Cruise Tour while retaining the cruise may be subject to specific cancellation charges, depending on the location and length of the Cruise Tour(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

Recommendations

Given the structured cancellation penalties, we recommend the following:

  • Early Decision Making: If there's a possibility of canceling your cruise, make the decision as early as possible to minimize potential penalties(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

  • Travel Insurance: Consider purchasing travel insurance that covers trip cancellations. This can provide financial protection in case unforeseen events force you to cancel your trip(+𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟗𝟓𝟎-𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟏 [𝐔𝐒] 𝙾𝚁 １-➇０ʘ-９５０-➃➃ʘ１).

  • Stay Informed: Regularly review Royal Caribbean's official cancellation policy, as terms and conditions may change over time.

Understanding these policies ensures that you can make informed decisions and manage your travel plans effectively. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to Royal Caribbean's official resources or contact their customer service directly.