Most major cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Viking, Princess Cruises, and Holland America Line, have made changes so you can cancel your upcoming cruise without penalty.
If you have an upcoming cruise and are cautious about traveling at this time due to COVID-19, most cruise lines will now allow you to cancel and get a credit towards a cruise down the road.
Here is a rundown of what each cruise line is offering. Be sure to check each cruise line’s website for exact terms and conditions of their offer.
Carnival Cruise Line – Carnival will allow you to cancel your cruise up until three days before sailing for cruises through May 31, 2020. If you cancel, you will receive a future cruise credit equal to the amount of your cruise fare. The future cruise credit must be used by March 31, 2021.
For those who wish to sail on their booked cruises through May 31, they will receive the following onboard credit: $100 per cabin for 3/4 day cruises, $150 per cabin for 5 day cruises, and $200 per cabin for cruise 6 days and longer.
Royal Caribbean – Royal Caribbean’s Cruise with Confidence policy allows for cancellations up until 48 hours before sailing for all cruises through July 31, 2020. If you cancel, you will receive a future cruise credit equal to 100% of your cruise fare that can be used on any Royal Caribbean cruise through 2021.
Viking – Viking will allow you to cancel your cruise up until 24 hours before sailing for all reservations made through April 30, 2020. You will receive a future cruise credit that can be used on any Viking cruise including ocean, river, and expedition.
Norwegian Cruise Line – NCL’s new Peace of Mind policy will allow you to cancel your cruise up until 48 hours before sailing on cruises through September 30, 2020. You will receive a 100% future cruise credit for use on any sailings through December 31, 2022.
Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity’s Cruise with Confidence policy will allow you to cancel your cruise up until 48 hours before sailing. You’ll receive a future cruise credit good through 2021.
Holland America Line – Holland America will allow you to cancel up until 72 hours before departure for cruises through March 31, 2020. You will receive a future cruise credit that must be redeemed by December 31. 2020.
For those who choose to keep their cruise plans on departures through May 31, 2020, an Onboard Spending Credit of $200 per stateroom/$100 per person for voyages longer than 7 days and US$100 per stateroom/US$50 per person for voyages less than 6 days will be automatically applied to their shipboard account as a thank you.
Princess Cruises – Princess will now allow you to cancel up until 72 hours before departure for cruises through April 3, 2020. You will receive a future cruise credit equal to the amount of your cruise fare. If you are booked on a cruise that departs between April 4 through May 31, you can cancel by March 31 and receive the future cruise credit.
Guests who choose to keep their booking on cruises or cruisetours as currently scheduled for departures between March 6, 2020 and May 31, 2020 will automatically receive the following onboard credit amounts: $100 for 3/4 day cruises, $150 for 5 day cruises, and $200 for cruises 6 day and longer.
Oceania Cruises – Oceania’s Travelers Assurance Program will allow you to cancel your cruise up until 48 hours before sailing for cruises through September 30, 2020. If you cancel, you will receive a future cruise credit equal to 100% of your cruise fare.
Silversea Cruises – Silversea will allow you to cancel a cruise up until 48 hours before sailing for cruises up until July 31, 2020. Guests who cancel will receive a future cruise credit for the amount of their cruise are.
This list will be updated as more cruise lines announce policy changes due to the ongoing health concerns over COVID-19.
None of this matters if the airline I am using to get to the port won’t give me a refund on my airfare.