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Cruise Cancellation Policies Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Everything You Need To Know

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Katie Seemann
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Katie Seemann

Senior Content Contributor and News Editor

343 Published Articles 49 Edited Articles

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Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, F...
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Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

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With years of experience in corporate marketing and as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, Keri is now Editor-in-Chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and r...

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It’s an unprecedented time in our society right now, with the spread of COVID-19 affecting all aspects of daily life. And unfortunately, the virus pandemic is also putting a lot of travel plans on hold.

The cruise industry has been hit hard since halting operations in 2020.

There’s a lot of information out there, and we wanted to make understanding these updates easier for you. This post includes all of the cruise cancellation policies in a single place, so you can easily find the information that’s important to you.

Since this is a fluid situation, these policies are subject to change, and we’ll be updating this piece on an ongoing basis to make sure you have the most up-to-date information out there.

Cruise Cancellation Policies Due to COVID-19

Azamara

The following Azamara sailings have been canceled:

  • Select Azamara Journey sailings through May 2022 have been canceled
  • Select South America and Antarctica itineraries have been canceled through February 2022

All sailings booked by January 31, 2022, scheduled to depart by April 30, 2022, are included in the Cruise With Confidence program. This gives you the ability to cancel your cruise with at least 48 hours’ notice and you’ll receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit that can be applied to any cruise booked by April 30, 2022, scheduled to sail by December 31, 2022.

Cancellation Policy Due to COVID-19

If you’re scheduled to sail with Azamara on a canceled cruise, you have 3 choices in regards to a refund:

  1. Receive a 125% Future Cruise Credit that can be applied to any sailing through December 31, 2022, or within 1 year of the original sailing date, whichever is later. Any prepaid amenities or packages will be automatically refunded to the original form of payment. Guests who chose the “Cruise with Confidence 100% Future Cruise Credit” option aren’t eligible for the 125% credit option.
  2. Request a 100% refund to the original form of payment. You should receive a refund within 45 days of submitting your request.
  3. You can keep the destination the same and “lift and shift” your cruise if your new cruise is within 4 weeks of your originally scheduled departure date.

How To Cancel an Azamara Cruise

To request a refund or the 125% Future Cruise Credit or to cancel your cruise, click here.

For Azamara’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Carnival Cruise Line 

Currently, there are no blanket cancellations for Carnival cruises.

Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration have been permanently retired. Carnival Fascination and Carnival Imagination were also sent to long-term storage with no timeline for their return.

Cancellation Policy Due to COVID-19

Carnival hasn’t published an updated policy regarding canceled cruises, but according to crowdsourced data, a full refund or a future cruise credit plus onboard credit is being offered.

How To Cancel a Carnival Cruise

You can check the status of your sailing and request a refund or cruise credit for your Carnival cruise affected by COVID-19 here.

For Carnival’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Carnival COVID-19 "We Will Be Back"
Carnival offers an illuminating message of “We Will Be Back.” Image Credit: Carnival

Celebrity Cruise Line

The following cruises have been canceled:

  • Celebrity Infinity sailings have been canceled through 2022.
  • Any other canceled sailings can be found here

Cancellation Policy Due to COVID-19

If your cruise was canceled by Celebrity due to COVID-19, you’ll have 2 choices in regards to a refund:

  1. Receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit
  2. Request a 100% refund to the original form of payment.

If you have a Future Cruise Credit, the value that represents 100% of the fare paid on the original booking has no expiration date. If you also received a bonus 25% Future Cruise Credit, that amount will expire on the original expiration date or 12/31/22, whichever is later.

How To Cancel a Celebrity Cruise

To request a refund for your canceled cruise instead of the 125% Future Cruise Credit, fill out this form.

For Celebrity’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Costa Cruises

Currently, there are no blanket cancellations for Costa Cruises.

For Costa’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Crystal Cruises

There are currently no blanket cancellations for Crystal Cruises.

Cancellation Policy Due to COVID-19

Guests who were booked on a canceled cruise will be contacted with rebooking and compensation options.

For Crystal’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Hot Tip: If you’re feeling sick or showing signs of fever or respiratory illness, don’t go on a cruise. Most cruise lines are conducting pre-embarkation health screenings and you could be denied boarding. If you’re not sure what to do, contact the cruise line for more guidance.

Cunard

The following sailings have been canceled:

  • Queen Victoria departures through April 29, 2022 (select Queen Victoria sailings will be transferred to Queen Elizabeth — these will be transferred automatically and guests should receive a new booking reference)
  • Queen Elizabeth originally scheduled departures through May 17, 2022, have been canceled; new cruise itineraries will be replacing the originally scheduled cruises
  • Any cruise that has a stop in a Canadian port has been canceled through February 2022

Cancellation Policy Due to COVID-19

If your cruise was canceled, you’ll receive a 125% future cruise credit of the deposit and 100% future cruise credit of any additional money paid that you can use on any sailing booked by September 30, 2022.

For Cunard’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Disney Cruise Line

There aren’t any current blanket cancellations on Disney Cruise Line.

How To Cancel a Disney Cruise

If you booked your Disney cruise with a travel agent, contact the agent. If you booked directly with Disney, you can call 866-325-6685 or 407-566-7797 to cancel your reservation.

For the latest Disney Cruise Line travel information including COVID-19, click here.

Holland America

Holland America has made the following schedule changes:

  • Cruises departing March and April 2022 on Noordam will be moved to March and April 2023
  • Cruises on Oosterdam will resume on May 1, 2022
  • Cruises on Westerdam will resume on May 8, 2022
  • Cruises in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America, and Antarctica are canceled until May 2022

Cancellation Policy Due to COVID-19

Guests booked on a cruise that has been canceled will be rescheduled on a later cruise, or a refund can be requested.

For Holland America’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Hot Tip: When you’re ready to book a cruise, check out these websites to find great deals.

MSC Cruises

There are currently no blanket cancellations for MSC Cruises.

Cancellation Policy Due to COVID-19

If you were booked on a sailing that has been canceled, you have 3 options for a refund:

  1. Receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit automatically.
  2. Move your cruise to any ship/any sailing immediately.
  3. If you would prefer a 100% refund to the original form of payment you can request one by calling 866-420-3584.

For MSC’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

National Geographic/Lindblad Expeditions

All bookings made by September 30, 2021, for departures through March 31, 2022, can be canceled at least 14 days before departure for a 100% future cruise credit.

For National Geographic/Lindblad’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

National Geographic Orion
National Geographic/Lindblad Expeditions offers cruises to destinations in Europe, the South Pacific, South America, and more. Image Credit: National Geographic

Norwegian Cruises

The following Norwegian cruises have been canceled:

  • Norwegian Sky sailings through February 25, 2022
  • Pride of America sailings through February 26, 2022
  • Norwegian Jade sailings through March 3, 2022
  • Norwegian Star sailings through March 19, 2022
  • Norwegian Sun sailings through April 19, 2022
  • Norwegian Spirit sailings through April 23, 2022

Cancellation Policy Due to COVID-19

Passengers booked on newly canceled cruises will receive an automatic refund and a bonus Future Cruise Certificate.

For Norwegian’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Princess Cruises

The following Princess sailings have been canceled:

  • Coral Princess Australia and New Zealand cruises departing January 27, 2022, through March 7, 2022
  • Royal Princess Australian sailings through March 9, 2022
  • Discovery Princess departures from Los Angeles through March 20, 2022
  • Emerald Princess Australia and New Zealand sailings through March 2022
  • Caribbean Princess sailings from March to May 2022
  • Island Princess sailings through April 4, 2022, and sailings from Fort Lauderdale through April 17, 2022
  • Diamond Princess cruises in Antarctica and South America through April 5, 2022
  • Sapphire Princess Australian sailings through April 8, 2022
  • Crown Princess cruises leaving from the West Coast through April 29, 2022, and the May 2, 2022 departure
  • Sapphire Princess cruise departing April 29, 2022
  • Select Regal Princess Mediterranean cruises departing April 30, 2022, and July 2022
  • Select Coral Princess cruises departing from Australia through August 2022
  • Sapphire Princess cruises leaving from the West Coast from September 24, 2022, through November 7, 2022

All Sun Princess, Sea Princess, and Pacific Princess sailings have been canceled as these ships have been sold. All sailings on Golden Princess and Star Princess have also been canceled as these ships have been transferred to sister company P&O Cruises Australia.

Cancellation Policy Due to COVID-19

Refund policies vary based on your specific cruise, but you’ll most likely receive a 100% future cruise credit or a full refund.

How To Cancel a Princess Cruise

To request a refund instead of a Future Cruise Credit, click here.

For Princess Cruise’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

There are currently no blanket cancellation policies for Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

How To Cancel a Regent Seven Seas Cruise

To cancel your cruise contact your travel agent or call Regent Seven Seas directly:

  • U.S./Canada: 844-4REGENT (844-473-4368) or 954-776-6123
  • United Kingdom: 02380 682280
  • Europe: +44 2380 682140
  • Australia/New Zealand/Asia Pacific: 1-300-455-200
  • Latin America/Brazil: 0800 400-3132 or +1 954-940-7586

For Regent Seven Seas’ full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Royal Caribbean

The following sailings have been canceled:

  • Symphony of the Seas sailings through January 28, 2022
  • Jewel of the Seas sailings through February 19, 2022
  • Vision of the Seas sailings through March 6, 2022
  • Voyager of the Seas sailings through April 23, 2022
  • Serenade of the Seas sailings through April 25, 2022
  • Radiance of the Seas sailings through April 28, 2022
  • Rhapsody of the Seas sailings through May 22, 2022

Cancellation Policy Due to COVID-19

If you were scheduled on a Royal Caribbean cruise that was canceled, you can receive a 125% Future Cruise Credit that can be used by May 31, 2022, for any cruise through December 31, 2022, or 1 year from the original sailing date, whichever is later.

Alternatively, for sailings through April 30, 2022, you can “lift and shift” your cruise itinerary to be rebooked the following year (this maintains the original pricing and any promotions used).

If you’d prefer a cash refund, you can request it by submitting a form here. Refunds will be issued within 45 days of the request submission.

Cruise With Confidence Future Cruise Credit

The Cruise with Confidence policy applies to any cruise booked by January 31, 2022, scheduled to sail through May 31, 2022. If you cancel at least 48 hours before the sail date you’ll be eligible for a 100% Future Cruise Credit that can be applied to any cruise booked by May 31, 2022, with a departure date through December 31, 2022, or 1 year from the originally scheduled departure date, whichever is later.

How To Cancel a Royal Caribbean Cruise

If you booked with a travel agent, contact your travel agent to cancel. If you booked directly with Royal Caribbean, you can call 866-562-7625 to cancel or click here.

For Royal Caribbean’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Royal Caribbean ship
Like many cruise lines, Royal Caribbean is offering a temporary flexible cancellation policy. Image Credit: Royal Caribbean

Seabourn

There are no current blanket cancellations by Seabourn.

Cancellation Policy Due to COVID-19

Guests who were scheduled on a canceled cruise have 2 options for a refund:

  1. Receive a 125% refund in the form of a future cruise credit, which is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and must be used by December 31, 2022.
  2. Receive a 100% refund back to the original form of payment.

How To Cancel a Seabourn Cruise

If your cruise has been canceled, you should receive information directly from Seabourn on how to proceed or you can email seareservations@seabourn.com.

For Seabourn’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Silversea

Silversea Cruises has canceled the following voyages:

  • Silver Dawn: all departures through March 17, 2022
  • Silver Wind: all departures through May 27, 2022

Cancellation Policy Due to COVID-19

Guests who were scheduled on a canceled cruise will receive a 100% refund in the form of a future cruise credit that can be applied to any cruise within 2 years of issuance.

For Silversea’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Viking Cruises

Currently, all Viking cruises are sailing as scheduled.

How To Cancel a Viking Cruise

To cancel your Viking cruise contact your travel agent or Viking directly at 833-900-0951.

For Viking’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Final Thoughts

It’s a stressful time for everyone and having to cancel or postpone a vacation is never fun.

The important thing to remember is that everything will get back to normal at some point! Until then, stay safe and have fun planning your next trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cancel my upcoming cruise?

Each cruise line has a different method to cancel your cruise and request a refund or cruise credit. Most have an online form to submit in lieu of calling.

Should I take the future cruise credit or get a refund?

This is a personal choice, but taking the future cruise credit is usually more valuable. Most cruise lines will let you use the credit on any sailing through 2022, so there will be plenty of opportunities to use it. If, however, you’re in a tight financial spot due to the current situation, it may make more sense to take the refund.

What's the best insurance policy for a cruise?

Many credit cards come with travel insurance built-in, and there are also additional policies you can buy to protect you. Check out these posts for some guidance:

Will cruises be cancelled in 2022?

While many cruises have resumed operations, there are definitely still cancellations going into the first half of 2022. The spread of the Omicron variant has sparked a new wave of cruise cancellations and passengers can expect additional cancellations to pop up throughout the year.

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About Katie Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

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