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If your travel plans have changed, you may need to cancel your Celebrity Cruises booking before your sailing date. The cancellation process is generally straightforward, but the amount you receive back can depend on several factors, including your cruise length, how many days remain before departure, your fare type, and where you made the booking.
Celebrity Cruises states that cancellation charges can apply when a guest cancels a cruise or CruiseTour. Certain fares also have non-refundable deposits, meaning the deposit may not be returned even when the booking is cancelled far in advance.
The most important step is to cancel as early as possible. Cancellation charges generally increase as the sailing date approaches.
This guide explains how to cancel a Celebrity Cruises booking, what cancellation fees may apply, how refunds work, and what to check before submitting your cancellation.
The correct cancellation method depends mainly on how you made your reservation.
If you booked directly with Celebrity Cruises, contact Celebrity Cruises through its customer service channels and request cancellation of your reservation.
Have the following information available:
Celebrity's published terms state that cancellation notices become effective when they are received by the cruise operator.
Therefore, do not assume that simply deciding not to travel cancels your reservation. Make sure the cancellation request has actually been received and processed.
If a travel advisor or agency made the reservation for you, contact that agency rather than assuming Celebrity can process the cancellation directly.
Celebrity's terms for bookings outside the United States and Canada specifically state that customers should contact the company if booked directly or contact their travel agent, with written notice required in those circumstances.
Your travel agent can also explain any agency-specific procedures or fees that may apply.
Follow these steps to reduce the chance of delays or confusion.
Locate your reservation confirmation and identify:
Having this information ready makes the cancellation request easier to process.
Look at the number of days remaining before your cruise.
This is particularly important because Celebrity Cruises uses different cancellation periods depending on the length of the cruise. For example, its published U.S. and Canada terms use different schedules for cruises of 1–4 nights and cruises of 5 nights or longer.
Some Celebrity Cruises fare programs require a non-refundable deposit at the time of booking.
If your booking has a non-refundable deposit, that amount may be retained even if you cancel before the normal cancellation penalty period begins.
Contact the appropriate booking source:
For applicable international bookings, Celebrity says cancellation should be given in writing, such as by registered post or email, to ensure receipt.
Ask for written confirmation showing that the booking has been cancelled.
Keep:
These records can be useful if there is a later question about the cancellation or refund.
Celebrity Cruises' cancellation policy is not one universal fee for every reservation.
The applicable charge can depend on:
Celebrity also notes that cancellation policies can differ for bookings made outside the United States and Canada.
For that reason, travelers should check the terms attached to their specific reservation rather than relying on a general cancellation percentage.
For U.S. and Canadian bookings, Celebrity's currently published cancellation information provides the following general schedules.
| Cancellation timing | Published cancellation charge |
|---|---|
| 75 days or more before sailing | No charge, except non-refundable deposit amounts |
| 74–61 days | 50% of total price |
| 60–31 days | 75% of total price |
| 30 days or less | 100% of total price |
Celebrity states that these charges can apply to 1–4-night cruises, including applicable holiday sailings.
| Cancellation timing | Published cancellation charge |
|---|---|
| 90 days or more before sailing | No charge, except non-refundable 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 |
These figures are based on Celebrity's published U.S. and Canada cruise terms. Different rules can apply depending on the booking location and reservation conditions.
Not necessarily.
Celebrity says that some fare programs require a non-refundable deposit when the reservation is made. If you choose such a fare, the deposit can remain non-refundable even when you cancel well before sailing.
This is one of the most important things to check before cancelling.
For example, a traveler may be outside the standard cancellation-penalty period but still lose a deposit because the selected fare specifically made that deposit non-refundable.
Always check your booking confirmation and applicable fare conditions before cancelling.
A refund depends on the cancellation rules that apply to your booking.
If a cancellation charge applies, Celebrity generally deducts the applicable charge from the amount paid. Certain prepaid amounts, such as applicable taxes and fees, may be refundable under the applicable terms.
Celebrity's U.S. terms also state that, when a refund is owed, payment made by credit card is refunded to that credit card. If payment was made through a travel agent, the refund is provided back to the travel agent.
Celebrity's published cancellation information states that applicable taxes, fees, and fuel supplement charges may be refunded when a cruise or CruiseTour is cancelled. The exact treatment depends on the applicable booking terms and cancellation charges.
Therefore, the refund is not necessarily calculated simply by taking the original cruise price and applying one percentage.
Yes, a booking can generally still be cancelled after final payment, but the amount you receive back can be substantially reduced depending on how close the sailing date is.
Final payment and cancellation deadlines are different concepts.
A reservation may have already reached its final-payment deadline while still being eligible for some refund under the applicable cancellation schedule. As the sailing date approaches, however, cancellation penalties can increase.
For many U.S. and Canadian bookings, Celebrity's published terms show that cancellations 30 days or less before sailing can result in a 100% cancellation charge for the applicable cruise categories.
For many U.S. and Canadian Celebrity bookings covered by the current published terms, cancelling 30 days or less before sailing results in a cancellation charge equal to 100% of the total price.
In practical terms, this generally means there is no cruise-fare refund under that cancellation schedule, although applicable refundable taxes, fees, or other amounts may be treated separately under the booking terms.
Your exact result may differ if your reservation falls under different regional terms, a special fare, group conditions, or another specific contract.
For U.S. and Canadian bookings of five nights or longer, Celebrity's published schedule generally lists no cancellation charge when cancellation is made 90 days or more before the first day of the cruise, except for non-refundable deposit amounts.
That does not automatically mean you will receive every dollar you paid.
If your selected fare included a non-refundable deposit, that deposit can still be retained.
Celebrity Cruises says that U.S. guests may purchase cruise cancellation protection through CruiseCare, a partnership with Aon.
Travel protection is separate from the standard cancellation policy.
If you purchased protection, check the policy terms before cancelling. Coverage depends on the reason for cancellation and the conditions of the protection plan. A cancellation protection product should not automatically be assumed to provide a full refund for every reason.
Yes, CruiseTour reservations can also be cancelled, but they may have their own applicable cancellation conditions.
Celebrity's cancellation information states that CruiseTours are subject to cancellation charges based on how far in advance the cancellation occurs.
If your reservation includes both a cruise and land-tour portion, check whether you are cancelling:
These situations can have different financial consequences.
Celebrity's published terms state that cancellations after the cruise has begun, early disembarkation, and no-shows are generally without refund or compensation.
If an emergency occurs during the trip, contact Guest Relations or Celebrity as soon as possible rather than simply leaving the ship.
Any insurance or travel-protection claim should also be handled according to the relevant policy.
A cruise cancellation by Celebrity is different from a cancellation initiated by the passenger.
Celebrity states that if it cancels a voyage or delays embarkation by three days or more, and the guest chooses not to sail on the delayed or substitute voyage offered, the guest may be eligible for a refund or future cruise credit.
Celebrity notes that its practice is to issue a future cruise credit automatically in qualifying situations, although a guest may request a refund.
Refund requests under that specific policy must be made within six months of the cruise cancellation date or scheduled embarkation date, whichever is earlier.
The Celebrity Cruises app allows guests to manage certain reservations and pre-cruise purchases, but it should not be confused with the complete cruise-booking cancellation process.
Celebrity says some pre-cruise purchases can be modified through the app. For example, dining and shore-excursion reservations can be cancelled within the applicable cancellation policy.
If you want to cancel the entire cruise booking, use the cancellation process applicable to your reservation rather than assuming that deleting or modifying something in the app cancels the cruise itself.
Cancelling the cruise and cancelling individual pre-cruise purchases are separate matters.
Depending on the product and its terms, you may be able to cancel or modify:
Celebrity's app information confirms that some reservations can be cancelled or modified before sailing, subject to their individual cancellation policies.
Check each purchase separately instead of assuming that cancelling the cruise automatically determines the refund for every additional purchase.
If your cruise was booked through a travel agent, start with the agency.
This is especially important for bookings where the agent controls the reservation. Celebrity's published terms for applicable bookings state that guests should contact their travel agent when the reservation was made through one.
Ask the agency to provide:
Keep the agency's confirmation for your records.
There is no universal way to avoid a cancellation charge, but acting early can make a significant difference.
Do not wait until the last few days if you already know you cannot travel.
Celebrity's published schedules show that cancellation charges can rise as the sailing date gets closer.
Look specifically for language about:
If the reason for cancelling is potentially covered by travel insurance, review the policy before submitting a cancellation.
The insurer may require supporting documentation.
If your problem is a change of plans rather than a complete inability to travel, ask Celebrity or your travel advisor whether a permitted change or other booking option is available.
Do not make assumptions about fees or eligibility; ask for the specific terms attached to your reservation.
Before you submit the cancellation request, use this checklist:
This simple checklist can help prevent misunderstandings about your refund.
| Question | General answer |
|---|---|
| Can I cancel my Celebrity cruise? | Yes, subject to the applicable booking terms and cancellation conditions. |
| Can I get a refund? | Possibly. The amount depends on the cancellation timing, fare, booking location, and other conditions. |
| Are all deposits refundable? | No. Some Celebrity fares have non-refundable deposits. |
| Does cancelling earlier help? | Generally, earlier cancellation can mean a lower cancellation charge under applicable schedules. |
| Can I cancel through a travel agent? | Yes. If the booking was made through an agency, contact that agency. |
| Can I cancel after the cruise starts? | Celebrity's published terms generally provide no refund for cancellations after the cruise begins or for no-shows. |
| Are taxes and fees refundable? | Applicable taxes and fees may be refundable under the relevant terms. |
| Does the policy vary by country? | Yes. Celebrity states that different cancellation policies may apply outside certain markets. |
If you booked directly, contact Celebrity Cruises and request cancellation. If you booked through a travel agent, contact the agency. Provide your reservation details and request written confirmation of the cancellation.
A cancellation fee can apply depending on your cruise length, how close the cancellation is to departure, fare conditions, and booking location. Some fares also have non-refundable deposits.
Some bookings may be cancelled before the applicable penalty period without a cancellation charge, but non-refundable deposits may still be retained. For U.S. and Canadian bookings, Celebrity's published terms provide specific periods based on cruise length.
For many U.S. and Canadian bookings covered by Celebrity's published terms, cancelling 30 days or less before sailing results in a 100% cancellation charge.
Generally, no. Celebrity states that deposits designated as non-refundable are not refunded after payment under the applicable fare conditions.
Yes, but cancellation charges may apply. The applicable amount depends on the booking's cancellation schedule and other conditions.
Celebrity's U.S. terms state that refunds for credit-card payments are returned to the credit card. When payment was made through a travel agent, the refund is provided back to the travel agent.
Yes. You should normally contact the travel agent that made the booking and follow its cancellation procedure. Applicable international terms may specifically require the agent to handle the cancellation.
Celebrity's published terms state that cancellation after the cruise has begun, early disembarkation, and no-shows are generally without refund or compensation.
Celebrity says U.S. guests can purchase cruise cancellation protection through CruiseCare, provided in partnership with Aon. The protection has its own terms and conditions.
In certain circumstances, yes. Celebrity states that when it cancels a voyage or delays embarkation by three days or more, eligible guests who decline the delayed or substitute voyage may obtain a refund or future cruise credit under the applicable policy.
Not necessarily. Celebrity states that different cancellation policies can apply to bookings made outside the United States and Canada. Check the terms for your booking location before cancelling.
Cancelling a Celebrity Cruises booking is usually straightforward, but the financial result depends heavily on when you cancel and which booking terms apply.
Start by checking your reservation, fare type, cruise length, and cancellation deadline. If you booked directly with Celebrity, contact Celebrity to process the cancellation. If you used a travel agent, contact the agency that holds the reservation.
Most importantly, do not assume that every booking receives a full refund. Non-refundable deposits, cancellation charges, regional rules, and special fare conditions can affect the amount returned. Celebrity's current published terms should be used to determine the exact charge for your reservation
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