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Norwegian Cruise Line’s refund policy depends mainly on when you cancel, the type of booking you have, where the booking was made, and whether the cruise has already reached its final-payment period. Cancellation fees can increase as the sailing date gets closer, so cancelling early can make a significant difference.
NCL’s current terms state that cancellation fees can apply to the cruise fare as well as air, land packages, transfers, and other add-ons. NCL also says its payment and cancellation policies can change, so travelers should check the terms attached to their specific reservation.
For travelers booking through the Indian/Asia market, NCL publishes a cancellation schedule that differs from the standard schedule shown on some other NCL websites. This is important because there is not necessarily one cancellation-fee table that applies to every NCL booking worldwide.
In simple terms, NCL generally calculates your refund by looking at the applicable cancellation fee and the payments already made on your reservation.
If you cancel before the applicable penalty period, you may receive all or part of your eligible payment back. As the departure date approaches, the cancellation fee generally increases. Eventually, a cancellation can become subject to a 100% cancellation fee, meaning there may be no cruise-fare refund.
Your exact refund can also depend on:
For bookings covered by NCL's current Asia terms, the published cancellation schedule for FIT bookings made on or after May 2, 2022 is:
| Days Before Sailing | Cruise/Cruise Tour Cancellation Fee | Land Package/Transfers |
|---|---|---|
| 90 days or more* | No charge | No charge |
| 89–75 days | Deposit | No charge |
| 74–50 days | 25% | 25% |
| 49–29 days | 50% | 50% |
| 28–15 days | 75% | 75% |
| 14 days or less | 100% | 100% |
*NCL states that deposits are refundable until 90 days before sailing under these terms. Certain promotional fares can have different deposit rules, including some Buy One Get One promotions where the deposit becomes non-refundable from the time of booking.
NCL publishes different terms for different markets. For example, its general terms page currently lists a different schedule for certain bookings, including 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% cancellation fees at different points before departure.
Therefore, travelers should not automatically apply a cancellation table found on another country's NCL website to their own reservation.
The cancellation terms attached to your booking should be treated as the primary reference.
A deposit can be refundable in some circumstances, but this depends on the booking's applicable terms and how close the cancellation is to departure.
Under NCL's published Asia terms, deposits are refundable until 90 days before sailing for the specified FIT bookings. After that point, the deposit can become part of the applicable cancellation fee. Certain promotional offers can make deposits non-refundable from the time of booking.
This means travelers should check the fare's conditions before assuming that a deposit will automatically be returned.
Yes. Special promotions can have special cancellation conditions.
NCL specifically notes that certain Buy One Get One Half Off and Buy One Get One Free promotions can make the deposit non-refundable from the time of booking.
Always read the terms associated with a promotional fare before paying a deposit.
Reaching the final-payment date does not automatically mean that your entire payment is lost. Instead, the applicable cancellation fee is determined according to the cancellation schedule for your booking.
However, the closer you get to departure, the higher the potential cancellation charge can become. Under the Asia schedule, cancellations 14 days or less before sailing are subject to a 100% cancellation fee.
For this reason, travelers considering cancellation should check their booking's cancellation terms before making a decision.
NCL states that, for its advertised pricing arrangements in the applicable U.S. and Canadian markets, cancellation fees are assessed on the amount excluding taxes, fees, and port expenses, and refunds are provided for those taxes, fees, and port expenses when applicable.
The exact treatment can depend on the booking and market, so travelers should review the fare breakdown on their confirmation.
NCL's FAQ states that service charges are 100% refundable when a cruise is cancelled.
This should not be confused with other cruise-related charges, which can have separate cancellation conditions.
Cruise cancellation and cancellation of individual onboard or pre-cruise purchases can have different rules.
For certain prepaid NCL activities, the company states that cancellations made up to 24 hours before sailing can be refunded to the original credit card. Cancellations after that point may instead be refunded as onboard credit, depending on the item and applicable conditions.
Some shore-excursion rules also differ once the guest is already onboard. NCL's published information states that certain onboard cancellations made more than 48 hours before a tour can receive a refund, while cancellations closer to the tour can become non-refundable.
Because these rules can differ by product, check the cancellation conditions for the specific excursion, dining reservation, spa service, or package.
A passenger cancellation is different from a cancellation by Norwegian Cruise Line.
For cruises boarding at a U.S. port, NCL's terms state that if NCL cancels the cruise, or delays it by more than three calendar days, and the guest does not accept an alternative cruise or choose to travel on the delayed cruise, the guest is entitled to a refund of the cruise fare and specified related charges.
The process can involve submitting a refund request and supporting documentation within the period specified by NCL's terms.
Because protections can depend on the departure location and circumstances, passengers should follow the instructions provided with their cancellation or delay notice.
Generally, travelers should not assume they will receive a refund for a no-show.
NCL's terms state that no refunds are given for no-shows. The terms also state that passenger interruptions or cancellations after the cruise has started generally do not qualify for a refund.
Travel insurance or an applicable travel-protection plan may provide separate benefits in qualifying circumstances.
An emergency does not automatically override NCL's standard cancellation fees.
If you purchased travel protection, however, the protection plan may provide benefits for covered situations. NCL's travel-protection information explains that eligibility depends on the specific plan, circumstances, and applicable terms.
For this reason, travelers should check their travel-protection documents rather than assuming that every emergency qualifies for a cruise refund.
NCL offers travel-protection products, but the benefits depend on the plan purchased.
For example, NCL states that under certain circumstances its NorwegianCare plan can provide credits when a covered travel delay causes a guest to miss the cruise. The exact benefit depends on the reason for the delay and the plan's conditions.
Travel protection should therefore be viewed separately from NCL's normal cancellation policy.
NCL says that, unless the trip has started, a loss has been incurred, or a claim has been filed, the travel-protection plan may be cancelled for a full refund of the premium within 10 days of purchase and/or while the reservation is outside the final-payment period. Rules can vary according to applicable regulations and the plan terms.
A Future Cruise Credit (FCC) is a credit that can be applied toward a future NCL cruise instead of receiving the applicable amount as a cash refund.
NCL's cancellation information shows that certain special cancellation situations can result in an FCC being applied to a guest's profile. In one NCL FAQ, the company states that FCCs issued under its Peace of Mind process are applied to the guest profile within seven business days.
An FCC is not necessarily the same as a cash refund.
Not every FCC can be converted into cash.
NCL states that FCCs generally have no cash value, although under certain circumstances guests holding outstanding FCCs may request a monetary refund of the original cruise fare paid. Such a request can involve giving up bonus FCC amounts.
The specific terms attached to your FCC determine whether such an option is available.
NCL's terms state that standard refund processing takes approximately 3–4 weeks in the circumstances covered by those terms.
The timing can vary depending on:
For special cancellation programs, NCL may specify a different processing period. For example, its Peace of Mind FAQ states that the FCC is applied to the guest profile within seven business days.
The process depends on the type of cancellation and how the reservation was booked.
Contact Norwegian Cruise Line and request cancellation or a refund according to the terms of your reservation.
NCL's terms state that cancellation requests are handled through its Reservations Department and that refund requests may need to be submitted in writing in applicable circumstances.
Contact your travel agent first.
NCL's cancellation information specifically directs travelers who booked through a travel agent to work with the agent for assistance with cancellation.
Your agent can review the reservation and explain the applicable cancellation conditions.
Before contacting NCL or your travel agent, keep these details available:
Having these details ready can make it easier to determine what amount, if any, is refundable.
Changing a cruise is not necessarily treated as a completely separate process from cancellation.
NCL's terms state that departure-date changes can be treated as reservation cancellations and may therefore be subject to cancellation fees. Name changes can also be treated as cancellations under the applicable terms.
Before changing your sailing date, check the terms for your particular booking. A change made close to departure can have financial consequences.
Cruise fare is not the only component that can be subject to cancellation fees.
NCL states that cancellation fees can apply to:
The company also states that cancellation fees for air, land, and other add-ons can apply even when the entire cruise reservation is not cancelled.
Restricted airfare can have additional restrictions, so travelers should check their air arrangements separately.
Hotel and land-package cancellation rules can be different from the cruise fare.
For example, NCL currently states that its Hotel Programme is fully refundable up to 61 days before departure under its land-package cancellation policy.
This illustrates why travelers should review each component of a cruise vacation separately rather than assuming that the cruise cancellation policy applies identically to every purchase.
Suppose a traveler has an NCL cruise booked under a cancellation schedule where the applicable cancellation fee is 25%.
If the traveler has paid $2,000 toward the cruise and the applicable cancellation charge is $500, the potentially refundable portion would be $1,500, subject to the booking's exact terms and any non-refundable components.
This is only an example. It should not be used to calculate the refund for a real reservation, because NCL's cancellation schedules and fare conditions vary by market, booking type, promotion, and sailing.
Before cancelling, take these practical steps:
Look at the cancellation terms attached to your booking rather than relying on a general table found online.
Some promotions have special deposit and cancellation rules.
Review flights, hotels, transfers, excursions, dining, and other prepaid services separately because their cancellation rules can differ.
If the reason for cancellation could be covered, review your travel-protection policy before cancelling.
After cancelling, retain the cancellation confirmation and any information showing the expected refund or FCC.
If a refund is approved, verify the original payment method and monitor the account for the expected credit.
Some cancellations are eligible for a full or partial refund, while others are subject to cancellation fees. The amount depends on the booking's applicable terms and how many days remain before sailing.
There is no single worldwide deadline. Under NCL's published Asia terms, cancellations 90 or more days before sailing have no cruise cancellation charge, while cancellations 14 days or less before sailing carry a 100% cancellation fee.
It can be, depending on your booking terms. Under NCL's published Asia terms, deposits are refundable until 90 days before sailing for the applicable FIT bookings, while certain promotional fares can make deposits non-refundable from booking.
NCL states that applicable taxes, fees, and port expenses are refundable in qualifying cancellations under its applicable U.S. and Canadian pricing arrangements. Your booking confirmation should be checked for the exact treatment.
NCL's FAQ states that service charges are 100% refundable when a cruise is cancelled.
NCL's terms state that passenger cancellations or interruptions after commencement of the cruise generally do not qualify for a refund.
No. NCL's published terms state that no refunds are provided for no-shows.
In certain circumstances, NCL may issue a Future Cruise Credit instead of a monetary refund. The terms depend on the specific cancellation program or situation.
NCL's terms state that refund processing takes approximately three to four weeks in applicable standard-refund situations. Special programs can have different processing times.
Under NCL's published information, eligible travel-protection plans may be cancelled for a full premium refund within 10 days of purchase and/or while the reservation remains outside the final-payment period, subject to the plan and applicable regulations.
The remedy depends on the sailing and departure location. For cruises boarding at a U.S. port, NCL's terms provide for a refund of specified cruise-related amounts in certain circumstances when NCL cancels the cruise or delays it for more than three calendar days and the guest does not accept an alternative arrangement.
Norwegian Cruise Line's refund policy is primarily based on when you cancel and the specific terms attached to your booking. Cancellation fees can increase as the sailing date approaches, and promotional fares, travel protection, air arrangements, land packages, and Future Cruise Credits can all have separate conditions.
For the most accurate refund calculation, check your NCL confirmation and the cancellation terms for your booking market before cancelling. NCL's official terms also state that its payment and cancellation policies can change, making the reservation-specific terms particularly important
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