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Royal Caribbean’s cancellation policy determines how much you may get back when you cancel a cruise and how much you may lose in cancellation charges. The amount depends mainly on your cruise length, how far in advance you cancel, your fare type, and where the booking was made.
For U.S. and Canada bookings, Royal Caribbean’s published policy uses different cancellation schedules for cruises of 1–4 nights, 5–14 nights, and 15 nights or longer. A booking made outside the United States or Canada can be subject to different rules, so passengers should check the terms attached to their specific reservation.
The most important point is simple: the earlier you cancel, the better your chances of receiving a refund. As the sailing date approaches, the cancellation charge increases and can eventually reach 100% of the cruise price.
This guide explains Royal Caribbean cancellation rules in plain language, including non-refundable deposits, refund timing, Future Cruise Credits, travel insurance, cancellations by Royal Caribbean, and what happens if you cancel close to departure.
For the standard U.S. and Canada cancellation schedule currently published by Royal Caribbean:
| Cruise length | When you cancel | Typical cancellation charge |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 nights | 75+ days before sailing | No charge* |
| 1–4 nights | 74–61 days | 50% |
| 1–4 nights | 60–31 days | 75% |
| 1–4 nights | 30 days or less | 100% |
| 5–14 nights | 90+ days | No charge* |
| 5–14 nights | 89–75 days | 25% |
| 5–14 nights | 74–61 days | 50% |
| 5–14 nights | 60–31 days | 75% |
| 5–14 nights | 30 days or less | 100% |
| 15+ nights | 120+ days | No charge* |
| 15+ nights | 119–61 days | 25% |
| 15+ nights | 60–41 days | 50% |
| 15+ nights | 40–25 days | 75% |
| 15+ nights | 24 days or less | 100% |
A non-refundable deposit can still be retained even during a period where the standard cancellation charge is listed as no charge. Royal Caribbean also states that promotional fares may have different terms.
Important: These figures are the standard schedule shown for applicable U.S./Canada bookings. Royal Caribbean explicitly says different cancellation policies may apply to bookings made outside those countries.
Royal Caribbean generally calculates the cancellation charge according to the number of days remaining before the cruise begins.
The longer the cruise, the earlier the cancellation penalty schedule starts.
For example, under the standard U.S./Canada rules, a five-to-14-night cruise can be cancelled without a standard cancellation charge 90 or more days before sailing, subject to any applicable non-refundable deposit. Between 89 and 75 days, the charge becomes 25% of the total price. It rises to 50%, then 75%, and eventually 100% as departure gets closer.
This means cancelling a cruise several months ahead can make a major financial difference compared with cancelling a few weeks before departure.
Royal Caribbean does not use one single cancellation deadline for every sailing.
A short cruise has a different schedule from a longer itinerary:
Therefore, you should not assume that the cancellation deadline for one Royal Caribbean cruise applies to another.
For a standard U.S./Canada booking, cancelling 90 days before departure can be relatively favorable depending on the cruise length.
For a 5–14-night cruise, Royal Caribbean's published schedule lists no standard cancellation charge at 90 days or more before sailing, although a non-refundable deposit may still be retained.
For a 1–4-night cruise, the no-standard-charge period extends to 75 days or more.
For a 15-night-or-longer cruise, you generally need to cancel at least 120 days before sailing to remain in the no-standard-charge period.
The exact result can therefore depend on both your sailing length and fare conditions.
Cancelling 60 days before departure can result in a significant penalty.
For a 5–14-night cruise under the standard U.S./Canada schedule, the 60–31-day period carries a cancellation charge of 75% of the total price.
For a 1–4-night cruise, the same 60-day point falls into the 60–31-day period and also carries a 75% charge.
For a 15-night-or-longer cruise, 60 days falls into the 60–41-day period, where the charge is 50%.
This illustrates why checking the exact cancellation deadline for your individual reservation is important.
Under the standard U.S./Canada cancellation schedule, cancelling a cruise within the final 30 days can result in a 100% cancellation charge for many itineraries.
For 1–4-night and 5–14-night cruises, Royal Caribbean lists 30 days or less as 100% of the total price. For cruises of 15 nights or longer, the 100% charge begins at 24 days or less.
At this stage, you should not assume that cancelling will produce a cash refund.
Travel insurance or a specific protection product may provide another option if your reason for cancelling is covered.
A non-refundable deposit is a fare condition under which the deposit paid toward the reservation cannot simply be returned as cash when you cancel.
Royal Caribbean says select fare programs require a non-refundable deposit when the reservation is made. The deposit remains non-refundable after payment, and change fees can apply to bookings made with a non-refundable deposit.
The advantage is that these fares can sometimes offer a lower cruise price.
The disadvantage is that you have less flexibility if your plans change.
The answer depends on the circumstances and the terms applicable to your booking.
Royal Caribbean's published information says that, outside the final-payment period, when a non-refundable deposit booking is cancelled, the deposit can be held as a penalty while additional payments may be refunded.
Royal Caribbean's terms also describe circumstances in which an eligible Future Cruise Credit can be issued for certain non-refundable-deposit bookings, subject to the applicable terms and fees.
Because these provisions can depend on the fare, country of residence, booking date and applicable terms, passengers should check the terms attached to their reservation rather than assuming that every non-refundable booking receives the same treatment.
Generally, applicable taxes and fees can be refundable when a cruise reservation is cancelled, even when the cruise fare itself is subject to a cancellation penalty.
Royal Caribbean states that applicable taxes, fees and fuel-supplement charges are refunded when a cruise or CruiseTour is cancelled, subject to the applicable policy.
However, other components of a vacation package may have separate cancellation conditions.
These can include:
Royal Caribbean specifically advises passengers to check the applicable terms and conditions for these products and services.
Royal Caribbean allows eligible bookings to be cancelled online.
You can sign in to your Guest Account, locate the reservation under Manage Reservation, and follow the cancellation instructions. Royal Caribbean says that, when a refund applies, it generally takes 7–10 business days to process the refund back to the original payment method.
If you booked through a travel advisor, contact the travel advisor for assistance with the cancellation.
If your reservation does not allow online cancellation or you need clarification about a penalty, contact Royal Caribbean or the travel advisor who made the booking.
Royal Caribbean says online cancellations that qualify for a refund can take 7–10 business days to process back to the original payment method.
The final time for the money to appear in your account can also depend on your bank or card issuer.
If you paid through a travel advisor, Royal Caribbean states that the refund may be returned to the travel advisor rather than directly to you.
For that reason, keep your cancellation confirmation until the refund has been received and reconciled with the amount shown on the cancellation paperwork.
A cruise cancelled by Royal Caribbean is different from a passenger voluntarily cancelling a booking.
Royal Caribbean states that if it cancels a voyage, or delays embarkation by three days or more, and you choose not to take the delayed voyage or a substitute voyage offered, you may be eligible for either a refund or a Future Cruise Credit.
Royal Caribbean says its practice is to issue a Future Cruise Credit automatically in these circumstances, but passengers can contact the company to request a refund instead.
Refund requests must be made within six months of the cancellation date or scheduled embarkation date, whichever is earlier, according to the published policy.
This situation should not be confused with a passenger simply deciding not to travel.
A Future Cruise Credit (FCC) is credit that can be applied toward a future Royal Caribbean cruise when the applicable terms allow it.
An FCC is not necessarily the same as receiving your money back to your credit card.
Depending on the specific FCC, there can be conditions concerning:
For example, Royal Caribbean's published terms for certain non-refundable-deposit bookings describe an FCC that is non-transferable and non-refundable and has a 12-month expiration period. Those specific terms should not be assumed to apply to every FCC issued under every promotion or cancellation situation.
Always read the terms attached to the FCC you actually receive.
Some Royal Caribbean bookings may have access to a separate cancellation protection product rather than relying solely on the standard cancellation schedule.
For example, Royal Caribbean's Cruise Covered terms for eligible bookings in certain countries allow a passenger to cancel for any reason up to five days before the scheduled sailing date and receive 90% of the applicable cruise cancellation fee in the form of a Future Cruise Credit.
This is not the same as a standard cash refund.
Cruise Covered is also not available universally. Royal Caribbean says it is offered in select countries outside the United States and Canada and is subject to eligibility and purchase deadlines.
Passengers should therefore check whether the product is available for their particular booking before relying on it.
Travel protection can be useful when the reason for cancellation is one that the policy covers.
However, buying travel protection does not automatically mean every cancellation becomes fully refundable.
Coverage depends on the policy's terms, exclusions, documentation requirements and the reason for cancellation.
Royal Caribbean separately identifies its Travel Protection Program among products with their own cancellation terms.
If you are considering insurance, read the policy before travelling rather than waiting until you need to cancel.
Pay particular attention to:
A no-show is generally much less favorable than cancelling early.
Royal Caribbean's U.S. ticket-contract information states that cancellation after the cruise has begun, early disembarkation and no-shows are generally without refund, compensation or liability from the carrier.
If you already know that you cannot travel, it is better to contact Royal Caribbean or your travel advisor rather than simply failing to appear at the port.
CruiseTour reservations can have additional rules because they combine a cruise with a land component.
Royal Caribbean states that passengers who want to cancel the tour portion while keeping the cruise can be subject to the applicable CruiseTour cancellation policy.
The amount refunded depends on the applicable CruiseTour terms.
If your reservation contains a land tour, airfare or other components, ask for a breakdown before cancelling so you understand which portions are refundable and which are subject to penalties.
No. Do not assume that cancelling the cruise automatically cancels every extra you purchased.
Royal Caribbean states that air flights, hotels, transfers, shore excursions, pre-purchased amenities, travel protection, spa services, photography, wedding services and specialty dining can have separate cancellation charges or terms.
Some pre-cruise purchases may have their own cancellation deadlines.
Therefore, after cancelling the cruise, review your other reservations separately.
If a travel agent made the reservation, contact the agent when you want to cancel or make a booking change.
Royal Caribbean's published policy states that if payment was received through a travel advisor, a refund may be provided back to that travel advisor.
This is one reason it is useful to keep your travel agent's contact information and booking documents accessible.
Do not cancel directly through a different channel without first understanding how it could affect the booking.
Yes.
This is one of the most important details travelers should understand.
Royal Caribbean explicitly states that bookings made outside the United States and Canada may be governed by different cancellation policies.
For example, Royal Caribbean's published international pages show different cancellation schedules for various markets.
If you are booking from India, the United Kingdom, Australia, Europe or another market, do not automatically use the U.S./Canada table above to calculate your refund.
Instead, check:
This can prevent a costly misunderstanding.
Before pressing the cancellation button, review the following information:
Calculate exactly how many days remain before departure.
A difference of even one day can move a booking into a different penalty bracket.
Check whether the itinerary is:
Look for wording indicating that your deposit is non-refundable.
Your cancellation options can change as you move closer to the final-payment deadline.
If you purchased travel insurance or cancellation protection, review the coverage before cancelling.
Check shore excursions, dining, hotels, flights and transfers separately.
Make sure you are reading the cancellation policy applicable to the country and market in which your reservation was made.
Suppose you have a seven-night Royal Caribbean cruise booked under the standard U.S./Canada cancellation schedule.
Because it is a 5–14-night cruise:
These percentages are based on the total cruise price under the applicable policy.
The example demonstrates why cancelling sooner can preserve substantially more of your money.
For a 3-night cruise under the same standard schedule:
Notice that the penalty schedule starts earlier for the longer cruise categories and differs from the 1–4-night schedule.
There is no guaranteed way to avoid a cancellation fee, but a few practical steps can reduce the financial risk.
If you know you cannot travel, do not wait until the last few weeks.
A slightly cheaper fare with a non-refundable deposit may provide less flexibility than a refundable option.
Insurance can help with covered cancellation situations, while a separate protection product may provide different benefits.
Save:
Before confirming cancellation, make sure you understand:
It does not. Cruise length and booking market can change the cancellation schedule.
The treatment of non-refundable deposits can depend on the applicable booking terms and whether the reservation qualifies for an FCC or another option.
The cancellation penalty generally becomes larger as departure approaches.
If your cancellation reason may be covered, check the policy before deciding that the cruise fare is simply lost.
Cancelling the cruise does not necessarily settle cancellation terms for flights, hotels, excursions, dining or other purchases.
Cash returned to your payment method and Future Cruise Credit are different forms of compensation.
Sometimes. A full cruise-fare refund depends on the fare, cancellation date, itinerary length and applicable regional policy. Under the standard U.S./Canada schedule, eligible cancellations made sufficiently far before departure may avoid a standard cancellation charge, although a non-refundable deposit can still be retained.
You can generally submit a cancellation before departure, but the financial penalty increases as the sailing approaches. Under the standard U.S./Canada schedule, many cruises reach a 100% cancellation charge during the final 30 days.
Yes, you can request cancellation after final payment, but the amount refunded depends on the cancellation schedule and fare terms. Being past final payment does not automatically mean that the entire cruise payment is lost.
Not always. Royal Caribbean offers fares with non-refundable deposits, and those deposits are not refundable under the applicable non-refundable-deposit terms.
Royal Caribbean states that applicable taxes, fees and fuel-supplement charges are refunded when a cruise or CruiseTour is cancelled, subject to the applicable policy.
Royal Caribbean says eligible online cancellation refunds generally take 7–10 business days to process back to the original payment method.
Yes. Royal Caribbean says you can sign in to your Guest Account, open your reservation through Manage Reservation and follow the cancellation process.
If Royal Caribbean cancels a voyage, or delays embarkation by three days or more and you choose not to take the delayed or substitute voyage, Royal Caribbean says you can obtain a refund or Future Cruise Credit, subject to the applicable terms.
In certain circumstances, yes. FCC eligibility depends on the reason for cancellation and the terms governing your reservation. Some FCCs have expiration dates and restrictions on transfer or cash redemption.
A medical problem does not automatically guarantee a refund from Royal Caribbean. If you have travel insurance or another eligible protection product, your cancellation may be covered depending on the policy terms and required documentation.
Not identically. Royal Caribbean states that different cancellation policies may apply to bookings made outside the United States and Canada.
A no-show can result in losing the cruise fare. Royal Caribbean's U.S. ticket-contract terms state that no-shows generally receive no refund or compensation.
Royal Caribbean's cancellation policy is primarily based on when you cancel, how long your cruise is, what fare you purchased and which regional terms govern your reservation.
For the standard U.S. and Canada schedule, cancellation penalties become progressively higher as departure approaches, eventually reaching 100% for many sailings. Non-refundable deposits can also remain subject to separate restrictions.
The safest approach is to check your exact booking conditions before cancelling. If you booked outside the U.S. or Canada, use the cancellation rules for your applicable market rather than relying on a U.S.-based schedule.
If you qualify for a refund, Royal Caribbean says online cancellation refunds generally take 7–10 business days to process. And if Royal Caribbean itself cancels the sailing or delays embarkation by three days or more, separate refund or Future Cruise Credit options may apply.
For the most accurate decision, compare the cancellation penalty, refundable taxes and fees, non-refundable deposit, insurance coverage and any available Future Cruise Credit before confirming your cancellation.
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