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Planning a luxury river or ocean cruise with Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours is an exciting experience filled with promises of five-star service, immersive destinations, and once-in-a-lifetime moments. However, as with any travel plan, unexpected events can arise — from medical emergencies and travel restrictions to personal schedule changes.
That’s where Scenic’s cancellation policy comes into play. Understanding the policy in detail ensures you know exactly what happens if you need to cancel, postpone, or amend your booking.
This in-depth guide breaks down Scenic Luxury Cruises’ 2025 cancellation rules, including timelines, fees, refund eligibility, rebooking flexibility, and travel insurance options. Whether you’ve booked a Scenic river cruise in Europe or an ocean expedition aboard Scenic Eclipse, this article covers every aspect to help you make informed decisions and avoid costly surprises.
Before diving into the specifics of the cancellation policy, let’s briefly understand what Scenic stands for.
Founded in 1986, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours is an Australian-owned company that has grown into one of the world’s most prestigious luxury travel brands. Scenic operates:
Scenic River Cruises: Sailing through Europe’s iconic rivers like the Rhine, Danube, and Seine.
Scenic Eclipse Ocean Cruises: Offering ultra-luxury expedition voyages to Antarctica, the Arctic, the Mediterranean, and beyond.
Scenic is renowned for its “Truly All-Inclusive” philosophy — covering everything from excursions and beverages to gratuities and transfers. However, like any premium travel brand, they maintain structured terms when it comes to cancellations and refunds.
Scenic’s cancellation policy varies depending on the type of cruise (river or ocean), the destination, and when the cancellation occurs relative to the departure date.
Generally, the closer you are to your scheduled departure, the higher the cancellation fee will be.
Let’s explore the details.
For Scenic European River Cruises, the following conditions apply to cancellations initiated by passengers:
Days Before DepartureCancellation Charge
120 days or moreLoss of deposit only
91 – 119 days35% of total fare
61 – 90 days50% of total fare
31 – 60 days75% of total fare
30 days or less100% of total fare (non-refundable)
Key takeaway: The closer your cancellation is to departure, the less refund you will receive. Cancellations within 30 days result in complete forfeiture of the cruise fare.
For Scenic Eclipse voyages — the ultra-luxury ocean and expedition division — stricter policies apply due to higher operational costs and limited capacity.
Days Before DepartureCancellation Charge
150 days or moreLoss of deposit
91 – 149 days50% of total fare
61 – 90 days75% of total fare
60 days or less100% of total fare (non-refundable)
Important: Because Scenic Eclipse expeditions often involve remote destinations (like Antarctica), the cruise line incurs significant non-recoverable costs. Therefore, insurance is strongly recommended.
When booking a Scenic cruise, guests must pay a non-refundable deposit at the time of reservation.
Typical deposit requirements:
River Cruises: USD 500–1,000 per person
Ocean Cruises (Scenic Eclipse): USD 1,500–2,000 per person
Deposits are non-refundable unless covered under a special Flexi-Fare or Protection Plan.
To provide more peace of mind, Scenic introduced flexible booking programs and cancellation protection in recent years.
Scenic offers a Flexible Booking Policy that allows guests to change or defer their travel plans under certain conditions.
Highlights:
You can change your cruise date or itinerary up to 60 days before departure without a standard cancellation fee.
The new booking must be made within 24 months of the original travel date.
Applicable fare differences may apply.
Eligibility: Only valid for new bookings made directly with Scenic or participating travel agents under specific promotional periods.
This is an optional add-on that protects your non-refundable deposit.
How It Works:
The DPP allows you to cancel for any reason up to 90 days before departure and retain your deposit value for future use.
The protection covers the full deposit amount and can be applied to another cruise within 24 months.
It must be purchased at the time of booking.
Cost: Typically around $125–$250 per person (varies by region and cruise type).
Scenic strongly advises guests to purchase comprehensive travel insurance that includes:
Trip cancellation and interruption
Medical coverage
Emergency evacuation
Lost baggage protection
Most insurance providers reimburse cancellation penalties if you cancel for covered reasons such as:
Illness or injury
Death in the family
Natural disasters
Flight disruptions beyond your control
If you must cancel your Scenic booking, the process is simple but must follow proper steps to ensure documentation and refund eligibility.
Call Scenic directly or contact your travel advisor who handled your booking.
Provide your booking reference number and details of your cancellation reason.
Scenic requires a written cancellation notice (via email or official form). The date received by Scenic determines the cancellation timeline, not the date you sent the notice.
Scenic will calculate your refund based on the cancellation schedule and applicable fees. If you purchased the Deposit Protection Plan, the deposit value remains as credit for future use.
Refunds (if any) are typically processed within 4–6 weeks, depending on the payment method and region.
Occasionally, Scenic may cancel or alter cruises due to operational, weather, or political reasons. Here’s what happens in such cases:
You’ll receive a full refund or future cruise credit.
In some cases, Scenic may offer alternative sailing options or enhanced compensation (like upgrades or travel credits).
If cancellation results from events beyond Scenic’s control (e.g., pandemics, wars, natural disasters, government restrictions), Scenic’s Force Majeure Clause applies.In these cases:
Refunds may be provided as Future Travel Credits (FTC) rather than cash.
These credits typically remain valid for up to 24 months.
Scenic reserves the right to modify itineraries due to water levels, port closures, or safety concerns. Such changes do not constitute a cancellation and are not eligible for refunds, as per Scenic’s booking conditions.
Let’s look closer at how Scenic’s cancellation fees apply depending on the cruise type, timing, and booking components.
Booking ComponentRefundable?Cancellation Fee
Cruise FarePartial (depending on date)35–100%
DepositNon-refundable100%
Optional ToursFully refundable until 60 days priorNone
Airfare (through Scenic)Subject to airline policyTypically 100% non-refundable after ticketing
Booking ComponentRefundable?Cancellation Fee
Cruise FarePartial50–100%
DepositNon-refundable100%
Charter Flights (e.g., Antarctica)Non-refundable100%
Optional ExcursionsRefundable until 60 daysNone
Groups (typically 10+ travelers) may have separate contracts with specific cancellation deadlines negotiated by the travel agency or organizer.
Certain discounted or last-minute fares come with stricter cancellation terms or are completely non-refundable. Always review the fine print before booking.
Name changes are allowed up to 60 days before departure, sometimes with a small administrative fee.
Within 60 days, name changes are treated as cancellations and rebookings, subject to standard fees.
If cancellation is due to medical reasons, Scenic may assist in providing documentation for insurance claims. However, standard cancellation fees still apply unless covered by insurance.
Here’s how you can minimize financial risk:
Purchase Deposit Protection Plan (DPP): Safeguards your deposit for future use.
Buy Comprehensive Travel Insurance: Covers cancellations due to illness, accidents, or family emergencies.
Book Early with Flexible Offers: Scenic frequently launches “Book with Confidence” campaigns with lenient terms.
Read the Fine Print: Always review your specific booking invoice for applicable cancellation policies.
Communicate Early: If in doubt, contact Scenic early — the earlier you act, the higher your refund eligibility.
Emma books a €6,000 Scenic river cruise departing in 9 months. She cancels 150 days before sailing.
Deposit: €1,000 (non-refundable)
Cancellation fee: Deposit only
Refund: €5,000
Emma loses only her deposit.
Raj books a Scenic Eclipse cruise for $15,000, departing in 45 days. He cancels 30 days before sailing.
Cancellation fee: 100%
Refund: $0
Insurance: Covers 80% under medical claim
Raj recovers most of his cost due to insurance.
John and Maria’s European cruise is cancelled due to low river water levels.
Scenic offers:
Full refund or
125% Future Travel Credit
They choose the credit and rebook for the following year.
Yes, but standard cancellation fees apply. If you purchased the Deposit Protection Plan, you can cancel for any reason up to 90 days prior and retain your deposit value.
No, deposits are non-refundable unless covered by the Deposit Protection Plan.
You’ll receive either a full refund or a Future Travel Credit, depending on circumstances.
Typically 4–6 weeks from cancellation confirmation.
Yes, up to 60 days before departure. After that, it counts as a cancellation.
Scenic may offer Future Travel Credits or rebooking flexibility based on global regulations at the time.
This is treated as a “no-show,” and 100% cancellation fees apply.
Flight refunds depend on the airline’s terms. Most are non-refundable once ticketed.
Purchase Scenic’s Deposit Protection Plan and third-party travel insurance.
Yes, if canceled before 60 days of departure. Within 60 days, Scenic may provide partial refunds at its discretion.
Document Everything: Keep written proof of cancellation and correspondence.
Use Travel Advisors: Agents can negotiate better terms and assist with refund claims.
Avoid Last-Minute Changes: Cancellation costs skyrocket within 30–60 days of departure.
Monitor Scenic’s Policy Updates: Cruise lines often adjust terms seasonally.
Opt for Travel Credit: Future Travel Credits often come with bonus value (up to 125%).
Cruise TypeDays Before DepartureCancellation FeeRefund Eligibility
River Cruises120+ daysDeposit only80–90% refund
River Cruises31–60 days75%25% refund
River Cruises<30 days100%None
Scenic Eclipse150+ daysDeposit only90% refund
Scenic Eclipse61–90 days75%25% refund
Scenic Eclipse<60 days100%None
Understanding Scenic Luxury Cruises’ cancellation policy is vital to protecting your investment and planning confidently.
To summarize:
Deposits are non-refundable unless you opt for the Deposit Protection Plan.
Refunds depend on timing — the earlier you cancel, the better.
Cancellations within 30–60 days often incur 75–100% fees.
Travel insurance and protection plans are your best defense against loss.
Scenic’s policies are designed to balance operational realities with traveler flexibility. While cancellations are never ideal, Scenic’s approach — especially with its flexible rebooking and protection options — ensures guests can plan luxury travel with peace of mind.
By being proactive, reading the fine print, and using Scenic’s protection tools, you can cruise confidently knowing your dream vacation is well-secured — even if plans change.erences.
Your ultimate guide to cruise adventures. Discover amazing destinations, find the perfect cruise, and create unforgettable memories on the high seas.
© 2025 cruisebite.com All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
