Changing your cruise date with Celebrity Cruises can be a stressful experience if you’re not familiar with their policies. Whether it’s an unexpected event, a change in travel plans, or simply wanting to sail at a better time, understanding how much it costs to reschedule your cruise can save you both time and money. Celebrity Cruises, part of the Royal Caribbean Group, has its own set of rules regarding date changes, cancellations, and fare adjustments.
In this detailed guide, we will cover everything you need to know about changing your cruise date — from the standard change fees and cancellation policies to flexible booking options, insurance coverage, and practical tips to minimize costs.
Before discussing fees, it’s important to understand how Celebrity Cruises manages bookings and date changes. When you book a cruise, you agree to the company’s terms and conditions, which include timelines for payment, cancellation, and modification.
Celebrity Cruises offers a variety of fare types — refundable and non-refundable deposits, each with different flexibility levels. The cost to change your cruise date largely depends on the type of fare you booked and how close you are to the sailing date.
Here’s a general breakdown of how it works:
Refundable deposit bookings: These allow more flexibility. You can usually change your sailing date with little to no penalty before the final payment deadline.
Non-refundable deposit bookings: These are cheaper initially but come with stricter terms. Changing your sailing date may incur a penalty or cause you to lose the deposit amount.
Final payment period: Once you have paid the full amount for your cruise, date changes may trigger cancellation penalties or rebooking fees.
Celebrity Cruises encourages guests to read the fare terms carefully before making changes because each booking type follows specific guidelines.
The cost to change a cruise date with Celebrity Cruises depends on when you make the change relative to your scheduled departure. Generally, Celebrity Cruises follows a tiered penalty system based on the number of days before departure.
Below is a typical example of how change or cancellation fees are structured for standard cruise fares:
90 days or more before sailing: No fee for refundable fares. Non-refundable deposits are forfeited if canceled.
89 to 75 days before sailing: Up to 25% of the total fare may be charged.
74 to 61 days before sailing: 50% of the total fare may be charged.
60 to 31 days before sailing: 75% of the total fare may be charged.
30 days or less before sailing: 100% of the fare is non-refundable.
If you are only changing the cruise date (and not canceling), Celebrity Cruises may apply a change fee ranging between $100 and $200 per guest, depending on the cruise length and fare type. However, if you are within the final payment period, this change might be treated as a cancellation and rebooking, which means regular penalties apply.
If you decide to change your cruise date before the final payment is due, your options are generally more flexible.
Refundable deposit bookings: You can change to another sailing without penalty. Your deposit will be transferred to the new date.
Non-refundable deposit bookings: You can still change your cruise date, but you may lose your deposit (usually $100 per person) or have it applied as a future cruise credit.
Celebrity Cruises sometimes allows one complimentary date change before the final payment period under promotional offers like “Cruise with Confidence.” These offers are subject to availability and timeframes, so it’s wise to check your booking confirmation for details.
Once you’ve made the final payment, rescheduling becomes more complex and costly. At this stage, Celebrity Cruises considers the booking “confirmed,” and any changes are treated as cancellations followed by a new booking.
That means you could lose part or all of your cruise fare, depending on how close to the sailing date you request the change.
In most cases:
You’ll forfeit part of your fare as a penalty.
You’ll need to pay the price difference for the new sailing date (if the new cruise is more expensive).
No refund will be given if the new cruise costs less than your original one.
For example, if you paid $3,000 for a 7-night Caribbean cruise and request to change the date 40 days before sailing, you could lose 75% of your fare ($2,250) and may have to pay the difference for the new sailing.
Celebrity Cruises introduced the “Cruise with Confidence” program during the pandemic to give travelers peace of mind. Though the original policy expired, Celebrity occasionally revives similar flexible offers during promotional periods.
Under this type of program, guests can usually:
Cancel or change their sailing up to 48 hours before departure.
Receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) for the full value of the fare.
Apply that FCC toward a new cruise within a specified period, usually 12 to 24 months.
This option helps travelers avoid large cancellation penalties and gives them flexibility to reschedule when needed.
However, this program is not always available, so check your booking details or contact Celebrity Cruises directly to see if your cruise qualifies.
When you change or cancel your cruise, you may receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) instead of a refund. This credit can be used toward a future Celebrity Cruise of your choice.
Important things to know about FCCs:
They are usually valid for bookings made within 12 to 24 months.
You can apply them to the base cruise fare but not to taxes, fees, or onboard expenses.
FCCs are non-transferable unless explicitly stated.
If your new cruise costs more than your FCC, you must pay the difference.
If your new cruise costs less, the remaining credit may be forfeited (depending on the policy).
This option can help you minimize financial losses if you need to change your cruise date after making payments.
Life can be unpredictable, and sometimes, changes are unavoidable. Celebrity Cruises understands this, which is why travel insurance plays a crucial role.
If you purchased Celebrity’s Travel Protection Plan or a third-party insurance policy, you might be reimbursed for date change or cancellation fees in certain circumstances such as:
Medical emergencies (for you or an immediate family member).
Severe weather or natural disasters affecting travel.
Jury duty or military deployment.
Job loss or unexpected work conflicts (with documentation).
Depending on your coverage, you may be able to change your cruise date or receive a refund for penalties.
It’s always advisable to purchase travel insurance at the time of booking to protect your investment.
If your cruise was booked as part of a group package or special promotion, the cost to change your date might differ. Group bookings often have customized terms negotiated by the travel agency or group leader.
For promotional fares like “Sail Your Way” or “Best Offer of the Season,” restrictions may include:
No date changes allowed after deposit.
Limited rebooking flexibility.
Non-transferable fare credits.
Always review the fine print or contact your travel agent before making any modifications to ensure you understand the implications.
There are several ways to request a date change:
Through your travel agent: If you booked via a travel agent, all changes must go through them. They can handle the rebooking and confirm fees on your behalf.
Online via Celebrity Cruises’ website: Log into your “My Celebrity” account, go to “Manage Reservation,” and check if date change options are available.
By phone: Contact Celebrity Cruises’ customer service directly. The representative will inform you about applicable fees and available sailing dates.
Before calling, have your booking number, sailing date, and preferred new dates ready to streamline the process.
When you change a cruise date, the price difference between your original and new sailing applies. Cruise fares fluctuate depending on seasonality, itinerary, and availability.
If your new cruise costs more, you must pay the difference. If it costs less, the difference may not be refunded, especially for non-refundable deposits.
Sometimes, you can take advantage of promotional pricing during rebooking. For instance, if Celebrity Cruises launches a sale offering onboard credits or discounted rates, you may be eligible if your change qualifies as a new booking.
However, keep in mind that promotional benefits like free Wi-Fi, beverage packages, or onboard credits might not carry over automatically.
Changing a cruise date doesn’t always have to be expensive. Here are practical tips to reduce or avoid penalties:
Book refundable fares whenever possible. They cost more upfront but offer greater flexibility.
Make changes before the final payment deadline. This ensures minimal or no fees.
Purchase travel insurance. It can reimburse you for penalties due to emergencies.
Watch for flexible booking offers. Programs like “Cruise with Confidence” can eliminate penalties.
Communicate early. Contact Celebrity Cruises or your travel agent as soon as you know your plans might change.
Use Future Cruise Credits wisely. Apply them to similar itineraries or within valid dates to avoid losing value.
These strategies can save hundreds of dollars and make rescheduling stress-free.
Let’s explore a few realistic examples to understand how costs may vary:
Example 1:
You booked a 7-night Caribbean cruise with a refundable fare for $2,500.
You request a date change 100 days before sailing.
Since it’s before the final payment, you can change dates at no cost.
Example 2:
You booked a 10-night European cruise with a non-refundable deposit of $250 per person.
You request to change your date 60 days before sailing.
You’ll lose your deposit and may face a 50% rebooking penalty.
Example 3:
You paid in full for a 12-night Alaska cruise costing $4,000.
You need to change dates 25 days before departure.
The entire fare becomes non-refundable, but you might get a Future Cruise Credit if allowed.
These examples illustrate why timing and fare type are critical in determining how much it costs to change your Celebrity Cruises date.
In some situations, canceling and rebooking might make more financial sense than paying a date-change fee.
For example, if your new cruise has a better promotion, such as free gratuities or cabin upgrades, the benefits may offset your cancellation penalty.
Before deciding, compare:
The total penalty amount.
The cost of the new cruise.
Available promotions or discounts.
If the savings from the new booking exceed the penalty, canceling and rebooking could be the smarter choice.
Celebrity Cruises offers multiple support channels for guests needing booking changes. Their customer service can assist with date modifications, cancellations, or applying future cruise credits.
You can contact:
Customer Service (U.S.): Typically available Monday through Friday.
Travel agents: For agency-booked cruises, all communications must go through them.
Online chat: Available on the Celebrity Cruises website for quick queries.
Having clear communication helps ensure you understand the financial implications before confirming any changes.
The cost to change a cruise date with Celebrity Cruises depends on fare type, timing, and whether you’re before or after the final payment period.
Refundable fares offer the most flexibility with little to no penalty before the final payment.
Non-refundable deposits often lead to partial or full forfeiture if you change dates.
After final payment, any change is treated as a cancellation and rebooking.
Programs like “Cruise with Confidence” can protect you by offering Future Cruise Credits.
Travel insurance can help cover unexpected date change or cancellation costs.
Always review your fare terms and communicate early to minimize fees.
Changing your cruise date with Celebrity Cruises doesn’t have to be a daunting process if you understand the policies and plan ahead. While fees can range from no cost to several hundred dollars per person, your timing and booking type play the biggest roles in determining the outcome.
If flexibility is important to you, always opt for refundable fares and purchase travel insurance. Staying proactive and informed ensures you can adjust your travel plans without losing significant money or benefits.
Ultimately, Celebrity Cruises aims to provide a luxurious and stress-free travel experience — and understanding their change policies is the best way to keep it that way.
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