Planning a cruise is exciting, but sometimes life happens — and you might need to make changes to your travel plans. Maybe you initially booked your Princess Cruises vacation directly through the cruise line and later decided you want to transfer your booking to a travel agent for better perks or service. Or perhaps you want to move your reservation to another person or need to change details on your booking.
Whatever the reason, one of the most common questions travelers ask is: “How much does it cost to transfer a Princess Cruises reservation?”
This comprehensive guide will walk you through every detail — including transfer costs, eligibility rules, deadlines, and step-by-step instructions for transferring a Princess Cruises booking safely and successfully.
Before discussing the costs, it’s essential to understand what “transferring a reservation” means in the context of Princess Cruises.
When you transfer a booking, you’re essentially moving your existing cruise reservation from one booking channel to another — typically from Princess Cruises directly to a travel agent. This is not the same as changing the passenger name or canceling the cruise. Instead, it’s a simple reassignment of who manages your booking.
A travel agent can often provide additional benefits like onboard credits, discounts, or personalized assistance. Many passengers who initially book online later realize that transferring their reservation gives them more value.
There are several reasons why passengers consider transferring their Princess Cruises reservations. Let’s explore the most common motivations.
Travel agents often have access to group rates or promotional offers that the cruise line itself may not provide directly. By transferring your booking, you might be eligible for onboard credit, cabin upgrades, or other incentives.
Booking directly with Princess Cruises can be convenient, but it may lack the personalized attention that a dedicated travel advisor can provide. Agents can help you with cabin selections, shore excursions, and itinerary planning.
If your cruise involves flights, pre-cruise hotels, or post-cruise tours, managing all the details can be complicated. A travel professional can coordinate everything for a seamless experience.
Some passengers prefer working with the same agent who books all their vacations. If you booked a Princess cruise directly but later decide you want your usual agent to handle it, transferring the reservation makes that possible.
Here’s the good news: Princess Cruises generally does not charge a fee to transfer an eligible reservation to a travel agent — provided you do it within the allowed time frame.
That means the transfer cost is usually $0, as long as you meet Princess Cruises’ conditions for transfer eligibility. However, once the transfer deadline passes, Princess Cruises may no longer allow the transfer at all, regardless of payment offers or requests.
So while there’s technically no fee, missing the eligibility window could cost you the opportunity to benefit from a travel agent’s perks or assistance.
The policy for transferring a reservation is designed to be simple but strict. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the general Princess Cruises transfer rules as of 2025:
Time limit:You can transfer your reservation to a travel agency within 60 days of the original booking date — provided the final payment has not been made yet.
Eligibility:
The reservation must be active and not paid in full.
It cannot be a group booking that already belongs to a travel agency.
The booking must have been made directly with Princess Cruises.
Non-transferable cases:Once a booking has passed the 60-day window or has been paid in full, it can no longer be transferred. Similarly, name changes or passenger swaps are not considered “transfers” and have different rules.
Who can request the transfer:Only the lead passenger listed on the booking can authorize the transfer in writing or by phone.
Processing time:Once Princess Cruises receives your transfer request, the process typically takes 2–5 business days to complete.
In most cases, Princess Cruises does not charge any transfer fee. However, there are some exceptions worth noting:
If you’re requesting complex modifications outside standard policy (for example, name corrections, multiple linked reservations, or changes close to the final payment date), the cruise line or your travel agent might charge a small administrative fee.
Certain third-party booking platforms might apply a service fee if you initiate a transfer away from them.
If your cruise is part of a special promotion or exclusive online deal, Princess Cruises may restrict or disallow transfer altogether.
In short: For standard reservations, transferring is free — but always confirm with Princess Cruises or your travel agent before submitting the request.
If you’ve decided to transfer your booking, follow these simple steps to ensure a smooth and cost-free process.
Check your original booking date. If it’s been fewer than 60 days since you made the reservation and you haven’t paid in full, you’re eligible to transfer.
Select a licensed and experienced travel advisor who specializes in cruise vacations. Make sure they’re registered with Princess Cruises to handle bookings.
Contact Princess Cruises directly — either by phone or email — and request a Booking Transfer Form.
You’ll need to provide:
Your booking number
Full name of the lead passenger
The travel agency’s name and contact information
Your written authorization
Once you’ve completed and signed the form, your travel agent or you can send it back to Princess Cruises. Electronic submission is usually accepted.
Princess Cruises typically processes transfer requests within a few days. You’ll receive a confirmation email once your booking has officially been transferred to the new agency.
Once your Princess Cruises reservation is transferred to a travel agent, Princess Cruises’ customer service will generally redirect future communication to your agent.
This means:
Your travel agent will handle future payments.
Any updates, modifications, or special requests go through your agent.
The travel agent becomes your primary point of contact.
Your cruise details, booking number, and stateroom remain the same. You don’t lose your existing cabin selection, fare, or promotional benefits — as long as your booking stays within Princess Cruises’ standard terms.
Many travelers misunderstand the transfer process, which sometimes leads to confusion or missed opportunities. Let’s clear up some common myths.
Not true. Transferring doesn’t cancel or rebook your cruise — it simply assigns the management of your reservation to a travel agent.
Your original booking benefits remain intact after transfer. If your agent adds additional perks, those are extra advantages, not replacements.
The 60-day limit is firm. Once you pass that window, the cruise line will not allow a transfer.
In almost all cases, there is no cost to transfer your Princess Cruises reservation.
Even though transferring is optional, there are several benefits to doing so.
Many travel agents offer special promotions, including free onboard credit that you can use for drinks, excursions, or specialty dining.
Agents often monitor fare drops and help you reprice your booking if a lower fare becomes available before the final payment date.
Travel professionals understand cabin categories, itineraries, and ship amenities. They can recommend the best options based on your preferences.
If your travel agent manages a group booking, you might qualify for extra benefits or discounts by linking your reservation.
Rather than spending time on hold with customer service, your travel agent can handle all communication with Princess Cruises on your behalf.
A different scenario arises when you want to transfer your reservation to another passenger, not to a travel agent.
Princess Cruises typically does not allow complete transfer of ownership to a different person. Cruise fares are based on the named passengers, and name changes after a certain point are considered cancellations and rebookings.
However, minor name corrections may be allowed, such as fixing spelling errors or updating marital status, without fees. Always contact Princess Cruises directly for guidance before assuming a passenger change is possible.
If you initially booked your Princess Cruises vacation through a travel agency, you cannot transfer it to another one. The booking legally belongs to that agency.
If you wish to switch agents, you’d need to cancel your current booking and rebook with the new agent — but this could result in losing your deposit or promotional pricing. Always confirm cancellation penalties before making that decision.
The 60-day rule is one of the most critical elements in the Princess Cruises transfer policy. Here’s why it matters:
Before 60 days: You can transfer freely, as long as no full payment has been made.
After 60 days: Princess Cruises locks the booking, meaning no transfer is possible, even if you haven’t made final payment.
This rule ensures administrative clarity and fairness for travel agents. It also protects the cruise line from late-stage commission adjustments.
If you think you might want to work with a travel agent later, it’s wise to make the transfer request early.
If you booked directly with Princess Cruises less than 60 days ago and haven’t paid in full, your reservation is eligible.
No, your booking number, cabin, and fare remain the same. Only the managing agency changes.
No. Once final payment is made, Princess Cruises considers the booking closed to new management transfers.
You can view your reservation details on Princess Cruises’ website, but most changes will go through your travel agent.
Yes. After transfer, your payments are typically made to the travel agency, which then forwards them to Princess Cruises.
Transfer cost: Usually free ($0)
Deadline: Within 60 days of booking
Eligibility: Booking made directly with Princess Cruises, not paid in full
Non-transferable: After 60 days or if booked through an agency already
Passenger name transfers: Not allowed, except for minor corrections
Transferring your reservation doesn’t affect your cruise fare or cabin choice — it simply changes the management channel to your chosen travel advisor.
To make the process as smooth as possible, keep these tips in mind:
Act quickly: Don’t wait until the 60th day. Submit your transfer request early.
Use the correct form: Always use Princess Cruises’ official transfer authorization form.
Communicate clearly: Ensure all passenger details match the original booking.
Keep copies: Save all transfer emails and confirmation receipts.
Confirm agent credentials: Make sure your chosen travel agent is recognized by Princess Cruises.
Let’s consider an example to understand why transferring can be valuable, even though there’s no direct cost.
You book a 7-day Caribbean cruise directly with Princess Cruises for $2,000 per person.
A week later, you find a travel agent offering the same cruise plus $200 onboard credit per cabin.
Since you booked only seven days ago, you can transfer your reservation to that agent at no cost.
In this scenario, you effectively gain $200 in spending credit simply by transferring your booking — a significant bonus at zero cost.
If the 60-day deadline has passed, unfortunately, you can’t transfer your reservation anymore. However, you can still benefit from working with your travel agent in other ways:
They can assist with future Princess Cruises bookings.
They may help with shore excursion planning or travel insurance.
You can book pre- or post-cruise packages through them, even if the cruise itself isn’t transferred.
Princess Cruises encourages passengers to work with certified travel agents because it helps create a more personalized travel experience. Agents handle pre-cruise logistics, answer questions, and provide customer support — reducing the burden on the cruise line’s internal team.
Allowing transfers ensures that customers have flexibility in managing their travel plans while maintaining consistent booking integrity and policies.
If you booked your Princess Cruises vacation directly and are still within the 60-day transfer period, it’s often worth transferring your reservation to a qualified travel agent — especially since there’s typically no cost involved.
The advantages of extra perks, expert advice, and personalized service can enhance your overall cruise experience. Even though Princess Cruises doesn’t charge a transfer fee, the added value you gain from a knowledgeable agent can easily translate into hundreds of dollars in benefits.
Just remember to act promptly, follow the correct procedure, and verify eligibility before the deadline. With proper timing and communication, transferring your Princess Cruises reservation can be a smooth, cost-free decision that makes your vacation planning far easier.
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