If you’re considering booking a voyage with Princess Cruises, one of the most important questions you may have is: “What if I need to cancel? Will Princess allow cancellations, and under what terms?” In an era of ever-changing travel norms, pandemic after-effects, shifting ship deployments and evolving consumer expectations, it’s absolutely critical to understand the cancellation and refund policy offered by Princess Cruises before you commit. This guide explores whether Princess Cruises is currently allowing cancellations, how the process works, what costs you may face, what rights you have if the cruise line cancels your trip, and what practical tips you should follow. By the end of this article you should have a clear sense of whether you’re comfortable booking and how to manage the cancellation risk.
Yes — you can cancel a booking with Princess Cruises. The policy clearly states that guests who cancel their cruise, cruise-tour or “Cruise Plus” package are subject to cancellation fees, depending on how far in advance the cancellation is made and the length of the itinerary. The policy does not say that cancellations are disallowed; rather it frames them with fees and conditions. So if you ask “is Princess allowing cancellations?” the answer is a qualified yes — you are able to cancel, but you must accept the applicable cancellation fee.
In addition, if the cruise line itself cancels or significantly delays the sailing (for example more than 3 calendar days) and you choose not to travel, then you may be entitled to a refund rather than a penalty.
Thus the ability to cancel exists, but the key is when you cancel and under what terms. Let’s explore those terms in more detail.
One of the most important parts of the cancellation policy is the timing. How long before your departure you cancel has a direct impact on the percentage of your fare you can recover. Below are key points and schedules as applied by Princess.
Standard policy for bookings made on or after 4 March 2024 (for sailings of 1-24 days)
If you cancel 90 days or more before departure: no cancellation fee (or at least none for the fare portion) in many cases.
75 to 89 days before departure: cancellation fee ~25% of total charges.
61 to 74 days before departure: ~50% of total charges.
31 to 60 days before departure: ~75% of total charges.
Within 30 days of departure: 100% of total charges — meaning no refund of fare.
For sailings of 25+ days (including “world cruise segments”) an analogous schedule applies: e.g., 120 days or more = no fee; 61-112 days = 50%; ≤ 60 days = 100% fee.
The cancellation fees apply “regardless of whether your space is resold”. The policy views your cancellation as causing a diminished opportunity for the cruise line to re-sell the cabin, so the fees are treated as liquidated damages.
Certain promotions may carry special non-refundable deposits: “If you have purchased a specially priced promotion where the deposit is 100% non-refundable from the point of payment… you are not entitled to any refund… under any circumstance” when you cancel.
Pre- and post-cruise hotel packages also have cancellation windows and fees (e.g., within 30 days results in 100% cancellation fee).
Therefore: yes you can cancel, but the closer you are to sailing, the more likely you are to lose a substantial portion (or all) of your fare — unless you cancelled early enough and met the criteria for the lowest penalty bracket.
Cancellation by the cruise line is very different from cancellation by the guest. With Princess Cruises:
If Princess cancels your cruise or delays it by more than 3 calendar days, and you choose not to accept the alternative sailing offered, you may be entitled to a refund of the cruise fare and charges for accommodations, services, facilities, government fees, etc.
The refund request must be submitted within 180 calendar days of the original scheduled embarkation date.
Even in this scenario, the refund may take time and Princess notes their system was not originally designed to handle large volumes of refunds, so patience may be required.
In practical terms: if you cancel because the cruise line cancels (or they significantly change the departure or itinerary), you are in a stronger position to get a full or near-full refund. If you cancel because you choose to (your personal reasons) then the standard guest cancellation policy applies.
It’s one thing to understand the cancellation fee schedule; it’s another to know what you actually get back after you cancel. Here are some important details:
Government taxes, port fees, transfers and surcharges may be refundable (or partially refundable) even if you cancel and the fare portion is penalised. Under the standard policy: “You may also receive a refund for part of your cruise fare depending on length/advance cancellation.”
If you pre-purchased shore excursions or onboard purchases and you cancel, you will receive a full refund for those items.
Refunds will normally be made to the original method of payment or your travel agent.
In guest cancellation cases you are not automatically entitled to a future cruise credit instead of refund — you could ask for one, but the policy does not guarantee it. In the case of cruise line cancellations, an alternative may be offered such as future cruise credit.
Thus when you cancel, you may recover part of your fare (depending on timeframe) plus certain fees, but you may lose from 25–100% of the fare depending on timing, and you definitely lose the opportunity if you cancel too late.
An important nuance is that many cruise lines introduced temporary more-flexible cancellation and re-booking policies during COVID-19 and for special circumstances. While some of those remain or have been transitioned out, for Princess Cruises:
The standard policy is already in effect and covers bookings made on or after 4 March 2024.
The policy change meant that the 100% cancellation fee period moved from 14 days prior to sailing to 30 days for new bookings.
I did not find publicly available evidence that Princess currently offers a completely free cancellation up-to-a-certain date as part of a universal special waiver (for example no-penalty cancellation). Instead, the standard schedule applies unless you have purchased Vacation Protection or your booking falls under an exceptional promotion.
Therefore, while flexibility has improved compared to earlier years (for example the shift to 30-day full-loss rather than 14 days), you should not assume unlimited free cancellation. You still need to meet the timing requirements or pay the associated fees. If you have special reasons (medical emergency, etc.), you should consult travel insurance or check with the cruise line. As one traveller on Reddit noted:
“Since it’s within 30 days of sailing there will most likely be a penalty… your best bet is to call and explain the situation.”
In short: yes, cancellations are allowed, but standard penalties apply; you should not assume “cancel anytime with no fee”.
Here are some actionable tips to ensure you’re as protected as possible:
Book early and pay early so you are able to cancel within the “no penalty” zone (90 days or more before sailing) if you change your mind.
Read your booking contract/confirmation carefully. Check for language like “specially priced promotion 100% non-refundable deposit” which may override standard refundability.
Consider travel insurance / vacation protection. Princess offers a “Princess Vacation Protection” plan (for U.S./Canada) which may offer partial reimbursements for certain cancellation reasons.
Know your cancellation fee schedule (see breakdown above) so you know the cost if you cancel at different timeframes.
If you are canceling, act promptly. Use the booking portal or contact your travel agent. Written confirmation should be sought — “cancellation shall be deemed effective as of the close of business Pacific Standard Time on the date you communicated such cancellation”.
Check what you will recover. Even if you cancel early, you may lose the deposit or some fare component; but you should get back taxes/port fees and pre-purchased excursions.
If the cruise line cancels or delays — keep documentation, submit your claim within 180 days if required. You may qualify for full refund.
If you change your mind or want to modify rather than cancel, contact the cruise line early; sometimes modifying (changing sailing date) may cost less than straight cancelling and rebooking.
For Indian travellers (or other non-U.S. markets) especially check whether local booking terms differ, or whether you booked via travel agent vs direct — different rules may apply.
Stay updated for changes. Cruise lines may modify policy for new bookings; what applied when you booked may differ for future bookings — always check “bookings made on or after…” language. For example, Princess has a schedule change for bookings made on or after 4 March 2024.
Promotions with “100% non-refundable deposit from payment.” If you booked a “promo fare” that explicitly says the deposit is non-refundable, you may not get anything back if you cancel, even early.
Short itineraries (1-5 days) or long world cruises (25+ days). Some longer cruises have different final payment and cancellation date deadlines. For short sailings, final payment is due earlier in advance.
Special “Cruise Plus” or “CruiseTour” packages. The cancellation policy references these as part of “all Items” in the fee schedule, so if you booked extra hotel nights or land tours, those are subject to the same cancellation fee schedule.
If you booked through a travel agent vs directly with Princess. Refunds may flow through the travel agent; you may need to coordinate with them. The policy states “For bookings made directly with Princess Cruises, please visit… For all other bookings, contact your travel advisor.”
If you have paid by instalments or via “pay-monthly” plans. Payment schedule may affect your liability; ensure you have made full payment by final payment due date (often 90 days or 120 days prior) to avoid forfeiting deposit or incurring higher fees.
It depends on your tolerance for risk and how much flexibility you need. Here are considerations:
If you expect your plans may change, you should factor the worst-case scenario (cancel within 30 days of sailing) which means 100% of cruise fare is non-refundable (for 1-24 day sailings booked on/after 4 March 2024).
If you book well in advance (90+ days) and pay in full, you are in a much safer zone: you may be able to cancel with no cancellation fee (or a minimal one) provided you meet the window.
If you’re booking a promotional fare or have paid a small deposit expecting full refund, you should re-check the fine print: you might still face big penalties.
If you’re risk averse, consider booking a fare with more flexible cancellation terms (if available) or ensure you have strong travel insurance covering cancellation for your reasons.
Also, if you are booking from India or another non-U.S./Canada market: check how the local booking terms apply (sometimes slight region-specific nuances apply) and whether the refund mechanics (currency, bank fees, travel agent involvement) are clearly spelled out.
In summary: yes, Princess Cruises does allow cancellations, but under specific conditions and with significant financial implications if you cancel late. The most favourable cancellation window is 90 days or more before departure (for standard 1-24 day sailings). If you cancel between 31-60 days before sailing, expect around 75% of your fare to be forfeited. If you cancel within 30 days of sailing, expect a 100% loss of fare (for bookings made March 4 2024 onward) for typical sailings. If the cruise line cancels or delays you significantly, you are in a better position for a refund.
So if you are planning a cruise with Princess and the possibility of cancellation looms (for whatever reason), you should plan accordingly, understand your booking terms, and be realistic about the financial risk. If you are comfortable with the cancellation window and fees, then yes — you can go ahead. If you need maximum flexibility, you may want to explore fare options with lower cancellation penalties or wait until you are more certain before booking.
Key take-away points
For bookings made 4 March 2024 or after, 1-24 day sailings: cancel ≥ 90 days before = no fee; cancel within 30 days = 100% of fare lost.
For 25+ day sailings, the deadlines are further out (e.g., within 60 days = 100% fee).
Taxes, port fees, shore excursions may still be refundable even if fare is forfeited.
If Princess cancels your cruise or delays it >3 calendar days and you choose not to travel, you may qualify for a full refund.
Special promotion bookings may further restrict refund rights (100% non-refundable deposit).
You should treat the cancellation policy as business-critical reading before committing to a booking.
Use travel insurance or vacation protection if you anticipate the need for cancellation flexibility.
Deciding whether to book with Princess Cruises – or any cruise line, for that matter — should include a careful review of the cancellation policy because travel plans often change. The policy of Princess Cruises is transparent: you can cancel, but the closer you are to sailing the more you may lose financially. If you’re comfortable with that risk and the timeline fits your flexibility, then booking can proceed confidently. If not, you may want to ensure your plans are firm, choose a different fare class or travel option, or wait until you’re sure.
Given the current policy, the short answer to the question “Is Princess currently allowing cancellations?” is: Yes, they are allowing cancellations, but with meaningful cancellation fees depending on timing. So you should proceed with the understanding of the trade-off between booking early and maintaining flexibility.
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