Planning a cruise vacation with Royal Caribbean is exciting — the promise of turquoise waters, world-class entertainment, and fine dining at sea is hard to resist. But sometimes, life gets in the way — plans change, emergencies happen, or you might simply want to reschedule your voyage.
That’s where Royal Caribbean’s cancellation policy comes in. Understanding it can help you save money, avoid penalties, and make informed decisions if you need to cancel or change your cruise booking.
This detailed guide explains Royal Caribbean’s cancellation rules, refund eligibility, penalty timelines, and options like Future Cruise Credit (FCC) and the Cruise with Confidence program.
Let’s dive in.
Royal Caribbean’s cancellation policy determines how much refund or credit you’ll get if you cancel your cruise before sailing. The key factors affecting your refund amount are:
Type of fare or promotion you booked
Time left before your sailing date
Whether you booked refundable or non-refundable deposits
Travel insurance coverage
In simple terms, the earlier you cancel, the better your refund.Royal Caribbean uses a tiered cancellation system, where the penalty increases as you approach your sail date.
Before we talk about timelines and penalties, you must understand the difference between refundable and non-refundable deposits, as this directly impacts how much you can recover if you cancel.
If you booked with a refundable deposit, you can cancel any time before the final payment date and receive your full deposit back.
Best suited for travelers who may change plans.
Offers flexibility to cancel without losing money.
Usually comes at a slightly higher fare.
If you booked a non-refundable deposit fare, the deposit amount will not be refunded if you cancel at any point.
However, you may receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equal to the deposit amount, minus a small service fee (generally around $100 per guest).
Non-refundable fares often have lower prices, but they’re less flexible. So, it’s a trade-off between saving money and having flexibility.
Here’s how Royal Caribbean’s standard cancellation penalty structure works for cruises booked under the refundable deposit program (for sailings 1–5 nights, 6–9 nights, and 10+ nights):
Up to 75 days before sailing – No cancellation charge (full refund)
74 to 61 days before sailing – Deposit amount is non-refundable
60 to 31 days before sailing – 50% of total fare is charged
30 to 15 days before sailing – 75% of total fare is charged
14 days or less before sailing – 100% cancellation charge (no refund)
Up to 90 days before sailing – Full refund, no penalty
89 to 56 days before sailing – Deposit forfeited
55 to 30 days before sailing – 50% penalty
29 to 15 days before sailing – 75% penalty
14 days or less before sailing – 100% penalty
Up to 120 days before sailing – Full refund
119 to 56 days before sailing – Deposit forfeited
55 to 30 days before sailing – 50% penalty
29 to 15 days before sailing – 75% penalty
14 days or less before sailing – No refund (100% penalty)
This tiered system ensures fairness but also encourages travelers to finalize their plans well in advance.
Your final payment date also determines when penalties start applying. Typically:
For cruises up to 5 nights: Final payment due 75 days before sailing.
For cruises 6–9 nights: Final payment due 90 days before sailing.
For cruises 10+ nights or holiday sailings: Final payment due 120 days before sailing.
Once the final payment date passes, penalties apply even for refundable fares.
For non-refundable deposits, the policy is stricter.
If canceled before final payment date, you’ll lose the deposit, but the amount may be converted to Future Cruise Credit (FCC) minus a service charge.
If canceled after final payment, standard penalty timelines apply (as per cruise length).
Important: Non-refundable fares are best for those certain about their travel dates. They’re cheaper but less forgiving.
Royal Caribbean sometimes applies different policies for:
Group bookings often have separate agreements and deadlines.
The travel agent or group coordinator usually manages cancellations.
Refunds depend on the specific group contract.
Suite guests (especially Grand Suites and above) might have longer cancellation windows.
Deposit requirements are higher, and penalties can start earlier.
Always check your specific booking confirmation for these cases.
During and after the pandemic, Royal Caribbean introduced the Cruise with Confidence program, which offered exceptional flexibility.
While it’s no longer a permanent feature, some sailings may still include flexible cancellation options under specific promotions.
Here’s how it typically works (for eligible sailings):
Cancel up to 48 hours before your cruise.
Receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit (FCC) for the paid amount.
FCC must be used within a certain time frame, usually 12 months.
This policy became popular for travelers seeking peace of mind in unpredictable times.Even if it’s not standard now, Royal Caribbean occasionally brings it back for special circumstances.
You can cancel your Royal Caribbean cruise in multiple ways:
Log in to your account.
Go to “My Cruises.”
Select your booking.
Click “Cancel My Cruise” or “Modify My Reservation.”
Follow on-screen steps to confirm cancellation.
If you booked through an agent, they must process the cancellation.This ensures all paperwork and refunds go through the correct channels.
You can reach their customer support by phone for urgent or last-minute cancellations.
Make sure to:
Have your booking number ready.
Check the penalty schedule before confirming cancellation.
Ask for a written confirmation of the cancellation and refund status.
If you’re eligible for a refund, here’s what to expect:
Refunds to original payment method: Typically processed within 7–14 business days.
If paid by credit card: Refund goes back to the same card used.
If paid via travel agency: Refund is sent to the agency, which will forward it to you.
Future Cruise Credits: Usually issued within 1–2 weeks after cancellation.
Keep in mind: bank processing times may vary by country or financial institution.
If your cancellation doesn’t qualify for a cash refund, Royal Caribbean often provides a Future Cruise Credit (FCC).
A Future Cruise Credit is a digital voucher equal to the value of your canceled cruise (minus any penalties). You can use it toward a future sailing with Royal Caribbean.
FCCs are non-transferable (except for same guests originally booked).
Must be redeemed by a specific expiration date.
Can be applied toward the cruise fare only, not taxes or fees.
You can use FCCs for new bookings or modifications.
FCCs are a great way to preserve your investment if you can’t sail now but plan to rebook later.
If you simply don’t show up for your cruise without prior cancellation, it’s treated as a no-show, and you’ll lose 100% of the fare.
That includes taxes, fees, and port charges.To avoid this, always cancel in advance — even if it’s last-minute — to secure partial credits or refunds.
Sometimes, Royal Caribbean may cancel or reschedule a sailing due to weather conditions, mechanical issues, or global events.
In such cases, the cruise line generally offers:
Full Refund – 100% of paid fare returned to your original payment method.
Future Cruise Credit (FCC) – Equal to or greater than your fare (sometimes with a bonus).
Option to Rebook – On another sailing of equal or similar itinerary.
Passengers are typically notified by email or through their travel agent.
If you cancel your cruise, all pre-paid add-ons like excursions, drink packages, or Wi-Fi plans are automatically refunded.
But if you only want to cancel specific extras, here’s how it works:
Shore Excursions: Refundable if canceled 48 hours before the excursion starts.
Dining Packages: Usually refundable up to 24 hours before sailing.
Internet Packages or Beverage Plans: Refundable if canceled before cruise departure.
After embarkation, onboard credits or partial refunds may be provided for unused services, depending on circumstances.
While Royal Caribbean’s policy offers flexibility, you can protect yourself further by purchasing Travel Protection Insurance.
Royal Caribbean offers an optional CruiseCare® Travel Protection Plan, which covers:
Trip cancellation and interruption.
Medical emergencies.
Lost luggage.
Missed connections.
With CruiseCare, you can often recover up to 90% of your cruise cost (in credits) even for non-covered reasons.
If you book through third-party insurers, review their cancellation terms to ensure comprehensive protection.
Here are some expert strategies to reduce or avoid cancellation penalties:
Book refundable fares if you’re unsure of your schedule.
Cancel before the final payment date whenever possible.
Purchase travel insurance to cover unexpected emergencies.
Monitor Royal Caribbean promotions — sometimes, flexible policies are reintroduced.
Convert non-refundable deposits to FCCs instead of forfeiting them.
Keep documentation — emails, receipts, and confirmation numbers help resolve refund issues.
If you’ve received a Future Cruise Credit, you can rebook easily:
Log in to your Royal Caribbean account.
Browse sailings and choose new dates.
Apply FCC code during checkout.
Pay any remaining balance (if new fare is higher).
If your new cruise is cheaper than your FCC value, you may receive a new FCC for the remaining amount.
Let’s explore a few real-world examples:
Scenario 1: Canceling 3 months before a 7-night Caribbean cruise
You’re eligible for a full refund (if refundable deposit).If non-refundable, you’ll lose your deposit but can get an FCC.
Scenario 2: Canceling 20 days before sailing
Penalty: 75% of fare.You’ll get 25% back as refund or credit.
Scenario 3: Cruise canceled by Royal Caribbean due to a hurricane
You’ll receive a full refund or FCC — your choice.
Scenario 4: Last-minute medical emergency
If covered by insurance, you can file a claim and recover up to 100%.
These examples show how timing and booking type affect your refund outcome.
Yes. You can cancel directly through your online account or contact your travel advisor.
Typically between 7 to 14 business days, depending on payment method and bank processing times.
All changes or cancellations must go through your travel agent — Royal Caribbean cannot directly modify agency bookings.
No. FCCs are non-transferable and must be used by the same guest(s) on the original booking.
Yes. Taxes, port fees, and prepaid gratuities are refunded if you cancel before sailing.
Cancel early: The earlier you cancel, the higher your refund.
Check deposit type: Refundable = flexibility; Non-refundable = lower cost, higher risk.
Watch payment deadlines: Penalties start after final payment.
Use FCC wisely: It preserves value for future cruises.
Consider insurance: Protects against emergencies or last-minute changes.
Royal Caribbean’s cancellation policy is transparent but time-sensitive. The biggest factor in how much refund you’ll receive is when you cancel and what type of fare you booked.
If you like flexibility and peace of mind, choose refundable fares or purchase CruiseCare insurance. If you’re confident in your plans and want to save money, non-refundable fares might be worth it — just know the risks.
No matter the situation, being familiar with Royal Caribbean’s cancellation terms ensures you can cruise smarter, avoid penalties, and protect your vacation investment.
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