Cruise Refund Policy
What You Need to Know

How Cruise Refunds Work

Cruise refunds are governed by the policies of the individual cruise line at the time of booking. Most cruise lines use a sliding cancellation penalty schedule — the closer to departure you cancel, the higher the fee and the lower the refund.

Standard Refund Timeline by Cruise Line

While policies vary, here is a general framework used by most major cruise lines:

• 90+ days before departure: Full refund minus non-refundable deposit (typically $100–$250 per person)
• 60–89 days before: Loss of deposit plus 25–50% of remaining fare
• 30–59 days before: 50–75% of total fare forfeited
• Under 30 days: 100% forfeiture in most cases

Future Cruise Credits (FCC)

Many cruise lines offer Future Cruise Credits (FCCs) as an alternative to cash refunds — particularly when cancellation is due to the cruise line's own changes or disruptions. FCCs are typically worth 10–25% more than the equivalent cash refund and are valid for 12–24 months.

Travel Insurance Claims

If you purchased travel insurance at the time of booking, cancellation for a covered reason (illness, job loss, death in family, etc.) may entitle you to recover some or all non-refundable costs. "Cancel for Any Reason" (CFAR) policies can recover up to 75% of costs regardless of reason.

How We Help

Our specialists advocate on your behalf with the cruise line, submit cancellation documentation, process FCC requests, and guide you through insurance claims. Call (844) 578-1858 — we handle the complexity so you don't have to.