Latest Cruise Line Cancellation Policies: Coronavirus Update

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) implemented a new set of guidelines on enhanced screening measures in response to the growing threat of the coronavirus on the cruise industry. Many cruise lines are continuing to modify their cancellation policies to give travelers peace of mind and allow flexibility for upcoming voyages and future bookings. Cruiseline.com has rounded up a list of all temporary booking and cancellation policies to-date which have been instituted by cruise lines. (Updated May 7, 2020)  

Avalon Waterways has suspended all voyages through June 30, 2020. Passengers can move their vacation to any other itinerary, destination, brand or date in 2020, 2021 or 2022 without penalty and with additional re-booking credit. 

Azamara announced on April 16, 2020 they would be extending the voluntary suspension of all ship operations until June 11, 2020. A temporary Cruise with Confidence policy by Azamara will allow guests to cancel up to 48 hours before sailing. Guests will receive full credit for their fare, usable on any future sailing of the guest's choice in 2020 or 2021. The policy applies to both new and existing cruise bookings. The policy applies to all cruises with a sailing date on or before July 31, 2020. 

Carnival Cruise Lines announced on May 4 that it would extend the temporary suspension of all cruise operations through the end of August. Carnival passengers booked on any cruise between May-September 2020 may cancel up to 30 days prior to their sailing and receive a Future Cruise Credit which can be used to rebook a cruise within one year of the original sail date. 

Celebrity Cruises announced on April 16, 2020 they would be extending the voluntary suspension of all ship operations until June 11, 2020. The Cruise with Confidence policy by Celebrity Cruises will allow cancellations up to 48 hours before sailing. Guests will receive full credit for their fare, usable on any future sailing of the guest's choice in 2020 or 2021. The policy applies to both new and existing cruise bookings. The policy applies to all cruises with a sailing date on or before July 31, 2020. 

Costa announced on May 4 it would be extending the suspension of all cruise operations through July 31, 2020. Guests on Costa booked on sailings through November 2020 the option to change their reservation 48 hours prior to departure. Guests will receive a Future Cruise Credit that can be used on any voyage through November 2021. 

Crystal Cruises has canceled all Crystal River Cruises’ voyages scheduled to embark from March 26 to April 11 as well as Crystal Esprit’s April 10 sailing that falls into this timeframe. Sailings on Crystal’s two larger ocean ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, are canceled through May 3 and May 18. Crystal will contact each guest with cancellation and compensation details directly. This current 30-day restriction does not impact Crystal Cruises’ Ocean ships as both Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony are set to recommence sailing on April 21 and May 8 respectively.

Cunard has paused operations for all sailings through July 31, 2020. All 2020 Alaska sailings on board Queen Elizabeth, including voyages up until September 8, 2020 have been canceled. For all guests impacted by this temporary suspension, Cunard is offering a Future Cruise Credit of 125%. This Future Cruise Credit can be used for a new booking made before December 31, 2021, on any Cunard voyage sailing before March 31, 2022.

Disney Cruise Line has suspended sailings of Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy through June 18, and Disney Magic through July 2. Disney Cruise Line is suspending Disney Magic departures through July 2, 2020.  For passengers affected by this decision, Disney Cruise Line will offer a future cruise credit or full refund to be used within 15 months of their original sailing. 

Holland America Line Holland America Line has decided to extend its pause of global cruise operations and cancel all Alaska, Europe and Canada/New England cruises in 2020. In addition, Amsterdam will not operate the 79-day Grand Africa voyage that would have departed on October 3. Holland will allow passengers on any sailing up to July 31, 2020 to cancel 48 hours prior to departure and any booking August 1 - October 15, 2020 to cancel 30 days prior to sailing. Guests will receive a Future Cruise Credit which can be used on any sailing up to December 31, 2020. 

MSC Cruises has temporarily stopped operations through July 10, 2020. MSC Cruises is offering guests affected by this decision the opportunity to transfer 100% of the money paid for their canceled vacation plus an additional generous credit benefit to a future cruise of their choice at any point through the end of 2021. MSC's Cruise Assurance Policy allows guests booked through July 21, 2020 to cancel 48 hours up to sailing for a Future Cruise Credit that can be redeemed on any voyage up to December 31, 2021. 

Norwegian Cruise Line has extended the suspension of its ship operations through June 30, 2020. Norweigan's 'Peace of Mind' policy allows for cancellations up to 48 hours on any new or existing booking through September 30, 2020. A 100% future cruise credit will be offered to any guests choosing to cancel which can be redeemed before December 31, 2022. 

Oceania Cruises has temporarily suspended all cruise voyages embarking through June 30, 2020. Oceania's Travelers Assurance Program allows guests to cancel up to 48 hours prior to any cruise departure up to September 30, 2020 for a Future Cruise Credit equal to 100% of the cruise fare paid. This credit can be redeemed for any cruise up to December 31, 2022.  

Princess Cruises has suspended all operations through the summer. These cancellations include: All remaining Alaska cruises on Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess in 2020, all remaining Europe and Transatlantic cruises on Enchanted Princess, Regal Princess, Sky Princess, Crown Princess, and Island Princess in 2020, Summer Caribbean cruises and all Canada & New England cruises on Caribbean Princess and Sky Princess, Summer to Fall 2020 cruises departing from Japan on Diamond Princess, Australia-based cruises on Sapphire Princess and Sea Princess through August, July cruises sailing from Taiwan on Majestic Princess, and fall cruises sailing to Hawaii and French Polynesia on Pacific Princess through November. Princess will offer passengers the opportunity to transfer 100% of the money paid for their canceled cruise to a future cruise of their choice. Princess will also add an additional future cruise credit benefit which can be applied to the cruise fare or onboard expenses. In addition, Princess will honor this offer for those passengers who had made the final payment and canceled their booking on or after February 4, 2020. This future cruise credit can be used on any voyage departing through May 1, 2022.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has temporarily suspended all cruise voyages through June 30, 2020. All guests on impacted voyages will receive a 125% refund of the fare paid in the form of a future cruise credit, which can be applied toward any future cruise through December 31, 2022. For guests who wish to not avail themselves of the 125% future cruise credit, a 100% refund of the fare paid will be reimbursed to the original form of payment within 90 days of guests' request. The Regent Reassurance cancellation policy will now allow guests on sailings scheduled from March 10 through Sept. 30, 2020, and booked by April 30, 2020, to cancel up to 48-hours prior to sailing and receive a 100% future cruise credit.

Royal Caribbean International announced on April 16, 2020 they would be extending the voluntary suspension of all ship operations until June 11, 2020. Royal Caribbean instituted a "Cruise with Confidence" policy which allows guests to cancel up to 48 hours before sailing. Guests will receive full credit for their fare, usable on any future sailing of the guest's choice in 2020 or 2021. The policy applies to both new and existing cruise bookings. The policy applies to all cruises with a sailing date on or before July 31, 2020.

Seabourn has paused operation of its five ships through October and November 2020. A temporary “Book with Confidence'' policy from Seabourn will allow bookings made between March 2 and Apr. 30, 2020, for sailings departing April 1 through October 15, to be canceled up to 30 days prior to departure. Guests will receive a future cruise credit that must be used within 90 days for cruises departing before December 31, 2021.

Silversea Cruises suspended all cruise operations and it's first return sailing is slated for the July 16, 2020 sailing of the Silversea Muse. Cruises departing before July 31, 2020, including both existing and future bookings with Silversea, now have the additional option of canceling their voyage as late as 48 hours prior to sailing with a Future Cruise Credit. For all sailings departing after July 31, 2020 until December 31, 2020, a 30-day prior to sailing cash cancellation option will be in place.

Uniworld River Cruises has suspended all European itineraries until June 30, 2020. Passengers with a reservation during this temporary suspension period may rebook your travel dates to any 2020 or 2021 cruise or receive a Future Cruise Credit eligible to be used during the next 24 months. The temporary cancellation policy will allow guests on all cruises departing May 1 or later may cancel up to 30 days in advance, instead of the usual 120 days, without being charged the $200 fee.

Viking River Cruises announced on March 30 they will extend the temporary suspension of operations of all river and ocean cruises through June 30, 2020. Viking's ‘Risk-Free Guarantee’ allows guests to change their cruise date up until 24 hours before their planned departure with all fees waived for all reservations made by April 30. Guests will have 24 months to select their new date and use their Future Cruise Voucher to make a new reservation on any river, ocean or expedition cruise.

Windstar Cruises has temporarily suspended operations worldwide for cruises through June 30, 2020. Passengers on canceled cruises will receive the choice of a Future Cruise Credit valued at 125% of all monies paid to Windstar Cruises or a refund equal to the amount paid on the Windstar booking. Windstar will allow passengers 24 months to book and embark on any available Windstar cruise using their Future Cruise Credit.

Sources: Cruise Lines International Association, Travel Market Report

Updated: May 14, 2020