Whilst cruising may be on hold for the time being, the majority of cruise lines have introduced flexible booking terms, giving you more confidence to book a cruise for the future when it is safe to set sail on the seas.
These policies have been designed to protect cruisers, making sure that you won’t lose out if you want to make changes to your cruise holiday. And with every cruise line doing things a little differently, we’ve gathered all of the flexible booking policies so you have all the information you need when booking your next cruise.
Click your favourite cruise line below to see what flexible booking terms they’ve introduced.
APT River | Avalon | Azamara | Celebrity Cruises | Celestyal Cruises | Cunard Line | Disney Cruises | Emerald Waterways | Fred. Olsen Travel | Holland America Line | Hurtigruten Cruises | Marella Cruises | MSC Cruises | Norwegian Cruise Line | Oceania Cruises | P&O Cruises | Princess Cruises | Regent Seven Seas | Riviera Travel | Royal Caribbean | Saga Cruises | Seabourn | SeaDream | Tradewind Voyages| Windstar
APT now includes temporary COVID Flexible Booking Cover for both rebooking and new bookings to provide additional assurance when you book by 31st January 2021.
The Flexible Booking Cover enables you to change the date of your 2021 or 2022 holiday up to 100 days prior to departure and be able to rebook to a new date with no change fee (Airline fees may apply). If you already have Future Holiday Credit to use with APT, you will also benefit from their Flexible Booking Cover if you rebook by 31st January 2021.
Avalon have introduced a Peace of Mind Travel Plan that allows you to move your 2021 or 2022 booking to any other date, departure or brand up until your final payment date.
All 2021 travel bookings automatically come with their Peace of Mind Travel Plan free of charge, giving you the ability to amend your booking with no questions asked.
And for as long as the COVID-19 pandemic is still affecting travel, all bookings for 2022 travel dates will also be covered by the Peace of Mind Travel Plan, extending the flexibility to move travel dates through 2023.
Azamara have extended their cruise with confidence policy. Existing bookings and new bookings made between 6th May 2020 and 31st January 2021 will be eligible for reschedule to the following cruise year. Bookings can only be rescheduled once.
If you’d prefer to cancel your cruise you can do so but must cancel up to 48 hours prior to sailing and you’ll receive 100% future cruise credit to use toward any sailing through April 2022. The credit is valid to book and sail by 30th April 2022 or 18 months after the date that you cancelled your original sailing — whichever is further.
Carnival Cruise Line is providing flexibility with future bookings, offering two options for guests who’s cruises have been cancelled. Option 1 enables guests to receive 100% Future Cruise Credit, as well as some free onboard spend ($300 for cruises five days or less and $600 for cruises 6 days or more) to use on your next cruise that departs before 30/04/2023 as long as you book before 31/05/2020.
If that doesn’t appeal to you then you can opt for a 100% refund. If a selection has not been made by May 31st 2021, a 100% Future Cruise Credit equal to the amount of cancellation penalties on your original booking will be automatically applied.
With Celebrity Cruises you have up to 48 hours before you sail to cancel and receive 100% Future Cruise Credit to use toward any sailing through 4th May 2022. To take advantage of their enhanced cruise with confidence benefits including flexible cancellations, lift & shift and best offer guarantee. You will be eligible for these benefits on any existing or new booking made before 31st January 2021.
If your sailing was impacted by their Global Cruising Suspension, you can also take advantage of their Cruise With confidence benefits. If you have an expired Future Cruise Credit (FCC) on your booking and you choose to take advantage of their cruise with confidence program, they’ll extend your FCC’s expiration date to 4th May 2022.
Celestyal Cruises have promised its travellers that they won’t have to pay their full balance until 30 days prior to departure when it will be made due. In addition to this, you will also benefit from being able to cancel your holiday free of charge up to 90 days before your set departure date.
With Cunard you can take advantage of their free flexible transfer policy up to 90 days prior to your holiday. You can transfer your booking to any Cunard sailing currently on sale (and not just to those within the next 12 months), transfer your booking to a voyage of higher or lower value (and not just of a higher value, as is usually the case), transfer your booking an unlimited number of times (and not just once) or transfer your bookings free of charge.
If you wish to cancel your holiday, the cancellation policy in their Booking Conditions applies. Cunard shall be entitled to levy a cancellation charge as a percentage of the price paid. You can find a break down of these charges on their website.
Disney Cruise fanatics can book with confidence knowing that they can make changes at a later date if they wish to do so.
If you book a Disney cruise before 31st January 2021 you will be able to change your sail date up to 15 days prior to embarkation.
The guests able to take advantage of this are those that are scheduled to sail on or before 30th June 2021, and they must move their sail date to one that commences prior to 31st May 2022.
With Emerald Waterways Flexible Booking Policy, you can defer your travel plans and transfer to an alternative departure date or itinerary up to 60 days prior to your cruise commencing with no fees.
This policy has come into play from 1st November 2020 and is available for new 2021 and 2022 bookings across their collection of European and Southeast Asia river cruises.
Fred. Olsen Travel’s Plain Sailing Guarantee allows guests making a new booking for 2021 to move their deposit to any other cruise already on sale without any additional fees before they pay their final balance. Guests can also have their deposit refunded.
In addition, any guest who is unable to travel due to a positive Covid-19 test can move to any other cruise without any administration fees or penalties, right up to the day of departure, with up to 12 months to choose their new cruise.
Holland America Line has temporarily adjusted their cancellation policy to make it easier for you to cancel or change plans.
Book any cruise that departs through 31st October 2021—you must book by 31st January 31, 2021—and you can cancel for any reason up to 30 days before departure and automatically receive a Future Cruise Credit in the amount of non-refundable fees collected by Holland America Line (the remainder will be refunded to you). You can use the Future Cruise Credit when you’re ready to book your next cruise vacation.
For cruises departing through 30th April 2021, they have reduced the final payment schedule to 60 days before sailing to give you more choice and flexibility in your travel planning.
If you book a cruise with Hurtigruten by 31st December 2020 and decide to cancel it for any reason in the future, they are promising you that you will receive a full refund, including the previously non-refundable deposit, within 14 days.
This incredible offer is valid for all new bookings that sail in 2021 and 2022, meaning that you can book now at ease to secure your cabin knowing full well you will receive your money back within 14 days if you decide to cancel at a later date.
Marella Cruises Holiday Promise is offering free changes on all new bookings made before 28th February 2021, travelling before 31st October 2021.
If you have an existing booking travelling before the 30th April 2021 you too can make the changes for free. If you have a booking made before 31 December 2020, travelling between 3 February 2021 and 31 October 2021, you can make a change fee-free up until 21 days before departure. This includes cabin-only bookings and bookings with third-party flights.
If your booking includes a non-TUI Airways flight, you’ll need to amend your holiday to one which includes a flight with the same carrier as your original booking.
Marella’s standard booking terms & conditions apply for amendments made within 21 days of departure.
In order to provide you with additional support with regards to your travel arrangements MSC Cruises have introduced the ‘Flexible Cruise Programme’ which applies to all existing bookings where the departure date falls on or before 30th June 2020.
The Flexible Cruise Programme allows guests who have already booked with them, either directly or through a travel agent, to reschedule their cruise to any departure date up until 31st December, 2021. For those booked on a cruise only basis this change can be made up to 48-hours prior to original cruise departure, and for those booked on a Fly Cruise product 96-hours prior to departure.
In order to be eligible for the programme you must have paid your balance in full. If you have not paid your balance in full, unfortunately you are not eligible to reschedule at this time under these new terms, and their standard booking terms and conditions will apply.
With Norwegian Cruise Line, for 2021 cruises through October, you can cancel 15 days prior to holiday start for a Future Cruise Credit. All future cruise credits must be redeemed within one year from issue date and can be used for sailings departing on or before 31st December 2022. FCCs can be used for any purchase other than an onboard credit (OBC).
For those cancelling under the Peace of Mind policy, the FCC will be applied to the guests’ profile in 7 working days. Bookings that are cancelled before the final payment is due, will receive an FCC for the deposit value and any payment made to Norwegian Cruise Line in excess of this will be returned to the same payment method in line with our normal refund terms.
With Oceania’s Traveller’s Assurance Programme, you can now have total peace of mind knowing that should you need to cancel, for any reason, you will not lose a penny.
Guests who have paid in full may cancel up to 15 days prior to their departure and receive a Future Cruise Credit equal to 100% of the cruise fare paid. This applies to reservations made before 31st January 2021, for scheduled voyages departing on or before 31st October 2021.
If your holiday is unaffected by their latest pause but you would like to reschedule, you can take advantage of their free flexible transfer policy up to 90 days prior to your holiday.
This means that if you have a Select Price or Early Saver booking you can: Transfer your booking to any P&O Cruises holiday currently on sale (and not just to those within the next 12 months), transfer your booking to a cruise of higher or lower value (and not just of a higher value, as is usually the case), transfer your booking an unlimited number of times (and not just once) or transfer your booking free of charge.
If you’re booked on a P&O Cruises holiday that is unaffected by their latest pause and wish to cancel, the cancellation policy in their Booking Conditions applies. P&O Cruises shall be entitled to levy a cancellation charge as a percentage of the price paid. You can find out more details on their website.
Under Princess Cruises Book with Confidence policy, for bookings made through 2nd March 2021, you can cancel up to 30 days prior to sailing for voyages departing through 31st October 2021, and receive your cancellation fees back as a Future Cruise Credit.
Your FCC can be used on any sailing that departs within one year of your original departure date or 1st May 2022, whichever is later.
Royal Caribbean will let you cancel any cruise that sets sail from now through 30th April 2022. Whether it’s a booking you already have or one you make right now through 31st January 2021, you’re covered.
As long as you cancel at least 48 hours before your sail date, you’ll receive a Future Cruise Credit. The credit is valid to book and sail by 30th April 2022 or 12 months after the date that you cancelled your original sailing — whichever is further.
Regent Reassurance allows guests that have paid in full to cancel up to 15 days prior to the departure date and receive 100% Future Cruise Credit. This applies to all existing bookings and any new bookings that are made between 1st August 2020 and 31st December 2020 for sailings departing on or before 31st October 2021.
Riviera Travel look after guests as if you’re part of their family, so they want to make sure you’re happy in every sense.
To give you the confidence to book your well deserved holiday, Riviera Travel are allowing guests to make changes to their booking up to 45 days before they travel with no questions asked if they book by 28th February 2021.
Plus with COVID Cancellation & Curtailment protection included as standard, you won’t lose out if your holiday is affected by the pandemic.
If you book your Saga cruise before 28th February 2021, you can amend your booking at no additional cost if you wish to change your holiday plans at a later date. This applies to sailings that depart before 31st December 2021 and you can make the amends to your holiday up to 60 days before its departure.
Saga also offer optional travel insurance that includes a variety of extra cover and can be purchased at an additional fee when booking your cruise.
Seabourn’s Book With Confidence Policy gives cruisers full control over their holiday.
When you book a Seabourn cruise, you will automatically benefit from being able to cancel your holiday up to 30 days before its departure and receive a 100% FCC (monies received).
This applies to all sailings that are booked prior to 31st January 2021 for sailings departing before 31st December 2021.
SeaDream have introduced their Ultimate Booking Assurance that will allow their guests to book without being concerned about travel restrictions. The new ‘Assurance’ applies to all new bookings made from 22nd July 2020 and on voyages sailing before June 30, 2021.
Should there be a government restriction on travel due to Covid-19, you will be issued a full cash refund, or you can get 120% of the amount paid credited towards a future voyage.
To go the extra mile, SeaDream have said that even if there are no travel restrictions but you decide that you don’t want to travel anyway, for whatever reason, you can move 100% of your funds paid to a future sailing date. And best of all? You do not have to decide until the day of departure!
If you are unable to embark Golden Horizon due to a local lockdown in your country or due to your Government advising against travel to your destination(s) as a result of Covid-19, then you will be able to transfer your booking to another Tradewind Voyage at a later date, or, you can choose to have a full refund of monies already paid to us.
The replacement voyage must be undertaken within 24 months of the original voyage departure date.
Whilst Virgin Voyages are eagerly awaiting to get going on the seas, they’re offering fair and flexible booking policies to their sailors.
If you book any 2021 sailing on or before 31st March 2021, you’ll have the power to cancel up to 48 hours before it sails and receive a 100% Future Voyage Credit.
Windstar have introduced a new Travel Assurance Booking Policy as an extra effort to ensure cruisers feel comfortable booking their holiday now without fearing loss should they need to cancel.
Effective as of 26th October 2020, Windstar guests can cancel their 2021 booking up to 48 hours prior to departure and will receive a Future Cruise Credit in the amount of cancellation fees collected excluding fees collected for air, transportation and hotels.
For those travelling in 2022, you will also receive a Future Cruise Credit if you cancel at least 15 days prior to your departure date.
All Future Cruise Credits must be used within 24 months of issuance on another Windstar departure.
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We are in regular contact with our trusted cruise line partners and will add any updates to these policies to this page as soon as they are communicated to us.
