What is Royal Caribbean's Cancellation Policy?

2 min. readlast update: 06.18.2025

If you need to cancel your Royal Caribbean cruise, what happens next depends on when you cancel, what type of fare you booked, and whether you purchased travel protection. Here’s a clear breakdown of your options:

🚫 Standard Cruise Cancellation Policy

Royal Caribbean uses a tiered cancellation schedule, meaning the closer you are to departure, the more you’ll lose.  For details on this tiered cancellation schedule, please CLICK HERE.

 

💰 Refundable vs. Non-Refundable Deposit Fares

  • Refundable Deposit Fare: You can cancel before final payment and get your deposit back.

  • Non-Refundable Deposit Fare: Cancel anytime and forfeit your deposit (even if 90+ days out). Often comes with a lower initial rate but more restrictions.

 

✈️ Flights & Extras

  • If you booked flights or hotels through Air2Sea or Royal Caribbean, they may follow their own cancellation rules.

  • Shore excursions, spa, and dining reservations made through Cruise Planner are usually refunded if canceled pre-cruise.

 

🛡️ If You Have Travel Insurance

If you purchased travel insurance, you may qualify for cash reimbursement or future credit, depending on the reason:

  • Covered reasons may include illness, injury, job loss, or travel delays.

  • Some plans include “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage, giving you partial refund as credit even if your reason isn’t covered.

Refer to your Travel Insurance provider for details on the coverage of your policy.

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