Cruise Refund Policy & Updated Departure Dates- List of Cruise Lines that Offer Rebooking and Refund

If ever you’re planning to have a nice and elegant cruising experience but suddenly got affected due to the novel coronavirus or COVID-19, you must know what are the cruise lines that offer rebooking and refunds. The list we have here is what these cruise lines recently imposed in relation to the current news about the coronavirus.

Please note that all Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) members have added screening measures that will be taken in response to the spread of the virus. Read them below.

Cruise Lines International Association Members List

Cruise Lines that are members of CLIA will deny boarding to all people who have traveled from or transited through airports in South Korea, Iran, China (including Hong Kong and Macao) and any municipality in Italy. They are subject to quarantine within 14 days prior to embarkation. They will also deny boarding to all guests who, within 14 days before embarkation, have had contact with anyone suspected or diagnosed with having COVID-19.

And below is the list of major cruise lines and their refund and cancellation policies. Take a look and see if your future cruise experience will be affected. Some of these cruise lines are members of CLIA so they follow the restrictions stated above.

Carnival Cruise Line

Guests who have their booking for any departures between March 6 and May 31 will receive the onboard credit. The amounts, however, may vary on the length of each cruise, but it starts at a minimum of $100 and it will automatically be applied.

• Carnival also allows guests who are on a cruise that will depart during March to cancel up to 3 days before sailing, as long as they made their booking on or before March 5.
• Guests who will sail in April and made their booking on or before March 5 still have until March 31 to cancel their trip. 
• Those guests with a schedule for May that was made on or before March 5, can cancel up to 30 days before departure.
• Those guests who made a booking on or before March 10 that’s scheduled from June through September can cancel 30 days before sailing.
• Expect that guests will receive a future cruise credit for the amount of the non-refundable cancellation fee. It must be used within one year of the original sailing date.

Visit Carnival Cruise Line’s website to check more updates.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises deny boarding to any guest who transited to mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Iran or South Korea 15 days before departure as well as guests who made contact with people who reside in those areas.

• All guests that were denied boarding due to the restrictions should expect to receive full refunds.
• Guests can cancel a cruise up to 48 hours before sailing.
• Guests will receive full credit for the cancellation that they can use on any cruise in 2020 or 2021. 
• Those Guests that are scheduled to take the March 17 Constellation cruise will receive a full refund.

Visit the Celebrity Cruises’ website to check more updates.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line announced that all cruises covered to depart from March 14 through the end of the month are suspended.

• Guests that are booked on departures on the Disney Magic between today and May 8 can change their reservation up until the day of embarkation and will receive a 100% cruise credit that they can use on a future cruise within 12 months of their original departure date.
• Those guests who are booked on the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wonder between today and May 31 have the same adjustments.

Visit Disney Cruise Line’s website to check more updates.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Any passenger or crew member who has been to China, Hong Kong, Macao, South Korea, Iran or Italy within 30 days of embarkation will be denied boarding.

• Any passenger or crew member who has direct contact with anyone who has traveled from or transited in any airport in the aforementioned countries will also be denied boarding.
• Guests who will be denied boarding will receive a refund of 100% future cruise credit.
• For guests who made bookings from March 10 to Sept. 30 may cancel up to 48 hours before their departure date and will receive a refund of 100% future cruise credit that can be used before Dec. 31, 2022. This also applies to those guests who are currently booked for cruises during this same time frame.

Visit Norwegian Cruise Line’s website to check more updates.

Oceania Cruises

• The same travel restrictions with Norwegian Cruise Line.
• Guests who will be denied boarding will also receive a refund of 100% future cruise credit.
• Oceania Cruises offers travelers an assurance program that features no-penalty cancellations. 
• Those guests with existing bookings that will depart until Sept. 30 and guests with new bookings until April 30 for trips that will depart through Sept. 30 can cancel for any reason up to 48 hours before departure and will receive 100% future cruise credit that they can use before Dec. 31, 2022.
• Oceania Cruises also canceled all cruises in Asia until August.

Visit the Oceania Cruises’ website to check more updates.

Princess Cruises

As of March 12, Princess Cruises starts pausing all global ship operations for the next 60 days and will end on May 10.

• Guests who are currently onboard a cruise that will end within the next five days will continue to sail through the end of their itinerary. 
• Those who have bookings on cruises within this period will have the chance to transfer 100% of the money paid to a future cruise.
• Princess Cruises will also add an additional cruise credit benefit, it can be applied to cruise fare or onboard expenses. If guests will not be able to use the future cruise credit, they can fill out a form to request for a refund.

Visit Princess Cruises’ website to check more updates.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

RSSC will deny boarding to those holders of Chinese, Hong Kong or Macao passport.

• Those guests who have paid in full for all cruises between March 10 and Sept. 30 can have the option to cancel their trip up to 48 hours before their departure and will receive 100% of the amount in cruise credit to use on any future cruise up until Dec. 31, 2022.

Visit Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ website to check more updates.

Royal Caribbean International

The Royal Caribbean International will deny boarding to any guest who has traveled from, or through mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Iran, South Korea, and Italy in the past 15 days. 

• They have also updated their website and included a list of European countries as well, having the same 15 day time frame.
• This 15-day limit will also apply to people who have come in contact with any person who traveled to the aforementioned countries or had contact with or helped care for someone suspected or diagnosed with having COVID-19.
• Guests have greater control over their vacations by giving them the option to cancel a cruise up to 48 hours before sailing.
• Guests will also receive full credit for the cancellation that they can use on any cruise in 2020 or 2021. This policy will apply to all cruises on or before July 31.
• U.S. guests that are on cruises in Asia with departures before March 23 are allowed to rebook without penalty at a later date.\

Visit Royal Caribbean International’s website to check more updates.

Viking River Cruises

• Effective March 11, Viking River Cruises is temporarily suspending operations of all cruises that will take place from March 12 to April 30.
• It plans to continue operations on May 1, resuming all cruises after that date as originally planned.
• Guests whose cruise is affected in this time will be offered a future cruise voucher worth 125% of the amount paid or a refund that is equal to the amount paid.
• Guests will have 24 months to use the cruise voucher, but if they are unable to, Viking will automatically send a  refund.

Visit the Viking River Cruises’ website to check more updates.

Virgin Voyages

• On March 12, Virgin Voyages released a statement that they will postpone the showcase tour of the inaugural season of Scarlet Lady until July 15, and the Maiden Voyage will take place on Aug. 7.
• Affected guests can choose any of these refund options:
  • 200% in future cruise credit that’s possible to be applied to another booking.
  • $500 onboard credit if guests will rebook before June 30.
  • A 100% refund and 25% future cruise credit on the value that was paid to use for another booking.

Visit Virgin Voyages’ website to check more updates.

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About the Writer

Hi there! I’m Fatima. My first major travel was in 2016 in the beautiful city of Cebu. After that, I got interested in traveling. Now I enjoy learning languages and other country’s cultures. My goal is to visit at least one country each year and to share my experiences with other people through writing or blogging. Witness my journey by following me on Instagram.