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If you have booked a cruise with Celebrity Cruises and your plans have changed, you may be wondering whether you can get your money back. The answer depends mainly on when you cancel, the length of your cruise, the fare you purchased, and where you live.
Celebrity Cruises does allow refunds in certain situations, but cancelling close to your sailing date can result in significant cancellation charges. Some fares also have deposits that are non-refundable from the time of booking.
Understanding the celebrity cruises cancellation policy before cancelling can help you determine how much money you may receive back and whether another option, such as a future cruise credit, is available.
Yes, you can get some or all of your money back in certain circumstances. However, Celebrity Cruises does not provide an automatic full refund for every passenger-initiated cancellation.
For North American residents, the cancellation charge generally depends on the number of nights in the cruise and how many days remain before sailing.
For example, on many North American bookings:
A 1 to 4-night cruise can be cancelled without a cancellation charge 75 or more days before sailing, except for any non-refundable deposit.
A 5 to 14-night cruise can generally be cancelled without a cancellation charge 90 or more days before sailing, except for any non-refundable deposit.
A cruise of 15 nights or longer can generally be cancelled without a cancellation charge 120 or more days before sailing, except for any non-refundable deposit.
Cancellation charges increase as the sailing date gets closer.
Within 30 days of sailing, the cancellation charge can reach 100% of the total price.
The exact rules can vary based on residency, fare type, booking type, and other circumstances.
The celebrity cruises cancellation policy is based largely on how far in advance Celebrity receives your cancellation notice.
For North American residents, the standard schedule currently listed by Celebrity is:
Time Before SailingCancellation Charge
75+ daysNo charge, except non-refundable deposit
74–61 days50% of total price
60–31 days75% of total price
30 days or less100% of total price
Time Before SailingCancellation Charge
90+ daysNo charge, except non-refundable deposit
89–75 days25% of total price
74–61 days50% of total price
60–31 days75% of total price
30 days or less100% of total price
Time Before SailingCancellation Charge
120+ daysNo charge, except non-refundable deposit
119–75 days25% of total price
74–61 days50% of total price
60–31 days75% of total price
30 days or less100% of total price
These percentages represent cancellation charges, so the amount remaining after the applicable charge is what may be refundable. Applicable taxes, fees, and fuel supplement charges are also refundable when a cruise is cancelled under the applicable policy.
This is one of the most important parts of the policy.
Some Celebrity Cruises fare programs require a non-refundable deposit at the time of booking. If you choose one of these fares, the deposit generally cannot be returned even if you cancel while you are still outside the normal cancellation penalty period.
For example, if your cruise is eligible for cancellation without a standard cancellation charge but you paid a non-refundable deposit, you should not assume that the entire amount you paid will come back.
A non-refundable fare can also have different rules for changes, so check the terms attached to your specific booking before making changes.
Cancelling shortly before departure can significantly reduce the amount you receive back.
For many North American bookings, cancellation within 30 days of sailing carries a charge of 100% of the total cruise price. In that situation, there may be no refund of the cruise fare.
This is why cancelling as soon as you know you cannot travel is important. The cancellation date is based on when Celebrity receives the cancellation notice, not simply when you decide that you want to cancel.
Yes, a different situation applies when Celebrity Cruises cancels the voyage.
Celebrity states that if it cancels a voyage, or delays embarkation by three days or more, and you decide not to take the delayed or substitute voyage offered, you may be eligible for a refund or future cruise credit.
Celebrity notes that its practice may be to issue a future cruise credit automatically, but eligible guests can request a refund instead.
Refund requests in this situation must be made within six months of the cancellation date or scheduled embarkation date, whichever is earlier.
This is different from simply deciding that you no longer want to take your cruise.
A personal emergency does not automatically mean that Celebrity Cruises will waive its normal cancellation charges.
The outcome can depend on the reason for cancellation and whether you purchased applicable travel protection.
Celebrity offers CruiseCare travel protection for eligible guests. Under its stated benefits, specified reasons may qualify for cancellation coverage, while an otherwise ineligible cancellation may provide a future cruise credit under the plan's terms rather than a cash refund.
The important point is that purchasing travel protection does not necessarily mean every cancellation will result in a cash refund. The specific terms and eligible reasons matter.
Not necessarily.
If the deposit associated with your fare is specifically identified as non-refundable, changing your mind generally does not make that deposit refundable.
If your booking has a refundable deposit and you cancel within the applicable period where no cancellation charge applies, you may be eligible to receive the refundable amount back.
Always check your booking confirmation and fare conditions because two Celebrity Cruises reservations can have different cancellation terms.
The process depends on how you booked the cruise.
Contact Celebrity Cruises and provide your booking information. If you are eligible for a refund, the company can explain the applicable cancellation terms and process.
Contact the travel agent that created the reservation.
Celebrity states that refunds for payments made through a travel agent are generally returned through the travel agent. Your agent may therefore need to submit or process the cancellation for you.
Contact the company through which you made the booking. The third party may have its own procedures for handling cancellations and refunds in addition to Celebrity's applicable cruise terms.
The method of payment can affect where your refund is sent.
If Celebrity received your payment by credit card, the refund is generally returned to that credit card. If payment was received from a travel agent, the refund is provided back to the travel agent.
This means you may not always see a refund directly from Celebrity in your personal bank account when a travel agency handled the original payment.
In applicable passenger cancellations, Celebrity's published cancellation terms state that certain taxes, fees, and fuel supplement charges are refunded.
This is important because the refundable amount is not always calculated simply by taking the original booking price and applying a percentage.
Your cruise fare, deposit conditions, taxes, fees, insurance, and other purchased services can have separate rules.
If you simply do not arrive for your cruise without cancelling according to the applicable procedure, you should not expect a refund.
Celebrity's policy states that passenger cancellation after the cruise has started, early disembarkation for personal reasons, and no-shows are generally without refund or compensation.
If you know you cannot travel, it is better to formally notify Celebrity or your travel agent instead of simply failing to arrive at the port.
Generally, leaving the cruise early for personal reasons does not create a right to a refund.
For example, if you board the ship and later decide that you want to leave early, the unused portion of your cruise is generally not refundable under the standard cancellation rules.
Different circumstances can apply when the cruise itself is terminated or disrupted by Celebrity, so those situations should be handled separately.
Yes.
One important point about the celebrity cruises cancellation policy is that cancellation rules are not necessarily identical worldwide.
Celebrity publishes different cancellation terms for different markets, including North America, the UK and Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, and other locations.
Therefore, someone booking from the United States may have different cancellation deadlines from someone booking from another country.
If you booked outside North America, use the cancellation conditions applicable to your booking rather than assuming that the North American schedule applies.
Before submitting a cancellation request, check these details:
Your cruise departure date
Number of nights in the cruise
Your country of residence
Whether your deposit is refundable
Your fare type
Whether you booked directly or through an agency
Whether you purchased travel protection
Any prepaid cruise extras
The amount you have already paid
The applicable cancellation deadline
This can help you understand the potential financial impact before you officially cancel.
Suppose a qualifying cruise has a total price of $4,000 and the applicable cancellation charge is 50%.
A 50% cancellation charge would equal $2,000.
The remaining amount may be refundable, subject to the specific terms of the reservation and any non-refundable components.
If the applicable cancellation charge is 100%, however, the cruise fare may have no refundable balance.
This is why the same $4,000 booking could produce very different refund amounts depending on when the cancellation is received.
Cancellation is not always the only option.
Depending on your fare and booking conditions, you may be able to modify your reservation instead of cancelling it. However, changes can involve fees, fare differences, or other restrictions.
A change can sometimes be more suitable than cancelling when you still want to take a Celebrity cruise but cannot travel on the original date.
Before cancelling, ask what options are available for changing the sailing date or other booking details.
The processing time can depend on the type of refund and the circumstances of the cancellation.
Celebrity's published information for certain cancelled-voyage situations states that taxes, fees, and port expenses may be automatically refunded within 30 days, while cruise fare refunds are processed separately after the refund request is received.
Your bank or card issuer may also require additional processing time before the refund appears on your statement.
So, can you get your money back from Celebrity Cruises? Yes, but the amount depends on the circumstances.
The most important factors are when you cancel, how long your cruise is, your fare conditions, whether your deposit is refundable, and your country of residence. Cancelling earlier generally gives you more opportunity to receive money back, while cancelling close to departure can result in substantial penalties.
If Celebrity cancels your sailing or significantly delays embarkation, separate refund and future cruise credit rules may apply. If you purchased travel protection, your cancellation may also be covered when the reason meets the plan's requirements.
Before cancelling, review the terms attached to your specific reservation and determine the exact cancellation charge that applies. This is the safest way to know whether you should expect a full refund, partial refund, future cruise credit, or no refund.
Can I get a full refund from Celebrity Cruises?
You may be eligible for a full refund if you cancel early enough under the applicable terms and your booking does not contain non-refundable amounts. A full refund is not guaranteed for every cancellation.
Can I cancel a Celebrity cruise and get my deposit back?
It depends on your fare. If your deposit is specifically non-refundable, it generally cannot be returned. Refundable deposits may be returned when the booking is cancelled under conditions that allow a refund.
What happens if I cancel 30 days before my Celebrity cruise?
For many North American bookings, cancellation 30 days or less before sailing carries a 100% cancellation charge. The exact terms can vary by booking and market.
Does Celebrity Cruises refund taxes and fees?
Applicable taxes and fees are generally refundable when a cruise is cancelled under the relevant cancellation terms. Other charges can have separate conditions.
Can I get a refund if Celebrity Cruises cancels my sailing?
If Celebrity cancels a voyage, or delays embarkation by three days or more, eligible guests who choose not to take the delayed or substitute voyage may be able to receive a refund or future cruise credit.
Can I cancel after the cruise has started?
Passenger cancellations after the cruise has begun and early disembarkation for personal reasons generally do not qualify for a refund.
What happens if I booked through a travel agent?
You should contact the travel agent that made the booking. Celebrity states that when payment was received through a travel agent, the refund is generally returned to that agent.
Does travel insurance help with Celebrity cruise cancellation?
Eligible travel protection can provide benefits for specified cancellation reasons. The exact coverage depends on the plan and its terms, so having travel protection does not automatically guarantee a cash refund for every cancellation.
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