Changing your travel plans is sometimes unavoidable, and many Princess Cruises guests wonder how much it really costs to adjust a cruise date. While Princess allows changes, the fees and rules aren’t always straightforward. Costs vary depending on your fare type, how close you are to your departure date, the availability of the new sailing, and whether the change is technically treated as a cancellation. Learning the details ahead of time can prevent surprises and help you decide whether rebooking is worth it. This guide breaks down the fee structure, timelines, exceptions, and best strategies to avoid paying more than necessary.
Princess Cruises does not have a single, flat “change fee” in most cases. Instead, modifying your cruise date often follows the cancellation penalty schedule, especially when the itinerary, sail date, length, or ship is different from the original booking. This means that the earlier you make the change, the less you’ll pay.
Multiple elements determine whether you will incur fees or lose part of your fare when changing dates.
The type of fare you originally booked plays one of the biggest roles.
These fares are the most flexible. Changing a date early in the timeline may cost nothing, as long as the new cruise has similar pricing and conditions.
Discounted, promotional, or restricted fares often come with stricter change rules. Some require paying a modification fee, while others treat date changes as cancellations, which can result in losing part of the fare.
The closer you are to your departure date, the higher the potential penalty.
If you want to change your cruise date 75 days or more before sailing, you can often do so without penalty—especially with a refundable fare.
As soon as the cruise enters Princess Cruises’ cancellation penalty window, usually between 74 and 30 days before sailing, changing your date typically activates cancellation fees. The penalty increases as the cruise approaches. Last-minute changes can result in 100% loss of fare, making rebooking essentially impossible unless future cruise credits are permitted.
Adjusting dates may lead to price changes.
If the new cruise date is more expensive, you’ll need to pay the fare difference. This is often the biggest cost associated with rebooking.
If the new sailing is cheaper, you may or may not receive a refund. Some fare types allow refunds, while others issue nonrefundable onboard credit or future cruise credit.
Understanding Princess Cruises’ typical penalty schedule helps estimate what you might pay when changing your cruise date.
If you change your cruise date far from your sailing date, you may owe nothing. This applies mainly to refundable fare bookings. The earlier you act, the better your chances of avoiding all fees.
Although rare, some promotional fares include a small administrative fee for adjustments. This is often modest compared to cancellation penalties.
Once inside the penalty window, Princess applies fees based on the number of days before sailing.
Making a change around 60–75 days before sailing can trigger a 25% cancellation penalty, meaning you lose a quarter of your fare.
Changes made within 31–59 days usually incur a 50% penalty. At this point, rebooking is expensive unless your fare type includes additional flexibility.
When a cruise is 30 days or fewer from departure, Princess Cruises often enforces a 100% penalty for changes or cancellations. This means:
You lose the full fare
You cannot transfer payment to a different date
Rebooking becomes nearly impossible without new payment
This is why guests planning to shift their trip should act as early as possible.
Princess Cruises offers specific policies for special circumstances, which can lower or eliminate change costs.
If your cruise was paid with FCCs, the rules differ slightly.
FCCs are usually reissued with the same expiration date if you cancel or rebook before penalties apply. However, unused value within the penalty window may be lost.
Some FCCs cannot be refunded or converted to cash, even if you rebook to a cheaper sailing.
Purchasing trip insurance through Princess can offer additional flexibility.
If your plan includes Cancel for Any Reason protection, you may receive future cruise credit up to 75% of your fare even when standard penalties apply.
Approved medical or family emergency circumstances may allow for partial or full reimbursement, either through Princess or your insurance provider.
Princess often runs special deals such as discounted deposits or “Kids Sail Free” promotions.
If switching to a promotional fare, Princess may require a full cancellation and rebooking, which means penalties apply if within the penalty period.
Sometimes Princess will allow a fare reprice rather than full rebooking, avoiding penalties but requiring the same stateroom type and sailing date.
Group cruises can include more flexible terms.
Depending on the group agreement, date changes may be allowed with reduced penalties or extended deadlines. This varies greatly between groups.
Smart planning can help you avoid paying unnecessary fees.
This is the single best strategy. The earlier you contact Princess or your travel agent, the more options you have.
Sometimes the fare difference is greater than any cancellation fee would be, so keeping an eye on pricing helps you decide the better option.
Refundable fares may cost more upfront but offer far better flexibility.
If your travel plans are uncertain, skip steeply discounted nonrefundable fares.
Experienced cruise travel agents often know how to navigate exceptions or request flexibility.
While not guaranteed, waivers sometimes minimize fees when circumstances are reasonable.
Trip protection can save money if:
You encounter illness
Work schedules change
Family events conflict with travel
Not all plans reimburse for changes; read your policy carefully.
Changing a cruise date with Princess Cruises is possible, but the cost depends heavily on timing, fare type, and availability. While Princess doesn’t always charge a specific “change fee,” date modifications often fall under cancellation penalties, which can range from zero to 100% of your fare. Making changes early, choosing refundable fares, monitoring promotions, and considering travel protection are the best ways to avoid expensive penalties. With smart planning, you can adjust your travel dates while keeping your vacation budget intact.
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