Princess Cruises uses a tiered cancellation policy that determines how much of your fare is refundable based on when you cancel. The closer your sailing date, the higher the cancellation fee. This system is designed to help the cruise line manage costs and occupancy while giving travelers the opportunity to cancel early with minimal loss. To understand what you might be charged, it’s essential to look at the timeline that applies to your specific cruise fare and itinerary.
Most Princess Cruises itineraries follow a similar cancellation schedule, though exact days may vary slightly depending on the destination or length of the voyage. The general structure looks like this:
90+ days before sailing: No cancellation fee; you typically receive a full refund.
Up to 75 days before: A modest cancellation fee may apply on certain fare types.
75–60 days before: Fees begin to increase, and refunds may drop to 75% or less.
60–45 days before: Cancellation penalties often rise to 50% or more of the total fare.
45–30 days before: You may forfeit 75% or more of your fare.
Within 30 days of sailing: Most of the fare becomes nonrefundable, often resulting in a 100% cancellation fee.
The key point is that Princess Cruises’ cancellation fees escalate the closer you get to your departure date. Guests who cancel early benefit the most.
Princess offers both refundable and nonrefundable fare options. Refundable fares give you greater cancellation flexibility, while discounted or promotional fares may include nonrefundable deposits. If you booked a rate with a nonrefundable deposit, canceling at any point could mean losing the deposit amount as a cancellation fee. Always check your fare details to confirm whether your deposit is refundable.
Beyond your base fare, many guests purchase extras—such as the Princess Plus or Premier packages, shore excursions, Wi-Fi, or specialty dining. These purchases may follow different refund timelines. For example, shore excursions are usually refundable until 48 hours before the ship arrives in the port where the excursion is scheduled. Beverage packages and Wi-Fi are typically refundable if canceled before sailing but become nonrefundable once your cruise begins. Understanding these distinctions can help you avoid additional cancellation charges.
Princess Cruises calculates cancellation fees using a combination of timing, fare type, and applicable policies. However, certain conditions and situations can alter what you owe.
The cancellation clock starts the moment your booking is confirmed. If you need to cancel, doing so as early as possible gives you the best chance of avoiding large penalties. Even a cancellation made just one day earlier can sometimes save you hundreds of dollars, depending on which penalty window you fall into.
Longer sailings, world cruises, and specialty itineraries may have stricter cancellation policies, often requiring earlier notification to avoid fees. Shorter voyages and standard itineraries tend to follow the more common 90–30-day structure. If your cruise lasts 30 days or more, it’s likely that Princess will require even earlier notice—sometimes 120 days or more—to avoid fees.
Holiday sailings—such as Christmas, New Year’s, and major seasonal dates—often have tighter rules. Because these sailings are in high demand, Princess Cruises may enforce stricter cancellation penalties or require earlier notice. You may incur higher fees if you cancel these premium sailings closer to departure.
Princess Cruises occasionally needs to cancel or significantly alter an itinerary due to operational changes, weather issues, or other circumstances. When Princess cancels your cruise, you are not charged a cancellation fee. Instead, guests are normally offered a full refund or a future cruise credit—often with added bonuses. This means cancellation fees only apply when you choose to cancel your reservation, not when the cruise line does.
In rare cases where the cruise line changes your itinerary significantly—such as replacing many ports or converting the sailing into a different type of voyage—Princess may allow guests to cancel without penalty. These cases are handled individually, but they generally fall outside the normal cancellation schedule.
Travel insurance can significantly reduce or eliminate cancellation fees, depending on your coverage.
Princess offers its own travel protection plan that includes a Cancel-For-Any-Reason (“CFAR”) benefit. If your reason for canceling is not covered by standard policy terms, the CFAR benefit provides a future cruise credit for a substantial portion of your fare instead of losing the entire amount to cancellation fees. Although this doesn’t give you a cash refund, it helps preserve your investment.
If you purchase insurance from an external provider, your policy may reimburse your cancellation fees if you cancel for a covered reason, such as illness, injury, or certain emergencies. Not all reasons qualify, so read coverage details carefully.
With good planning, you may be able to minimize or eliminate cancellation fees from Princess Cruises.
This is the most effective way to avoid fees. If you suspect you won’t be able to travel, make the decision as early as possible. Even if you lose a nonrefundable deposit, canceling early could save you from much larger penalties later on.
Whenever possible, choose refundable fares—especially if your travel plans are uncertain. While these fares may cost more upfront, they offer greater flexibility and protection against unexpected schedule changes.
During periods of global travel disruption or policy changes, Princess sometimes relaxes cancellation fees or offers special allowances. Keeping an eye on official announcements can help travelers take advantage of temporary flexibility.
Every passenger’s ticket contract outlines all cancellation terms, including fees, refund rules, and timelines. While many travelers skip reading the fine print, this contract contains critical information. Reviewing it before booking helps you avoid surprises and better understand your financial responsibility if plans change.
There are situations where Princess Cruises will not waive cancellation fees. These include:
Canceling within a 100% penalty window
Failing to show up for your cruise (no-shows incur full penalties)
Canceling nonrefundable deposit fares
Canceling after the cruise has begunEven with travel insurance, not all fees are covered unless your reason meets policy requirements.
The cancellation fee structure for Princess Cruises aims to balance flexibility for travelers with operational needs for the cruise line. While full refunds are possible when canceling far ahead of the departure date, penalties gradually increase as the sailing date approaches. Understanding the timeline that applies to your booking, along with any nonrefundable elements of your fare, can help you make informed decisions and avoid unexpected charges.
Travelers who value flexibility should consider booking refundable fares, purchasing travel insurance, and keeping track of important cancellation deadlines. By doing so, you can reduce the risk of high cancellation fees and ensure that your travel plans—whether they continue as scheduled or need adjustment—remain as smooth and stress-free as possible.
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