Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, both owned by Royal Caribbean Group, announced changes to their cancellation policies for North America sailings effective October 11, 2026. The update streamlines penalty tiers and adjusts cancellation deadlines across various cruise lengths.
Cancellation Penalty Adjustments by Cruise Length
Royal Caribbean will eliminate the 25% cancellation penalty tier for all cruise durations. This means canceling shortly after final payment will incur higher charges. For cruises lasting one to four nights, cancellation penalties remain unchanged: passengers canceling 75 days or more before embarkation face no penalty beyond nonrefundable deposits. For longer sailings, penalty structures are consolidated.
Celebrity Cruises is reducing its penalty
tiers from three to two starting October 11, 2026. One- to five-night cruises will now be treated as a single category with penalties beginning 75 days before sailing, a change from the previous start at 90 days specifically for five-night cruises. Cruises of six nights or longer will enter the penalty phase 120 days prior to departure.
Final Payment Deadlines and Penalty Enforcement
Royal Caribbean is advancing the final payment deadline for 10- to 14-night cruises from 90 days to 120 days before sailing. This change applies to sailings including Alaska, Hawaii, Pacific Coast, and transpacific routes that open for booking from September 29, 2026.
Both
cruise lines will enforce cancellation penalties on third and fourth guests of a reservation as of October 11, 2026. Previously, penalties on these additional guests were frequently waived. The new rules automate penalty calculation and application for all guests.
Traveler Impact and Booking Conditions
Bookings made before October 11, 2026, will continue to follow the original cancellation terms. Reservations created on or after this date must comply with the updated policies. Families and groups with multiple guests should be particularly cautious, as cancellation fees will apply individually to all guests, including third and fourth passengers.
For example, a $4,000 seven-night cruise canceled 75 days before
sailing will now incur a 50% penalty ($2,000), doubling the previous fee during that timeframe. Travelers booking 2028 Alaska, Hawaii, Pacific Coast, and transpacific voyages after September 29, 2026, will be subject to the new cancellation rules.
Industry and Expert Commentary
Amy Post, co-owner of Postcard Travel Planning, stated that clients will be informed about the updated policies, especially regarding penalties for third and fourth guests which were previously often waived. She added that although these adjustments are necessary due to increasing cruise demand, they aim to reduce inventory holds and improve cabin availability.
Post explained, “The changes shouldn’t be too impactful, but we
want to make sure our clients understand that tightening cancellation policies is necessary because cruise demand continues to grow and cruise lines don’t want to tie up inventory that could otherwise be sold to cruisers serious about sailing.” She also noted that moving final payment deadlines earlier and enforcing stricter cancellation rules facilitates better customer service and cabin selection.
Booking Timeline and Affected Routes
The new cancellation policies apply to North America sailings and affect bookings made or reopened after October 11, 2026. New sailings on Alaska, Hawaii, Pacific Coast, and transpacific itineraries open for booking on September 29, 2026, will follow these updated cancellation
rules from the outset.
These changes reflect cruise line efforts to optimize inventory management amid rising demand, ensuring cabins are available for confirmed travelers and reducing penalty-free cancellations.
