Royal Caribbean is altering its cancellation policy for new cruise and CruiseTour bookings made on or after October 11, 2026. The update removes the previous 25% cancellation penalty tier for cruises lasting five to nine nights, which impacts penalty charges within that category.
Revised Penalty Structure for Five to Nine Night Cruises
Under the new policy, cancellations made between 89 and 61 days before departure for cruises lasting five to nine nights will now face a 50% penalty. This contrasts with the previous system where cancellations 89 to 75 days ahead incurred a 25% penalty, and 74 to 61 days resulted in 50%. The adjustment effectively doubles the penalty
for cancellations between 75 and 89 days prior to departure.
New Schedule for Cruises Ten Nights or Longer
Royal Caribbean has introduced a separate cancellation schedule for cruises lasting 10 nights or more. The 50% cancellation penalty under this revision begins 119 days before departure, extending the timeframe in which a significant penalty applies. This marks an earlier penalty start compared with the former schedule where 10- to 14-night cruises were grouped with the five-to-14-night category, with penalties beginning 89 days prior.
Unchanged Policies and Exceptions for Specific Voyages
Cancellation penalties for cruises lasting one to four nights remain unchanged, with 50% penalties from 74 to 61 days before departure. Additionally, certain voyages including Alaska,
Hawaii, Pacific Coastal, Panama Canal, and Transpacific cruises departing on or after April 11, 2028, that are booked starting September 29, 2026, already follow this new penalty schedule.
Impact on Travelers and Existing Bookings
The revised policy increases costs for travelers cancelling some sailings well in advance. For example, cancelling a $4,000 five-night cruise 80 days before departure will raise the penalty from $1,000 under the prior system to $2,000 under the new rules. However, passengers with existing bookings will continue under their original cancellation terms unless their voyages fall within the specified Alaska, Hawaii, Pacific Coastal, Panama Canal, or Transpacific routes departing after April 11,
2028, and booked from September 29, 2026 onward.
Royal Caribbean has stated the changes aim to “streamline, consolidate, and simplify” the cancellation penalty framework across North America, although the adjustments result in increased fees under certain cancellation timeframes.
