Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Change Key Rules Cruisers Rarely Read
Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Change Key Rules Cruisers Rarely Read
Alisha dos SantosTue, September 29, 2026 at 8:20 PM UTC
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Two of the biggest names in cruising are changing what happens when your cruise plans fall apart. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, sister brands under Royal Caribbean Group, both told travel advisors in emails on Sept. 28 that cancellation policy changes are rolling out for North America sailings and new rules take effect Oct. 11, 2026.
Both lines call the overhaul a simplification. For some cruisers though, the changes could mean a bigger penalty for canceling a cruise, and penalties could kick in sooner than they expect. One piece of the update lands especially hard for families, and it’s easy to miss.
Royal Caribbean Changes Cancellation Penalty Structure
The biggest change to Royal Caribbean’s cancellation policy is that the 25% cancellation penalty tier disappears for all sailing lengths, according to the cruise line’s policy change notice shared in a Symphony of the Seas Facebook group. That means canceling a cruise shortly after the final payment deadline is about to become much more costly, so it’s more important than ever to note the cancellation penalty schedule at booking.
Sailing length categories are also being streamlined in the schedule.
Cancellation penalties for cruises of one to four nights stay the same:
75 days or more before embarkation: no charge, except nonrefundable deposit amounts
74 to 61 days: 50% of the total price
60 to 31 days: 75% of the total price
30 days or fewer: 100% of the total price (no refund)
Cancellation penalties for cruises of five to nine nights:
90 days or more before embarkation: no charge, except nonrefundable deposit amounts
89 to 61 days: 50% of the total price
60 to 31 days: 75% of the total price
30 days or fewer: 100% of the total price (no refund)
Cancellation penalties for cruises of 10 nights or longer:
120 days or more before embarkation: no charge, except nonrefundable deposit amounts
119 to 61 days 50% of the total price
60 to 31 days: 75% of the total price
30 days or fewer: 100% of the total price (no refund)
A hypothetical example: Say you cancel a seven-night cruise with a $4,000 fare 75 days before sailing. Under the new schedule, that’s a 50% penalty, or $2,000. In the window where the 25% tier used to apply (89 to 75 days), the same cancellation now costs twice as much.
Both Celebrity and Royal Caribbean are tightening cancellation penalty schedules.Danielle Rosen/TravelHostRoyal Caribbean Changes Final Payment Deadline for Longer Sailings
Cruisers booking sailings of 10 nights or more should note that the final payment window is being moved up for longer sailings. The final payment for 10- to 14-night cruises is now due 120 days before sailing, up from 90 days under the old five- to 14-night category.
Additionally, those planning to book a cruise soon for 2028 should note that new Alaska, Hawaii, Pacific Coast, and transpacific sailings that open for booking on Sept. 29, 2026 fall under the new cancellation policy from the start.
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What Is Celebrity Cruises New Cancellation Policy?
Celebrity’s notice to travel partners describes a similar consolidation, moving from three cancellation penalty tiers to two, as of Oct. 11:
One- to five-night sailings will now be grouped together. A cancellation charge will apply starting at 75 days before sailing, instead of 90 days for five-night cruises.
Sailings of six nights or longer will enter the penalty period once within 120 days of sailing.
Bookings created before Oct. 11, 2026, keep their original cancellation terms. Bookings created on or after that date follow the new schedule.
Cancellation Fees No Longer Waived for Third and Fourth Guests
This is the part families will want to read twice: Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are also set to begin enforcing their guest cancellation policy for third and fourth guests on the reservation. Starting Oct. 11, both cruise lines will automatically calculate the penalty for third and fourth guests and apply it to the canceled guest’s cruise fare. Before, those penalties were often waived.
As a mom who sails with a teen, tween, and sometimes, grandparents, I know how much this part matters. If a teen ends up with a scheduling conflict with sports or a grandparent can no longer make the trip, a cancellation penalty you may not have been charged for that guest on a previous cruise may now apply.
Related: Royal Caribbean Bets On a Controversial Cabin Type
“These are policy updates we will be sure to brief our clients on, especially since the third and fourth guest will also be penalized where that fee was waived before,” said Amy Post, co-owner of Postcard Travel Planning.
“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,” Post added. “Moving final payment deadlines up and enforcing stricter cancellation policies helps cruise lines give proper customer service and better cabin selection for all cruisers.”
(Paradium.AIwill earn a commission if you book a cruise with Postcard Travel Planning.)
Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me’s Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel Planning, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
This story was originally published by TravelHost on Sep 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the Come Cruise With Me section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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