Royal Caribbean adopted a new cancellation policy making it more difficult to retain a cruise fare and deposit when cancelling a voyage.
For itineraries of 5 nights or longer, including holiday cruises, cancellations made over 90 days in advance won't be charged extra; those made 89-75 days in advance will cost 25% of the cruise fare; cancellations made 74-61 days in advance will cost 50% per person; 60-31 days in advance - 75% per person; and cancellations made 30 days or less in advance will cost 100%.
The old policy allowed passengers to cancel their trip up to 57 days in advance, with just the deposit to be charged, and only charged 100% of the cruise price 14 days or less in advance.
For itineraries of 1 to 4 nights, Royal Caribbean will not charge cancellations made 75 days or more in advance, but will charge 50% per person for cancellations made 74-61 days in advance; 75% for those made 60-31 days in advance; and 100% for cancellations made within 30 days.
The old policy for shorter sailings allowed passengers to cancel their trip up to 43 days in advance, with just the deposit to be charged, and charged 100% of the cruise price 14 days or less in advance.
The news comes 2 years after Royal Caribbean tightened cancellation policy in March 2016.