Atlas by Shumba Travel · Ask Atlas
What refund do I get if I cancel my cruise?
Cancellation charges climb as sail date gets closer, so the calendar matters more than optimism. How much you keep depends on cruise length, which cancellation schedule applies to your booking, and how many days before departure Royal Caribbean receives your cancellation notice. Royal Caribbean currently publishes two U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico schedules. Many bookings still use the legacy tables with a 25% mid-tier. Newer bookings use a simpler schedule that removes that 25% band and jumps straight to 50% once you are inside the penalty window. Far enough out, you may owe nothing beyond any non-refundable deposit. Inside the final weeks, charges can reach the full cruise price with no refund. Taxes, fees, and fuel supplement are generally refunded when you cancel. Policies can differ outside the U.S. and Canada, and once the cruise has started, early departure or a no-show usually means no refund at all. Check your booking confirmation for the schedule that applies to you.
- Legacy schedule still used for many bookings:
- 1 to 4 nights: no charge 75+ days out (except non-refundable deposits), 50% at 74 to 61 days, 75% at 60 to 31 days, 100% at 30 days or less
- 5 to 14 nights: no charge 90+ days out (except non-refundable deposits), 25% at 89 to 75 days, 50% at 74 to 61 days, 75% at 60 to 31 days, 100% at 30 days or less
- 15 nights or longer: no charge 120+ days out (except non-refundable deposits), 25% at 119 to 75 days, 50% at 74 to 61 days, 75% at 60 to 31 days, 100% at 30 days or less
- Newer schedule already listed by Royal Caribbean for some Alaska, Hawaii, Transpacific, Panama Canal, and Pacific Coastal bookings created on or after September 29, 2026 for sailings departing on or after April 11, 2028. Wider October 11, 2026 rollout has also been reported for U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico bookings:
- 1 to 4 nights: unchanged from the legacy short-cruise table
- 5 to 9 nights: no charge 90+ days out (except non-refundable deposits), 50% at 89 to 61 days, 75% at 60 to 31 days, 100% at 30 days or less
- 10 nights or longer: no charge 120+ days out (except non-refundable deposits), 50% at 119 to 61 days, 75% at 60 to 31 days, 100% at 30 days or less
- Applicable taxes, fees, and fuel supplement are generally refunded on cancellation
- Notice counts when Royal Caribbean receives it
- After sailing starts, early disembarkation or no-shows are typically non-refundable
Source: Royal Caribbean, Royal Caribbean
Last verified 2026-10-04