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Royal Caribbean vs Carnival Cruise Refund Process
Side-by-side comparison of refund processs, conditions, and refund timelines.·Last updated: 2026-03-21
Refund Conditions
Royal Caribbean
- Cancellation charges are determined by how far in advance of the sail date (or first day of the CruiseTour) Royal Caribbean receives notice of cancellation.
- Refunds and penalties for cancellation depend on the type of fare purchased, the length of the cruise, and how long before the cruise the cancellation is attempted.
- If a non-refundable deposit fare was selected, the deposit amount will not be refunded at any time after it has been paid, and change fees will apply.
- Cancellation by the guest after the cruise or CruiseTour has begun, early disembarkation for any reason, or 'no-shows' shall be without refund, compensation, or liability.
- For cancellations of air flights, hotel stays, transfer services, shore excursions, pre-purchased amenities, and other pre-booked services, applicable terms and conditions and cancellation charges apply.
- Taxes and fees, gratuities, and fuel supplement charges will be refunded if applicable upon cancellation of a Cruise or CruiseTour.
Carnival Cruise
- Before final payment, standard bookings generally have no cancellation penalty unless a non-refundable promotion or deposit applies.
- From final payment date to 56 days before sailing, the penalty is the standard deposit.
- From 55 to 30 days before sailing, the penalty is 50% of total fare or the standard deposit, whichever is greater.
- From 29 to 15 days before sailing, the penalty is 75% of total fare.
- From 14 days before sailing through no-show, the penalty is 100% of total fare.
- Government taxes, fees, and prepaid gratuities are refunded when applicable.
Refund Steps
Royal Caribbean
- Review the terms of the booking and cancellation policies, as refunds and penalties depend on the type of fare purchased, cruise length, and timing of cancellation.
- If you booked directly with Royal Caribbean and need to change your original ship and/or sail date with a non-refundable deposit, contact the Consumer Outreach team at (866) 562-7625.
- If you booked via a travel advisor, contact them for any booking changes or cancellations.
- To cancel existing orders for pre-cruise products like Shore Excursions, Beverage Packages, Specialty Dining, and Spa services, use 'My Royal Cruise' or contact 1-800-398-9819 for Pre-Cruise Planning Assistance.
- For specialty dining reservations, cancellations must be made on the My Royal Cruise website at least 24 hours before your reservation time to avoid a fee.
Carnival Cruise
- Review your booking details and fare type before canceling, because some promotions use non-refundable deposits.
- If you booked directly with Carnival, review the booking in your profile or contact Carnival to cancel.
- If you booked through a travel advisor, cancel through the advisor.
- Confirm whether any air add-ons or extras have separate refund rules before finalizing the cancellation.
Refund Methods
Royal Caribbean
- If payment was received via credit card, the refund will be made to that credit card.
- If payment was received from a travel agent, the refund will be provided back to that travel agent.
Carnival Cruise
- Original payment method
Partial Refunds
Royal Caribbean
- Partial refunds are issued according to a sliding scale of cancellation charges based on the number of days prior to sailing.
- If a non-refundable deposit cancellation occurs outside of final payment, the full deposit amount will be held as a penalty, but any additional payments made will be refunded.
- Any applicable Taxes and Fees, Gratuities, and Fuel Supplement charges will be refunded.
Carnival Cruise
- Refundable amounts can be reduced by the applicable fare penalty based on the sailing date.
- Flexible Air is generally refundable outside 60 days before travel, while Restricted Air is non-refundable after booking.
Additional Notes
Royal Caribbean
- The provided policy details are for US bookings; different cancellation policies may apply for bookings made outside of the United States and Canada.
- Royal Caribbean reserves the right to offer promotional cruise fares or other offers that may modify the stated cancellation policies.
- The Cruise Ticket Contract or Booking Conditions contain important limitations on passenger rights, including provisions relating to limitation of liability, forum selection, governing law, and alternative dispute resolution.
Carnival Cruise
- Carnival's public FAQ says direct-booked guests can review penalty details in their profile before canceling.
- Air programs and some promotions follow separate rules from the standard cruise-fare schedule.