Celebrity Cruises Cancellation Policy

Planning a luxurious cruise getaway is always thrilling, but it’s just as important to know where you stand if plans take an unexpected turn. Celebrity Cruises totally gets that life happens, plans change, emergencies pop up, and sometimes you simply need to adjust your trip. That’s why they’ve put together a clear and straightforward cancellation policy to keep you informed and protected. If Celebrity Cruises needs to make changes to your booking or cancel the trip altogether, they have specific terms in place to handle such situations. This helps you plan with peace of mind, knowing there’s a safety net in case things don’t go as expected. Before you set sail, it’s always smart to review the Celebrity cruise cancellation policy guidelines carefully.

Overview of Celebrity Cruise Cancellation Policy

Celebrity Cruises offers the CruiseCare Package, a handy bundle of benefits designed to make things easier when the unexpected strikes. This package includes cancellation protection, travel insurance, and emergency assistance, so you are not left worrying if you need to cancel or run into issues during your trip. It’s all about giving you peace of mind before and during your cruise. 

Here’s a closer look at what’s included in the Celebrity Cruises cancellation policy and how it can help you.

Cancel for Any Reason with CruiseCare:

Celebrity Cruises’ CruiseCare Cancellation Penalty Waiver Program gives you added peace of mind. If you need to cancel or interrupt your cruise for certain covered reasons, CruiseCare lets you claim a cash refund for the otherwise non-refundable parts of your prepaid cruise vacation. This refund goes beyond the standard cancellation policy in the cruise brochure. Whether you cancel before departure or need to leave early, the unused portion of your trip can be refunded in cash. This waiver acts as an add-on to your cruise ticket contract and applies to both you and your traveling companion, with some restrictions.

• Covered reasons include:

The reasons for which you can cancel your reservation with a waiver, are stated below: 

• Illness, injury, or death: 

If you, a travel buddy, or close family member falls sick, gets hurt, or passes away, just show a doctor’s note to claim your refund.

• Traffic accident en route to departure:

If you got stuck in a serious car crash on the way to your trip, you just provide proof, and you are covered for cancellation.

• Home rendered uninhabitable due to natural disasters:

If a wildfire, flood, or earthquake makes your home unsafe to live in, you can cancel your trip and get your money back.

• Being called to active military duty for disaster relief: 

If duty calls and you are summoned for military disaster relief, your cruise plans can wait. You are eligible for a refund in such cases.

• Subpoena or jury duty:

If you got unexpectedly summoned to court or selected for jury duty, your trip can be cancelled for a refund with proper documentation

Therefore, if your travel buddy cancels for a covered reason and you are suddenly flying solo, you might be eligible to get back any extra charges you paid for having to go it alone.

• Exclusions include:

Here are some reasons of cancelation where you will not get covered: 

• If you had a medical issue that started, got worse, turned serious, or made you change meds or see a doctor in the 60 days before buying CruiseCare, it’s not covered.

• Mental health conditions, emotional disorders, or normal pregnancies aren’t covered, unless you were hospitalized for them. Elective abortions also fall under exclusions in this waiver.

• Using drugs or alcohol isn’t covered unless those substances were actually prescribed to you by a licensed physician for treatment. Recreational or unauthorized use isn’t eligible.

• You can’t cancel for work-related duties, school commitments, or business contracts, whether it’s your obligation or that of a family member or your travel buddy.

• Whether war is declared or not, any event linked to war or if you are serving in any military force, the waiver doesn’t provide coverage for such circumstances.

• If you or the person you are traveling with breaks the law or is involved in any illegal activity, CruiseCare won’t cover any losses related to that.

• Anything that happened before you bought CruiseCare, whether it is a health problem, event, or unexpected situation, won’t be eligible for coverage under this plan.

So, if you need to cancel and want to qualify for a refund, be sure to let Celebrity Cruises, your travel agent, or the Program Administrator know as soon as you can.

• CruiseCare “Any Reason” Cruise Credit:

If you cancel your trip for a reason that’s not specifically covered, don’t worry, CruiseCare still has your back. You will get 75% of your non-refundable, prepaid cruise cost back as a future cruise credit, good for one year. Just note that some restrictions like blackout dates may apply, and this doesn’t cover ChoiceAir airfare. Make sure to cancel before the ship sets sail to take advantage of this benefit.

• Benefits of CruiseCare Travel Insurance & Emergency Assistance:

CruiseCare, backed by Transamerica Casualty Insurance Company and handled by On Call International, also offers extra peace of mind with added protection. CruiseCare also provide;

• Trip delay protection
  
• Medical expense and evacuation coverage
  
• Baggage loss/delay insurance
  
• 24/7 worldwide emergency assistance, including lost document help, legal referrals, and cash transfer aid.

Guidelines for Changing or Cancelling a Celebrity CruisesTour:

If you cancel a Cruise or CruiseTour, any applicable taxes, fees, or fuel supplement charges will be refunded. Cancellations become effective only once they are received by Celebrity Cruises (not when you send them).

For those who booked through a travel agent, refunds will go back to the agent. If you paid with a credit card, your refund will be sent back to that card. Moreover, promotional deals might come with different cancellation terms, so always check the fine print or reach out to your travel agent or Celebrity directly.

If you booked a CruiseTour and decide to switch to a cruise-only trip within 42 days of the tour start date, a cancellation fee applies. The fee depends on the location and length of the CruiseTour. You can check Celebrity’s FAQ section or contact them for specific charges.

However, Celebrity Cruise offers no refunds for:

• Cancellations after the cruise has started
  
• Early disembarkation
  
• No-shows
  

These are considered non-refundable under all circumstances. Additionally, as per refund and payment method, if you paid by credit card, your refund will be processed back to the same card. If your payment was made through a travel agent, the refund will be issued to that agent directly. Celebrity reserves the right to offer promotions that may include different cancellation terms.

Celebrity Cruises Cancellation Policy By Region 

Different cancellation rules apply depending on where you live. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Australia & New Zealand Residents:

Days Before Cruise	Cancellation Fee
151+ days	Deposit refundable (unless non-refundable promo)
150-71 days	Passengers will incur a loss of their deposit
70-46 days	25% of the total fare
45-31 days	50% of the total fare
30-15 days	75% of the total fare
14 or fewer days	100% of the total fare

• UK & Ireland Residents:

Cruises up to 14 nights:

Days Before Cruise	Cancellation Fee
70+ days	Deposit
69-45 days	50% of total price
44-15 days	75% of total price
14 or fewer days	100% of total price

Cruises 15+ nights:

Days Before Cruise	Cancellation Fee
120+ days	No charge (unless deposit is non-refundable)
119-75 days	25% of total price
74-61 days	50% of total price
60-31 days	75% of total price
30 or fewer days	100% of total price

• Galapagos Cruises (All Durations):

Days Before Cruise	Cancellation Fee
150+ days	No charge (unless deposit is non-refundable)
140-121 days	10% of total price
120-91 days	25% of total price
90-61 days	50% of total price
60-31 days	75% of total price
30 or fewer days	100% of total price

• Cancellations for Add-Ons:

If you cancel airfare, hotel stays, transfers, shore excursions, CruiseCare, or other pre-booked services like spa appointments or specialty dining, those come with their own terms. You will need to review those separately to know the exact charges.

Also Read: Holland America Cruises Cancellation Policy

Celebrity Cruises Cancellation Policy for Trip Delays

If your covered cruise vacation gets delayed, you may be eligible for reimbursement. The Celebrity cruise cancellation policy covers up to a specified amount as listed in your coverage schedule for unused land or sea travel arrangements, minus any refunds you have already received or are entitled to. 

You must also note that when Celebrity Cruises cancel your voyage or delays your embarkation, by three days on an average, or even more than that and you decide not to sail on the alternate or delayed voyage date, then you may acquire a refund. Alternatively, you can also obtain a future cruise credit or FCC. Celebrity Cruises issues FCC automatically. For refund requests you must contact Celebrity Cruises customer support team or your travel agent. You must make the request for your refund within six months of the cruises’ cancellation date or embarkation date, whichever comes earlier. 

On top of that, you will be compensated for reasonable extra expenses like hotel stays, meals, phone calls, and economy-class transport to either rejoin your cruise or get back home.

Furthermore, delays are only covered in certain situations;

• Delays caused by a common carrier like your airline or train service
  
• A lost or stolen passport
  
• Mandatory quarantine situations
  
• Hijacking 
• Severe weather messing up your travel plans
  
• A traffic accident on the way to the airport
  
• An unexpected strike or civil disorder causing disruption
  

If something goes wrong, having proof of your expenses can make a big difference, so you must keep the receipts safe. New expenses won’t be covered once travel becomes possible again, so if you’re back on track but spend extra, that cost likely comes out of your pocket.

You must stay organized by documenting everything: take photos, keep emails, and jot down important details. It will save you stress if you need to file a claim later. Therefore, it’s better to be over-prepared than stuck without support if your trip hits a bump.

• Steps to Cancel:

To initiate a cancellation or interruption:

• You can contact your travel agent, Celebrity Cruises, or the CruiseCare Program Administrator at:
  
  • 1-800-797-4516 or
    
  • 1-516-342-2720
    

They will provide required documentation, including physician verification if necessary.

Conclusion:

Celebrity Cruises offers amazing travel experiences, but canceling a trip isn’t always straightforward. Several things come into play, your departure date, where you booked from, and the specific type of cruise or CruiseTour. To avoid unexpected penalties, it’s smart to go over the cancellation policy as early as possible. Travel insurance, such as CruiseCare, can provide extra protection and peace of mind in case your plans suddenly change. If you’re unsure about anything, don’t hesitate to contact your travel agent or reach out to Celebrity Cruises directly. It’s better to get answers ahead of time than deal with last-minute stress. Whether you’re sailing or rescheduling, make it a smooth experience!

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