Embark on your cruise adventure with confidence, equipped with the knowledge and tools to handle any unexpected situation, like the recent Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise cancellation. This comprehensive guide covers the importance of cruise travel insurance, preparing for potential disruptions, and managing unforeseen events. Learn to maximize your onboard experience with exciting activities and entertainment, navigate local customs, and ensure your safety throughout your journey. Elevate your cruise experience with expert tips and insights, transforming setbacks like canceled cruises into opportunities for new adventures.
What to Expect If Your Cruise Is Cancelled
A recent Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise was cancelled after guests boarded. The “Radiance of the Seas” was supposed to start a week-long trip from Vancouver, but problems with the ship’s engines meant that the cruise had to be delayed and then canceled altogether.
The ship had been in port for two days when the captain told the passengers they had to get off by Sunday at 4 p.m. Royal Caribbean promised guests a full refund and a $900 credit for a future trip.
Guests had a mixed responses. Some people, like a blogger on the Royal Caribbean website, chose to see the bright side and explored the lively city of Vancouver. Others, like guest Charlene Chong, were upset and cancelled their future plans with Royal Caribbean.
What Type of Cancellation Refund Can I Get?
For some fare packages, you have to pay a nonrefundable deposit when you book. You won’t get that deposit amount back at any point after you send it. There are other fees that you should also look out for when booking your cruise that could significantly decrease your refund if you choose to cancel your trip.
Cancellation on a Cruise or Cruise Tour
If you cancel your cruise or tour booking before the scheduled sail date, you may incur a cancellation fee. The table below shows how much the cancellation fee you incur could be. The fee changes based on when the Operator receives the cancellation notice before the sail date.
Here are the tabulated cancellation policies for Royal Caribbean cruises:
1 to 4 Night Cruises (including Holiday sailings)
| IF CANCELLATION IS MADE | CANCELLATION CHARGE |
| 75 days or more prior to the first day of the Cruise | No charge (except for Nonrefundable Deposit amounts) |
| 74 to 61 days | 50% of total price |
| 60 to 31 days | 75% of total price |
| 30 days or less | 100% of total price (No refund) |
5 Nights or Longer Cruises (including Holiday sailings and Cruisetours)
| IF CANCELLATION IS MADE | CANCELLATION CHARGE |
| 90 days or more prior to the first day of the Cruise | No charge (except for Nonrefundable Deposit amounts) |
| 89 to 75 days | 25% of total price |
| 74 to 61 days | 50% of total price |
| 60 to 31 days | 75% of total price |
| 30 days or less | 100% of total price (No refund) |
When plans are made outside of the US and Canada, there may be a different cancellation policy. For more information, call your neighborhood office or a travel agent.
Refunds For Delayed Trips
If your cruise line cancels a trip or delays boarding by three (3) days or more and you decide not to go on the delayed trip or a different trip they offer, you can get your money back or credit for a future cruise (FCC). The normal procedure is to give you credit for a future cruise, but you can request a refund instead.
Refund requests must be made within six (6) months of either the cancellation date or the departure date.
Remember that this rule does not apply to people who have planned chartered sailings. If you were scheduled on a chartered sailing that was canceled or whose embarkation was delayed by three (3) days or more, you need to call the third-party seller who sold you the cruise. They can help you with refunds or future credits, especially in cases like the recent Alaska cruise cancelled by Royal Caribbean.
What Is Covered by Cruise Insurance?
If the cost is spent for a reason stated in your policy or is not excluded, cruise insurance usually covers:
Traveler’s Health Coverage
This covers your medical expenses should you become sick or injured while on route. The top travel insurance packages offer $500,000 in travel medical coverage; yet, $150,000 could be plenty for a cruise. If you are a senior, you really need sufficient travel medical insurance.
U.S. health plans may provide very little or none when one is traveling overseas. Medicare also only very seldom pays for medical treatment obtained abroad.
Coverage for Medical Evacuations from Emergencies
Travel insurance for medical evacuation covers the costs of getting you to the closest suitable hospital or, should your health call for it, back home. Your travel insurance’s emergency response staff can also help to arrange a medevac.
Medical Conditions Coverage Already Existing
Pre-existing medical condition exclusions are waived if you purchase coverage within 14 to 21 days of your original trip deposit.This means that any pre-existing medical expenses connected to your trip will be covered.
Insurance Against Cancellation of Travel
If you have to cancel for a specified reason, trip cancellation insurance will refund 100% of your pre-paid, non-refundable deposits.
Coverage for Trip Interruptions
In the event that your trip must be canceled due to illness, injury, death, a family emergency back home, or for any other reason, this will refund you for any unused trip expenses. Additional costs such as an unexpected one-way plane ticket home may also be covered by trip interruption insurance. The policy must specify the cause of the disruption.
“Any Reason Cancelled” (CFAR) Travel Guard
Except in cases where you have already purchased a CFAR upgrade, cancellations made for reasons not specified in the policy are not supported. If you cancel at least 48 hours before your departure, you will normally receive a reimbursement of 75% of your trip expenses. When it is added, the average cost of the policy goes up by 50%.
For instance, if you are concerned that you may become seasick—a cause that is not covered by ordinary trip cancellation insurance—you can file a “cancel for any reason” claim. Purchase this coverage as soon as possible once your initial travel deposit is made, or the window for doing so will close.
“Disruption for Any Instance” Travel Guard
Short-term travel cancellations for non-policy-listed reasons are not covered, unless you have already obtained “interruption for any reason” travel insurance. Usually, this coverage reimburses you for 75% of the cost of the vacation. It often raises the price of your travel insurance by 3% to 10%. Usually, you have to buy it within 15 to 20 days following your initial travel payment. After a set period of time, say 48 or 72 hours, on your vacation, benefits start to accrue.
Now among the travel insurance companies offering “interruption for any reason” coverage are Prime Cover, Nationwide, Seven Corners, Travel Insured International, and WorldTrips.
Extra Travel Insurance Options for Cruises
Extra benefits like luggage insurance, missing connection insurance, and travel delay insurance are all included in comprehensive travel insurance plans.
High levels of reimbursement and brief waiting periods before benefits kick in are features of the best travel insurance policies. Especially in scenarios where a cruise is cancelled, having robust travel insurance can make a significant difference. You may match your concerns with the ideal travel insurance plan with the assistance of a travel insurance agent.
In the event that your cruise ship is canceled and you are left stranded without access to food, water, or electricity for the duration of the policy, your cruise travel insurance coverage may also pay out. For example, if you are stranded on a ship without power, food, water, or a restroom for five hours or longer, the WaveCare plan from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection offers a fixed $500 payment for cruise disablement.
Usually, cruise insurance offers a round-the-clock hotline in case of emergencies while traveling.
Final Thoughts
The Royal Caribbean’s “Radiance of the Seas” Alaska cruise cancellation brought on by technical problems emphasizes how erratic travel can be. While some guests used the opportunity to explore Vancouver, others felt appropriately letdown and changed their future cruise plans.
This scenario emphasizes the need to be ready for unplanned events and cancellations because nonrefundable deposits are standard in the business. Knowing these rules will help you control your expectations and preparations even when considering varying cancellation costs. For example, when a Royal Caribbean cruise is cancelled, taxes, fees, and gasoline prices are repaid upon cancellation. Other factors could result in fees based on the timing and type of the cancellation.
Make sure you check our travel tips and ideas before you book your next trip. Safe journeys and happy sailing!