If your travel plans have changed, you may be wondering how to cancel a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise reservation and whether you can get your money back. The answer depends mainly on when you cancel, the type of booking you have, the terms that apply to your sailing, and whether you purchased travel protection.
Norwegian Cruise Line cancellation rules can result in different outcomes. Depending on the circumstances, you may receive a full or partial refund, lose some or all of your cruise fare, or potentially receive a future cruise credit under applicable protection or promotional terms. NCL states that cancellation fees are based on the applicable terms and conditions for the reservation.
The most important step is to cancel as early as possible. Waiting until the sailing date approaches can substantially increase the applicable cancellation charge.
The cancellation process depends on how you originally booked the cruise.
Contact Norwegian Cruise Line's reservations team and request cancellation of the reservation. Have your booking information available so the reservation can be located quickly.
Before confirming the cancellation, ask the representative to explain:
NCL's terms state that cancellation charges can apply to cruise, air, land, and other components of a reservation.
Contact the travel advisor who made the reservation. NCL's terms allow guests who booked through a travel agent or travel advisor to notify that provider of the cancellation.
Your advisor can explain the cancellation terms attached to your booking and help determine what amount may be returned.
Canceling early is generally the safest approach if you know you cannot travel.
Norwegian Cruise Line's cancellation fees vary according to the applicable booking terms, sailing, cabin category, market, and other circumstances. NCL's current terms direct guests to the applicable cancellation-fee schedule rather than using one universal fee for every reservation.
Some cancellation schedules use progressively higher charges as the sailing date approaches. This means that canceling several weeks or months before departure can produce a very different refund result from canceling immediately before sailing.
A cruise company commits resources to a reservation well before the ship sails. As departure approaches, the opportunity to resell the cabin becomes smaller.
For that reason, cancellation charges generally become more significant closer to departure.
Do not wait until the last possible day if you already know you cannot travel.
A full refund is not automatically available simply because you cancel your reservation.
Whether you receive a full refund depends on the terms applicable to your booking and the reason for cancellation.
In general, you should not assume that your entire cruise fare will be returned. NCL's FAQ states that cancellation charges may be assessed depending on when the cruise is canceled.
Some amounts can receive different treatment from the basic cruise fare. For example, NCL states that prepaid service charges are 100 percent refundable when a cruise is canceled.
Taxes, fees, and port expenses may be treated differently from the cruise fare.
NCL's FAQ explains that cancellation fees are assessed on the applicable cruise price excluding taxes, fees, and port expenses, and that refunds are provided for those taxes, fees, and port expenses in the event of cancellation.
However, your specific confirmation and applicable booking terms should be reviewed before calculating the expected refund.
This distinction is important because a cancellation may not produce a refund of the full amount originally paid, even when certain taxes and fees are refundable.
Canceling your cruise does not necessarily mean every purchase associated with the trip follows exactly the same refund rules.
Examples can include:
NCL explains that certain prepaid ancillary purchases can be refunded to the original payment method under applicable circumstances.
You should therefore review your cruise account separately from the basic cruise fare.
If you prepaid service charges, NCL states that these charges are 100 percent refundable when you cancel your cruise.
Travel protection can be especially important when you need to cancel for a reason that would otherwise result in a cancellation charge.
NCL currently states that guests who purchase NorwegianCare or BookSafe may be eligible for benefits depending on the applicable plan and reason for cancellation. Qualified reasons may provide cash-back benefits, while certain non-covered cancellations may instead result in a future cruise credit under the applicable plan.
The exact benefit depends on the protection product, the reason for cancellation, and the terms of the plan.
If you have travel protection, review the plan before canceling whenever possible.
Look for:
If an insurance claim is required, cancellation by itself does not necessarily complete the insurance claim process.
Unexpected events can make a planned cruise impossible.
Depending on the circumstances and the protection attached to your booking, an emergency may qualify for assistance or reimbursement.
For example, NCL states that NorwegianCare and BookSafe can provide benefits for qualified cancellation reasons under their respective terms.
If you are canceling because of an emergency, gather supporting documentation before submitting any insurance or protection claim. The required evidence depends on the reason for cancellation and the applicable plan.
Canceling a cruise yourself is different from NCL canceling the cruise.
NCL's terms provide specific refund protections for certain cruises departing from U.S. ports when NCL cancels a cruise or delays it for more than three calendar days and the guest does not accept an alternative cruise or choose to travel on the delayed sailing. In qualifying circumstances, the refund can include cruise fare and certain related charges.
The applicable terms and circumstances should be checked carefully because the available remedy can depend on the reason for the cancellation or delay.
In some situations, a future cruise credit may be available instead of receiving cash back.
NCL's current information explains that certain travel protection products can provide future cruise credit when a cancellation does not qualify for cash reimbursement.
A future cruise credit is different from a refund. It generally has conditions governing how and when it can be used.
Before accepting a credit, check:
You may not always need to cancel the entire reservation.
If one traveler can no longer go, ask NCL or your travel advisor about canceling that individual guest rather than the whole booking.
Be aware that changing the number of people in a cabin can sometimes affect the pricing or promotional conditions of the remaining passengers. NCL's terms address cancellation charges for individual guests and other components of a reservation.
Ask for a revised price before finalizing the change.
Locate your confirmation email or booking documents.
Keep your reservation number and passenger information available.
Check the cancellation conditions that apply to your specific reservation.
Do not rely on a cancellation schedule from an unrelated sailing, country, cabin category, or older booking.
Check whether NorwegianCare, BookSafe, travel insurance, or another protection product was purchased.
If you have coverage, determine whether your reason for canceling may qualify for benefits.
If you booked directly with NCL, contact NCL.
If a travel advisor made the reservation, contact that advisor.
Before completing the cancellation, ask what amount will be refunded and what amount will be retained as a cancellation charge.
Also ask about taxes, fees, prepaid services, and possible future cruise credits.
After canceling, keep written confirmation of the cancellation.
Save:
These records can be useful if you later need to follow up.
The best strategy is to understand your cancellation options before making the final decision.
If you know you cannot travel, do not wait unnecessarily. Cancellation charges can increase as the sailing date approaches.
Travel protection may provide benefits that are not available under standard cancellation rules.
Your confirmation contains important details about your specific booking. It is more useful for determining your actual refund than a generic online example.
Review your cruise fare, taxes, fees, service charges, shore excursions, dining, and other prepaid products separately.
Different components can have different cancellation rules.
NCL has different terms and schedules depending on the booking and market. Always check the rules applicable to your reservation.
A late cancellation can result in substantially higher cancellation charges.
Travel protection has conditions. A claim may require a covered reason and supporting documentation.
Ask for the estimated refund and applicable fees before you finalize the cancellation.
Cruise cancellation does not mean you should ignore separate prepaid excursions, dining, internet, or other purchases.
Contact Norwegian Cruise Line or the travel advisor through whom you booked the cruise. Have your reservation information available and ask for the cancellation terms and expected refund before completing the cancellation.
You may receive a full or partial refund depending on the applicable cancellation terms, timing, and booking conditions. Cancellation charges can apply.
Cancellation fees generally reduce the amount returned to the guest. However, travel protection may provide benefits for qualifying cancellations, depending on the applicable plan.
NCL states that refunds are provided for applicable taxes, fees, and port expenses when a reservation is canceled, while cancellation fees are assessed separately from those amounts.
Yes. NCL states that prepaid service charges are 100 percent refundable when the cruise is canceled.
You may have additional cancellation benefits depending on the protection plan and reason for cancellation. NCL states that NorwegianCare and BookSafe can provide benefits for qualifying situations.
In many circumstances, an individual guest can cancel their place on a reservation. However, changing the number of passengers can affect pricing or other booking conditions, so confirm the consequences before proceeding.
If NCL cancels a qualifying cruise, specific refund rights may apply. For certain cruises departing from U.S. ports, NCL's terms provide for refunds when the applicable cancellation or extended-delay conditions are met.
Canceling a Norwegian Cruise Line reservation does not always mean losing the entire amount you paid. Your refund depends on factors such as when you cancel, the terms attached to your booking, the components included in the reservation, and whether you have travel protection.
The safest approach is to review your reservation terms, determine whether you have travel protection, and contact NCL or your travel advisor as soon as you know you cannot travel. Ask for a clear breakdown of cancellation charges and refundable amounts before confirming the cancellation.
Because NCL's cancellation terms can vary by booking and can change over time, use the cancellation policy attached to your specific reservation as the final reference when determining how much you should receive back.
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