If your travel plans have changed, you may be wondering, how do I cancel a Princess cruise reservation and get a refund? The answer depends mainly on when you cancel, the length of your cruise, the fare and deposit conditions, and whether you purchased cancellation protection.
Princess Cruises allows guests to cancel a cruise, but cancelling does not always mean receiving a full refund. Cancellation charges can increase as the departure date gets closer. Some promotional fares and deposits may also be nonrefundable.
The most important step is to check the cancellation terms attached to your specific booking before requesting cancellation. Princess states that the booking confirmation contains the cancellation schedule and final-payment terms that apply to the reservation.
This guide explains how to cancel a Princess cruise, how Princess cancellation fees work, what may be refunded, and what you should check before cancelling.
The cancellation process depends on how you originally booked your cruise.
If you booked directly with Princess Cruises, you can contact Princess through its customer support channels to request cancellation. Princess also states that cancellation can be communicated by telephone or through an approved computerized reservation system, provided the required confirmation is received.
Before contacting Princess, have the following information available:
Clearly state that you want to cancel the reservation and ask the representative to explain the applicable cancellation fee and estimated refund before finalizing the cancellation.
If a travel agency or travel advisor made the booking for you, contact that advisor rather than trying to cancel it independently.
Princess states that guests who booked through a travel advisor should contact the advisor to cancel the booking.
The advisor can review the reservation, determine which cancellation conditions apply, and submit the cancellation request.
Not necessarily.
Princess generally applies cancellation charges when a guest voluntarily cancels a cruise. The amount depends on factors such as the sailing length and how many days remain before departure.
A full refund is therefore not automatic simply because you cancel before the cruise begins.
However, certain situations can provide different refund rights. These may include specific cancellation-protection benefits, applicable consumer-law rights, or circumstances in which Princess itself cancels or significantly disrupts a cruise.
For U.S. and Canadian bookings covered by Princess's current standard policy, the cancellation schedule varies according to the cruise length and booking date.
For bookings made on or after September 2, 2026, Princess lists the following schedule for cruises up to 44 days:
Time before departureCancellation fee
120 days or moreDeposit
113 to 119 days25%
91 to 112 days50%
61 to 90 days75%
60 days or less100%
For cruises of 45 days or longer, the schedule is different. Princess currently lists a deposit-based charge 121 days or more before departure, followed by 30% from 113 to 120 days, 50% from 61 to 112 days, and 100% at 60 days or less.
These percentages should not be treated as universal for every Princess booking. Princess has different rules for different markets and booking dates, and your own booking confirmation can contain the applicable schedule.
One common mistake is assuming that every Princess cruise follows the same cancellation timetable.
Princess's current passage contract distinguishes between bookings made on or after September 2, 2026 and bookings made before that date. Earlier bookings can be subject to different cancellation schedules.
This means you should not calculate your refund using a cancellation table found on an old travel website or forum.
Instead, check:
A nonrefundable deposit generally cannot be recovered simply because you decide to cancel.
Princess states that if a guest booked with a nonrefundable deposit, or purchased a specially priced promotion whose deposit is 100% nonrefundable from the time of payment, that deposit may not be refundable, compensable, or convertible to credit under the applicable terms.
This is why checking the deposit conditions at the time of booking is important.
A cheaper promotional fare can have restrictions that make cancellation more expensive than a flexible fare.
The amount returned to you depends on the applicable cancellation policy.
Princess states that prepaid government taxes and fees, required fees and expenses, and certain other amounts may be refunded after applicable cancellation fees are deducted.
Princess also states that prepaid shore excursions and onboard purchases can be refunded when you cancel, subject to the applicable terms.
However, not every charge connected with a vacation should automatically be assumed to be refundable. Airfare, hotels, transfers, special services, and other travel arrangements can have separate terms.
It can, depending on the plan and the reason for cancellation.
Princess offers cancellation protection and travel-protection options in certain markets. The benefits, eligibility requirements, exclusions, and deadlines depend on the specific plan purchased.
Princess's cancellation protection is designed to waive certain cancellation fees when its requirements are met. It is different from comprehensive travel insurance and should not be assumed to cover every travel loss.
Before cancelling, check your protection-plan documents for:
If you have already purchased a protection plan, ask Princess or your travel advisor how cancelling the booking will affect the benefits before completing the cancellation.
Princess also offers Platinum Protection to eligible guests in certain markets.
Depending on the circumstances and applicable plan terms, Princess says Platinum Protection may provide cancellation-fee benefits in the form of cash or future cruise credit.
Because coverage depends on the specific plan and reason for cancellation, read the plan documents rather than assuming that every cancellation qualifies.
Yes, a cancellation can generally still be requested after final payment.
The important issue is not simply whether final payment has been made. The key question is how close the cancellation is to the scheduled departure date and which cancellation schedule applies to the booking.
As departure approaches, cancellation fees can become substantially higher. Under the current U.S./Canada schedule for many shorter cruises, cancellations made 60 days or less before departure can carry a 100% cancellation fee.
Therefore, if you know you cannot travel, do not wait unnecessarily before checking your options.
An emergency does not automatically guarantee a full cruise refund.
If the reason for cancellation is illness, injury, family emergency, travel disruption, or another unexpected event, check whether your Princess protection plan or separate travel insurance covers that situation.
Documentation may be required for an insurance or protection claim.
The correct approach is to review the coverage first and determine whether you should:
Sometimes changing the reservation may be an alternative, but it should not be assumed to avoid cancellation charges.
Princess states that departure-date changes can be treated as cancellations and can therefore be subject to cancellation fees.
Before requesting a date change, ask Princess or your travel advisor:
In some situations, cancelling and making a new reservation may have different financial consequences from simply keeping the original booking.
Refund processing can depend on the type of refund, booking method, payment method, and applicable circumstances.
Princess states that refunds are made directly to the payment method used for the booking or through the travel advisor, as applicable.
If you booked through an agency, the agency may be the party that handles the refund with you.
When cancelling, ask for confirmation that the reservation has been cancelled and keep records of:
Keeping these records makes it much easier to follow up if the refund does not appear as expected.
This is different from voluntarily cancelling your cruise.
When Princess cancels a cruise, separate refund provisions can apply. Princess's nonperformance policy states that if Princess cancels a cruise, or delays it for more than three calendar days and the guest chooses not to travel on the delayed cruise or accept an alternative cruise, the guest may be entitled to a refund of applicable cruise fare and certain related charges.
Do not use the normal guest-cancellation table to determine your rights when Princess itself cancels the sailing.
If you have decided to cancel, use this simple process.
Locate your Princess confirmation email or travel documents.
Look for:
Determine how many days remain before departure.
The difference between cancelling several months before sailing and cancelling shortly before departure can be significant.
Look specifically for terms concerning refundable or nonrefundable deposits.
Do not assume that paying a deposit means it will automatically be returned.
If you purchased Princess Vacation Protection or another travel insurance policy, check its terms before cancelling.
Book directly with Princess? Contact Princess.
Booked through a travel advisor? Contact the advisor.
Before finalizing the cancellation, ask:
Keep the cancellation confirmation and refund details until the entire process is complete.
Cancellation penalties can increase as departure approaches. Waiting can reduce the amount you recover.
Promotional and restricted fares can have different conditions.
A protection plan may change your cancellation options, depending on the reason and timing.
If you have multiple cruises or linked reservations, verify the correct booking number before requesting cancellation.
Cancelling your cruise does not necessarily cancel flights, hotels, transfers, rental cars, or independent excursions.
Review each separate reservation.
Princess policies can change. A cancellation table published for an earlier booking date or another country may not apply to your reservation.
It depends on your booking terms. Some deposits may be refundable, while nonrefundable deposits and certain promotional fares may not be refunded.
The cancellation fee depends on factors including the cruise length, booking date, time remaining before departure, fare conditions, and applicable protection plan.
Yes, you can request cancellation after final payment, but the amount refunded depends on the applicable cancellation schedule and booking conditions.
Yes. If your cruise was booked through a travel advisor, Princess instructs guests to contact that advisor to cancel the reservation.
Princess states that prepaid shore excursions and onboard purchases are refundable when you cancel, subject to the applicable terms.
No. Princess describes cancellation protection as a cancellation-fee waiver, while other protection options can provide broader benefits depending on the plan. Always review the specific plan terms.
Different refund rules can apply when Princess cancels the cruise. Depending on the circumstances, guests may be entitled to a refund or offered an alternative such as a future cruise credit.
If you need to cancel a Princess cruise reservation and get a refund, the most important factor is timing. Princess cancellation fees can increase as the sailing date gets closer, and nonrefundable deposits or promotional fares can limit the amount you recover.
Start by checking your booking confirmation and identifying the cancellation rules that apply to your reservation. Then contact Princess if you booked directly, or your travel advisor if they made the booking for you.
Before confirming the cancellation, ask for the exact cancellation fee and expected refund. If you purchased Princess Vacation Protection or another travel-insurance product, review that coverage as well.
Most importantly, do not rely on a generic cancellation chart when your booking documents are available. Princess policies can differ by booking date, itinerary length, market, fare, and protection plan. Checking the terms attached to your own reservation is the safest way to understand exactly what you can receive back.
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