Plans can change after you book a cruise. You may have a work commitment, a family event, a flight issue, or simply realize that another sailing date works better. If you have a reservation with Celebrity Cruises, you may want to know whether you can move your cruise to a different date without paying an additional fee.
The answer depends on the fare type, booking terms, country of residence, timing of the request, and the type of reservation you purchased. Celebrity Cruises states that some fare programs have non-refundable deposits and that change fees can apply to those bookings.
In some circumstances, changing a sailing may be possible before the final payment deadline, but that does not necessarily mean the new cruise will cost exactly the same. A different sailing can have a different prevailing fare, and applicable change or service fees may also apply.
Yes, a cruise date can be changeable in certain circumstances, but you should not assume that the change will be free.
Celebrity's published terms for certain future-cruise bookings state that reservations may be changed to another ship or sail date until the final payment due date. However, when a booking has a non-refundable deposit, a $100 per person service fee can apply each time the ship or sail date is changed under those specific booking terms.
The rules for your reservation can be different because Celebrity has different fare programs and country-specific booking conditions.
Therefore, before changing your date, check the terms attached to your particular reservation.
There is no universal rule saying every Celebrity Cruises passenger can change a sailing date for free.
However, there are situations where you may not face the same type of change fee described for a non-refundable deposit booking. The applicable conditions depend on your reservation and the fare you purchased.
Some bookings have more flexible terms than others. If your specific fare permits a date change without a separate change fee, you may be able to move the sailing subject to availability and the applicable fare rules.
Always check the conditions associated with your booking rather than relying on the general policy for another fare.
Timing is important.
Celebrity's published terms for certain Book Now/Future Cruise bookings state that changes to the ship or sail date may be made until the final payment due date. After that date, those specific terms state that changes are not permitted and would be treated as a cancellation.
This means waiting until the last minute can significantly reduce your options.
A non-refundable deposit can affect the cost of changing your booking.
Celebrity explains that selected fare programs require a non-refundable deposit and that change fees apply to bookings with a non-refundable deposit.
If you are unsure whether your reservation has a refundable or non-refundable deposit, check your booking confirmation or ask Celebrity Cruises or your travel advisor.
Even when a date change is allowed, several different costs may need to be considered.
A change fee may apply depending on the fare and booking conditions.
For example, Celebrity's published terms for certain future cruise bookings state that a $100 per person service fee applies when changing the ship or sail date of a non-refundable-deposit booking before the final payment deadline.
This specific fee should not be treated as a universal fee for every Celebrity reservation.
The new sailing may cost more or less than your original sailing.
Celebrity states in its future cruise booking terms that when changing the ship, sail date, or stateroom category, the cruise fare for the modified booking is determined using the prevailing rates applicable on the date of the requested change.
For example, imagine you originally booked a sailing for $2,000, but the new sailing currently costs $2,400. A date change may therefore result in an additional $400 fare difference, even if the change itself does not carry a separate fee.
A change can also affect promotions attached to the original reservation.
Celebrity notes that certain promotional offers and discounted rates have restrictions, and changing a booking can cause the reservation to be repriced under the applicable current rates or terms.
Before accepting a date change, compare the new total price and benefits with the original booking.
Yes. The final payment deadline can be one of the most important dates to check.
For certain Celebrity future cruise bookings, changes to the ship or sail date are permitted until the final payment due date. After that deadline, Celebrity's published terms state that changes are not permitted under those terms and would be treated as a cancellation.
A cancellation after the applicable deadline can result in substantial cancellation charges.
This is why it is better to investigate a date change as soon as you know your travel plans have changed.
Do not assume that a post-final-payment date change will be handled like an ordinary modification.
Celebrity's published terms for certain future cruise bookings state that after the final payment due date, changes to the ship or sail date are not permitted and are treated as a cancellation.
The applicable cancellation charges depend on the booking's terms.
Celebrity's current cancellation policy for North American residents, for example, varies by cruise length and how many days remain before sailing. For many bookings, cancellation charges increase as the sailing date gets closer.
It is important to distinguish between a date change and a cancellation.
A date change attempts to move an existing reservation to another sailing.
A cancellation ends the original reservation and may result in a cancellation charge.
If your requested date change is not permitted, Celebrity may treat the request as a cancellation under the applicable terms. This can have a much larger financial impact than a normal modification.
For North American residents, Celebrity currently lists the following cancellation schedule for many cruise bookings:
Cruise LengthTime Before SailingCancellation Charge
1–4 nights75+ daysNo charge, except non-refundable deposit amounts
1–4 nights74–61 days50% of total price
1–4 nights60–31 days75% of total price
1–4 nights30 days or less100%
5–14 nights90+ daysNo charge, except non-refundable deposit amounts
5–14 nights89–75 days25%
5–14 nights74–61 days50%
5–14 nights60–31 days75%
5–14 nights30 days or less100%
15+ nights120+ daysNo charge, except non-refundable deposit amounts
15+ nights119–75 days25%
15+ nights74–61 days50%
15+ nights60–31 days75%
15+ nights30 days or less100%
These are Celebrity's published North American cancellation terms; other markets and booking circumstances can have different rules.
If you need to move your cruise, start by reviewing your reservation rather than immediately cancelling it.
Locate your Celebrity Cruises confirmation.
Check:
These details can help determine what options are available.
Look at the conditions associated with your specific fare.
Pay particular attention to whether the deposit is refundable or non-refundable and whether your fare has restrictions on modifications.
Celebrity specifically warns that policies can vary based on the booking and whether it was made through a travel advisor or agency.
Before requesting a change, identify one or more alternative sailings.
Compare:
The cheapest-looking sailing is not necessarily equivalent to your original booking if the fare conditions or included benefits differ.
If you booked directly with Celebrity, contact Celebrity's customer support or use the available reservation-management options.
If a travel advisor made the booking, contact that advisor before making changes.
This is particularly important because an agency may have its own terms or fees in addition to the cruise line's rules. Celebrity states that travel advisor bookings can have different policies.
Before accepting the change, ask for a complete breakdown.
Confirm:
Getting the total before confirming helps prevent an unexpected increase in your booking cost.
A lower-priced new sailing does not automatically mean you will receive the full difference as cash or a credit.
The treatment of the original payment depends on the fare and booking conditions.
Celebrity's future cruise terms state that modified bookings can be repriced using the prevailing rates applicable at the time of the requested change.
Therefore, ask how any difference will be handled before approving the modification.
You may be able to move to a more expensive sailing when the applicable booking rules allow the change.
However, you may have to pay the difference between the original booking and the new applicable fare.
For example:
A separate change or service fee could also apply depending on the booking terms.
The exact amount should be confirmed before the modification is processed.
Travel insurance does not automatically make every cruise date change free.
Coverage depends on the policy you purchased and the reason for changing your trip.
For example, some policies may cover certain unexpected events, while a simple preference to travel on a different date may not qualify.
Read the policy's covered reasons, exclusions, claim deadlines, and change/cancellation provisions before assuming insurance will reimburse a cruise modification.
If you used a travel agent, start with the agent who made the reservation.
Celebrity's published cancellation guidance says policies may differ when a reservation was booked with a travel advisor or agency.
The agent can review the reservation and explain whether the requested date change is allowed.
Also ask whether the agency charges its own modification fee. A travel agency's fee can be separate from any amount charged by Celebrity.
Before confirming a new sailing, use this checklist:
Sometimes, but there is no universal free-date-change policy that applies to every reservation. Fees and restrictions depend on the fare, booking terms, timing, and country of residence. Certain Celebrity bookings with non-refundable deposits can have change fees.
There is not one fee that applies to every booking. Under certain future cruise booking terms, a $100 per person service fee applies when changing the ship or sail date of a booking with a non-refundable deposit before the final payment deadline. Other booking types and markets can have different rules.
For certain Celebrity future cruise bookings, changes to another ship or sail date are permitted until the final payment due date. However, the applicable fare and booking conditions determine whether a fee or fare difference applies.
For certain future cruise bookings, Celebrity states that ship or sail-date changes are not permitted after the final payment due date and would be treated as a cancellation. The applicable cancellation charges may then apply.
A higher-priced sailing can result in an additional fare difference. Celebrity's terms state that modified bookings can be priced according to prevailing rates at the time of the requested change.
A non-refundable deposit generally remains subject to the conditions of the fare. Celebrity states that selected fare programs require non-refundable deposits and that change fees apply to bookings with non-refundable deposits.
The available online options depend on your reservation and booking type. If the requested change cannot be completed through your account, contact Celebrity Cruises or your travel advisor.
If your booking was made through a travel advisor, contact that advisor. Celebrity notes that travel-advisor bookings can be subject to different policies.
No. A date change attempts to move your reservation to another sailing. If the booking rules do not permit the requested modification, the change may instead be handled as a cancellation, which can result in cancellation charges.
If you already know that your original sailing date will not work, review your options before the final payment deadline. For certain Celebrity bookings, date changes are allowed only up to that deadline.
So, can you change your Celebrity Cruises cruise date without extra charges? Sometimes, but it depends on your specific reservation.
The most important factors are your fare type, whether your deposit is refundable, how close you are to the sailing date, the final payment deadline, your booking country, and the price and conditions of the replacement sailing.
Celebrity's published terms show that certain bookings with non-refundable deposits can incur a $100 per-person service fee when the ship or sail date is changed before final payment. A replacement sailing can also be priced according to the rates available when the change is requested.
The safest approach is to check your reservation terms and request a complete cost comparison before confirming the change. If you booked through a travel advisor, ask the advisor to review the reservation because additional agency-specific policies or fees may apply.
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