Royal Caribbean has updated its policy and now allows cancellations up to 48 hours before sailing due to coronavirus uncertainty.
Royal Caribbean Policy Change
With fears of the coronavirus spreading not just across the cruise industry but all travel sectors Royal Caribbean has announced a new cancellation policy that allows guests to cancel their booking 48 hours before sailing. The cruise line wants to make sure guests have peace of mind when booking especially in light of the recent situation.
Richard Fain, the company’s chairman and CEO said:
“Our previous policy set earlier deadlines for guests to cancel their cruises, and that added unnecessary stress.”
“Trying to guess a month or more in advance where areas of concern about coronavirus might be is challenging for medical experts, much less a family preparing for vacation.
“When circumstances are as fast-changing as they have been recently, it’s good to know you have the option to take a rain check,” Fain said. “We think putting more control in our guests’ hands helps them make informed decisions about whether to keep their existing vacation plans or trade out for a more convenient time or itinerary.”
The “Cruise With Confidence” policy lets guests cancel as late as two days before departure. Full credit of the cruise fare will be provided which can then be used on any future sailing of the guest’s choice in 2020 or 2021.
The policy applies to new and current bookings and covers Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea. It applies to all cruises with a sailing date on or before July 31, 2020. guests should always check the terms and conditions first depending on which cruise line the booking is with.
Also Read: Carnival Cruise Line Changes Cancellation Policy Due to Coronavirus
This follows Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises which also amended their cancellations policies due to guests being worried about their upcoming cruise vacations due to the growing spread of the deadly coronavirus. Cruise ports have also not helped by blocking cruise ships from making their ports of call.
Currently, there have been over 100,000 cases of COVID-19 around the world and more than 3,300 people have died. Also, the Grand Princess cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises remains off the coast of California while tests of the virus are underway.
