Last week, my family received an email from Disney Cruise Line. It wasn't to tell us that our cruise in January got canceled, but it was interesting. Take a look:
If the image isn't showing up for some reason, here's what the email says:
All of us at Disney Cruise Line continue to think of you and your family. We realize these are uncertain times for many of our Guests, and want to let you know we’ve temporarily modified our final payment and cancellation policies to provide you with greater flexibility.
For sailings through March 31, 2021, we are temporarily extending final payment until 60 days prior to sailing for Guests booked in unrestricted stateroom categories. This means that those Guests who have not yet reached their final payment due date can wait until up to 60 days prior to sailing to pay for their cruise vacation. Onboard cruise activities can be scheduled within your Castaway Club booking window once final payment is received.
In addition, we are temporarily relaxing our cruise cancellation fee schedule for sailings through March 31, 2021, as described below.
Cruises 1 to 5 Nights (Excluding Suites and Concierge Staterooms)
Days Prior to Vacation Commencement Date Fee Amount
60 days or more No fee
59 – 45 days Deposit per Guest
44 – 30 days 50% of vacation price per Guest
29 – 15 days 75% of vacation price per Guest
14 days or less 100% of vacation price per Guest
Cruises 6 Nights or More (Excluding Suites and Concierge Staterooms)
Days Prior to Vacation Commencement Date Fee Amount
60 days or more No fee
59 – 56 days Deposit per Guest
55 – 30 days 50% of vacation price per Guest
29 – 15 days 75% of vacation price per Guest
14 days or less 100% of vacation price per Guest
Suites and Concierge Staterooms
Days Prior to Vacation Commencement Date Fee Amount
60 days or more Deposit per Guest
59 – 56 days 50% of vacation price per Guest
55 – 30 days 75% of vacation price per Guest
29 days or less 100% of vacation price per Guest
Categories with Restrictions
Reservations for Inside, Outside or Verandah Categories with Restrictions remain nonrefundable and nontransferable.
These temporary changes are in addition to our Cruise Date Flexibility Option that already allows Guests the flexibility to change their sail date up to 15 days prior to departure for any cruise booked by October 31, 2020 for scheduled sailings on or before May 31, 2021. Additional details on the Cruise Date Flexibility Option can be found on our website at DisneyCruise.com.
We look forward to welcoming you aboard for your sailing and hope that this added flexibility is helpful.
Sincerely,The Cast and Crew
Disney Cruise Line
So, first, the email explains Disney's new payment policy. For all cruises until March 31st, 2021, the final payment is now due 60 days before the cruise starts. Before this change, the final payment was due roughly three to five months (depending on the sailing) before the cruise starts, so they've pretty much halved that now. This would've been good for my family, because we aren't sure if we're actually going on our cruise in January, but our final payment was due a few weeks ago, before Disney made this change to their policy. So, this updated policy doesn't affect us at all. The extra two months would've given us more time to wait for Disney to announce their cruise reopening plan and what health and safety changes will be made.
After that, the email details the updates to the cancellation fee schedule. It's less strict than usual, allowing guests more time to cancel their cruise and get a full refund. Below are the previous, stricter policies:
Standard (non-concierge) stateroom normal cancellation policy (1-5 night cruise):
Cancel 89-45 days before sailing, charge is deposit per guest.
Cancel 44-30 days before sailing, charge is 50% of vacation price per guest.
Cancel 29-15 days before sailing, charge is 75% of vacation price per guest.
Cancel 14 days or fewer before sailing, charge is 100% of vacation price per guest.
Standard (non-concierge) stateroom normal cancellation policy (6+ night cruise):
Concierge stateroom normal cancellation policy:
Cancel 90 days or more before sailing, charge is deposit per guest.
Cancel 89-56 days before sailing, charge is 50% of vacation price per guest.
Cancel 55-30 days before sailing, charge is 75% of vacation price per guest.
Cancel 29 days or fewer before sailing, charge is 100% of vacation price per guest.
Now, here are the updated cancellation conditions.
New standard (non-concierge) stateroom cancellation policy (1-5 night cruise):
Cancel 60 days or more before sailing, no charge.
Cancel 59-45 days before sailing, charge is deposit per guest.
Cancel 44-30 days before sailing, charge is 50% of vacation price per guest.
Cancel 29-15 days before sailing, charge is 75% of vacation price per guest.
Cancel 14 days or less before sailing, charge is 100% of vacation price per guest.
New standard (non-concierge) stateroom cancellation policy (6+ night cruise):
Cancel 60 days or more before sailing, no charge.
Cancel 59-56 days before sailing, charge is deposit per guest.
Cancel 55-30 days before sailing, charge is 50% of vacation price per guest.
Cancel 29-15 days before sailing, charge is 75% of vacation price per guest.
Cancel 14 days or less before sailing, charge is 100% of vacation price per guest.
Cancel 60 days or more before sailing, charge is deposit per guest.
Cancel 59-56 days before sailing, charge is 50% of vacation price per guest.
Cancel 55-30 days before sailing, charge is 75% of vacation price per guest.
Cancel 29 days or less before sailing, charge is 100% of vacation price per guest.
This new cancellation policy is nice. It's a little more relaxed than the previous policy, which is good because the world needs to be a little more relaxed now. For staterooms booked with restrictions, they are nonrefundable and nontransferable, so this new policy does not apply. Don't forget that the Cruise Date Flexibility Policy still applies to this. Speaking of the Cruise Date Flexibility Policy, it has been extended! It now applies to any cruise on or before May 31st, 2021 that was booked before October 31st So, if you don't want to go on a cruise that is over 15 days away that is within the previously described conditions, don't cancel it. Move the date instead, it won't cost you anything. The new cancellation policy will remain effect on all cruises until March 31st, 2021, so it's a temporary thing. Also, the Cruise Date Flexibility Policy ends on May 31st.
The DCL website has more information about these two polices. There's another policy on their website, the Flexible Refund Policy. Guests that experience any of the following events can change their cruise date with the same terms as the Cruise Date Flexibility Policy. This applies to guests who:
- Have symptoms of COVID-19
- Have a temperature of 100.4°F or greater
- Have had known exposure to a person with COVID-19 within the previous 14 days
- Have tested positive for COVID-19
The Flexible Refund Policy makes me think that cruises are going to resume pretty shortly after December. If cruises aren't going to resume until COVID-19 isn't a concern, then why would DCL make this policy? Maybe cruises, with restrictions, of course, will resume in January. The restrictions are going to play a big part in whether my family and I go on the Fantasy in January, so I hope they're announced soon.
For more information about the three policies, be sure to visit the Disney Cruise Line website.
Great explanation of the current cancellation/ refund policy.I sure hope we can go in January! Also, congrats on your 100th post! Love, Mom
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