On new and existing bookings made before September 30, 2020, guests can now cancel a cruise up to 48 hours prior to sailing and receive a full credit for a future cruise to be taken right up to April 2022.

In a move the company said would “provide peace of mind in holiday planning”, the policy applies across the company’s Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara brands.

The “Best Price Guarantee”, whereby guests can choose to change the price and promotional offer on their reservation up to 48 hours before their cruise, remains in place, as does the “Lift and Shift” option for those wishing to move plans to next year. 

Under Lift and Shift, eligible between now and September 30, 2020, guests can protect their original cruise fare and promotional offering by shifting to a future sailing on the same itinerary type, sailing length, stateroom category, and within the same 4-week period of their original cruise date same-time-next-year.

“Guests are reacting positively to our Cruise with Confidence policy because it enables them to make informed decisions and to better manage complicated travel plans during this unprecedented time of uncertainty,” said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.

“We want our guests to feel they can safely keep their existing cruise bookings or schedule new sailings,” he added. “This policy gives them more freedom and flexibility.”

Meanwhile, the group’s ultra-luxury brand Silversea has also extended its Cruise with Confidence programme to cover all voyages departing before 30 April 2021. 

Launched in early March as the coronavirus crisis took hold, the Silversea programme also means guests can cancel their cruise for any reason up to 48 hours prior to sailing and receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit for the amount paid.

The FCC can then be redeemed up to two years from the date of issue, with the ultra-luxury cruise line saying the extension in its policy was also designed to give travellers “peace of mind on making future cruise bookings”.

In what the line called a “demonstration of ongoing support to travel advisors”, “double commission” will be protected by Silversea.

When guests opt for the Future Cruise Credit and have paid in full, their travel advisor’s commission is protected for both the cancelled booking and the future reservation on which the correlating Future Cruise Credit is applied.