What happens if my cruise line changes my itinerary or ship?

06.08.2024 - 18:16 / thepointsguy.com

Imagine that the Caribbean cruise you've been looking forward to suddenly becomes a voyage to Canada and New England instead. Or that the ship you booked isn't the one on which you'll actually be sailing.

It's not common, but it's possible for a cruise line to make changes to your sailing after you've booked or even after you've set sail — which is why it's so important to be flexible when you're a passenger.

Here, I'll walk you through what happens when a cruise line alters itineraries or shuffles vessels to new locations, what you're owed if changes occur, and some steps you can take to protect your booking.

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There are many reasons why a cruise itinerary might change. They include inclement weather that forces a ship to avoid dangerous conditions, medical emergencies that require your vessel to divert to the nearest port of call, port closures, ship mechanical issues, scheduling conflicts and a host of other causes.

Because itinerary changes often involve time, money, and a big logistical and customer service nightmare, cruise lines will do all they can to avoid making alterations on a whim. If major tweaks are necessary due to foreseen events, they're usually made well in advance, allowing passengers to change their plans if they wish.

In those cases, passengers can expect to receive notice through their travel agents or via correspondence (likely email) from the cruise line.

In cases where last-minute changes are necessary, passengers will either be notified through one of the methods mentioned above or through public address announcements or in-cabin letters if the sailing is already underway.

Itinerary changes can range from minor to sweeping. If it's the former, you might see the ports from your original itinerary show up in a different order. You might also see one port skipped and replaced with another or with a sea day.

In the most extreme cases — particularly those involving tropical storms during hurricane season — I've seen entire regions scrapped and replaced with something else. For example, a Canada and New England voyage might replace one that had been scheduled to visit the Caribbean.

Per the terms of the cruise contract to which you consent before sailing, cruise lines do not owe you compensation if they alter your itinerary. If changes are made, you will be refunded for any shore excursions you booked through the cruise line that were to take place in the ports you're skipping. (Check with your tour provider directly if you've booked a third-party excursion.)

In most cases, you will also be refunded for the taxes and fees levied by the missed ports. However, if alternative ports are substituted, you might