Can cruise ships change itinerary?

Absolutely yes. We learned this on our very first cruise when, due to weather conditions, our scheduled port call to Grand Cayman was cancelled and instead we went to Nassau. There are always unanticipated changes to cruise plans. I refer to them as ?Ship happens?.



Yes, cruise ships can—and frequently do—change their itineraries, and they have the full legal right to do so under the Contract of Carriage that every passenger agrees to upon booking. Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Disney explicitly state that they may cancel, delay, or deviate from any scheduled port of call at any time for any reason, including weather, mechanical issues, medical emergencies, or civil unrest. For example, if a hurricane is approaching a planned stop in the Bahamas, the captain will reroute the ship to a different island or add an extra "sea day" to ensure the safety of the vessel. In most cases, the cruise line is not required to provide a refund for missed ports, though they will usually refund the specific "port fees and taxes" for that location to your onboard account. While they may offer a small "goodwill" gesture like a future cruise credit or a free round of drinks, a total change in itinerary does not entitle you to a full refund of your cruise fare, which is why travel insurance with "cancel for any reason" coverage is highly recommended for cruise travelers.

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Cruise lines reserve the right to alter their itineraries for any reason. They can change the ship you are sailing on and the ports of call. They have the option of changing the dates and the arrival and departure times (including at ports of call). A port could be dropped at the last minute or substituted for another.

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Though your itinerary may change, cruises are rarely canceled due to storms. Ships are designed to handle rough seas and can be rerouted to avoid danger. Once you're on board, any port updates will be announced over the ship's intercom or detailed in a notice delivered to your stateroom.

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Changing Dates: If you need to change the dates of your cruise, the cruise line may be able to accommodate your request, depending on availability. However, there may be fees associated with changing the dates, especially if you are changing to a more expensive time of year.

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For further modification, such as changes in date, time or party, you can either cancel and rebook the reservation or visit Guest Relations once onboard. Was this content helpful? Thank you for helping us improve our website!

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In instance of extremely severe storms (like hurricanes), cruise lines will typically allow passengers to cancel without penalty. Cruise Critic always recommends buying travel insurance that covers weather disruptions.

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If a storm is threatening the area a ship was scheduled to sail to, cruise lines will reroute the ships if the forecast is severe enough. While cruise ships can typically outrun most storms, passengers may still experience rough seas as their ship skirts the edges of a weather system.

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Where and when do repositioning cruises take place? The good news is you can book a repositioning cruise nearly six months out of the year, spanning mid-spring and mid-fall months, which are the cruise lines' shoulder seasons.

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Today's modern cruise ships are built to withstand storms, avoid them, and even outrun them.

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Caribbean Seasons
Rain is more frequent in the wet season, but the temperatures are warmer. Wet season and dry season are both good times to cruise the Caribbean. The worst time for a Caribbean cruise weather-wise is August to September, as it is peak hurricane season.

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The only way that it could happen is if the ship were in extreme weather and positioned sideways to a 70- to 100-foot wave that would have the potential of rolling it over, Bolton said. I guarantee you're never going to be in those kinds of waves anyway, he said.

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Cruise ships rarely get caught in weather this rough as the cruise lines make every effort to sail away from storms. Ports regularly get skipped, and, in extreme cases, cruise lines will extend a trip in order to move their ships away from bad weather.

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That's because travel insurance is an affordable cost that can potentially protect you from huge costs: the cost of canceling your cruise, the cost of receiving emergency medical care when you're overseas, the cost of a medical evacuation from the ship to a hospital, the cost of replacing your possessions if your ...

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Within the last 111 years, over 20 cruise ships and ocean liners have sunk.

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New federal rules require a refund whenever a cruise that starts in the U.S. is cancelled or delayed at least three days. You can voluntarily agree to a credit. Otherwise, you get your money back.

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And last year, a new federal rule went into effect that requires a cruise line to offer a full refund for a cruise that begins in the U.S. and is canceled or is delayed by at least three days. The law also makes cruise lines refund any prepaid fees.

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59-30 days before departure: 50% of cruise or cruise tour price; 29-07 days before departure: 80% of cruise or cruise tour price; 6 days or less before departure: 100% of cruise or cruise tour price. Cancellation charges also apply to additional charges for upgrades, transfers and other pre-purchased services.

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