Can someone take your place on a cruise?

I cannot travel on my voyage. Could someone take my place? Yes, names on reservations can be changed up to 48 hours before your voyage - at no additional cost (excluding air implications). Please reach out to our Sailor Services Crew or your travel agent to arrange to have someone sail in your place.



Yes, in many cases, someone can take your place on a cruise through a passenger substitution or "name change," but the rules are quite specific. Most major cruise lines (like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and NCL) allow you to replace one guest in a cabin with a new person, provided that at least one original passenger remains on the reservation. You cannot typically "sell" or transfer the entire booking to a completely new group of people. There is usually a name change fee, which can range from $50 to $150 per person, depending on how close you are to the sailing date. Once you are within the "final document" phase (usually 72 hours to 7 days before departure), name changes are often blocked entirely due to manifest requirements and port security regulations. If you booked a "non-refundable" or highly promotional fare, substitutions might be prohibited. It is essential to ensure the new guest meets all age, visa, and vaccination requirements for the specific itinerary, as the cruise line will treat them as a brand-new passenger for all legal and documentation purposes.

People Also Ask

If the cruise reservation is booked under your name, you may not transfer the cruise to someone else. You would need to cancel your reservation if you are unable to sail. As your voyage is soon, a fee will apply.

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Name changes require the prior approval of Carrier and may not always be possible. Name changes and departure date changes are considered reservation cancellations and are subject to cancellation fees.

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A name change fee of $75 per name change will apply for any name change made within 89 days prior to sailing. Limit of one name change per reservation. More than one name change or a cruise date change is considered a reservation cancellation and is subject to the above cancellation charges.

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The cost of living onboard a cruise ship varies depending on the type of cabin you choose and the amenities you desire. Generally, retirees can expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 - $3,000 per month for accommodation, meals, entertainment, and other activities.

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Yes. Certain cruise lines -- particularly river lines like Uniworld -- and travel agents offer deals for solo cruisers in the way of reduced single supplements or discounts on solo cabins. A knowledgeable travel agent can help you find affordable solo cruises.

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The documentation is required at embarkation and throughout the cruise and is the responsibility of the guest. Our policy states that any guest traveling without proper documentation will be denied boarding the ship and will be under full penalty, and therefore, will not be offered a refund or a replacement cruise.

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They will also have a small morgue, a chilled room, with larger ships having capacity for up to 10 bodies in separate refrigerated units. When the ship arrives at the next port, the body is unloaded discreetly from a separate exit.

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Cruise ship workers are not supposed to hook up with passengers, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. It is rare though – most crew follow the rules because they know they'll lose their job if they're caught. You won't be surprised to hear that cruise lines ban crew from having sex with passengers.

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Cruise ships are good at making food available 24/7, so if you're hungry, there's usually no one to blame but yourself. The main dining room usually has set meal times, but sections of the buffet will always be open, and you'll usually be able to find a diner, cafe, or pizza shop that's open at all hours.

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At least one of the original names must remain on the reservation; changing all guest names in a reservation is not allowed and will result in the entire reservation being cancelled. Cabin Occupancy Changes: Please note that cruise rates are based on the number of people in your cabin.

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Q: WHO CAN CHECK IN A GUEST? A: Once signed into their Guest Account, Guests can check in any for any Guests on their reservation.

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Children who are under the age of 18 must have an adult traveling with them who has both control and custody over them. A parent or guardian is required to complete and submit a minor authorization form prior to embarkation.

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The bottom line is that in some cases, spending an extended amount of time on a cruise ship can be more cost effective -- as well as more enjoyable -- than a nursing home or retirement community. But it isn't for everyone.

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Christine Kesteloo is a former cruise director and has lived on ships for more than a decade. After losing her job in 2020, she became a "wife on board," as her husband works for Holland America. Kesteloo has said she's not allowed to gamble on board or disembark with paying guests.

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Life at Sea cruises, which will host a three year cruise for $30,000 per year, is taking on more passengers. Apparently, the number of people who want to sail away from their lives is bigger than expected.

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