How to Cancel a Norwegian Cruise: Everything You Need to Know

 

Planning a cruise can be exciting—but sometimes plans change. Whether due to personal reasons, emergencies, or travel restrictions, many travelers find themselves needing to cancel their cruise. If you're wondering how to cancel a Norwegian cruise, you're not alone. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) offers multiple ways to cancel your trip, each with important details to keep in mind to avoid unnecessary charges or loss of funds.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through how to cancel a cruise on Norwegian, what the policies are, how refunds work, and what to expect before, during, and after cancellation.

Understanding Norwegian Cruise Line's Cancellation Policy

Before you cancel, it’s crucial to understand Norwegian Cruise Line’s cancellation policy. The policy varies depending on several factors:

• When you cancel (how far out from the sailing date)

• The type of fare or promotion you booked

• Whether you purchased travel insurance

Standard Cancellation Schedule

Norwegian typically follows a tiered cancellation schedule. The closer you are to your departure date, the higher the cancellation fee. Here’s a general guideline for sailings of 1 to 15 days:

• More than 120 days before sailing: No penalty (deposit refunded if applicable)
• 119–91 days: Loss of deposit
• 90–61 days: 50% of total fare
• 60–31 days: 75% of total fare
• 30 days or fewer: 100% of total fare (no refund)

Longer cruises (16+ days) or specialty sailings may have different policies, so always check your specific cruise terms.

How to Cancel a Norwegian Cruise

If you're looking for how to cancel a cruise on Norwegian, the process depends on how you originally booked your trip—either directly with NCL or through a travel agent or third-party site.

1. Canceling Directly Through Norwegian Cruise Line

If you booked your cruise directly via the Norwegian website, app, or customer service, you have a few options:

a. How to Cancel a Norwegian Cruise Online

1. Go to the official Norwegian Cruise Line website.
2. Click on "My Account" or “Manage My Cruise.”
3. Log in with your NCL account credentials.
4. Select the cruise you want to cancel.
5. Click on "Cancel Reservation" (if eligible).
6. Review cancellation terms and confirm.

Note: Not all reservations can be canceled online. In that case, you'll see a prompt to call customer service.

b. Call Norwegian Cruise Line

If you're unable to cancel online or prefer speaking to someone directly:

• Phone (U.S. and Canada): 1-800-327-7030
• Have your reservation number ready.
• Ask the agent to walk you through the cancellation process.

2. Canceling a Cruise with Norwegian Through a Travel Agent

If you booked through a travel agent or agency, you must cancel through them. Norwegian will not modify or cancel third-party bookings directly. Here's what to do:

• Contact your travel agent as soon as possible.
• Ask for cancellation confirmation in writing.
• Request information about refunds or travel credits, if applicable.

3. Canceling a Norwegian Cruise via Third-Party Sites

If you used online platforms like Expedia, Costco Travel, or CruiseDirect:

• Log into your account on that site.
• Find your booking under “My Trips” or “My Cruises.”
• Look for a “Cancel” option or call their customer service.
• Each site will follow Norwegian's policy, but you must process the cancellation through the site you used.

Norwegian’s Peace of Mind Cancellation Policy

Norwegian introduced a flexible cancellation policy during the pandemic called "Peace of Mind." While this policy is no longer a permanent offering, it’s occasionally reactivated during global events or health scares.

Peace of Mind allowed travelers to cancel up to 15 days before departure and receive a full Future Cruise Credit (FCC). Always check NCL's Promotions & Updates page to see if a similar offer is currently in effect.

How Refunds and Future Cruise Credits Work

Knowing how to cancel a cruise with Norwegian is only part of the story—you also need to understand what you’ll get back, and when.

Refunds

• If your booking is refundable and within the allowed timeframe, you’ll get a refund back to your original form of payment.
• Refunds can take up to 90 days to process, depending on the payment method and bank.
• Refundable deposits are typically returned in full if you cancel more than 120 days in advance.

Future Cruise Credits (FCC)

• For non-refundable bookings or if you cancel under a promotion like Peace of Mind, you may receive a Future Cruise Credit instead.
• FCCs are usually valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
• You can use FCCs toward the base fare of your next cruise, not taxes or fees.

What Happens If You Don’t Cancel on Time?

If you wait too long to cancel—especially within 30 days of sailing—you may lose 100% of your payment. To avoid this:

• Mark your calendar with the cancellation deadline.
• Set reminders for payment and refund deadlines.
• Consider purchasing travel insurance, which may reimburse you if you cancel for covered reasons.

Travel Insurance: Why You Should Consider It

If you're hesitant to cancel due to fear of losing money, travel insurance can be a safety net. Depending on the provider and policy:

• You may be covered for trip cancellation due to illness, injury, job loss, or even pandemics.
• Some policies offer Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage.
• Norwegian also offers their own insurance options during checkout.

Always compare NCL’s policy with third-party providers like Allianz, Travel Guard, or AIG.

Tips to Make the Cancellation Process Smoother

Now that you know how to cancel a Norwegian cruise online or by phone, here are a few extra tips to streamline the process:

• Act quickly: The earlier you cancel, the better your chances of a refund.
• Document everything: Save emails, receipts, and screenshots of your cancellation confirmation.
• Check your email frequently: Norwegian will send updates about FCCs or refund timelines.
• Use a credit card for bookings: This often makes refunds easier and faster.

• Read the fine print: Promotions like “Free at Sea” may have special cancellation conditions.

Rebooking After Cancellation

If you've canceled your cruise but plan to sail again in the future, here’s how to make the most of your next booking:

• Use any Future Cruise Credits promptly.
• Watch for deals and rebooking incentives, which Norwegian sometimes offers after cancellations.
• Call NCL or your travel agent to ensure FCCs are correctly applied to your new booking.
• Double-check the new cancellation terms.

Final Thoughts: Canceling a Norwegian Cruise Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful

Figuring out how to cancel a cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you're canceling online, over the phone, or through a third party, understanding the policies and acting within the right timeframe can save you money and stress.

To summarize:

• Check your cruise’s specific cancellation schedule.
• Cancel early if possible.
• Use the official Norwegian website or customer service for direct bookings.
• Go through your travel agent or third-party site if that’s how you booked.
• Consider travel insurance for extra protection.

With proper planning, you can cancel confidently—and get ready to sail another day when the time is right.