Royal Caribbean announced a massive enhancement and extension to its Cruise with Confidence program, which allows guests to cancel their cruises up to 48 hours before sailing.
The "enhanced & extended Cruise with Confidence policy" was announced on Wednesday , where guests can cancel up to 48-hours prior to sailing in exchange for a 100% Future Cruise Credit on sailings through April 2022 for bookings made on-or-before August 1, 2020.
In addition, Royal Caribbean announced "Lift & Shift", where guests can move their existing booking to next year, protecting their original price and promotion.
Lift & Shift is available by selecting 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. It is not required that your client rebook on the same ship or ship class.
Guests are eligible to rebook under the Lift & Shift guidelines between now and August 1, 2020. After this point, Lift & Shift expires and is no longer eligible.
All pre-cruise purchases will be removed during the re-accommodation process and can be added to the future reservation, as desired, at prevailing rates.
You can opt to Lift & Shift only one time.
Guests who take advantage of the Cruise with Confidence program can get a 100% Future Cruise Credit if they decide they would like to cancel their cruise vacation due to the current global situation.
Non-Refundable Deposit bookings are eligible for Cruise with Confidence and follow the same guidelines.
If you purchased a hotel or transfer, here is how it works:
- When electing for a Future Cruise Credit
- If you purchased hotel accommodations or transfers with Royal Caribbean, all charges will be automatically refunded.
- If you booked outside of Royal Caribbean, you will need to contact the company you booked through directly.
- When opting to Lift & Shift
- If you purchased hotel accommodations or transfers with Royal Caribbean, these will be removed during the re-accommodation process, but can be re-added, if desired, once confirmed on the future ship/sailing of choice at prevailing rates.
- If you booked outside of Royal Caribbean, you will need to contact the company you booked through directly.
Lift & Shift blackout dates:
- Christmas, New Year’s, and Chinese New Year’s cruises are ineligible, unless you are currently confirmed on one of these sailings and wishes to take advantage of Lift & Shift to move to the same sailing next year (assuming all other qualifying criteria is met).
Best Price Guarantee Update
Another big change announced is guests can take advantage of Royal Caribbean's Best Price Guarantee up to 48-hours prior to their cruise vacation start date, ensuring the best rate and/or promotion.
This means guests can now take advantage of price drops after final payment date, up until 48 hours before the cruise. This is applicable to all sailings made on or before August 1, 2020 (including ones made before today's announcement).
Price variances will result in a rate adjustment if requested outside of final payment or a non-refundable onboard credit when inside final payment period.
Prior to this change to the Best Price Guarantee, price adjustments after final payment date would incur cancellation fees that would offset any price adjustment advantages.
Will you be more willing to book a cruise because of this enhanced policy? What do you think of the Lift & Shift offer? Share your thoughts in the comments!
