Disney Cruise Lines has announced a temporary change to it’s cancellation policy. From January 22nd, 2021 guests are being given a temporary final payment extension.
The rules were extended and revised on March 5, 2021.
This is only for a limited time and for certain sailings, so let’s explore what the new cancellation and final payment rules are.
Which Disney Cruises Do The New Rules Apply To?
These changes only apply to Disney Cruises through September, 2021 and which are booked on or prior to April 30 2021.
If you have a cruise which sets sail after this date, or which was booked after this date, these changes do not apply.
Note as well that there are different rules for concierge guests which we will outline below.
If you want to see which cruises have already been canceled go to Disney Cruise Cancelations Updated
Disney Cruise Final Payment Dates
Disney Cruise Lines is temporarily extending final payment until 60 days prior to sailing for Guests booked in unrestricted stateroom categories.
What does this mean? Guests who haven’t already reached their final payment due date by 22 January, 2021, can now wait until up to 60 days prior to sailing to pay for their cruise vacation.
You cannot schedule cruise activities until you have made your final payment. Once you have made your final payment you can schedule these online within your Castaway Club booking window as soon as you have made your final payment.
This extended payment time applies to all guests including those in guaranteed staterooms and Concierge Guests.
Disney Cruise Cancellation Fee Schedule Changes
As the final payment day has been changed, so the cancellation fee schedule has changed as well:
In addition, we are temporarily relaxing our cruise cancellation fee schedule for sailings through Aug. 31, 2021, as described below.
Cruises 1 to 5 Nights (Excluding Suites and Concierge Staterooms)
Days Prior to Vacation Commencement Date Fee Amount
60 days or more No fee
59 – 45 days Deposit per Guest
44 – 30 days 50% of vacation price per Guest
29 – 15 days 75% of vacation price per Guest
14 days or less 100% of vacation price per Guest
Cruises 6 Nights or More (Excluding Suites and Concierge Staterooms)
Days Prior to Vacation Commencement Date Fee Amount
60 days or more No fee
59 – 56 days Deposit per Guest
55 – 30 days 50% of vacation price per Guest
29 – 15 days 75% of vacation price per Guest
14 days or less 100% of vacation price per Guest
Disney Cruise Cancellation Fees For Concierge Guests
Days Prior to Vacation Commencement Date Fee Amount
60 days or more Deposit per Guest
59 – 56 days 50% of vacation price per Guest
55 – 30 days 75% of vacation price per Guest
29 days or less 100% of vacation price per Guest
Guests with Guaranteed Staterooms
There are different rules for those guests who have booked a Guaranteed Stateroom. As these staterooms are discounted, it remains that they are not refundable and not transferable to other guests.
However, these changes are in addition to the Cruise Date Flexibility Option which is outlined below.
Disney Cruise Date Flexibility
This applies to all cruises booked by April 30, 2021 for sailings which depart on or before September 30, 2021.
Disney Cruise Line guests can change their sail date up to 15 days prior to the departure date.
However. you do need to move that to a future sailing which sails prior to September 30, 2022.
This is what the Disney Cruise website says about this policy:
Guests that wish to change their sail date must move to a future sailing that commences prior to September 30, 2022. Prevailing rates apply and Guests are responsible for any balance due after the reservation has been modified. Guests are unable to return to their original sail date once the reservation has been changed. Should you cancel your new sail date, any cancellation fees applicable to the original sail date will be deferred and applied as a minimum cancellation fee to the future sailing. Standard air cancellation fees apply for Guests who booked flights through Disney Cruise Line.
Further information of all these provisions can be found at Disney Cruise Lines official website.
Are you affected by this new Disney Cruise Cancellation Policy?
Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.