What happens if War Prevents a Cruise?

The cruise lines all have different policies regarding cancellation due to War or other related situations. The following information should help clear the issue up some.

Cruise Penalty for cancellation due to war

CELEBRITY CRUISES Existing Cruise Care coverage allows passengers to cancel for any "non-covered" reason and receive 75% of nonrefundable cancellation fees in the form of a credit toward future Celebrity cruise.

COSTA CRUISES - Waiving cancellation penalties for transatlantic and European sailings, currently effective only through April 30, 2003.  Passengers can cancel for any reason and receive a full refund. The policy applies to voyages on CostaAtlantica, Victoria, Romantica, Classica,  Allegra, Tropicale, Europa, and Mediterranea but does not extend to  airfare, hotel stays, or pre-booked excursions.

CRYSTAL CRUISES "Cruise Protection Program-PLUS," an optional upgrade to the line's basic insurance, allows passengers to cancel for any reason until three days prior to departure and receive a cruise credit of 90% alid for any sailing within 12 months of cancellation. The program is in effect for all cruises departing between May 15-December 31, 2003.

FIRST EUROPEAN CRUISES Revised cancellation policy on all 2003 cruises allows passengers to cancel for any reason up to 72 hours prior to departure and receive cruise credit good for one year. Coverage is offered at no extra charge but cruises must be booked by April 30.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE Standard Plan already permits cancellation for any reason up to 24 hours prior to the scheduled cruise or tour departure. The cancellation must be in writing. Passengers will receive a refund of up to 80% of the applicable cancellation fee (90% refund with upgrade to CCP Platinum Plan).

OCEANIA CRUISES Optional "Sea of Assurance" program allows guests to postpone their cruise for any reason up until 24 hours prior to departure and receive a 100% cruise credit valid for any sailing within 36 months.  The program is available on all cruises departing between July 5 and October 31, 2003.

PRINCESS CRUISES Existing Travel Care program allows passengers to cancel for any reason and receive 75% of the non-refundable cancellation fees in the form of credit toward a future Princess cruise. By upgrading to Travel Care Gold passengers passengers will receive 90% of the nonrefundable cancellation fees and double the standard coverage for medical expenses, emergency evacuation and lost baggage clams.

RADISSON SEVEN SEAS CRUISES New "PartnerShip Assurance Program" gives  passengers who cancel any European cruise departing before August 31, 2003  a "Goodwill Cruise Certificate" in an amount equal to the cancellation  penalty minus an administrative fee of US $200 per person. Certificate must be used prior to September 1, 2004 and is valid for departures on any Radisson vessel and sailing except the Paul Gauguin. The to be applied to a future sailing on any RSSC vessel except the Paul Gauguin.

RESIDENSEA Effective immediately and until Dec. 31, 2003, customers who cancel voyages aboard The World will receive their cancellation penalties in the form of a certificate to be used for future voyages in lieu of a  penalty against their fare. The certificates are valid for any voyage completed prior to July 1, 2004. Cancellation certificates range from 10% to 100% of total fare paid.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL Standard Cruise Care policy allows cancellation for any reason not covered by insurance up until day prior to departure. Passengers receive a 75% credit for a future sailing within one year.

ROYAL OLYMPIA CRUISES- Passengers can cancel up to 24 hours prior to departure on all sailings between March and November, 2003 and receive a full credit toward another Royal Olympia cruise taken within one year.

SEABOURN CRUISE LINE "SeabournShield Plus" supplemental insurance option (US $295 per person) for departures June 1-December 31, 2003 allows passengers to cancel for any reason. Passengers purchasing the coverage can cancel up to 24 hours prior to sailing and receive a credit of 90% of the cruise fare to use on any cruise departing within one year of the original sailing date.

SEADREAM YACHT CLUB - "No Stress, No Strings" policy allows passengers to  cancel for any reason up to 24 hours before sailing and receive a full  cruise credit to be used within two years.

SILVERSEA CRUISES - Reassurance Program allows passengersto cancel/change  travel plans within 1-14 days prior to departure without penalty on all  2003 cruises and receive a 100% "Reassurance Credit" to use on a future  cruise within one year.

UNIWORLD - Worry-Free Travel Protection and Worry Free "Gold" both allow passengers to cancel their trip for any reason; refunds in cash and Travel Certificates vary between coverage but are up to 100% of the trip cost.

WINDSTAR CRUISES CCP Standard Plan already permits cancellation for any reason up to 24 hours prior to the scheduled cruise or tour departure. The cancellation must be in writing. Passengers will receive a refund of up to 80% of the applicable cancellation fee (90% refund with upgrade to CCP Platinum Plan).

Royal Caribbean has also issued the following policy on Med Cruises