Royal Caribbean notified travel partners on September 28 that its North America cancellation policy is being overhauled effective October 11, 2026. The biggest shift is the elimination of the 25% penalty tier for all sailing lengths of five nights or more, meaning guests who cancel within certain windows will now jump straight to a 50% charge rather than easing in gradually.
The cruise-length categories are also being redrawn. The current tiers of 1-4 nights, 5-14 nights, and 15-plus nights will become 1-4 nights, 5-9 nights, and 10-plus nights. That reclassification moves 10-to-14-night cruises into the highest penalty bracket, which carries both a longer penalty period and an earlier final-payment deadline.
Deposit amounts are changing alongside the penalties. New bookings will require $100 for sailings of one to five nights, $250 for six to nine nights, and $450 for cruises of ten nights or longer. Five-night Bermuda sailings also move to the $250 deposit level.
From October 11, the third and fourth guest cancellation policy will also be automatically enforced by Royal Caribbean's reservation system rather than reviewed case by case. Any 2028 Alaska, Hawaii, Pacific Coastal, or Transpacific sailing booked from September 29 onward is already subject to the new structure. All other existing bookings remain under the current rules until the October 11 cutover.