Disney Cruise Line Changes Final Payment and Cancellation Policy

[Jason]

Disney Cruise Line is changing its final payment and cancellation policy for bookings starting on Sept. 11, 2018.

After that date, final payment for all guests in standard rooms on sailings of one- to five-nights will be due 90 days prior to arrival. Prior, Disney allowed those guests up until 75 days before arrival to make final payment.

Those guests will now be charged cancellations fees starting at 89 days (guests will lose their deposit). At 44 days to sailing guests will lose half of their payment, at 29 days guests will lose 75 percent, and at 14 days or less guests will lose 100 percent.

For those in standard rooms on sailings six nights or more, payment will now be due 120 days prior to arrival. Disney previously required it 90 days in advance for sailings between five and nine nights.

Guests on those sailings will also see their cancellation policy change—those cancelling 56 days or more outside of their sailing will lose their deposit; those cancelling between 55 and 30 days outside will lose 50 percent of their fare; those cancelling between 29 and 15 days will lose 75 percent of their fare; and those cancelling two weeks or less outside will lose 100 percent of their fare.

Suite guests

For suite and concierge guests on sailings of one to five nights, the final payment due date will remain at 120 days to arrival. For those on sailings six nights or more, the final payment is now due 150 days prior to arrival.

Specific final payment and cancellation policies have been eliminated for holiday sailings – sailings that include Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day or July 4th.   

For reservations made prior to Sept. 11, 2018, the final payment and cancellation fees assessed will be based on the information listed on the original confirmation unless the sailing date or vacation package is modified.

By Daniel McCarthy, Travel Market Report
Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more
For more cruise news and articles go to https://www.cruisecrazies.com

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[Shari2]

Good idea to have insurance that covers this...we had to cancel two cruises, one because of my mother's heart attack, and one because my husband broke his foot.

[ExpatCruise]

The market is a wonderful thing. Really doesn't matter if you are talking about cruise cabins, apples, or service fees. The market if left along will always adjust and find the true value. 

Simple fact is Disney's final payment and cancellation policy was costing them bookings or income per cabin so after looking at this they have adjusted the policy. Only Disney really knows which ones, but they believe that by changing the policy they we make more profit.

Time will tell if they made the right call here.  

[Jan115]

Well, I guess that's a little better than Viking, who wanted my final payment by this August 31st for an October 2019 cruise!? Fortunately, I got them to move it to next April!? 

[Jan115]

On 8/28/2018 at 6:51 PM, Shari2 said:

Good idea to have insurance that covers this...we had to cancel two cruises, one because of my mother's heart attack, and one because my husband broke his foot.

Exactly why insurance makes sense. Good thing you bought it, Shari! ?

[Shari2]

Yes...we only needed a note from the doctor for Marc, and a note from my mother's doctor for the other cruise.  Got all our money back.  So glad we did get the insurance.