MIAMI -- Carnival Cruise Lines revised its cancellation policy
effective Jan. 23 and now charges a percentage of the booking,
instead of a flat fee, for cancellations.
Passengers on cruises between three and eight days in length who
cancel their reservation 29 to eight days prior to departure will
be charged 50% of the total booking. Previously, passengers on
three-, four- and five-day cruises were charged a flat rate of
$150; those on six, seven and eight-day cruises were charged
$350.
Passengers will continue to forfeit their deposit on
cancellations made more than 30 days prior to departure.
Passengers booked on two- to three-day cruises to nowhere will
be charged 25% of the booking if they cancel 60 to 30 days before
departure, and 50% on if they cancel 29 to eight days before
departure.
The cancellation policy remains unchanged on cruises to Alaska,
cruise tours and cruises lasting 10 days or longer.
And there continues to be no refund on cancellations made seven
days or fewer before departure on all bookings.
A Carnival spokeswoman said it was a more "equitable" way to
handle the penalties.
"It's a percentage of what you paid," she said. "To us, that's
more logical than to have a flat rate. It's a method that seems to
be becoming pretty commonplace."
The policy change was sent out via fax to travel agents, the
spokeswoman said.