General Overview of Seabourn’s Cancellation Policy
Seabourn’s cancellation policy is based on the number of days prior to the cruise departure that a guest cancels. In simple terms, the closer a guest gets to the sailing date, the smaller the refund will be. Guests who cancel very close to the departure date may forfeit the entire cruise fare. Those who cancel well in advance can expect to receive most or all of their money back, depending on the fare conditions.
Each cruise fare type may have slightly different terms, but generally, the following structure applies. For example, if a guest cancels 120 days or more before the sailing date, the cancellation fee is usually minimal or sometimes completely waived. Between 90 and 120 days before sailing, a small percentage of the total fare is retained as a penalty. Between 60 and 90 days before the cruise, the penalty increases, and after 30 days before sailing, it usually rises sharply until there is no refund available within a short window of departure.
This approach is standard across the cruise industry and helps Seabourn manage its cabins efficiently. Since most voyages are booked far in advance, a late cancellation makes it difficult to resell a stateroom, especially on smaller ships with limited capacity. For guests, the benefit of understanding this timeline is the ability to plan wisely and protect their investment by canceling early if needed.
Key Time Frames for Cancellations
Although exact numbers can vary slightly depending on the voyage length or itinerary, the following explanation gives a general idea of how Seabourn applies its cancellation schedule.
For cancellations made 120 days or more before departure, guests can typically receive a full refund minus any administrative fees. Between 90 and 119 days prior to departure, guests may lose around 15 percent of their total fare as a cancellation fee. Between 60 and 89 days before sailing, the fee often increases to 50 percent. Between 30 and 59 days, the penalty usually rises further to 75 percent. Within 30 days of departure, the entire cruise fare is generally nonrefundable.
This schedule demonstrates that Seabourn encourages travelers to finalize their plans early. Once the voyage date gets close, Seabourn has already made arrangements with ports, suppliers, and onboard staff based on the number of confirmed guests. Therefore, late cancellations can have significant operational consequences, and the policy ensures fairness and predictability for all parties.
