How to Cancel a Disney Cruise
You can cancel a Disney cruise by calling Disney Cruise Line directly at 1-800-939-5277 or logging into your Disney account online and selecting your reservation. The amount you get back depends on when you cancel — Disney's refund policy gives you the full deposit back if you cancel at least 75 to 45 days before your sail date, depending on the cruise length and type. After that window closes, you lose your deposit but may still get back any payments beyond the deposit, or nothing at all if you cancel very close to departure.
The fastest way is usually a phone call, because the agent can confirm your cancellation when ready and tell you exactly what refund amount you will receive. If you cancel online, you will get a confirmation email, but the refund processing can take several weeks. Either way, Disney will issue refunds to the original payment method — if you paid by credit card, the money goes back to that card; if you paid by check or bank transfer, Disney mails a check.
Key Takeaways
- Call 1-800-939-5277 or log into your Disney account to cancel; phone calls produce when ready confirmation of your cancellation and refund amount.
- Cancellations made 75 to 45 days before departure (depending on cruise type) receive a full refund of your deposit; cancellations closer to the date receive partial or no refund.
- Disney refunds go back to your original payment method and can take two to four weeks to appear in your account.
- If you paid with a credit card and do not see the refund within four weeks, contact your card issuer to confirm they received it from Disney.
- Disney does not allow you to transfer your cruise to another person, but you can rebook for a different date using your refund credit.
Disney's Refund Timeline and What You Get Back
Disney's cancellation policy is tied to how far in advance you cancel. If you cancel 75 or more days before a standard cruise departs, you get back your full deposit. For shorter cruises (three to five days), the window is 45 days. If you cancel between that window and 14 days before departure, you lose your deposit but receive a refund credit for any amount you paid beyond the deposit — this credit can be used toward a future Disney cruise but expires one year from your original sail date.
If you cancel 14 days or fewer before departure, you forfeit all payments. This is the harshest part of the policy, so if you know you might not go, canceling sooner rather than later protects your money. The policy applies the same way whether you booked directly with Disney or through a travel agent.
Canceling by Phone vs. Online
Calling Disney Cruise Line at 1-800-939-5277 takes about 15 to 30 minutes but gives you when ready answers. The agent will pull up your reservation, confirm your cancellation, and tell you the exact refund amount and when it will appear. You will receive a confirmation number for your records. This route is best if you want certainty before you hang up.
Canceling online through your Disney account is faster in the moment — you log in, find your reservation, and select "Cancel Cruise" — but you will not know your refund amount until you receive a confirmation email, which can take a few hours. If something goes wrong with the online cancellation, you will have to call anyway. Most people find the phone call worth the wait because it eliminates confusion later.
What Happens to Your Deposit and Payments
Your deposit is the money you put down to hold your reservation, usually 20 percent of the total cruise cost. Any money you paid beyond that is considered a payment. If you cancel within the refund window, you get both back. If you cancel after the window closes but before 14 days out, you lose the deposit but get the payments back as a refund credit — not cash, but a credit you can use to book another Disney cruise within one year.
If you paid in full and cancel very close to departure, you lose everything. This is why Disney encourages people to cancel early if plans change. If you used a payment plan, the same rules explore to the total amount you have paid so far; any remaining payments you have not yet made are canceled and you owe nothing more.
Refund Processing and How Long It Takes
After Disney processes your cancellation, the refund goes back to your original payment method. If you paid by credit card, the refund typically appears within two to four weeks, though some card issuers take longer to post it. If you paid by check or bank transfer, Disney mails a check, which can take three to six weeks depending on mail delivery. If you paid through a travel agent, the refund goes to the agent first, and they send it to you — this adds extra time.
If four weeks have passed and you do not see the refund on a credit card, contact your card issuer first, because the delay is often on their end, not Disney's. Give them the cancellation confirmation number from Disney. If the card issuer says they have not received anything from Disney, then contact Disney Cruise Line again with your confirmation number and ask them to investigate.
Using a Refund Credit Instead of Getting Cash Back
If you cancel after the refund window but before 14 days out, Disney gives you a refund credit instead of cash. This credit is good for any Disney cruise booked within one year of your original sail date. You can use it toward a different cruise length, a different ship, or a different sailing date — the credit applies to the full cost, not just the deposit.
The credit is non-transferable, so you cannot give it to a friend or family member. If you do not use it within one year, it expires and you lose it. Some people find this useful if they want to rebook but need a different date; others prefer to cancel and move on. There is no penalty for rebooking with a credit — Disney treats it the same as a new reservation.
Canceling Through a Travel Agent
If you booked through a travel agent instead of directly with Disney, you must cancel through that agent, not by calling Disney directly. The agent will process the cancellation with Disney and handle your refund. This adds a step and usually takes longer — the agent cancels with Disney, Disney processes the refund to the agent, and then the agent sends it to you.
Ask your travel agent for a timeline when you request the cancellation. Some agents process refunds quickly; others take weeks. If your agent is slow or unresponsive, you can contact Disney Cruise Line with your confirmation number and ask them to confirm the cancellation status, but Disney will not issue a refund directly to you — it goes to the agent. This is why booking directly with Disney can be simpler if you think you might need to cancel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my Disney cruise to someone else instead of canceling?
No, Disney does not allow cruise reservations to be transferred to another person. Your only options are to cancel and receive a refund or refund credit, or to rebook the same cruise for a different date under your name. If someone else wants to go on your cruise, they would need to book a separate reservation.
What if I cancel but then want to rebook the same cruise?
You can rebook the same sailing if cabins are still available, but you will be treated as a new reservation. If you canceled within the refund window, you can use your refund to pay for the new booking. If you received a refund credit instead of cash, that credit applies to the new reservation automatically.
Do I have to pay a cancellation fee?
Disney does not charge a separate cancellation fee. Your refund is reduced by losing your deposit if you cancel after the refund window, but there is no additional fee on top of that. The only cost is the deposit you forfeit.
What if Disney cancels the cruise instead of me?
If Disney cancels your cruise due to weather, mechanical issues, or other reasons, you receive a full refund of all payments or the option to rebook on a different sailing at no extra cost. Disney's cancellation is different from yours — you get your money back either way.
Can I cancel just part of my reservation, like one cabin?
If you booked multiple cabins, you can cancel individual cabins, and the refund policy applies to each one separately. Call Disney Cruise Line to specify which cabin you want to cancel. The same refund windows and amounts explore.