How to Cancel Your Norwegian Cruise Booking

You can cancel a Norwegian Cruise Line booking by calling Norwegian's customer service at 1-866-234-7350 or logging into your account on Norwegian's website and requesting cancellation through your reservation. The process takes about 10 to 15 minutes by phone. What you get back—a refund, a credit toward a future cruise, or nothing—depends on when you cancel relative to your sail date and what type of fare you purchased.

Norwegian does not charge a cancellation fee if you cancel more than 60 days before your departure date. Between 60 and 15 days out, you lose a percentage of your fare (usually 50 percent for standard fares). Within 15 days of departure, most fares are non-refundable. Some higher-priced fares have different windows. The exact terms are printed on your confirmation email and in your online account.

Key Takeaways

  • Call 1-866-234-7350 or cancel through your online account; both methods process the same way and take about 15 minutes.
  • Cancellation fees depend on your sail date and fare type—you lose nothing if you cancel more than 60 days out, but lose 50 percent or more if you cancel closer to departure.
  • Norwegian will issue a refund to your original payment method or a Future Cruise Credit (a voucher for a later cruise) depending on your fare and when you cancel.
  • If you paid through a travel agent, you must cancel through that agent, not directly with Norwegian.
  • Keep your confirmation number and any emails from Norwegian during the cancellation process in case questions arise later.

Cancellation important date and Refund Amounts by Fare Type

Norwegian offers several fare categories, and each has its own cancellation window. Standard fares are the most common and allow full refunds if you cancel more than 60 days before departure, 50 percent refunds between 60 and 15 days out, and no refund within 15 days. Freestyle fares (the lowest-priced option) are typically non-refundable at any point, though you may receive a Future Cruise Credit instead of a refund.

Premium fares and Suite fares often have more generous windows—sometimes allowing refunds up to 30 days before departure. Check your confirmation email or log into your account to see which category your booking falls under. The cancellation policy is listed under "Terms and Conditions" on your reservation page. If you cannot find it, call Norwegian and ask a representative to read your specific policy aloud.

If you purchased travel insurance through Norwegian or a third party, cancellation may be covered under that policy instead of Norwegian's standard terms. Review your insurance documents before canceling, because some policies reimburse the full fare regardless of when you cancel.

Canceling by Phone

Call Norwegian Cruise Line at 1-866-234-7350. Have your confirmation number ready—it appears on your booking confirmation email. The phone line is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time, and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. Wait times are typically 10 to 20 minutes during business hours and shorter early in the morning or late in the evening.

Tell the representative you want to cancel your cruise. They will pull up your reservation, confirm the cancellation policy for your fare type, calculate what you are owed, and process the cancellation. Ask them to confirm the refund amount and method (refund to your card or Future Cruise Credit) before they finalize it. Request a cancellation confirmation number and ask them to email it to you.

Do not hang up until you have the confirmation number in writing. If the representative says your fare is non-refundable, ask whether you can receive a Future Cruise Credit instead—Norwegian often offers this as an alternative even when a cash refund is not available.

Canceling Through Your Online Account

Log into your Norwegian Cruise Line account at www.ncl.com using your email and password. Click "My Reservations" and select the cruise you want to cancel. Look for a "Manage Booking" or "Cancel Cruise" button. Click it and follow the prompts. The system will show you the cancellation policy for your fare, the refund amount you will receive, and the method (refund or Future Cruise Credit).

Review the information carefully before confirming. Once you click "Confirm Cancellation," the booking is canceled and you will receive a confirmation email within a few minutes. Save this email. If you do not see it within 30 minutes, check your spam folder or log back into your account to verify the cancellation went through.

The online method is faster than calling and works 24 hours a day. However, if you have questions about your refund or want to negotiate a Future Cruise Credit instead of a refund, calling is better because you can speak to a person.

What Happens if You Booked Through a Travel Agent

If a travel agent made your reservation, you must cancel through that agent, not directly with Norwegian. Contact the agent by phone or email and ask them to cancel your cruise. Provide your confirmation number. The agent will submit the cancellation to Norwegian on your behalf and will handle the refund or Future Cruise Credit.

Refunds from travel agent bookings take longer—usually 4 to 8 weeks instead of 2 to 4 weeks for direct bookings. The agent may also charge a cancellation fee (separate from Norwegian's fee) if your contract with them allows it. Check your original booking confirmation to see whether the agent listed any cancellation fees.

If the agent is unresponsive or you cannot reach them, you can call Norwegian directly and ask them to cancel the reservation. Provide Norwegian with the agent's name and agency. Norwegian will process the cancellation, but the refund will go to the agent first, and you will have to contact the agent to collect it.

Refunds and Future Cruise Credits

Norwegian refunds go back to the original payment method—the credit card, debit card, or bank account you used to book. Refunds take 2 to 4 weeks to appear, depending on your bank. If you paid by check, Norwegian will mail a check to the address on file, which takes 4 to 6 weeks.

A Future Cruise Credit is a voucher that Norwegian issues instead of a refund. It has no expiration date and can be used toward any Norwegian cruise at any time. The credit is non-transferable—only the person whose name is on the original booking can use it. If you receive a credit and want a refund instead, call Norwegian within 30 days of cancellation and ask whether they will convert it. They may agree if you cancel well before your sail date.

If you paid a deposit and the balance was due later, Norwegian will refund only the portion you already paid, minus cancellation fees. Any balance you had not yet paid is straightforward canceled and you owe nothing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Canceling

Do not assume your cancellation is complete until you have a confirmation number. Many people cancel online, see a confirmation page, and assume they are done—then discover weeks later that the cancellation did not process. Log back into your account 24 hours after canceling to verify the reservation is gone.

Do not cancel without checking your cancellation policy first. If you are within 15 days of departure and your fare is non-refundable, you might be better off keeping the booking and not going, or asking Norwegian whether you can postpone to a later date instead. Postponement sometimes avoids the cancellation fee entirely.

Do not throw away your confirmation emails. Keep them until the refund appears in your account. If there is a dispute about the refund amount or timing, Norwegian will ask you to provide the original confirmation and cancellation confirmation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel my cruise and get a refund if I am sick or have a family emergency?

Norwegian's standard cancellation policy does not make exceptions for illness or emergencies—you follow the same refund schedule as anyone else. However, if you purchased travel insurance, it may cover cancellation due to medical reasons. Check your insurance policy. If you do not have insurance, call Norwegian and ask whether they will make an exception; some representatives have limited authority to offer credits or refunds in hardship cases, though this is not may provide.

What if I cancel and then want to rebook on a different cruise?

If you receive a refund, you can use it to book a new cruise like any other customer. If you receive a Future Cruise Credit, you can explore it to a new booking when ready—just provide the credit number when you book. Future Cruise Credits are often easier to use than waiting for a refund to process.

Can I postpone my cruise instead of canceling it?

Yes. Call Norwegian at 1-866-234-7350 and ask to postpone rather than cancel. Postponement usually allows you to move your booking to a different date with no fee, even if you are within the cancellation window. You keep your original deposit and balance. This is often a better option than canceling if you might want to cruise later.

How long does it take to get my refund after I cancel?

Refunds to a credit or debit card take 2 to 4 weeks to appear. Refunds to a bank account take 3 to 5 weeks. Refunds by check take 4 to 6 weeks. The time starts from the date Norwegian processes the cancellation, not the date you request it. If you do not see your refund after 6 weeks, call Norwegian with your cancellation confirmation number.

What if my cruise is canceled by Norwegian, not by me?

If Norwegian cancels the cruise, you receive a full refund or a Future Cruise Credit at no loss, regardless of how close to the sail date the cancellation is. Norwegian will contact you by email and phone to inform you. You do not have to do anything—the refund or credit is automatic. If you want to rebook on a different Norwegian cruise, you can explore the credit when ready.