Travel News

Travel Cancellation & Refund Policies Due to Coronavirus

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The travel industry is navigating unchartered waters in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak. Cancellation policies are being modified significantly to allow customers the option to cancel very close to departure and reschedule for another time. Don’t expect a refund however, in most cases you are offered a future cruise or travel credit. The problem is that there are a lot of moving parts. A cruise line may give you a future cruise credit, a tour company or hotel a future travel voucher, but will the airlines refund your money, or will an insurance company refund your policy?

The answer varies depending on the company, when you booked and when you are scheduled to travel. For example with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruise Line, for any cruises scheduled to departure between now and July 31, 2020, travelers can cancel up to 48 hours before their cruise and receive a future cruise credit good through 2021. NCL Cruises has taken the offer a bit further. For all cruises through September 30, cancel up to 48 hours prior to your vacation start date and receive a Future Cruise Credit for sailings through December 2022.

Tour companies such as Insight Vacations, Trafalgar Tours and Globus Tours are offering future travel credits and even waiting any airline penalties on air-inclusive bookings, if clients are willing to move to another trip, even if its a different destination. Tauck Tours and Collette Tours offer insurance coverage that on most trips, allows you to cancel your trip and receive your money back, less the cost of the insurance.

Airlines are offering future travel vouchers in many cases for travel that is within the next 45 to 60 days, but there is usually a time frame in which you have to re-book your air.

It’s a lot of information, and one of the benefits of having a travel agent help you figure it all and get everything taken care of.

Below you will we have provided links from a lot of the major travel companies so that you can browse the latest information.