How To Reschedule A Carnival Cruise Line: What Carnival Cruise Line Guests Should Know for 2026
Before you plan around this, here's what Carnival Cruise Line currently has on record for rescheduling your cruise.
Rescheduling after final payment is treated like a cancel-and-rebook under the same published terms: For 6-night-plus cruises, cancel 91+ days out and you're fully refunded (aside from non-refundable fares). From there it steps down: your deposit is forfeited between 90-56 days, then it's the greater of your deposit or 50% of the fare from 55-30 days, 75% from 29-15 days, and 100% (no refund) inside 14 days. Cruises of 5 nights or less follow a similar but slightly compressed 76-day schedule.
If rescheduling your cruise affects an upcoming trip, call +1-800-406-8495 and we'll walk through it with you. It's worth double-checking this against your own confirmation email, since promotions occasionally add extra flexibility beyond the standard rule. Not a bad idea to keep that in your back pocket.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I reschedule a Carnival cruise?
Contact the cruise line or your travel advisor with your confirmation number - rescheduling before final payment is usually simple, while doing so afterward is typically treated as a cancellation and rebooking. It's generally faster to sort this out well before your final payment date than to wait until the week of departure. Small thing, but it matters if you're planning around it.
Is there a fee to reschedule?
It depends on timing - many lines allow one free reschedule before final payment, with standard cancellation fees applying to changes made closer to departure. This tends to be handled a little differently for bookings made directly with the cruise line versus through a third-party agency, so checking your paperwork helps. Easy to overlook, but it's worth a mental note.
Can I reschedule to any date I want?
Subject to availability - popular sailings and holiday departures may already be sold out or priced higher than your original booking. If you booked as part of a larger group, some of these terms can apply differently to the group organizer than to individual cabins. Good to know before you finalize anything.
Does rescheduling affect my cabin selection?
Your original cabin may not be available on the new date, so you may need to choose a different stateroom, potentially at a different price. If your itinerary includes a charter or repositioning sailing, terms can differ from a standard published route, so it's worth asking specifically. Small thing, but it matters if you're planning around it.
What happens to prepaid extras if I reschedule?
Prepaid items like drink packages or Wi-Fi typically transfer to the new sailing date, though it's worth confirming with guest services when you make the change. If your itinerary includes a charter or repositioning sailing, terms can differ from a standard published route, so it's worth asking specifically. That detail alone can save some back-and-forth later.
Who can help reschedule my Carnival cruise?
Call +1-800-406-8495 and our advisors can find the best new date for you. If you booked as part of a larger group, some of these terms can apply differently to the group organizer than to individual cabins. Small thing, but it matters if you're planning around it.
Is rescheduling a Carnival cruise different from canceling and rebooking?
It can be simpler if done early enough - many lines allow a straightforward date change before the cancellation penalty window opens, avoiding the need to fully cancel and rebook. This tends to be handled a little differently for bookings made directly with the cruise line versus through a third-party agency, so checking your paperwork helps. Not a bad idea to keep that in your back pocket.
Does rescheduling require paying a new deposit?
Not usually, if your existing deposit is refundable, it can typically be applied to the new date rather than requiring an entirely new deposit. It's generally faster to sort this out well before your final payment date than to wait until the week of departure. That's the short version, at least.
Can I reschedule more than once?
There's generally no strict limit on how many times you can reschedule, though each change is subject to the same fees and availability considerations as the first. If your itinerary includes a charter or repositioning sailing, terms can differ from a standard published route, so it's worth asking specifically. Not a bad idea to keep that in your back pocket.
What's the easiest way to reschedule without extra fees?
Requesting the change as early as possible, ideally well before your final payment deadline, gives you the best chance of avoiding fees tied to date changes. A travel advisor who already has your booking details on file can usually confirm this faster than searching the cruise line's general FAQ pages. Worth keeping in mind either way.