Just like within the airline industry, it's not uncommon to hear about cruise lines overselling voyages as a buffer for last-minute cancelations. Unlike flights, however, moving passengers to another sailing isn't easy.
Though being booted off a flight can derail plans, your entire vacation, whether a 3-night getaway to The Bahamas or weeklong sailing around the Mediterranean, will likely be ruined if you're denied boarding at the terminal.
When a cruise line realizes that an upcoming sailing is oversold, they'll typically begin by asking for volunteers. For example, guests sailing on Symphony of the Seas' June 14, 2024 cruise received an email asking if certain passengers would consider rebooking.
They refrained from using the words "overbooked" or "oversold;" however, they were looking for guests with flexible travel plans to presumably free up cabins to avoid chaos at the terminal.
While receiving an email about an overbooked sailing isn't ideal, some cruisers are open to receiving compensation and moving to another sailing
In the case of Symphony of the Seas' oversold cruise, passengers had two options. The first allowed them to change to another Symphony cruise departing from Cape Liberty in the same cabin category originally booked, in addition to a full refund.
If they weren't interested in choosing another sailing onboard Symphony of the Seas, they could cancel and get a 100% refund, as well as a future cruise credit for 100% of the value of the cruise fare.
Similarly, GumB98014 shared an email they received regarding a Viking cruise on Reddit. "Your June 1 departure of [a] Grand European Tour is currently oversold. We would like to offer you the opportunity to sail on the same itinerary, departing later this year or next year, instead," the email read.
"Should you decide to accept this offer, you will receive the following:
- 100% refund of your paid cruisefare
- Complimentary cruisefare on your new sailing date
- Complimentary stateroom category upgrade; up to an Explorer Suite (ES)
- Re-booking of airfare at no additional cost for Viking Air customers"
Naughtical-by-Nature commented, explaining they had received a similar offer from Princess Cruises in the past: "...they oversold and offered us a free cruise in the future if we gave up our cabin. I called them directly (to make sure the deal was real) and asked about airfare and hotel since we would have lost money changing the airfare and cancelling the hotel. They told me they would reimburse any change fees/ cancellation fee with receipt (which they did). It never hurts to ask."
And as a bonus, they were upgraded from a standard balcony cabin to a suite!
In June, Cruise Spotlight reported that a passenger was removed from a 5-night sailing on Carnival Freedom after being informed the ship was overbooked. According to the port, the guest was transferred to Carnival Glory, which was embarking on a 4-night cruise. However, they were upgraded to a balcony.
In rare cases, you may arrive at the port and be denied boarding
In November 2023, guests eager to board their 8-night cruise aboard Quantum of the Seas arrived at the terminal only to be greeted by disappointment.
AnimatorFun7470 shared their experience on Reddit, explaining that it was their first cruise and they had booked a GTY (guarantee) room. At the terminal, they were given a letter and proceeded to wait two hours to see if they'd be able to board the ship. Unfortunately, there weren't any last-minute cancelations, so they couldn't embark on their long-awaited vacation.
"Absolutely devastated and completely ruined my holiday," they wrote.
"We regret to inform you that currently we have been unable to allocate a stateroom number to your reservation," the letter read.
AnimatorFun7470 was given four options. The first was to remain on standby with the hope of a cabin being assigned at the terminal before check-in closes. In addition, they'd receive US$100 onboard credit for the inconvenience. If no cabin became available, Royal Caribbean would issue a full refund and future cruise credit amounting to 25% of the cruise fare, excluding taxes and fees.
Second, Royal offered to allow AnimatorFun7470 to move to the January 29, 2024 sailing for no additional charge. If available, they'd be given a free upgrade.
If the January 29 sailing wasn't possible, they could move to another 7- or 8-night cruise with price protection and a free upgrade, where available.
Finally, they could cancel and request a full refund plus a future cruise credit amounting to 25% of the cruise fare.
Users were shocked at what Royal was offering and said AnimatorFun7470 should demand more
"First of all, demand more than they're offering. This is absolutely ridiculous and I'm sorry you are dealing with this," wrote jambr380.
alaskaj1 said, "25% [future cruise credit] seems insulting low for people who were already at the pier, I swear I've seen them give 100% plus a full refund for people they have had to cancel on in the past."
"That’s horrible! Carnival had to cancel cruises and offered [a] full refund and a FREE future cruise — and their guests weren’t even at the pier," added NotCoolDudette.
AnimatorFun7470 provided a later update, explaining they had been called by Royal Caribbean's office and were offered better compensation, including a full refund, 100% future cruise credit, and a free Deluxe Drink Package.
If you're worried about oversold cruises, avoid guaranteed rates
Many mainstream cruise lines—including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and MSC Cruises—offer guaranteed fares, which are cheaper than standard rates that allow passengers to select their specific cabin when booking. With a guaranteed rate, you will be assigned your stateroom closer to your sail date.
Part of the "guarantee" is that you are guaranteed—nine times out of ten—a stateroom in your chosen category. If, for example, you book an ocean view room, you won't be downgraded to an interior. If all ocean view rooms are sold out, they'll upgrade you to the next available category.
However, if the ship is overbooked and you reserved a guaranteed cabin, it stands to reason passengers with unassigned rooms would be at a higher risk of getting bumped off the sailing. In theory, though, the greatest risk with booking guaranteed cabins is ending up in a room in a less-than-desirable location.
Read more: Best rooms on a cruise ship: Deck, location, & category
Does travel insurance help with cruise cancellations or bumps?
Travel insurance is useful in a variety of scenarios, including lost luggage, airline delays, and medical emergencies. While it's an optional charge, it's better to be safe rather than sorry.
When it comes to reimbursements for overbooked cruises, travel insurance won't issue a refund if you accept a refund, future cruise credit, or an alternative cruise from the cruise line.
Adding a "cancel or any reason" clause would alleviate concerns, but they're more costly than standard travel insurance policies.
Oversold cruises are quite rare, but they come with enticing options for those who are voluntarily or involuntary bumped from their original sailing
The chances of your next cruise being oversold are slim. While nothing in the industry is impossible, it's not worth stressing over not being assigned a stateroom or being told you won't be able to board when you get to the terminal (unless you don't have the right travel documentation!).
When cruises are oversold, you'll often see lines offering alternate sailings for no extra charge, potential upgrades, refunds, and/or future cruise credits.
Of course, in the case of Quantum of the Seas' overbooking, the initial offer for those who showed up at the terminal wasn't lucrative for the inconvenience caused. Thankfully, with enough determination, those booted from the cruise weren't totally out of luck, with a would-be passenger reporting they ended up receiving a full refund, 100% future cruise credit, and a free drink package.
If you're notified that your sailing is overbooked, carefully read the cruise line's offer to understand the terms and conditions. Guests booked through a travel agent can reach out to their advisor—if they don't hear from them first. Your agent will walk you through your available options and communicate with the cruise line on your behalf.
Those without an agent may have to do a bit more research themselves. Before settling on any option, ensure they align with your vacation needs. If they're trying to switch you to a smaller ship or different stateroom category, do not accept the offer. There's no point in settling on a trip that won't make you happy!
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
