Refund & Cancellation Policy

Last Updated: January 2026

1. CORE PRINCIPLES OF THE AGGREGATION MODEL

1.1. Intermediary Role: Orbtickets LLC (cruise-vacations.com) functions exclusively as an intermediary. We do not own or operate maritime vessels; therefore, all refund and cancellation policies are established by the Third-Party Cruise Provider.
1.2. Supremacy of Contract: The Cruise Line’s "Passage Contract" takes legal precedence over any summaries provided on this Site.

2. CANCELLATION PROCEDURES AND PENALTY SCHEDULES

2.1. Submission: Requests must be sent in writing to support@cruise-vacations.com or via phone at +1-843-314-5400.
2.2. Standard Penalties: Penalties are tiered based on proximity to departure (90+ days: Deposit forfeiture; 29 days or less: 100% penalty).
2.3. Non-Refundable Fares: NRD or "Last-Minute" rates are subject to 100% penalty from the moment of booking.

3. AMENDMENTS, MODIFICATIONS, AND NAME CHANGES

3.1. Complexity: Modifications involve port security regulations and may be treated as a cancellation/re-booking by the carrier.
3.2. Administrative Fee: The Company charges a non-refundable administrative fee of $50.00 USD per person for processing any cancellation or modification, in addition to cruise line penalties.

4. REFUND PROCESSING AND DISCLOSURES

4.1. Source: Refunds are issued only to the original form of payment.
4.2. Timeline: The reimbursement cycle typically ranges from 30 to 60 business days, governed by financial institutions and Cruise Line accounting.
4.3. Taxes: We will pursue the recovery of government-mandated port taxes even if the fare is non-refundable, subject to carrier policy.

5. INVOLUNTARY CANCELLATIONS (FORCE MAJEURE)

5.1. Carrier-Initiated: If a sailing is canceled due to mechanical failure or port closure, compensation (often Future Cruise Credits) is determined by the Cruise Line.
5.2. Acts of God: The Company is not liable for failures resulting from hurricanes, pandemics, war, or maritime accidents.

6. TRAVEL INSURANCE AND RISK MITIGATION

6.1. Recommendation: THE COMPANY STRONGLY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY RECOMMENDS THE PURCHASE OF COMPREHENSIVE TRAVEL INSURANCE.
6.2. Waiver: By declining insurance, the User assumes all financial risk for cancellation penalties.

7. DISPUTES AND CHARGEBACKS

7.1. Good Faith: Users agree to contact us prior to initiating a credit card chargeback.
7.2. Fraudulent Activity: Initiating a chargeback for clearly outlined non-refundable fees is a breach of contract and may be reported to credit agencies.