Short answer
Sometimes. After you book a Carnival cruise, certain changes are usually possible, such as changing a guest, upgrading a cabin or adjusting some extras. Changing the sailing date, ship or itinerary is more complicated and may be treated as a cancellation and a new booking. What you can do depends on your fare type, how close you are to sailing, and what is available. Carnival’s policies and fees can change, so confirm the current terms with Carnival or your travel agent.
What you can usually change
- Guest names: Replacing a traveler is often possible if at least one original guest stays. See our guide to changing a guest on a Carnival booking.
- Cabin: You may be able to move to a different cabin or category if one is available, usually at the current price for the new cabin.
- Add-ons: Items bought separately, such as drinks packages, dining or shore excursions, can often be changed or cancelled under their own terms, which tend to differ from the cruise fare terms.
- Extra guests: Adding someone depends on cabin and ship capacity. See adding someone to your cruise last minute.
- Dietary or accessibility requests: These can usually be added or updated by contacting the cruise line.
What affects whether a change is allowed
- Fare type. Promotional or restricted fares often come with tighter terms than standard fares. Read the terms attached to your fare, not just the headline price.
- Timing. Changes are easier months before sailing than days before. Once final payment has passed, cancellation fees apply on a sliding scale in many cases.
- Availability. A new cabin, date or ship has to be available.
- Price difference. If the new option costs more at today’s price, you may need to pay the difference. If it costs less, you may not receive a refund of the difference.
- Booking channel. If you booked through a travel agent, they may be the best place to start.
Changing the sailing date or itinerary
Switching to a different date, ship or itinerary is rarely just a simple edit. In many cases the options are:
- Rebook: Cancel the existing booking under its terms and book the new sailing at the price that applies today.
- Ask for an exception or move: Occasionally a line will move a booking if there is a specific reason, such as an itinerary change by the cruise line. This is not something to count on.
- Use credit: If your original cancellation produces a credit instead of a refund, see how future cruise credit works for its rules and expiry.
Before cancelling, compare what you would lose with the benefit of the new sailing. A cancellation close to sailing can cost a large part of the fare.
Changing cabin category or location
If you want a better cabin, such as an upgrade from an interior to a balcony, ask Carnival what is available and what it would cost today. If you booked a guaranteed cabin, you may be able to pick a specific cabin later, depending on terms. Our explainer on guarantee cabins outlines how they work. If you are unsure which cabin suits you, our comparisons of inside versus balcony cabins and the best cruise cabin location for less motion can help.
Changing guests
Replacing a guest is one of the more common changes. At least one of the original guests generally needs to remain. A fee may apply. New guests need to match their ID or passport.
Change versus cancel and rebook
If a change is not allowed, cancelling and rebooking may be the only route. Keep these points in mind:
- The cancellation schedule for your fare decides what you may lose.
- A new booking will be at the price available when you rebook, which may be higher or lower.
- You might lose a promotion that was attached to the original booking.
- Insurance cover may depend on the reason for cancelling. See whether cruise travel insurance is worth it.
How to make a change
- Find your booking number and fare details.
- Decide exactly what you want to change, and have a second choice ready.
- Contact Carnival or your travel agent. Many changes cannot be completed online.
- Ask for the total cost, any fee, and the new payment deadlines.
- Ask for written confirmation of the change before you stop looking at other options.
Before you change
Check whether the original booking includes extras that may be lost, such as onboard credit, drinks offers or group rates. Confirm the final payment date for the new booking. And if your main goal is a lower price, take a look at how to find unsold cruise cabins at big discounts first, since a cheaper option may exist without making changes.