Cruise Refund & Cancellation Policy
Effective Date: February 2026
1. Scope of Service & Relationship
My Travel Budy (Powered by Travel Touristo) is an independent travel agency based in Australia. We act as a professional intermediary between the customer (Traveler) and various Cruise Lines, Airlines, and Third-party vendors. It is imperative to understand that we do not own or operate cruise ships, aircraft, or hotel properties.
When you book a cruise through our 24/7 support desk at 1 800-314-745, you are entering into two separate agreements: one with the cruise line (Carrier) for the actual voyage and one with My Travel Budy for professional booking and itinerary management services. All refund requests are governed by the specific fare rules of the Carrier and the service terms of this agency.
2. Cruise Line Cancellation Penalties
Cruise lines (such as P&O, Royal Caribbean, Princess, etc.) have stringent cancellation windows. The closer you are to the sailing date, the higher the penalty. While specific rules vary by ship and itinerary, a general guide for Australian departures is as follows:
- 90+ Days Prior: Typically, the deposit is forfeited or converted to Future Cruise Credit (FCC).
- 89 to 60 Days Prior: 25% to 50% of the total fare is usually withheld by the carrier.
- 59 to 30 Days Prior: 75% of the total fare is withheld.
- Less than 30 Days Prior: 100% cancellation penalty (No refund issued by carrier).
Special promotional fares (e.g., "Non-refundable Deposit" fares) may incur 100% penalties regardless of when the cancellation occurs. My Travel Budy will facilitate the communication with the carrier, but the final refund amount is determined solely by the Cruise Line.
3. Non-Refundable Agency Fees
Professional Work Disclosure:
My Travel Budy provides 24/7 human-led travel support, which involves significant manual labor, system access costs, and expert consultation time. Therefore:
- Initial Service Fees: Any professional booking fee or convenience fee charged by My Travel Budy at the time of reservation is strictly non-refundable under all circumstances, including Force Majeure.
- Cancellation Processing Fees: To process a cancellation, date change, or cabin upgrade on your behalf, a separate agency processing fee (typically between $50 to $150 AUD per person) will apply. This fee covers the administrative cost of handling the refund cycle with the carrier.
- Why we charge: Our experts spend hours navigating carrier wait times and complex paperwork so you don't have to. This time is compensated through our service fees.
4. Refund Processing & Timelines
Once My Travel Budy receives the refund amount from the Cruise Line or Carrier, it will be processed back to the traveler. Please note:
Original Payment Method
Refunds are only issued to the original credit card or bank account used at the time of booking. We cannot issue cash or third-party refunds.
Estimated Timeframes
Standard processing takes 10 to 20 business days. However, during peak seasons or technical delays from the carrier, it may take up to two billing cycles.
5. Future Cruise Credits (FCC)
In many instances (such as weather-related cancellations or voluntary rescheduling), cruise lines may issue a **Future Cruise Credit (FCC)** instead of a cash refund. FCCs are subject to the carrier's expiration dates and are non-transferable. My Travel Budy can assist you in redeeming these credits for your next voyage, subject to a standard agency booking fee.
6. No-Shows & Mandatory Travel Insurance
Failure to arrive at the cruise terminal by the "All Aboard" time is considered a "No-Show." In such events, 100% of the fare is forfeited. We strongly recommend that all Australian travelers purchase comprehensive travel insurance at the time of booking. Travel insurance may cover cancellation costs for unforeseen medical emergencies or flight delays that cause you to miss your ship.
7. Avoid Unauthorized Chargebacks
Initiating a credit card chargeback for a non-refundable booking or service fee is considered a violation of our terms. In the event of a dispute, please contact our internal resolutions team at 1 800-314-745 first. We will provide all necessary documentation (including carrier fare rules) to your bank in response to unauthorized chargebacks.
Initiate Your Request
24/7 Support Line
1 800-314-745
Escalation Desk
refunds@mytravelbudy.com
Managed by Travel Touristo LLP. Legal Jurisdiction: Melbourne, VIC, Australia.