How to change or cancel cruise reservations as coronavirus ravages the industry

Major cruise companies have started changing their cancellation, rebooking, and refunding policies amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 has been called one of the worst things to happen to the cruise industry in decades.
Here's how some cruise companies like Carnival and Princess Cruises have started updating their policies to accommodate the global spread of coronavirus.
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Many major cruise line companies are changing their cancellation, rebooking, and refunding policies in the age of coronavirus.

The experts are calling the current crisis the worst thing to happen to the cruise industry since the 1985 murder of a passenger on the Achille Lauro.

Since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, several cruise ships have been the cause of the virus's spread. This includes the Diamond Princess, which has now claimed seven lives due to the quick trickling of the coronavirus throughout the cruise ship. In response, many cruise companies including major players like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Princess Cruises have halted voyages for the next several weeks amid growing concerns of the novel coronavirus.

The US Department of State has since advised against boarding cruise ship for vacations amid the global spread of coronavirus as several cruise ships have been denied port around the world . While some experts think the coronavirus pandemic will not affect the cruise ship industry long-term, several major cruise companies have needed to update its rebooking and refund policies to accommodate the increasing number of canceled cruise trips around the world.

Here is how some major cruise lines in the US are handling its uptick in cancellations and refunds:

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