Virgin Voyages cancellation policy, by fare
Your fare type decides what happens to your money if plans change. Here is every rule by fare and by days out, the dates I put on each client’s calendar, and how I choose between Base, Essential and Premium.
The short answer
- Base and Lock It In are non-refundable from the day you book, apart from taxes and fees.
- Essential and Premium get a full refund within 7 days of deposit if you book 120+ days out. After that, cancelling becomes Future Voyage Credit until 45 days out.
- Inside 44 days, every fare is non-refundable. Premium still lets you swap any sailor up to 48 hours before sailing.
Every fare side by side
Sea Terrace and below, bookings made on or after October 7, 2025, from Virgin’s pre-voyage policies and dining FAQ. Taxes and fees are always refunded.
| Base / Lock It In | Essential | Premium | RockStar suites | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dining reservations open | 15 days out | 45 days out | 60 days out | 120 days out |
| Wi-Fi included | Basic, 1 device | Classic, 1 device | Premium, 2 devices | Varies by suite fare; I confirm it when we book |
| Cancel 120+ days out | Non-refundable (taxes and fees back) | Full refund within 7 days of deposit, then deposit becomes Future Voyage Credit | Same as Essential | Same as Premium |
| Cancel 119 to 45 days out | Non-refundable | Future Voyage Credit | FVC, a date change or name changes | Same as Premium |
| Cancel 44 days or less | Non-refundable | Non-refundable | Non-refundable, but any sailor can be swapped up to 48 hours out | Same as Premium |
| Change cabin or dates | No (Lock It In cannot be upgraded to another fare) | Yes, up to 45 days out | Yes, up to 45 days out | Yes |
| Cabin choice | Assigned by Virgin, no changes. Lock It In: location assigned closer to sailing | Virgin assigns online. I can request a specific cabin, and changes if available | Same as Essential | Assigned, changes if available (Lock It In suites: assigned later) |
Refund schedule for bookings made on or after October 7, 2025
| Fare | 120+ days before sailing | 119 to 45 days | 44 days or less |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lock It In (cabins and suites) | Non-refundable. No grace period, no date or name changes, no Future Voyage Credit. | Same | Same |
| Base (standard cabins) | Non-refundable. No grace period, no date or name changes, no Future Voyage Credit. | Same | Same |
| Essential (standard cabins) | Full refund within 7 days of deposit. After that, the deposit becomes Future Voyage Credit and other payments are refunded. | Fare payments become Future Voyage Credit | Non-refundable. Only secondary sailors (not Sailor #1) can be changed. |
| Premium (standard cabins), RockStar and Mega RockStar (not Lock It In) | Full refund within 7 days of deposit. After that, the deposit becomes Future Voyage Credit and other payments are refunded. | Non-refundable, but you can move payments to Future Voyage Credit, change dates or change names | Non-refundable, but any sailor can be changed |
Taxes and fees are refunded in every case.
Bookings made on or before October 6, 2025
| Timing | What happens |
|---|---|
| 120+ days, within 7 days of booking | Full refund to your original payment method |
| 120+ days, after the 7-day grace period | Refund of everything except the deposit, which becomes Future Voyage Credit |
| 119 to 45 days | Everything paid becomes Future Voyage Credit, good for a voyage within 1 year of your original start date |
| 44 days or less | All funds are final, but you can transfer the booking to someone else up to 48 hours before departure |
If you are not sure which schedule you are on, look at your booking date in My Account, or send me your booking number.
Deposits, final payment and holds
- Deposit: 20% of the fare when you book (Virgin payments FAQ).
- Final payment: due 120 days before sailing, or right away if you book inside 120 days.
- Autocharge: if your booking still has a balance or is on hold, Virgin charges the card on file automatically 120 days before sailing. If you are thinking about cancelling, tell me before that date.
- 24-hour hold: available if you book 45 or more days out (Virgin additional terms). I use this to hold a cabin while you check with your travel partner.
- Virgin’s 48-hour fare guarantee: if you find a lower advertised fare within 48 hours of booking, Virgin applies the difference. If you have already paid in full, the difference comes as Future Voyage Credit (Virgin’s 48-hour fare guarantee).
Changing instead of cancelling
- Date changes: allowed on Essential and Premium up to 45 days before sailing, to a sailing within one year.
- Cabin category changes: up to 45 days out with no change fee. If you move down, the difference comes back as Sailor Loot or Future Voyage Credit.
- Name changes: on Essential, only sailors 2 to 4 can be swapped. On Premium, any sailor can be swapped, up to 48 hours before sailing.
- Base and Lock It In: no changes at all.
How Future Voyage Credit works
Future Voyage Credit is issued per sailor and has to be used within one year. It can pay for a future fare or a Bar Tab, but not Sailor Loot. Taxes and fees are always refunded to your card rather than converted (Virgin pre-voyage policies).
Voyage Protection, InVoyage Care or insurance?
| Option | When to buy | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Voyage Protection (Virgin) | Before final payment | Cancellation protection sold by Virgin. Read the terms for what counts as a covered reason. |
| InVoyage Care (Virgin) | From 14 days out | Help during the trip. $49 per sailor on voyages up to 6 nights, $59 on 7 to 11 and $69 on 12+. It cannot be combined with Voyage Protection. |
| Third-party travel insurance | Soon after you deposit | Trip cancellation for covered reasons, plus medical care and evacuation abroad. This is what I recommend for most clients. |
Which fare I recommend
I do not recommend the entry-level fare by default. I have dealt with the shorter dining windows myself, and if restaurant times or flexibility matter to you, the extra for Essential is usually worth it. To keep it in proportion: a 15-day window usually means you miss your ideal times, not that you cannot eat at the good restaurants. You can still book on board and use the waitlist.
What I do when plans change
What I do for my clients
- I put your 7-day grace date, 120-day final payment and 45-day change cutoff on your calendar when you book.
- Before you cancel, I check whether a date change, name change or category change protects more of your money.
- If you end up with Future Voyage Credit, I track the one-year expiry and apply it when you rebook.
- I file Virgin’s 48-hour fare guarantee claim for you if the fare drops within 48 hours.
Quick answers
Can I get a refund on a Virgin Voyages Base fare?
No. Base and Lock It In fares are non-refundable apart from taxes and fees, with no changes or Future Voyage Credit.
What is the Virgin Voyages grace period?
On Essential, Premium and non-Lock-It-In suites booked 120 or more days out, you get a full refund if you cancel within 7 days of paying the deposit.
When is final payment due on Virgin Voyages?
120 days before sailing. If you book inside 120 days, you pay in full at booking.
Can I change my Virgin Voyages sailing date?
On Essential and Premium fares, yes, up to 45 days before sailing, to a sailing within one year.
Does Future Voyage Credit expire?
Yes. It is per sailor and must be used within one year.
Sources I checked
Policies change. I checked these on October 20, 2026, and you should confirm anything time-sensitive with me before you rely on it.
Want me to plan this one with you?
I'm a Top 100 Virgin Voyages First Mate (2024 and 2025). Virgin sets the fare, so the same cabin, fare type and promotion is the same fare with me as on virginvoyages.com, and I charge no planning fee. What you get is a person: I hand-pick your cabin where your fare allows, book dining and Shore Things the day your windows open, watch for upgrades and fare changes, and answer your texts before and during the trip. I also arrange hotels before and after the cruise, private excursions and group plans, and I deal with Virgin for you when a booking or benefit needs sorting out. I take the stress. You take the photos.
Derek Gebelhardt, At Ease Travel Co. · derek@ateasetravel.co · 202-802-0990. Sailor Loot through Virtuoso is $50 per cabin on 4–5 night voyages, $100 on 6–8 nights and $200 on 9+ nights, for eligible bookings made at least 121 days before sailing; promotions and eligibility can change, so I confirm yours in writing before you pay.