Celebrity Cruises Review 2026: Cruisers who want drinks and Wi-Fi bundled into the fare and will book far enough ahead to avoid penalties.
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Our verdict
Celebrity ranks fourth. For North American residents its cancellation FAQ shows no charge on 5 to 14 night cruises 90 or more days out except non-refundable deposits, rising to 100% at 30 days or less (as of 2026-10-02). Its All Included price adds Basic Wi-Fi and a Classic Drink Package, a real inclusion the other lines here sell separately. It ranks last because staff gratuities are charged separately even on All Included fares, non-refundable deposits are never refunded and carry change fees, and the 30-day full-fare cutoff matches Royal Caribbean's. We could not find a published daily gratuity amount on the pages we read. Terms change; check Celebrity's current pages before booking. We did not sail with Celebrity; this reads its published terms.
Score breakdown
- Value (30%)6.0/10
- Experience (25%)7.0/10
- Flexibility (20%)6.0/10
- Transparency (15%)7.0/10
- Service (10%)6.0/10
Scored per our review methodology.
Who it's for
Best for: Cruisers who want drinks and Wi-Fi bundled into the fare and will book far enough ahead to avoid penalties..
Pricing
Fares vary by sailing. For North American residents, 5 to 14 night cruises can be cancelled with no charge 90 or more days out, except non-refundable deposits; the optional All Included price adds Basic Wi-Fi and a Classic Drink Package (as of 2026-10-02).
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 night cruises (North America) | None 75+ days; 50% 74 to 61; 75% 60 to 31; 100% at 30 days or less (as of 2026-10-02) | Non-refundable deposit amounts are kept at any time. |
| 5 to 14 night cruises (North America) | None 90+ days; 25% 89 to 75; 50% 74 to 61; 75% 60 to 31; 100% at 30 days or less (as of 2026-10-02) | 15+ nights: none 120+ days. Galapagos: full refund 150+ days. |
| All Included pricing | Optional fare type; price varies by sailing (as of 2026-10-02) | Adds Basic Wi-Fi and Classic Drink Package with drink gratuities; staff gratuities charged separately. |
What the evidence says
- North American residents: 1 to 4 nights no charge 75+ days, 5 to 14 nights 90+ days, 15+ nights 120+ days (except non-refundable deposit amounts), 100% at 30 days or less; non-refundable deposits are not refunded at any time and carry change fees (as of 2026-10-02). (Celebrity Cruises, Cancellation Policy FAQ (official))
- All Included combines the fare with Basic Wi-Fi and a Classic Drink Package; drink gratuities included; packages bought after October 4, 2023 exclude staff tips, which are charged separately; Retreat staterooms include Premium Drinks and Premium Wi-Fi. (Celebrity Cruises, All Included FAQs (official))
Pros & cons
Pros
- All Included pricing bundles Basic Wi-Fi and a Classic Drink Package into the fare, with drink gratuities included, and is available in Inside, Ocean View, Veranda, Concierge Class and AquaClass staterooms
- Retreat suites automatically include the Premium Drinks and Premium Wi-Fi packages
- North American cancellation tiers are published by cruise length, with no charge 90+ days out on 5 to 14 night cruises (except non-refundable deposits) (as of 2026-10-02)
Cons & red flags
- Non-refundable deposits on certain fares are never refunded and carry change fees, per Celebrity's cancellation FAQ
- All Included packages bought after October 4, 2023 do not include staff gratuities; Celebrity says onboard staff gratuities are charged separately
- As with Royal Caribbean, the full fare is lost at 30 days or less
How it compares
Celebrity Cruises scores 6.4/10 in our cruises evaluation. See where it lands in the full ranking: Best Cruise Lines for Flexible Booking Terms of 2026.
- Carnival Cruise Line review — 6.9/10, cruisers who might cancel late and want the gentlest published penalty steps before sailing.
- Disney Cruise Line review — 6.7/10, families booking regular staterooms well ahead who want a long fee-free cancellation window and a late full-fare cutoff.
Frequently asked questions
What is Celebrity's cancellation policy?
For North American residents on 5 to 14 night cruises: no charge 90 or more days out except non-refundable deposit amounts, then rising charges to 100% at 30 days or less (as of 2026-10-02). Celebrity publishes separate schedules for shorter, longer and Galapagos cruises and for other regions.
What does Celebrity's All Included include?
Celebrity says All Included combines the cruise fare with Basic Wi-Fi and a Classic Drink Package, with drink gratuities included. For packages bought after October 4, 2023, staff tips are not included and onboard staff gratuities are charged separately.
Can I get my Celebrity deposit back?
On fares with a non-refundable deposit, no. Celebrity's FAQ says those deposits are not refunded at any time and carry change fees. Other fares follow the published cancellation schedule.
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