Cruising during COVID-19: Cancellation, refund policies vary by cruise line

• The CDC is advising travelers to avoid cruises, regardless of vaccination status.
• Options for canceling cruises vary by line. And canceling doesn't always mean a full refund.

Travelers may be weighing whether they want to proceed with their cruise plans or postpone them, as COVID-19 cases surge with the highly transmissible omicron variant and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises people to avoid cruise travel, regardless of vaccination status.

If you go, there could be changes to your itinerary, including port stops and more onboard restrictions when it comes to masks and vaccination requirements.