Or compare passenger-change fees and price rises after payment.
Need payment dates instead? See British cruise deposits, final-payment deadlines and card holds.
UK bookings only. Use the conditions supplied with your booking, including any fare-specific terms. A 2027 sailing may have been booked under earlier conditions. For US bookings, see cruise booking changes and unused credit under US terms.
Can I replace a passenger?
For a package covered by the UK rules, you have a legal right to transfer the booking to someone who meets its conditions. Costs can apply. Seven days’ notice is always considered reasonable.
Can I correct a name?
Tell the line that the same person is travelling. Marella expressly makes spelling corrections free. For the other four cruise lines, the sources checked do not state a separate correction fee.
Can the price rise after I’ve paid?
Sometimes, even after full payment. Increases must meet the legal conditions below. Saga promises no increase after booking unless you change it.
Can I recover unused credit?
Check which kind you hold. Free spending money, money you paid in and future cruise credit (FCC)—credit towards another cruise—can have different refund rules. A voucher is not the same as money owed to you.
Your rights before the cruise line’s own rules
Does this cover my cruise? ABTA identifies a cruise as a package holiday. Check the package information supplied with your confirmation and the name of the company responsible for organising it. If unclear, ask whether the UK Package Travel Regulations cover your booking. Sailing from a UK port alone does not answer that question.
Source: ABTA: what counts as a package holiday.
Replacing someone who cannot travel
For a package covered by the UK rules:
- Send the organiser notice by email, letter or another form you can keep. Keep proof of sending.
- The replacement must meet the booking conditions, including any age restrictions.
- Seven days’ notice is always considered reasonable. A shorter period may also be reasonable.
- Transfer charges must be reasonable, no higher than the organiser’s actual costs and supported by proof.
- You and the replacement traveller are jointly responsible for the transfer costs.
A published “14 days” deadline or “no amendments” restriction does not remove this legal protection. Flights can still make a transfer expensive.
Correcting a spelling mistake
Say: “The same passenger is travelling. I need to correct their name to match their passport.”
Ask for the correction cost and confirmation that the booking will remain in place. Do not describe it as replacing a passenger if nobody is being replaced.
Checking an unexpected price increase
A cruise line cannot add a surcharge simply because its current fares have risen. For a package-price increase, the contract must allow specified fuel or power costs, third-party taxes or fees, or exchange rates to be passed on. It must explain the calculation and provide for corresponding reductions.
The organiser must send the reason and calculation in an email, letter or other form you can keep, at least 20 days before departure.
If the increase is more than 8% of the total package price, you can reject it and end the contract without a termination fee within the response period given. If you reject that increase, end the contract and do not accept a replacement package, your refund is due within 14 days of termination.
Sources: regulation 10: price changes and regulation 11: rejecting qualifying changes.
Your cruise line, in full
Each line below covers price changes, passenger replacements, spelling corrections and credit. Changing to a different sailing is a separate request and may require cancellation and rebooking.
P&O Cruises: name changes, price rises and unused credit
Price after payment
P&O allows specified transport, tax and currency adjustments until 20 days before departure. Paying in full does not end that provision.
- A cheaper fare appears
- The sources give no general right to match a later sale price. Ask whether your fare includes price protection.
Passenger replacement and spelling corrections
- Replacing someone
- P&O requires a written request at least seven days before departure. Select Price has no administration fee. Early Saver and Saver transfers carry £20; the clause does not label that amount “per person”. Request the total, including airline costs.
- Saver restrictions
- Promotional wording says amendments count as cancellation, while the general conditions allow passenger transfers. If refused, ask P&O to explain its decision under regulation 9.
- Correcting a name
- No separate spelling-correction fee is stated. Ask for a quote to correct the existing passenger’s details.
Unused onboard credit
Promotional spending money has no cash alternative. All-inclusive dining credit must be used during the cruise and cannot be exchanged for cash or other credit. For money you paid into the account yourself, ask whether the unused balance will be refunded.
Future cruise credit
P&O’s clause 42 sits under alteration and cancellation by P&O before departure. It requires a new booking by 31 December of the year after the original holiday. Ask whether that clause covers your credit; it does not establish the expiry date of every FCC.
Before you agree: contact your agent, or P&O if booked direct. Get the total charge and confirmation of any flight costs, extra fare for the remaining passenger and changes to included extras.
Sources checked 24 October 2026: P&O booking conditions, clauses 12–14, 36 and 42; promotion terms.
Related: P&O payment deadlines · P&O fares and packages Back to cruise lines
Marella Cruises: name changes, price rises and unused credit
Price after payment
Marella’s agreement gives no explicit promise fixing the price at full payment. Its A–Z guide lists possible fuel supplements and local taxes; that list alone does not prove a right to surcharge your confirmed package.
- Asked to pay more?
- Request the contract clause and calculation.
- A cheaper fare appears
- The cruise agreement gives no general right to match a later sale price.
Passenger replacement and spelling corrections
- Replacing someone
- Give at least seven days’ written or emailed notice. Marella lists £25 per person, plus supplier costs. Ask whose amendment is being charged and for the total.
If everyone transfers their place, Marella’s agreement says cancellation charges apply. Ask why those charges apply to your transfer under regulation 9 before accepting them.
- Correcting a name
- Marella expressly allows spelling corrections without an amendment fee.
Unused onboard credit
The pages do not explain refunds of unused promotional credit or money added to an account. Ask which type you hold and whether the remainder is refundable.
For an eligible shore-excursion refund requested onboard, Marella says it refunds in the same way you paid.
Future cruise credit
The sources give no current general FCC policy. Request the expiry, eligible bookings and any cash-refund option before accepting credit.
Before you agree: if booked through an agent, ask it to handle the request. Confirm who pays the £25 fee, supplier costs and any extra fare if someone will travel alone.
Sources checked 24 October 2026: Marella cruise agreement; A–Z guide; shore-excursion terms.
Related: Marella payment deadlines · Marella inclusions and Premium upgrade Back to cruise lines
Fred. Olsen: name changes, price rises and unused credit
Price after payment
Fred. Olsen allows limited transport-cost, tax or fee, and currency adjustments where the contract permits. Its terms require at least 20 days’ notice and cap increases at 8%.
- A cheaper fare appears
- Later promotions are for new bookings and are not added retrospectively.
Passenger replacement and spelling corrections
- Replacing someone
- Clause 2.4 gives 14 days’ notice and an administration fee limited to actual costs.
- The conflicting FAQ
- A separate page combines passenger replacements with moving to another cruise. It gives a 90-day deadline and £100 per person. Do not assume that fee and deadline settle a passenger-replacement request.
- Your legal protection
- Seven days’ notice remains reasonable under regulation 9. If Fred. Olsen refuses or quotes £100, ask for its written explanation and proof of the transfer costs.
- Correcting a name
- The sources give no separate spelling-correction fee. Request a quote for correcting the existing passenger’s details.
Unused onboard credit
For the cited offer—bookings made 30 January–11 March 2026, on selected departures before 9 April 2027—free credit cannot be transferred, refunded or exchanged for cash. It cannot cover purchases before sailing. Other offers need their own terms checked.
Future cruise credit
The sources give no current general cancellation or compensation-voucher policy. Ask whether your credit can be refunded, transferred or partly used, and what happens at expiry.
Before you agree: request one written total, including any flight costs, lost extras and change to the remaining passenger’s fare.
Sources checked 24 October 2026: Fred. Olsen booking terms, clauses 2.4 and 3; booking FAQ; dated credit offer.
Related: Fred. Olsen payment deadlines · Fred. Olsen fares and drinks packages Back to cruise lines
Ambassador: name changes, price rises and unused credit
Price after payment
Ambassador allows specified fuel or power, third-party tax or fee, and currency adjustments with at least 20 days’ notice. An increase over 8% of the total package price brings cancellation and refund rights.
- A cheaper fare appears
- Its Price Promise covers qualifying matching quotes on the booking day, with exclusions—not every later reduction. One FAQ answer allows 24 hours, but the detailed conditions require same-day evidence. Submit that day and keep proof of receipt.
Passenger replacement and spelling corrections
- Replacing someone
- Ambassador publishes 14 days’ written notice. Its fees are £50 per amendment outside 90 days and £100 per amendment between 90 and 14 days. Earlier changes are limited to one per cabin; supplier costs may be additional.
- Departure in 7–13 days
- Seven days’ notice is legally considered reasonable for a package transfer covered by regulation 9. Refer to that protection if Ambassador refuses.
- Departure in fewer than seven days
- Contact the organiser immediately. Shorter notice may be reasonable, but acceptance is not guaranteed.
- Correcting a name
- The sources do not distinguish typo corrections from replacements. Ask whether a fee applies to correcting the same passenger’s name.
Unused onboard credit
Ambassador describes purchased and promotional credit without explaining unused-balance refunds. Ask which type you hold and whether the remainder is refunded or carried forward.
Future cruise credit
The sources give no general current cancellation or compensation-credit policy. Request the terms of your specific credit and any cash-refund option.
Before you agree: get the charge per amendment, supplier costs and any change to the remaining guest’s fare or included extras in writing.
Sources checked 24 October 2026: Ambassador booking conditions, clauses 3, 4 and 12; Price Promise; onboard credit explanation.
Related: Ambassador payment deadlines · Ambassador fares and extra costs Back to cruise lines
Saga: name changes, price rises and unused credit
Price after payment
Saga promises no package-price increase after booking unless you amend it.
- A cheaper fare appears
- Saga automatically passes back qualifying savings through an upgrade, onboard credit or another benefit, not necessarily cash. The comparison must be for the same package and sale terms, including cabin grade and how the cabin is allocated. A cheaper cabin-guarantee fare has different terms.
Passenger replacement and spelling corrections
- Replacing someone
- Give written notice promptly, at least seven days before departure. The replacement must meet Saga’s conditions, including its age rules. You and the replacement cover actual transfer costs; no separate fixed transfer fee is stated.
- Correcting a name
- Saga requires prompt notification of incorrect details and passes on resulting additional costs. It gives no separate typo-correction fee. Request a quote for the correction.
Unused onboard credit
The sources do not explain whether unused credit, including Price Promise credit, is refundable or transferable to another cruise. Ask what happens to the remainder before accepting credit as a benefit.
Future cruise credit
Saga’s general voucher FAQ requires use before expiry on direct purchases, excludes deposits and gives no change for unused value. Ask whether those conditions apply to your particular voucher.
Before you agree: contact Saga or your agent. Confirm the replacement’s eligibility, total transfer and flight costs, and whether the fare or extras will change.
Sources checked 24 October 2026: Saga ocean booking conditions, sections 1, 2, 4 and 6; ocean cruise FAQs.
Related: Saga payment deadlines · Saga fare inclusions Back to cruise lines
Compare passenger-change fees and notice
These are published charges, not guaranteed all-in prices. Supplier costs may be extra. For statutory transfers, charges must meet the actual-cost rules.
On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Line | Company’s published rule | Legal protection or issue to check |
|---|---|---|
| P&O | 7 days; Select administration fee £0; Early Saver/Saver £20, charging unit not specified in the clause | Saver restrictions do not remove statutory transfer rights. |
| Marella | 7 days; £25 per person, plus supplier costs | Confirm who is charged. Question cancellation charges if everyone transfers. |
| Fred. Olsen | Terms: 14 days and actual costs. FAQ: 90 days and £100 per person | Seven days is reasonable under regulation 9; request clarification of the conflicting FAQ. |
| Ambassador | 14 days; £50 or £100 per amendment, depending on notice | 7–13 days: seven days’ notice is legally reasonable. Under 7 days: shorter notice may be reasonable, but acceptance is not guaranteed. |
| Saga | 7 days; actual transfer costs | Replacement must meet Saga’s conditions. |
Correcting a typo? Marella expressly makes it free. For the other lines, obtain a spelling-correction quote rather than assume the replacement fee applies.
Compare price rises after full payment
On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Line | Published position |
|---|---|
| P&O | Specified surcharges remain possible; full payment does not end that provision. |
| Marella | No explicit full-payment price guarantee found. Ask for the clause and calculation behind any increase. |
| Fred. Olsen | Limited adjustments; at least 20 days’ notice; maximum 8% increase under its terms. |
| Ambassador | Limited adjustments; at least 20 days’ notice; over 8% of the total package price brings cancellation rights. |
| Saga | No increase after booking unless you amend it. |
Permission in a contract does not mean the line is charging a surcharge on your sailing.
Credit and refunds: which kind do you have?
On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| What you hold | What to check |
|---|---|
| A refund the line legally owes you | For example, after you reject an increase above 8% of the total package price and end the contract under regulation 11: you do not have to choose a voucher instead. |
| Free promotional onboard credit | What you can spend it on and whether unused credit is lost. |
| Money you paid into the onboard account | How and when the unused balance is refunded. Do not assume promotional-credit rules apply. |
| Future cruise credit (FCC) | Booking and sailing deadlines, eligible costs, transfer rights and any refund or unused-balance rules. |
Before accepting FCC, ask whether it can pay the deposit, taxes and extras, and what happens if you cancel the replacement cruise. A goodwill credit offer does not automatically carry the same rights as a refund owed to you.
If your request is refused or the fee looks wrong
Ask for an email or letter stating:
- The booking clause used to refuse the request or set the charge.
- An itemised breakdown, including proof of actual costs for a statutory transfer.
- The answer to your specific request: a spelling correction, passenger replacement or refund.
If booked through an agent, ask it to obtain the organiser’s response. Keep the confirmation, booking terms and correspondence. If unresolved, use the company’s formal complaints procedure and ask which independent dispute-resolution scheme is available.
Do not agree to cancellation just to find out the price of a change.
How we checked
We checked official UK booking conditions, FAQs and identified offers on 24 October 2026, alongside the package-travel rules linked above. Each line’s sources are listed in its section.
The check date is not necessarily the date a document took effect. Use your own booking terms for an older reservation. Conflicting pages and missing credit rules are identified rather than filled in with assumptions. Historic pandemic schemes have not been used as rules for credit issued today.
Next step: What to ask if your request is refused, or check your line’s payment deadlines.
CruiseClarify is written by someone who worked behind the Purser's Desk at a major cruise line — handling guest accounts, disputed charges, and the end-of-cruise bills that caught guests off guard — and who has sailed as a guest with 10 cruise lines. We keep it independent: no affiliate links, no advertising, no sponsored content. This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice; your booking conditions, the cruise line's current terms and the law decide your rights. See our Methodology.