Uniworld River Cruises Cancellation & Refund Policy Guide

Knowing Uniworld Boutique River Cancellation Policy before making any payment of the deposit would be the best decision. And the major aspect of the fee for cancellation depends on how close to the departure date one is, and it increases the nearer one gets to the date of sailing. 

For instance, canceling 120 days or more from the date of sailing, one will only incur a flat fee which ranges between $250-$2500 depending on the itinerary selected. The percentage increases to 25%, 50%, 75%, and even 100% when cancelling closer to the date of sailing. 

But still, there are some unique deposit and cancellation policies that you deserve to know before you push the cancellation button. So, scroll down to know each aspect of cancellation policy so that you can save your money.

How Uniworld's Cancellation Policy Actually Works?

Uniworld requests that you must give them notice in writing of your cancellation, and the day of the notice that Uniworld receives is considered to be the day that your cancellation will go into effect. That is important because all of the below fees depend on how many days prior to your trip's beginning you have made your cancellation.

There are some general provisions which hold true for all itineraries and regions:

• The cancellation fees are calculated on an individual basis of per person, and not the total number of people who may be traveling together in one family.
• Those fees will be added to any cancellation fee you have to pay to your travel advisor or airline or other third parties involved.
• Any unused part of the tour after travel has started will not be refunded under any circumstances, even if you depart from the tour yourself.
• Failure to appear on the tour as scheduled will result in an automatic 100% cancellation fee.

How Uniworld Cancellation Fees Are Calculated?

Here lies the main point of what many people want to know about as the penalty rates charged by Uniworld when booking river cruises rise rapidly the closer to the date of departure you are. When it comes to the cancellation policy for regular river cruises, the system operates on a sliding scale.

This way, the more you book in advance, the more protection you have. Take note of how the difference between being charged a flat fee of $250 and 25% of your total fare rises the instant you go past the 120 days mark. This can mean the difference of thousands of dollars in the case of premium river cruises.

Special Cancellation Rules for Egypt, Peru, and Vietnam Itineraries

Every single one of the Uniworld itineraries does not follow the typical schedule listed above; this is information that many tourists have difficulty grasping when booking more exotic locales. Itineraries for Egypt, and Peru Cruise & Tour and Cruise & Rail program, and Vietnam all use a faster, more condensed schedule.

The reason for this is due to the logistics involved with running trips to these locations, which means that tourists who are planning trips to these places must decide sooner rather than later.

Rivers of the World Cancellation Charges

Uniworld's “Rivers of the World”, which usually offers longer and multiple-region journeys, also has its own rules for cancellations, which do not correspond to the above tables.

Since the first payment required here amounts to $2,500 per individual instead of several hundred dollars, this particular type of reservation requires special consideration prior to making a deposit.

Uniworld Boutique River Refund Policy for Deposits and Payments

Knowing when you are entitled to have your money refunded rather than just being credited to you is key to understanding the Uniworld Boutique River Refund Policy. To secure your booking with at least 10% deposit of your total fare, you have two days after booking, and final payment needs to be made 120 days before departure. In case you make booking within the timeframe, you need to pay the full amount immediately.

Just remember some important facts about making payments:

• All payments are done in U.S. dollars regardless of your native currency or destination.
• Your booking will be automatically cancelled in case you miss deadlines of payment.
• In case the composition of your group changes, one of the travelers canceled his ticket and another member of the group changes his accommodation from double to single, he has to bear extra costs.

What Happens If You Cancel Your Air Travel?

When you have arranged for airfare through Uniworld along with your cruise, there is an entirely different and even stricter policy regarding that aspect of your trip. A non-refundable airfare deposit of $450 is payable upon booking and once that deposit is paid, your airfare along with taxes and fuel surcharges will be considered final.

However, some comfort in knowing that you can get all your money back in case you wish to cancel the airfare within 24 hours of booking. Any cancellation of airfare bookings after that period becomes much more strict; where in case of cancellation 120 days or more prior to departure, your deposit of $450 would be forfeited, whereas in case of cancellation 119 days or less prior to departure, the whole airfare becomes non-refundable.

The Deposit Protection Program Explained

Uniworld has an inherent provision in its packages, the Deposit Protection Program, which serves as a safety valve in case travelers want to be flexible in the future. Instead of forfeiting their deposit in case of cancellation, travelers receive a credit equal to the amount of the cancellation charge at 120 days' notice before their journey, which they may use for a future booking of Uniworld's within two years after their original cancellation date.

A couple of restrictions should be made clear before moving further. The credit cannot be exchanged for cash, one credit is applicable for each person per booking, and this program does not apply to purchased air or the Rivers of the World programs altogether.

Revision and Name Change Fees

Even if no cancellation occurs, modifications in a booking will still involve fees. The $50 non-refundable fee applies to Uniworld when any changes are made to bookings. An exception is the case when an individual modification results in increased value for the booking. On the other hand, changing the passenger name or date is considered just like cancellation, requiring an entirely new reservation to be made.

Travel Protection Plan Cancellation Window

In case you have purchased Travel Protection Plan offered by Uniworld, then you will have a very limited time during which you may cancel this and receive full refunds for this. The cancellation should occur within 10 days from the purchase, before starting the journey and without filing any claims against it. If you fail to meet all these conditions, then the plan's premium will become non-refundable.

Tips to Protect Yourself Before Booking

Some preparation ahead of time could help minimize your financial exposure should there be any changes later on, so here are some tips you need before booking: 

• Booking well in advance is always best because at every step of the cancellation schedule, early booking gets much better terms than late booking.
• Review your particular cancellation schedule because the cancellations for Egypt, Peru, Vietnam, and Rivers of the World cruises are different from other European river cruises.
• Think about purchasing travel insurance from another company along with your insurance policy from Uniworld.
• Keep records of all confirmations, deposit payments, and cancellations in writing.

Final Thoughts

Being aware of the Uniworld Boutique River Cancellation Policy while making the booking will ensure that you don’t have to worry about your finances or anything else later on. 

If you’re planning on taking a cruise with Uniworld, make sure to contact a travel agent or check the Uniworld website to verify your particular conditions first. A bit of planning can save your time and real money, down the line.