It can be confusing, especially to first-time cruisers, to know when you have to plunk down an initial deposit, make your final payment, and when you're eligible for a refund. Some of this information isn't all that easy to find!
As a general rule, you put down a deposit at the time of booking, and then make final payment generally 60 to 90 days before the sailing date. If your plans change and you need to postpone or cancel, you can cancel and get a full refund if you cancel at least 90 days out (see below for slight variations — you'll notice Princess's refund policy is fairly strict ... sorry! we still love you, Princess!). Be aware that the cruise lines’ refund policies vary widely and change frequently.
Here's a Cheat Sheet of Cruise Deposit, Full Payment & Refund Deadlines for cruise passengers and travel agents (note: different rules apply to groups).
Summary of cruise line policies:
- Carnival
- Royal Caribbean
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- Holland America Line
- Celebrity Cruises
- Princess Cruises
- MSC Cruises
- Disney Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line
Deposit amount & final payment deadlines for Carnival cruises
| Length of cruise | Deposit required | Final payment due |
| 2-3 nights | $100 per person | 60 days prior to sailing |
| 4 nights | $150 per person | 60 days prior to sailing |
| 5 nights | $150 per person | 60 days prior to sailing |
| 6-9 nights | $250 per person | 75 days prior to sailing |
| 10 or more nights | $400 per person | 90 days prior to sailing |
| Alaska, Europe, Panama Canal cruises | $400 per person | 90 days prior to sailing |
* based on double occupancy; for solo travel, see here; non-refundable deposit at time of booking: Early Saver, Early Saver Last Call and Super Saver fares.
See Carnival's Deposit & Final Payment Requirements.
Refund deadlines for Carnival cruises
| Length of cruise | Days to departure | Charges per person |
| 2, 3, 4 & 5 day cruises | Up to 61 days | No charges, deposit is fully refunded* |
| 46-60 days | Deposit is forfeited | |
| 30-45 days | Deposit or 50% of Total Fare (whichever greater) | |
| 15-29 days | Deposit or 75% of Total Fare (whichever greater) | |
| 14 days or less | 100% of Total Fare | |
| 6-9 day cruises** | Up to 76 days | No charges, deposit is fully refunded* |
| 56-75 days | Deposit is forfeited | |
| 30-55 days | Deposit or 50% of Total Fare (whichever greater) | |
| 15-29 days | Deposit or 75% of Total Fare (whichever greater) | |
| 14 days or less | 100% of Total Fare | |
| 10 days & up cruises*** | Up to 91 days | No charges, deposit is fully refunded* |
| 56-90 days | Deposit is forfeited | |
| 30-55 days | Deposit or 50% of Total Fare (whichever greater) | |
| 15-29 days | Deposit or 75% of Total Fare (whichever greater) | |
| 14 days or less | 100% of Total Fare (no refund) |
* No refunds for Pack & Go, Early Saver and Super Saver fares.
** excluding Alaska, Europe, Transatlantic and Panama Canal cruises
*** including Alaska, Europe, Transatlantic and Panama Canal cruises of any length.
See Carnival's Cancellation Policy.
Royal Caribbean
Deposit amount & final payment deadlines for Royal Caribbean cruises
| Length of cruise | Deposit required | Final payment due |
| 3, 4 or 5 nights | $200 per stateroom* | 60 days prior to sailing** |
| 7 to 9 nights | $500 per stateroom* | 75 days prior to sailing** |
| 10 nights or longer | $900 per stateroom* | 75 days prior to sailing** |
* Suite categories do require a double deposit since there are a limited number of suites.
**Christmas, New Year's and holiday sailings require a final payment 90 days in advance.
See Royal Caribbean's requirements for final payment and cruise planning timeline on the Royal Caribbean blog.
Refund deadlines for Royal Caribbean cruises
| Length of cruise | Days to departure | Charges per person |
| 5 nights or more* | 90 days or more | No charges, deposit is fully refunded |
| 57-89 days | Deposit is forfeited | |
| 29-56 days | 50% of total cruise fare | |
| 15-28 days | 75% of total cruise fare | |
| 14 days or less | 100% of fare (no refund except taxes, fees) |
*for cruises of 4 days or less, see here
See Royal Caribbean's refund & cancellation policy.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Deposit amount & final payment deadlines for Norwegian cruises
| Length of cruise | Deposit required | Final payment due |
| 2-6 nights | $100 per person | 75 days prior to sailing* |
| 7-9 nights | $250 per person | 90 days prior to sailing* |
| 10 nights or more | $400 per person | 90 days prior to sailing* |
* Final payment is due 120 days before holiday sailings.
Refund deadlines for Norwegian cruises
| Length of cruise | Days to departure | Charges per person |
| 1-6 nights | 75 days or more | No charges, deposit is fully refunded |
| 57-74 days | Deposit is forfeited | |
| 30-56 days | Deposit or 50% of Total Fare (whichever greater) | |
| 16-29 days | Deposit or 75% of Total Fare (whichever greater) | |
| 15 days or less | No refund | |
| 7 nights or more | 90 days or more | No charges, deposit is fully refunded |
| 76-89 days | Deposit is forfeited | |
| 61-75 days | 50% of total cruise fare | |
| 31-60 days | 75% of total cruise fare | |
| 30 days or less | 100% of fare (no refund) |
* Additional cancellation fees apply to air, land vacation and add-ons that are canceled. For more than 2 guests, or for guests staying in The Haven Suites, Suites, Garden Villas and guests on holiday sailings, see Norwegian's cancellation fee schedule.
Holland America Line
Deposit amount & final payment deadlines for Holland America cruises
| Length of cruise | Deposit required | Final payment due |
| Any length | $350 to $2,900 per person | 75 days prior to sailing |
Refund deadlines for Holland America cruises
| Length of cruise | Days to departure | Charges per person |
| Applies to these voyages* | 76 days or more | No charges, deposit is fully refunded |
| 57-75 days | Deposit is forfeited | |
| 29-56 days | 50% of gross fare | |
| 16-28 days | 75% of gross fare | |
| 15 days or less | 100% of fare (no refund) |
* Sailings to Caribbean; Panama Canal; Mexico; Canada & New England; Pacific Coastal; Pacific Northwest; Alaska and Alaska Land+Sea Journeys; Europe (except Prinsendam Europe, 30+ day Transatlantic and segments of 30+ day Transatlantic) and 27-day or less Hawaii sailings.
Other sailings include All Holiday; Australia; New Zealand; South Pacific; Asia; Prinsendam Europe; South America and Antarctica sailings. And Grand World; Grand Voyages; any Segment of a Grand World or Grand Voyage; 29-50 day Hawaii, Tahiti & Marquesas; Incan Empires; Amazon Explorer; 30+ day Europe Transatlantic or any segment of a 30+ day Europe Transatlantic sailing; Africa Explorer and Far East Explorer. For these, see Holland America's Cancellation Policy.
Celebrity Cruises
Deposit amount & final payment deadlines for Celebrity Cruises
| Length of cruise | Deposit required | Final payment due |
| 1-4 nights | $100 per person (Sky Suites or lower) |
75 days prior to sailing |
| 1-4 nights | $200 per person (Celebrity Suites or higher) |
75 days prior to sailing |
| 5 nights or more | $250 per person (Sky Suites or lower) |
90 days prior to sailing |
| 5 nights or more | $500 per person (Celebrity Suites or higher)* |
90 days prior to sailing |
* Different deposit amounts required for Celebrity Xpedition.
Refund deadlines for Celebrity Cruises
| Length of cruise | Days to departure | Charges per person |
| 1-4 nights | 75 days or more | No charges, deposit is fully refunded |
| 57-74 days | Deposit is forfeited | |
| 29-56 days | 50% of Total Fare* | |
| 15-28 days | 100% of fare (no refund except taxes & fees | |
| 14 days or less | 100% of fare (no refund except taxes, fees, port expenses) | |
| 5 nights or more | 90 days or more | No charges, deposit is fully refunded |
| 57-89 days | Deposit is forfeited | |
| 29-56 days | 50% of Total Fare* | |
| 15-28 days | 75% of Total Fare* | |
| 14 days or less | 100% of fare (no refund except taxes, fees, port expenses) |
*Or deposit amount, whichever is greater
See Celebrity Cruises' cancellation & refund policy.
Princess Cruises
Deposit amount & final payment deadlines for Princess cruises
| Length of cruise | Deposit required | Final payment due |
| Any length | 20% of Total Fare* | 75-90 days prior to sailing |
* Children ages 1-12 generally have a deposit due that's 50% of the adult price.
Refund deadlines for Princess cruises
| Length of cruise | Days to departure | Charges per person |
| Up to 29 nights | 75 days or more | No charges, deposit is fully refunded |
| 57-74 days | Deposit is forfeited | |
| 29-56 days | 50% of Total Charges | |
| 15-28 days | 75% of Total Charges | |
| 14 days or less | 100% of fare (no refund) | |
| 30 nights or more | 120 days or more | No charges, deposit is fully refunded |
| 90-119 days | Deposit is forfeited | |
| 64-89 days | 50% of Total Charges | |
| 43-63 days | 75% of Total Charges | |
| 42 days or less | 100% of Total Charges (no refund) |
* For sailings of 30 nights or more, see the Princess site. Charged items include: Cruise, Cruisetour, Cruise Plus Package, pre-purchased gift(s)/special services.
See Princess's refund policy.
MSC Cruises
Deposit amount & final payment deadlines for MSC Cruises
| Length of cruise | Deposit required | Final payment due |
| 14 nights or less | $200 per adult* | 60 days prior to sailing |
| 15 nights or more | $300 per adult** | 60 days prior to sailing |
* $200 per adult or $400 per stateroom minimum
**$300 per adult or $600 per stateroom minimum
Children 17 and under sailing as the 3rd/4th guest in a stateroom do not require an additional deposit. See MSC Cruises' Terms & Conditions.
Refund deadlines for MSC Cruises
| Length of cruise | Days to departure | Charges per person |
| 14 nights or less | 90 days or more | No charges, deposit is fully refunded |
| 61-89 days | Deposit is forfeited | |
| 46-60 days | 50% of fare | |
| 16-45 days | 75% of fare | |
| 15 days or less | 100% of fare (no refund) | |
| 15 nights or more | 110 days or more | No charges, deposit is fully refunded |
| 61-109 days | Deposit is forfeited | |
| 46-60 days | 50% of fare | |
| 31-45 days | 75% of fare | |
| 30 days or less | 100% of fare (no refund) |
See MSC Cruises' refund policy.
Disney Cruise Line
Deposit amount & final payment deadlines for Disney Cruise Line
| Length of cruise | Deposit required | Final payment due |
| 1-5 nights | 20% of fare | 75 days prior to sailing |
| 6-9 nights | 20% of fare | 90 days prior to sailing |
| 10 nights or more | 20% of fare | 120 days prior to sailing |
See Disney Cruise Lines' Booking Terms & Conditions.
Refund deadlines for Disney Cruise Line
| Length of cruise | Days to departure | Charges per person |
| 1-5 nights* | 75 days or more | No charges, deposit is fully refunded |
| 45-74 days | Deposit is forfeited | |
| 30-44 days | 50% of vacation price | |
| 15-29 days | 75% of vacation price | |
| 14 days or less | 100% of vacation price (no refund) | |
| 6-9 nights** | 90 days or more | No charges, deposit is fully refunded |
| 56-89 days | Deposit is forfeited | |
| 30-55 days | 50% of vacation price | |
| 15-29 days | 75% of vacation price | |
| 14 days or less | 100% of vacation price (no refund) | |
| 10 nights or more*** | 120 days or more | No charges, deposit is fully refunded |
| 56-119 days | Deposit is forfeited | |
| 30-55 days | 50% of vacation price | |
| 15-29 days | 75% of vacation price | |
| 14 days or less | 100% of vacation price (no refund) |
* Applies to guests in Non-Suites/Non-Concierge Staterooms on 1 to 5 Night Cruises where embark or debark is a U.S. port (Non Holiday Sailings). For guests in Suites or embarking on holiday or non-US sailings, see Disney's refund policy
** Applies to guests in Non-Suites/Non-Concierge Staterooms on 6 to 9 Night Cruises where embark or debark is a U.S. Port (Non Holiday Sailings). For guests in Suites or embarking on holiday or non-US sailings, see Disney's refund policy
*** Applies to guests in Non-Suites/Non-Concierge Staterooms on Cruises 10 Nights or More and on Cruises Less than 10 Nights where Embark and Debark is non-U.S. Port. For guests in Suites or embarking on cruises with non-U.S. ports, see Disney's refund policy
In our series Smart Money on a Cruise
- Super Guide to Booking a Cruise
- Guide to all-inclusive pricing on cruise ships
- Complete guide to tipping on a cruise
- 3 best travel rewards credit cards
- 15 tips on how to save money on a cruise
- Patti's 7 money-saving tips for cruise travelers
- Walter's 8 money-saving tips for cruisers
- Interline: Travel & cruise discounts for airline employees
