Scenic cruise policies
Scenic Policies: Deposits, Final Payment, Cancellation, Gratuities, Dress Code and Age Rules
Every booking rule that affects your wallet or your packing list, on one page: what you pay when you book, when the balance is due, what it costs to cancel, what the all-inclusive fare already covers, what to wear at dinner and who can sail. Figures are Scenic's own, for bookings made in the United States, and are given separately for the Scenic Space-Ships on the rivers and the Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yachts on the oceans where they differ.
Deposit
Scenic sets the deposit and the payment schedule by the fare you book under and prints both on the invoice. Full Fare is always available and follows the standard timeline; Select and Preferred Fares cut the price in exchange for an earlier balance; Preferred+ takes the whole fare at booking and is nonrefundable. Port charges are included in every fare.
| Cruise length | Deposit |
|---|---|
| Scenic river cruises (Space-Ships and Scenic Spirit), Full, Select and Preferred Fares | A per-person deposit shown on your invoice, due within 48 hours of booking (historically $500 per person) |
| Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yachts, Full, Select and Preferred Fares | $1,000 per person, due within 7 days of booking |
| Preferred+ Fare, river or yacht | Full payment at booking, nonrefundable |
| Flexible Booking Plan (optional, bought with the deposit) | $125 per person on river cruises, $250 per person on Scenic Eclipse |
| Penalty Relief Program (optional, bought at booking) | $295 per person per river cruise, $495 per person per Scenic Eclipse voyage |
Good to know
- A booking is not confirmed until Scenic has the deposit; miss the 48-hour (river) or 7-day (yacht) window and Scenic can cancel the reservation at its discretion.
- The Scenic Eclipse deposit is nonrefundable from the day it is paid: cancel 120 days or more before departure and Scenic keeps $1,000 per person, with any deposit above that returned as a Future Travel Credit.
- The Flexible Booking Plan lets you defer to another date or cancel for any reason, in writing, up to 90 days before a river cruise or 120 days before a Scenic Eclipse voyage with no Scenic fee: the deposit comes back as a Future Travel Credit valid 24 months, less any third-party charges. It must be added and paid when you pay the deposit, is itself nonrefundable and is not available on Preferred+ or on Scenic's 40th Anniversary BOOST26 bookings.
- Book inside the final payment window and the full fare is due at booking.
- Scenic's air is paid separately from the cruise deposit; Preferred Fares bundle free or reduced air on river cruises (ticket value up to $2,000 per guest, capacity controlled) or an air credit of up to $5,000 per guest on Scenic Eclipse, for U.S. residents only.
Final payment
The balance is due on the date your fare sets, counted back from departure. Missing it lets Scenic cancel the reservation and apply the cancellation charges, so we put the date on our calendar the day you book.
Standard schedule
| Cruise length | Balance due |
|---|---|
| River cruise, Full Fare | 90 days before departure |
| River cruise, Select Fare | 120 days before departure |
| River cruise, Preferred Fare | 10 months before departure; booked inside 10 months, within 30 days of booking or the standard final payment date, whichever comes first |
| Scenic Eclipse, Full Fare | 120 days before departure |
| Scenic Eclipse, Select Fare | 150 days before departure |
| Scenic Eclipse, Preferred Fare | 10 months before departure; booked inside 10 months, within 30 days of booking or 120 days before departure, whichever comes first |
| Preferred+ Fare, river or yacht | In full at booking |
Good to know
- Select and Preferred Fares are sold until 120 days before departure (Select Fare promotions close 30 days out on some sailings); after that only Full Fare is available.
- Scenic can raise the price before you have paid in full for costs outside its control, with the option of a refund if you decline the increase; once the fare is paid in full the price is locked.
- Scenic's U.S. reservations line is open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern; SmartCruiser handles the payment for you.
Cancellation charges
Charges are the deposit or a percentage of the total cruise fare and depend on the day Scenic receives your written cancellation. Changing the departure date or a passenger name counts as a cancellation of the original booking. Airline and other third-party charges apply on top, and a Preferred+ Fare is nonrefundable from the start.
Scenic river cruises
Europe Space-Ships and Scenic Spirit in Southeast Asia, Full, Select and Preferred Fares. The standard schedule as reproduced from Scenic's U.S. terms on September 9, 2026.
| Cruise length | Days before sailing | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Any length | 90 days or more | Deposit |
| Any length | 89 to 60 days | 35% of the total cruise fare |
| Any length | 59 to 30 days | 50% |
| Any length | 29 days or fewer | 100%, no refund |
Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yachts
Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II, Full, Select and Preferred Fares, as reproduced from Scenic's U.S. terms on September 9, 2026. A second reproduction of the ocean contract (clause 4.10(a), July 2026) shows a steeper version: $1,000 deposit at 120 days or more, 50% from 119 to 91 days and 100% from 90 days; your invoice is the authority.
| Cruise length | Days before sailing | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Any length | 120 days or more | $1,000 nonrefundable deposit per person; any deposit above that returns as Future Travel Credit |
| Any length | 119 to 90 days | 25% of the total cruise fare |
| Any length | 89 to 60 days | 50% |
| Any length | 59 to 30 days | 75% |
| Any length | 29 days or fewer | 100%, no refund |
With the Flexible Booking Plan
Bought with the deposit: $125 per person on river cruises, $250 on Scenic Eclipse. Not available on Preferred+ Fares.
| Cruise length | Days before sailing | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| River cruise | 90 days or more | No Scenic fee; the deposit becomes a Future Travel Credit valid 24 months, any further payment is refunded |
| Scenic Eclipse | 120 days or more | No Scenic fee; the deposit becomes a Future Travel Credit valid 24 months, any further payment is refunded |
| River or yacht | Inside those dates | Standard schedule above |
With the Penalty Relief Program
Bought at booking, cannot be added later: $295 per person per river cruise, $495 per person per Scenic Eclipse voyage. Not available on Amazon or Galapagos cruises, land tours or bookings paid with a Future Travel Credit or gift certificate.
| Cruise length | Days before sailing | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Any length | 31 days or more, eligible reason | Refund of everything paid less the program cost, airline fees and agent fees |
| Any length | 30 to 15 days, eligible reason | Refund of 70% of everything paid, less the same deductions |
| Any length | 31 days or more, any other reason | The same amounts as a Future Travel Credit instead of a refund |
| Any length | 14 days or fewer | Standard schedule above, whatever the reason |
Good to know
- Cancellations must reach Scenic in writing during office hours: tell SmartCruiser and we send it the same day; the charge is set by the day Scenic receives it.
- Refunds go back to the original payment method, or to SmartCruiser when we made the payment for you, and we pass them straight on.
- Future Travel Credits are valid 24 months from the cancellation date, cannot be cashed out and are forfeited if not rebooked in time; cancel a booking paid with a credit and the standard charge is taken out of the credit.
- No refund for a no-show or for leaving the cruise early, and any itinerary change you make after departure is at your own cost.
- If Scenic cancels a cruise from a U.S. port or delays it more than 3 days and you decline the alternative, you can claim a full refund of the fare, port fees and taxes within 90 days of the original embarkation; Scenic answers within 180 days.
- Scenic sells Allianz travel protection on every booking (Trip Mate for plans bought before June 23, 2025); an Expedition Plan with Cancel Anytime is offered outside New York and Washington. The Penalty Relief Program is not insurance.
Gratuities
Nothing to add: Scenic's fare includes all tipping and gratuities on board and on shore, for the ship's crew, your butler, porters, coach drivers and the local excursion guides, on the river ships and the Scenic Eclipse yachts alike. Nothing is added to your onboard account and there is no envelope on the last night.
| Stateroom | Daily gratuity |
|---|---|
| Scenic river cruises, every suite | Included in the fare |
| Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yachts, every suite | Included in the fare |
| Excursion guides, drivers and porters (one bag per person) | Included in the fare |
Good to know
- Drinks are included too: on the river ships every beverage except a very small list of fine and vintage wines, Champagnes and spirits, with the suite mini-bar restocked daily; on Scenic Eclipse a premium selection all day across up to nine bars and lounges, including more than 100 champagnes and wines.
- Also in the fare: butler service in every suite, Scenic Freechoice excursions and Scenic Enrich events, e-bikes in Europe (not on Scenic Azure), and airport transfers in Europe and Asia when your flights and hotels are booked through Scenic.
- The extras on Scenic Eclipse are the helicopter and submersible experiences and spa treatments; on the river ships a few wellness services carry a small charge. The onboard currency on Scenic Eclipse is the U.S. dollar, paid by cash or Visa and Mastercard.
Dress code
No formal nights on any Scenic ship, river or ocean. Days are casual and comfortable; evenings are smart casual on the river ships and elegant casual on Scenic Eclipse, and a jacket and tie are never required.
Daytime
Casual and comfortable on board and on excursion: walking shoes and weather-appropriate layers, with knees and shoulders covered for church and temple visits in Europe and Southeast Asia.
Evening, river ships
Smart casual: open-neck shirts and trousers, dresses and skirts. Table La Rive runs a little dressier than Crystal Dining, and on Scenic Spirit the Temple Dinner is the night to dress up if you wish; shorts and worn jeans are out of place at dinner.
Evening, Scenic Eclipse
Elegant casual in every restaurant: a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse; trousers and a collared shirt for men. Lumière and the other specialty venues follow the same standard.
Dress Your Best nights
| Cruise length | Formal nights |
|---|---|
| Any length, river or ocean | 0 |
House rules
- A jacket or blazer with a tie is welcome at dinner but is never required on any Scenic ship.
- A suggested packing guide for your itinerary comes with your guest documents.
- Smoking and vaping are not allowed anywhere indoors or in any suite, veranda or terrace; each ship has one designated outdoor smoking area (Deck 6 on Scenic Eclipse), and never on coaches.
Age rules
Scenic is built for adults and keeps no children's programs or babysitting on any ship. Younger guests are allowed within the rules below; age is counted on the day of departure.
Minimum age to sail without a parent or guardian
| Departure | Minimum age |
|---|---|
| Scenic river cruises | 21; younger guests travel with someone over 21 and share that person's suite |
| Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yachts | 18; younger guests travel with an adult and share that adult's suite, and the booking must include someone 21 or older |
Stateroom assignment
On the river ships every guest under 21 must travel with a guest over 21 and share that person's suite. On Scenic Eclipse every guest under 18 must be accompanied by an adult in the same suite. Scenic does not assign a suite to minors on their own.
Infants
| Sailing | Minimum age |
|---|---|
| Scenic river cruises | 12 is the usual minimum; children under 12 are discouraged and carried only with Scenic's written acceptance at booking, except on the family-friendly Christmas Markets sailings |
| Scenic Eclipse | No published minimum; Scenic accepts children case by case, so ask about age limits on the helicopter, submersible and Zodiac excursions before you book |
Drinking age
| Departure or destination | Minimum age |
|---|---|
| River cruises in Europe and Southeast Asia | Scenic publishes no drinking age; the law of the country you are in applies (18 in most of Europe) |
| Scenic Eclipse voyages that include U.S. ports (Alaska, the Americas) | 21 under U.S. law |
| Scenic Eclipse voyages elsewhere | The local legal age; 18 in most of Europe, Australia and New Zealand |
Good to know
- Scenic publishes no child fare; a young guest who meets the age rules is booked at the suite's regular per-person fare.
- Scenic Eclipse carries no more than 228 guests (200 in Antarctica), with a crew ratio close to one to one, and the mood on board is adult.
- Guests must be fit to travel and able to manage the ship, the gangways and the excursions; expedition landings by Zodiac need good mobility.
- Scenic recommends travel protection on every booking and sells Allianz plans to U.S. residents.
How SmartCruiser handles the fine print for you
- We put your invoice's final payment date on our calendar and remind you before it; Scenic's dates move with the fare you choose (90, 120 or 150 days, or 10 months) and a missed one cancels the booking.
- Before you commit we price the Full, Select, Preferred and Preferred+ Fares side by side, with the air value and the cancellation terms of each, so you can see what the savings cost in flexibility.
- Scenic takes cancellations in writing only, so we handle cancellations, date changes and suite moves with Scenic directly and tell you the exact charge, in dollars, before you decide.
- The Flexible Booking Plan, the Penalty Relief Program, Allianz travel protection and Scenic air go on your invoice if you want them, and your Scenic & Emerald Rewards number goes on the reservation so the 1% MyRewards credit and your status points post.
- Scenic's fare already covers tips, drinks, excursions and butler service; SmartCruiser adds its own bonus onboard credit where Scenic allows it, something you do not get booking direct. Ask for it when you call 1-800-444-1560.
Last verified October 14, 2026 against Scenic's own pages: Scenic U.S. Terms & Conditions (links to the May 2026 Booking Terms and the river and ocean Passenger Ticket Terms), Scenic USA Booking Terms & Conditions, May 2026 (Issuu flipbook), Flexible Booking Plan and Penalty Relief Program (U.S.), Scenic Eclipse fare terms: deposit within 7 days, 120, 150 day and 10 month final payment, Europe river fare terms: deposit within 48 hours, 90, 120 day and 10 month final payment, Scenic U.S. river FAQ: dress code, drinks and gratuities included, Nonperformance of cruises: refund claims (U.S. ports), Travel protection (Allianz), Travel Market Report: final payment policies by line, August 26, 2026, Seatrade Cruise News: Scenic Group four-tier U.S. fares, March 2026, CruiseCheap: Scenic river and Scenic Eclipse cancellation schedules (modified September 9, 2026), Tern: Scenic ocean cancellation clause 4.10(a) and $1,000 deposit (updated July 24, 2026), Affordable Tours: Scenic booking conditions (age rules, smoking), Vacations To Go: Scenic Eclipse smoking areas and gratuities, The Points Guy: cruise ship smoking policies (Scenic entry, March 2024), Scenic & Emerald Rewards. These deposit, payment and cancellation terms are the ones Scenic Tours (USA), Inc. publishes for bookings made in the United States: the Scenic USA Booking Terms & Conditions dated May 2026, the river and ocean Passenger Ticket Terms, the fare terms on Scenic's U.S. offer pages and the Flexible Booking Plan and Penalty Relief Program page. Scenic's four U.S. fare types (Full, Select, Preferred and Preferred+) took effect March 9, 2026 and each carries its own payment timeline. Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and other markets have their own booking conditions. Policies change; the cruise line's ticket contract and the terms on your booking confirmation govern.
Questions
Scenic policy FAQ
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Ask a Scenic specialist
Deposits, deadlines, cancellations and what to pack: one call and it is handled, with SmartCruiser's bonus onboard credit on your booking.