SmartCruiser
Cruise Line Policies: Deposits, Final Payment, Cancellation, Gratuities, Dress Code and Age Rules
One page per cruise line with the booking rules that matter, taken from the line’s own terms and checked by SmartCruiser: what you pay when you book, when the balance is due, what it costs to cancel, the daily gratuity, how many formal nights to pack for and who can sail.
Celebrity Cruises
Deposits by cruise length with the 10% suite rule, the final payment and cancellation schedules before and after October 11, 2026, gratuities by stateroom class, Evening Chic nights and age rules.
- $100 deposit per person on a 1 to 5 night cruise
- 120 days final payment deadline on a 6 night or longer cruise booked from October 11, 2026
- $19.50 daily gratuity per guest (Concierge and AquaClass $20.50, The Retreat $24.50)
Explora Journeys
25% deposits, final payment 90 days out (150 for Ocean Residences), the 10-day grace period and cancellation steps, everything-included fares, resort-elegant dress and the age rules for an all-suite ship.
- 25% deposit of the journey fare, due within five days of the option
- 90 days final payment deadline (150 days for Ocean Residences)
- Included gratuities, drinks, Wi-Fi and port charges are in the fare
Holland America Line
Final payment moved to 120 days for bookings made from September 29, 2026, with the new 75/50/0 refund steps beside the older 90-day and 75-day schedules; Crew Appreciation $18 and $20, Dressy Nights by voyage length and the age rules.
- 120 days final payment deadline on bookings made from September 29, 2026 for 2027 sailings
- 75% refund if you cancel 91 to 119 days out under the new schedule
- $18 daily Crew Appreciation per guest (suites $20)
MSC Cruises
$99, $199 and $300 deposits (nonrefundable in the MSC Yacht Club), final payment at 75, 90 and 110 days, the four cancellation schedules, the $17 and $23 daily Hotel Service Charge, Gala Nights and the under-21 rules on U.S. sailings.
- $199 deposit per person on a 5 to 14 night cruise ($99 on 4 nights or fewer, $300 on 15 nights or longer)
- 90 days final payment deadline on a 5 to 14 night cruise (75 days on 4 nights or fewer, 110 on 15 or longer)
- $17 daily Hotel Service Charge per guest on Caribbean, Alaska and U.S. sailings (MSC Yacht Club $23)
Norwegian Cruise Line
$100 and $250 deposits, 10% for The Haven and suites, final payment 120 days on every sailing, the two cancellation schedules, the $20 and $25 daily service charges, Freestyle dress code and age rules.
- $250 deposit per person on a 7 night or longer cruise ($100 on 1 to 6 nights)
- 120 days final payment deadline on every sailing, holidays included
- $20 daily service charge per guest (The Haven and suites $25)
Oceania Cruises
$500 or 20% deposits, final payment 150 days out, the admin-fee and percentage cancellation steps, which bookings have gratuities included, the elegant-casual dress code and the adults-only rule from January 2026.
- $500 deposit per person (Owner's, Vista and Oceania Suites 20% of the fare)
- 150 days final payment deadline on every voyage
- 18+ adults only on every new booking made from January 7, 2026
Princess Cruises
Deposits rose and final payment moved to 120 days for bookings made from September 2, 2026. Crew Appreciation, Dress to Impress nights and the under-21 stateroom rule explained.
- $300 deposit per guest on a 6 to 9 day cruise (suites $600)
- 120 days final payment deadline on every cruise booked from September 2, 2026
- $18 daily crew appreciation per guest (mini-suites $19, suites $20)
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
15% deposits (25% in the Regent Suite), the 5% nonrefundable-deposit option, final payment 150 days out, the suite-by-suite cancellation steps, gratuities included, Elegant Casual evenings and the age rules.
- 15% deposit, due within five days of booking (Regent Suite 25%)
- 150 days final payment deadline on cruises of 60 nights or less
- Included all gratuities except the spa are in the fare
Royal Caribbean
Deposits by cruise length, the 75, 90 and 120 day final payment schedule, the new cancellation tiers for bookings from October 11, 2026, gratuities, Dress Your Best nights and age rules.
- $100 deposit per person on a 1 to 5 night cruise
- 90 days final payment deadline on a 5 to 14 night cruise
- $18.50 daily gratuity per guest (suites $21)
Silversea
Which Silversea fare keeps a refundable deposit, the cancellation steps for Classic, Expedition, Grand Voyage and World Cruise bookings made since September 11, 2025, gratuities included, the June 2026 dress code and the age rules.
- 3 fares All-Inclusive Plus (refundable deposit), All-Inclusive (nonrefundable deposit), Last Minute (paid in full)
- 151 days the All-Inclusive Plus deposit is fully refundable until this point
- Included gratuities, drinks, Wi-Fi and butler service are in every fare
Viking
Deposits and payment dates set by the offer you book under, the 24-hour review window, the $100 and percentage cancellation steps, the $20 nightly gratuity, elegant-casual evenings and the adults-only rule.
- 24 hours to cancel any new booking for a full refund, no questions asked
- $100 flat cancellation fee per person 120 days or more before departure
- $20 recommended gratuity per guest, per night, added to the shipboard account