Disney Cruise Line cruise policies
Disney Cruise Line 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, the nightly gratuity, what to wear at dinner and who can sail. Figures are Disney Cruise Line's own, from the Terms and Conditions for residents of the United States and the Help Center pages that go with them.
Deposit
Disney does not use a flat dollar deposit: it takes a percentage of the voyage fare (the cruise fare before Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses), per guest. For reservations made on or after June 18, 2025 the deposit is 10% of the voyage fare; reservations made on or before June 17, 2025 keep the 20% deposit they were booked with. The deposit confirms the reservation and must reach Disney within the option period given at booking (normally a few days) or the hold cancels. Outside suites and Concierge the deposit is refundable until the cancellation schedule starts; suites and Concierge staterooms take a nonrefundable deposit from the day it is paid.
| Cruise length | Deposit |
|---|---|
| Any length, booked on or after June 18, 2025 | 10% of the voyage fare per guest |
| Any length, booked on or before June 17, 2025 | 20% of the voyage fare per guest |
| Suites and Concierge staterooms, any length | Same percentage, nonrefundable from the day it is paid |
| Inside, Outside and Verandah categories with restrictions (IGT, OGT, VGT) | Full fare, nonrefundable and nontransferable from the time of payment |
| Onboard placeholder reservation | $250 per stateroom (up to two staterooms), refundable until a sail date is chosen; a reduced deposit applies when it converts to a cruise of 7 nights or longer |
Good to know
- The cancellation fee during the deposit period equals the deposit you paid: 10% of the voyage fare on a 10% booking, 20% on a 20% booking. A booking made before June 18, 2025 that is still outside its cancellation window can be cancelled and rebooked under the 10% terms, at whatever fare is then on sale.
- Disney's trade announcement put the reduced placeholder deposit at 5% of the voyage fare for cruises of 7 nights or longer, with a 5% fee if the converted booking is cancelled outside the fee period; the placeholder terms on Disney's site say only that a reduced deposit applies.
- A suite or Concierge deposit is never refunded, however early you cancel, and the Vacation Protection Plan premium is due the day that deposit is paid rather than at final payment.
- Restricted-fare categories (IGT, OGT and VGT, the guarantee fares Disney sells on selected sailings) are 100% nonrefundable from the moment you pay and cannot be changed to another date or name.
- Disney runs a half-deposit promotion from time to time on selected sailings; the most recent one closed on January 18, 2026 and the balance of the deposit was due at final payment. Your confirmation shows the deposit that applies to your booking.
Final payment
The balance must reach Disney Cruise Line by the deadline shown on your confirmation or the reservation cancels automatically. Since September 24, 2024 suites and Concierge staterooms follow the same dates as every other stateroom. Holiday sailings and sailings from non-U.S. ports have no separate schedule; Disney dropped those in September 2018.
Standard schedule
| Cruise length | Balance due |
|---|---|
| 1 to 5 nights | 90 days before sailing |
| 6 nights or longer | 120 days before sailing |
Suites and Concierge staterooms booked before September 24, 2024
Reservations made before Disney aligned the suite and Concierge dates with the rest of the ship; the dates on the original confirmation stand unless the sailing or package is changed.
| Cruise length | Balance due |
|---|---|
| 1 to 5 nights | 120 days before sailing |
| 6 nights or longer | 150 days before sailing |
Good to know
- Disney's terms say the final payment date is set at booking and must be paid by credit card; the 90 and 120 day deadlines are the ones Disney announced for new bookings and the ones its cancellation tables start from. Your confirmation and My Reservations show the exact date.
- Book inside the window and the full fare is due at booking.
- The cruise fare excludes Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses, gratuities, drinks, adult-exclusive dining, Port Adventures, transfers and air. Disney can collect an increase in Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses that takes effect before sailing even after you have paid in full; nothing else changes once the booking is paid on time.
- The Vacation Protection Plan premium must be paid by the final payment date, or earlier if any charge on the booking (a Concierge deposit, restricted air) becomes nonrefundable first, and the plan is not in force until it is paid.
Cancellation charges
Charges are a percentage of the vacation price per guest and depend on how many days before the vacation commencement date Disney receives the cancellation. Suites and Concierge staterooms lose the deposit from the day it is paid; every other stateroom pays nothing until the final payment date. Disney refunds the amounts paid minus the cancellation fee and anything else owed; its terms do not list Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses separately, so ask us for the exact refund figure before you cancel.
Cruises of 1 to 5 nights, staterooms other than suites and Concierge
Every sailing, including holiday sailings. Restricted-fare categories (IGT, OGT, VGT) are excluded: they are 100% nonrefundable from payment.
| Cruise length | Days before sailing | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 5 nights | 90 days or more | No charge |
| 1 to 5 nights | 89 to 45 days | Deposit per guest |
| 1 to 5 nights | 44 to 30 days | 50% |
| 1 to 5 nights | 29 to 15 days | 75% |
| 1 to 5 nights | 14 days or fewer | 100%, no refund |
Cruises of 6 nights or longer, staterooms other than suites and Concierge
Every sailing, including holiday sailings. Restricted-fare categories (IGT, OGT, VGT) are excluded: they are 100% nonrefundable from payment.
| Cruise length | Days before sailing | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| 6 nights or longer | 120 days or more | No charge |
| 6 nights or longer | 119 to 56 days | Deposit per guest |
| 6 nights or longer | 55 to 30 days | 50% |
| 6 nights or longer | 29 to 15 days | 75% |
| 6 nights or longer | 14 days or fewer | 100%, no refund |
Cruises of 1 to 5 nights, suites and Concierge staterooms
Bookings made on or after September 24, 2024. The deposit is nonrefundable from the day it is paid.
| Cruise length | Days before sailing | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 5 nights | 45 days or more | Deposit per guest |
| 1 to 5 nights | 44 to 30 days | 50% |
| 1 to 5 nights | 29 to 15 days | 75% |
| 1 to 5 nights | 14 days or fewer | 100%, no refund |
Cruises of 6 nights or longer, suites and Concierge staterooms
Bookings made on or after September 24, 2024. The deposit is nonrefundable from the day it is paid.
| Cruise length | Days before sailing | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| 6 nights or longer | 56 days or more | Deposit per guest |
| 6 nights or longer | 55 to 30 days | 50% |
| 6 nights or longer | 29 to 15 days | 75% |
| 6 nights or longer | 14 days or fewer | 100%, no refund |
Good to know
- A cancellation counts from the day Disney Cruise Line receives it; tell SmartCruiser and we put it through with Disney the same day.
- Changing the sail date or a guest's name is treated as a cancellation of the original booking, so the schedule above applies; other changes can carry a per-guest service fee that Disney sets at the time.
- No refund once the vacation has started, for an early disembarkation or for a no-show.
- Air booked through Disney has its own schedule. Flexible fares within the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: no fee 56 days or more out, $200 per guest at 55 to 30 days, $300 per guest at 29 days or fewer. Flexible fares elsewhere: no fee at 120 days or more, $300 per guest at 119 to 56 days, $500 per guest at 55 days or fewer. Restricted air fares are nonrefundable and nontransferable, and any change cancels the ticket.
- Walt Disney World and Aulani hotel nights booked with the cruise lose one night's charge if cancelled 7 days or fewer before check-in (4 days at Aulani); ground transfers are charged in full if cancelled 7 days or fewer before arrival.
- Refunds go back to the original credit card, or to SmartCruiser when we made the payment for you, and we pass them straight on.
- If Disney Cruise Line cancels a sailing or delays it by more than three calendar days, a refund or credit must be requested within 90 days of the scheduled sail date.
Gratuities
Disney suggests a gratuity per guest, per night, for the dining room server, assistant server, head server and stateroom host, and it applies to every guest in the stateroom, infants and children included. Prepay it through SmartCruiser or in My Reservations up to three days before sailing, or let Disney add the suggested amount to your onboard account; you can raise, lower or remove it at Guest Services on board.
| Stateroom | Daily gratuity |
|---|---|
| Inside, Oceanview and Verandah staterooms | $16.00 per guest, per night |
| Concierge staterooms and suites | $27.25 per guest, per night |
| Infants and children | Same rate as adults |
Good to know
- The Concierge rate also covers the assistant stateroom host and the Concierge Lounge team.
- These amounts apply to departures from January 23, 2025; they were $14.50 and $23.50 before that, and guests who prepaid at the old rate were not charged the difference.
- An 18% gratuity is added automatically to bar, beverage and wine tabs, adult-exclusive and premium dining, deck service tabs and Senses Spa and Salon services. Prepaid gratuities do not cover those, room service, Port Adventures or the shops.
- Prepaid gratuities are refunded only in full, to the original form of payment, so decide before sailing whether you want to adjust them on board instead.
Dress code
Disney calls the standard cruise casual, and it covers most dinners on board. Shorter sailings add an optional dress-up night and a pirate or themed deck party; longer sailings add one formal and one semiformal night, both optional, plus the deck party. Palo, Remy and Enchanté have their own code.
Cruise casual
Khakis, slacks or nice jeans with a collared or polo shirt; dresses, skirts and stylish tops. Shorts, T-shirts and sundresses are fine too. Swimwear and tank tops are not permitted in the dining rooms.
Pirate Night
Disney leaves a pirate bandana in every stateroom for the deck party held on almost every Caribbean and Bahamas sailing. Full costume, a bandana and eye patch, or plain cruise casual all fit; the dining rooms keep the cruise casual rules.
Dress-up night (shorter sailings)
Optional. Dressy attire is suggested: a jacket or suit for men, a dress or pantsuit for women.
Formal and semiformal nights (longer sailings)
Optional, with onboard photographers on hand. Disney recommends dress pants with a jacket or a suit for men and a dress or pantsuit for women; tuxedos and gowns are welcome on formal night.
Palo, Remy and Enchanté
Formal or semiformal attire is recommended; dress-casual with a polished look (dress pants, jeans in good condition, collared shirts, dressy tops, lifestyle shoes) is accepted. Dress shorts are allowed only at Palo brunch. No T-shirts, swimwear or sports attire.
Dress Your Best nights
| Cruise length | Formal nights |
|---|---|
| 3 and 4 nights | No formal night; one optional dress-up night and Pirate Night |
| 5 nights | One optional dress-up night and Pirate Night; Disney publishes no formal night |
| 7 nights or longer | One formal and one semiformal night, both optional, plus a pirate or themed deck party |
House rules
- Swimwear and tank tops are never allowed in the dining rooms; dry off and cover up on the way in from the pool deck.
- Disney's FAQ describes the schedule as shorter versus longer sailings without naming a night count; the 7 night split above is the pattern reported on board, and the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app lists each night's theme for your sailing.
- Mike and Sulley's Flavors of Asia on the Disney Adventure welcomes formal, semiformal or dress-casual attire but no swimwear.
- Themed deck parties vary by itinerary: Pirate Night on most Caribbean and Bahamas sailings, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar or holiday themes on themed cruises, and on some itineraries the pirate show replaces the deck party.
- Going ashore, cover knees and shoulders for religious sites, and leave camouflage at home: it is illegal to wear in several Caribbean countries.
Age rules
Disney's age rules are the same on every itinerary apart from the infant minimum and the drinking age. Age is counted on the day of embarkation.
Minimum age to sail without a parent or guardian
| Departure | Minimum age |
|---|---|
| Every sailing | 18 |
| Under 18 without a parent or legal guardian | Must share a stateroom with an adult 21 or older |
Stateroom assignment
A guest must be 18 to sail without a parent or legal guardian. A minor under 18 who is not traveling with a parent or legal guardian must be booked in the same stateroom as an adult aged 21 or older, and the parent must complete Disney's Authorization for Minor to Travel without a Parent or Legal Guardian form naming the adult (18 or older) who has care, custody and control of the child; that adult presents the form at check-in. Minors are identified at booking, and when they occupy a different stateroom from their parents the adult in that stateroom is treated as the Responsible Adult. Children under 18 going ashore must be with an adult from their own stateroom unless the parent signs a Debarkation Authorization for Minors form; at Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay a parent can allow children 14 and older ashore on their own.
Infants
| Sailing | Minimum age |
|---|---|
| Most itineraries | 6 months on the day of embarkation |
| Transatlantic, Hawaii, Panama Canal, South Pacific and other select longer itineraries | 1 year on the day of embarkation |
Drinking age
| Departure or destination | Minimum age |
|---|---|
| Every sailing, including Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay | 21, with valid photo ID |
| Round-trip cruises from European ports where the local drinking age is lower | 18 to 20 with a Beverage Consent Form signed by a parent or guardian, in that adult's presence |
| Round-trip cruises from Singapore | 18, no parental consent needed |
Good to know
- Disney ships have no casino. Adults-only areas are 18 and older: the Quiet Cove Pool, the adult lounges and nightclubs (the adult entertainment district is restricted to 18 and older after 9:00 PM), the fitness center, Senses Spa and Salon, Palo, Remy and Enchanté, and the adults-only Port Adventures.
- Guests who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy on the embarkation date, or will enter it during the cruise, are refused passage; Disney accepts neither a doctor's letter nor a liability waiver.
- Each guest 21 or older (18 on Singapore round trips) may bring one unopened bottle of wine or sparkling wine of 750 ml or less, or six beers of 12 ounces or less, in carry-on luggage at embarkation; a bottle opened in a dining room costs $20 corkage, and nothing brought aboard may be drunk in a lounge or public area.
- Youth clubs: Disney's Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab take ages 3 to 10; Edge is for tweens aged 11 to 14 and Vibe for teens aged 14 to 17 (Disney lists the Oceaneer range on its FAQ; the Edge and Vibe ranges are as reported by Touring Plans). Younger children use the it's a small world nursery.
- Disney reserves the right to refuse alcohol service to anyone, and guests may not buy drinks for anyone else whatever their age.
- An infant who does not meet the age rule is denied boarding with no refund, so check the embarkation day against the birthday before you book a transatlantic, Hawaii, Panama Canal or South Pacific cruise.
How SmartCruiser handles the fine print for you
- We put your 90 or 120 day final payment date on our calendar and remind you before it, so a booking never cancels by accident.
- Before final payment we watch your sailing for Disney Cruise Line promotions and reprice the booking when the line allows it.
- We handle cancellations, date changes and stateroom moves with Disney Cruise Line directly and tell you the exact charge before you decide.
- Prepaid gratuities, Port Adventures, Palo and Remy reservations, air and the Vacation Protection Plan go on your invoice if you want them, and your Castaway Club number goes on the reservation.
- SmartCruiser adds bonus onboard credit on top of Disney Cruise Line's own offers on every sailing. Ask for it when you call 1-800-444-1560.
Last verified October 14, 2026 against Disney Cruise Line's own pages: Terms and Conditions for Residents of the United States (Rev. August 2026), Cruise Contract (United States), Onboard booking offer and placeholder terms, Help Center: gratuities, Help Center: dining dress codes, Help Center: minimum age to sail, Help Center: alcohol policy on board, Help Center: carrying alcohol on board, Help Center: adults-only places, Help Center: pregnant guests, Help Center: Authorization for Minor to Travel form, Help Center: Oceaneer Club and Lab ages, Blog Mickey, June 18, 2025: deposit reduced from 20% to 10%, Blog Mickey, September 24, 2024: suite and Concierge final payment and cancellation change, Travel Market Report, January 23, 2025: gratuity increase, Touring Plans, August 2024: key ages on Disney Cruise Line. These deposit, payment and cancellation terms are the ones Disney Cruise Line publishes for residents of the United States (Terms and Conditions, Rev. August 2026). The United Kingdom and European Union, Australia and New Zealand, Latin America, Singapore 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
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