Royal Caribbean cruise policies
Royal Caribbean Cruise 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 daily gratuity, what to wear at dinner and who can sail. Figures are Royal Caribbean's own, for bookings made in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Deposit
The deposit is per person and depends on the length of the cruise. Select promotional fares carry a nonrefundable deposit; the standard fare's deposit is refundable until the cancellation schedule starts.
| Cruise length | Deposit |
|---|---|
| 1 to 5 nights | $100 per person |
| 6 to 9 nights | $250 per person |
| 10 to 14 nights | $450 per person |
| 15 nights or longer | $500 per person |
Good to know
- Bermuda sailings take a $250 deposit per person whatever the length.
- Suites: 10% of the cruise fare or the standard deposit, whichever is higher.
- The amount can also change with the number of guests in the stateroom and the stateroom type; your booking confirmation shows the exact figure.
- On a nonrefundable-deposit fare the deposit is never refunded. Cancel before final payment and Royal keeps the deposit but refunds anything else you have paid.
Final payment
The balance must reach Royal Caribbean by the deadline below or the booking cancels automatically. Holiday sailings (Christmas and New Year) follow the same rules; group bookings have their own schedule.
Standard schedule
| Cruise length | Balance due |
|---|---|
| 1 to 4 nights | 75 days before sailing |
| 5 to 14 nights | 90 days before sailing |
| 15 nights or longer | 120 days before sailing |
Alaska, Hawaii, Transpacific, Panama Canal and Pacific Coastal sailings
Reservations created on or after September 29, 2026 for sailings departing on or after April 11, 2028.
| Cruise length | Balance due |
|---|---|
| 1 to 4 nights | 75 days before sailing |
| 5 to 9 nights | 90 days before sailing |
| 10 nights or longer | 120 days before sailing |
Good to know
- Cruise documents are normally available about 30 days before sailing once the booking is paid in full.
Cancellation charges
Charges are a percentage of the total cruise price and depend on when Royal Caribbean receives the cancellation. Taxes, fees and any fuel supplement are refunded in full.
Bookings made on or after October 11, 2026
Also applies to Alaska, Hawaii, Transpacific, Panama Canal and Pacific Coastal sailings departing on or after April 11, 2028 that were booked on or after September 29, 2026.
| Cruise length | Days before sailing | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 nights | 75 days or more | No charge (nonrefundable deposits excepted) |
| 1 to 4 nights | 61 to 74 days | 50% |
| 1 to 4 nights | 31 to 60 days | 75% |
| 1 to 4 nights | 30 days or fewer | 100%, no refund |
| 5 to 9 nights | 90 days or more | No charge (nonrefundable deposits excepted) |
| 5 to 9 nights | 61 to 89 days | 50% |
| 5 to 9 nights | 31 to 60 days | 75% |
| 5 to 9 nights | 30 days or fewer | 100%, no refund |
| 10 nights or longer | 120 days or more | No charge (nonrefundable deposits excepted) |
| 10 nights or longer | 61 to 119 days | 50% |
| 10 nights or longer | 31 to 60 days | 75% |
| 10 nights or longer | 30 days or fewer | 100%, no refund |
Bookings made before October 11, 2026
Holiday sailings and CruiseTours included.
| Cruise length | Days before sailing | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 nights | 75 days or more | No charge (nonrefundable deposits excepted) |
| 1 to 4 nights | 61 to 74 days | 50% |
| 1 to 4 nights | 31 to 60 days | 75% |
| 1 to 4 nights | 30 days or fewer | 100%, no refund |
| 5 to 14 nights | 90 days or more | No charge (nonrefundable deposits excepted) |
| 5 to 14 nights | 75 to 89 days | 25% |
| 5 to 14 nights | 61 to 74 days | 50% |
| 5 to 14 nights | 31 to 60 days | 75% |
| 5 to 14 nights | 30 days or fewer | 100%, no refund |
| 15 nights or longer | 120 days or more | No charge (nonrefundable deposits excepted) |
| 15 nights or longer | 75 to 119 days | 25% |
| 15 nights or longer | 61 to 74 days | 50% |
| 15 nights or longer | 31 to 60 days | 75% |
| 15 nights or longer | 30 days or fewer | 100%, no refund |
Good to know
- A cancellation counts from the day Royal Caribbean receives it.
- Refunds go back to the original credit card, or to SmartCruiser when we made the payment for you, and we pass them straight on.
- No refund once the cruise has started, for an early disembarkation or for a no-show.
- Single occupancy, third and fourth guests and group bookings can carry different charges.
- Switching a CruiseTour to cruise-only within 42 days of the tour start carries a charge.
- If Royal Caribbean cancels or delays a sailing by three days or more you receive a future cruise credit automatically, or you can request a refund within six months.
Gratuities
Royal Caribbean adds a daily service gratuity to each guest's onboard account, shared among dining, bar, housekeeping and other service staff. You can prepay it when you book, which locks the rate and keeps it off your onboard bill.
| Stateroom | Daily gratuity |
|---|---|
| Interior, Ocean View and Balcony staterooms | $18.50 per guest, per day |
| Suites | $21.00 per guest, per day |
Good to know
- A 20% gratuity is added automatically to beverages and beverage packages, specialty dining and dining packages, spa and salon services, room service and minibar purchases, whether bought before the cruise or on board.
- Daily gratuities are optional: you can change or remove them at Guest Relations any time before the morning you disembark, not after.
- Ask SmartCruiser to prepay them when you book and the amount appears on your invoice, not on your SeaPass account.
Dress code
Most of the cruise is casual. Dinner steps up to smart casual, and one to four evenings per sailing are "Dress Your Best" nights.
Casual
Jeans, polos, sundresses and blouses. Shorts are fine at breakfast and lunch. Swimwear stays on the pool deck.
Smart casual
Collared shirts, dresses, skirts and blouses or pantsuits; jackets, sports coats and blazers welcome. The usual dinner standard in the Main Dining Room.
Dress Your Best (formal)
Suits and ties, tuxedos, cocktail dresses or evening gowns. Chef's Table always follows the formal code.
Dress Your Best nights
| Cruise length | Formal nights |
|---|---|
| 5 nights | 1 |
| 6 to 10 nights | 2 |
| 11 to 14 nights | 3 |
| 15 nights or longer | 3 to 4 |
House rules
- No bare feet in any venue at any time.
- No tank tops in the Main Dining Room or specialty restaurants at dinner.
- The number of Dress Your Best nights is at the ship's discretion and varies by itinerary; the daily program confirms it on board.
- Specialty restaurants such as Chops Grille and 150 Central Park recommend smart casual; collared shirts and cocktail attire fit everywhere.
Age rules
Royal Caribbean's age rules depend on where the ship sails from. Age is counted on the first day of the cruise.
Minimum age to sail without a parent or guardian
| Departure | Minimum age |
|---|---|
| Sailings from North America | 21 |
| Sailings from South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand | 18 |
Stateroom assignment
On North American sailings nobody under 21 is assigned a stateroom unless an adult of 21 or older shares it. Exceptions: children with parents or guardians in connecting, adjacent or same-hallway staterooms, underage married couples with proof of marriage, and active-duty U.S. or Canadian military with proof of service.
Infants
| Sailing | Minimum age |
|---|---|
| Most cruises and CruiseTours | 6 months on the first day of the cruise |
| Transatlantic, transpacific, Hawaii, select South America and other selected cruises | 12 months |
| Any cruise with 3 or more consecutive sea days | 12 months |
Drinking age
| Departure or destination | Minimum age |
|---|---|
| Sailings from North America or the Caribbean, and from Dubai | 21 |
| Sailings from South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand | 18 |
| Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, Labadee | 21 |
| Royal Beach Club Santorini, Royal Beach Club Lelepa | 18 |
Good to know
- Casino: 18 and older, except Alaska sailings where it is 21.
- An infant who does not meet the age rule is denied boarding with no refund, so check the first sailing day against the birthday before you book.
- A guest who turns 21 during the cruise can ask Guest Services, with a parent or guardian and government ID present, to update the record for the rest of the sailing.
- Royal Caribbean can raise a minimum age where local law requires it and may ask for proof of age at any time.
How SmartCruiser handles the fine print for you
- We put your 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 Royal Caribbean price drops and promotions and reprice the booking when the line allows it.
- We handle cancellations, date changes and stateroom moves with Royal Caribbean directly and tell you the exact charge before you decide.
- Prepaid gratuities, dining and beverage packages go on your invoice if you want them, and your Crown & Anchor number goes on the reservation.
- SmartCruiser adds bonus onboard credit on top of Royal Caribbean's own offers on every sailing. Ask for it when you call 1-800-444-1560.
Last verified October 12, 2026 against Royal Caribbean's own pages: Deposit requirements, Final payment schedule, Cancellation and refund policy, Gratuity price and policy, Onboard dress code, International age policy. These deposit, payment and cancellation terms are the ones Royal Caribbean publishes for bookings made in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Other countries have their own booking conditions. Policies change; the cruise line's ticket contract and the terms on your booking confirmation govern.
Questions
Royal Caribbean policy FAQ
How much is the deposit on a Royal Caribbean cruise?
When is final payment due?
What does it cost to cancel?
Can I get my deposit back?
How much are gratuities?
How many formal nights are there?
Can my 20-year-old sail alone?
What is the drinking age on board?
Ask a Royal Caribbean specialist
Deposits, deadlines, cancellations and what to pack: one call and it is handled, with SmartCruiser's bonus onboard credit on your booking.