Here Are All the Final Payment Policies for Every Major Ocean, River, & Expedition Cruise Line

Keeping up with every cruise line’s final payment policy can be a nightmare for travel advisors. While most policies fall somewhere between 90 and 120 days, some cruise lines vary the date by length of cruise booked or type of cabin category selected.

Celestyal has the shortest final payment window, with the full balance to be paid due only 60 days prior to travel.

On the opposite side of the coin, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has the longest final payment window for all of its cruises, requiring full payment 180 days prior to sailing.  

Several others maintain an 180-day final payment window for specified circumstances, such as longer sailings, World Cruises, and higher-level suite categories.

The cruise line with the longest final payment policy is Viking, often requiring final full payments as much as 12 to 18 months ahead of sail date, particularly for first-time Viking cruisers.

TMR has rounded up the final payment policies for every major ocean, river, and expedition cruise line. These are the standard final payment dates. All cruise lines offer a variety of promotions and specials that might have different final payment dates.

Additionally, unless noted, bookings made after the final payment date has passed require full payment at the time of booking.

AMADEUS River Cruises

Final payment is due no later than 120 days before the Departure Date.

AmaWaterways

Final payment is required no later than 90 days before the start date of travel, based on the commencement of all services purchased through AmaWaterways.

American Cruise Lines

Final payment is due 120 days prior to the sailing date.  

Aqua Expeditions

The final payment is required 90 days prior to departure.

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Final payment is due 121 days prior to departure date.

Aurora Expeditions

Final payment is due at least 120 days prior to departure of expedition.

Avalon Waterways

Final payment date is due 90 days prior to the commencement of services.

Azamara Cruises

Final payment is due 150 days prior to the sailing date.

Carnival Cruise Line

Final payment varies by length of cruise. For cruises of five days or less, final payment is due 76 days prior to sailing. For cruises of six days or longer, final payment is due 91 days prior to sailing.

Celebrity Cruise

Final payment is due 90 days before sail date.

Celestyal Cruises

Final payment is due 60 days before departure.

Century Cruises

Final payment is due at least 120 days prior to departure.

Crystal

The date of final payment for a cruise is determined by the length of the cruise. For standard and combination cruises of less than 40 days in duration, final payment is due 120 days prior to departure. For standard and combination cruises greater than 39 days in duration, final payment is due 180 days prior to departure.

Cunard

Final payment varies by length of cruise. Final payment for cruises of up to 30 nights is due 120 days before sailing. Cruises of up to 30 nights that are booked between 120 and 30 days out must be paid in full within 24 hours of booking; those booked less than 30 days from sailing must be paid in full at the time of booking.

Final payment for cruises of 31 nights or longer is due 150 days before sailing. Cruises of 31 nights or longer that are booked between 150 and 31 days out must be paid in full within 24 hours of booking; those booked 30 days or less from sailing must be paid in full at the time of booking.

Disney Cruise Line

Final payment is due 90 days before sailing for cruises of five nights or less and 120 days before sailing for cruises of six nights or longer.

Emerald Cruises

Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure for river cruises and 120 days prior to departure for yacht cruises.

Explora Journeys

Final payment is due no later than 90 days prior to departure for all categories of stateroom except Ocean Residences. For these suites, final payment is due no later than 150 days before departure.

Four Seasons Yachts

The final payment policy varies by suite category. Final payment for guests in standard suites is due 150 days prior to the departure date. For guests in signature suites, the final payment is due no less than 180 days prior to departure date.

Holland America Line

Final payment on cruises of 13 days or less (excluding all Asia, Australia, and South American cruises) is due 90 days prior to sailing date. Final payment on all other sailings is 120 days prior to travel.

Hurtigruten

Final payment is due 90 days before departure.

H/X

Final payment is due 90 days before departure.

Lindblad Expeditions (National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions)

Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure.

Margaritaville at Sea

Final payment varies by length of cruise. For cruises of two to five nights, final payment is due 76 days prior to sailing. For cruises of six and seven nights, final payment is due 91 days prior to sailing. For cruises of eight nights or longer, final payment is due 121 days prior to sailing.

MSC Cruises

Final payment varies by length of cruise. For cruises of four nights or less, final payment is due no later than 75 days prior to departure. For cruises of five to 14 nights, full payment is due no later than 90 days prior to departure. For cruises of 15 nights and longer, full payment is due no later than 110 days prior to departure. For World Cruises, full payment is due no later than 120 days prior to departure.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Final payment is due 120 days before sailing date.

Oceania Cruises

Final payment for all voyages of 179 nights or fewer is due 150 days prior to departure. If a sailing is booked between 150 and 91 days prior to sailing, full payment is due within three days of booking. If a sailing is booked 90 days or less prior to sailing, full payment is due on the same day as booking.

Final payment for voyages of 180 nights or more (World Cruises), final payment is due 180 days prior to sailing. If a sailing of 180 nights or more is booked between 180 and 121 days from sailing, final payment is due within three days of booking. If a sailing is booked between 120 and 91 days of sailing, final payment is due within 24 hours of booking, and if a sailing of 180 nights or longer is booked 90 days or less from sailing, full payment is due on the same day as booking.

Orient Express Sailing Yachts

Final payment must be paid no later than 120 calendar days before the departure date of the trip.

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Final payment is due 90 days prior to voyage departure date. Final payment must be received within 48 hours of booking for bookings made 89 to 30 days prior to sailing. For reservations made 29 days or less prior to sailing, full and final payment will be due at the time of booking.

PONANT

Final payment is due 90 days prior to voyage departure date.

Princess Cruises

Final payment varies by length of cruise. Final payment of cruises of one to 13 days in length is due 90 days prior to departure. For cruises of 14 to 44 days (including World Cruise or Circle Pacific segments), final payment is due 120 days prior to departure. For all sailings of 45 days and longer, final payment is due 320 days prior to departure.

Quark Expeditions

Final payment is due no later than 150 days prior to day one of the expedition voyage.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

For cruises of 60 nights or less, final payment is due 150 days prior to sailing. If a cruise of 60 nights ore less is booked between 150 and 91 days from sailing, final payment is due within three days of booking. If its booked between 90 and 31 days, final payment is due within 24 hours of booking. If booked within 30 days of sailing, payment in full is due on the same day of booking.

For cruises of 61 nights or more, final payment is due 180 days prior to sailing (with two deposits totaling 30% of the total having been due prior to this). If a cruise of 61 nights or longer is booked between 180 and 121 days from sailing, final payment is due within three days of booking. If it is booked between 120 and 91 days from sailing, final payment is due within 24 hours of booking. If it is booked within 90 days of departure, full payment is due on the same day as booking.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

Final payment is required 180 days prior to the voyage departure date. Reservations made within 180 days of voyage departure date require full payment within three days of the booking date. 

Riverside Luxury Cruises

Final payment is due on the 30th day before the commencement of the cruise.

Riviera Travel

Final payment is due 101 days before the departure date or at time of booking if booked within 101 days of departure.

Royal Caribbean International

Final payment varies by cruise length. Final payment for cruises of up to four nights long is 75 days before sailing. For sailings of five to 14 nights, final payment date is 90 days prior to sailing. For cruises of 15 nights or longer, final payment is due 120 days before departure.

Scenic

Final payment depends on the type of fare purchased, as well as type of cruise (river or ocean).

Final payment for Full Fare bookings of Scenic Yacht cruises is due no later than 120 days prior to departure. Final payment for Select Fare bookings of Scenic Yacht cruises is due no later than 150 days prior to departure. Final payment of Preferred Fares of Scenic Yacht cruises is due 10 months prior to departure. For sailings booked within 10 months of departure, final payment is due within 30 days of booking or 120 days prior to departure, whichever occurs first.

Final payment for Full Fare bookings of river cruises is due no later than 90 days prior to departure. Final payment for Select Fares of European river cruises is due no later than 120 days prior to departure, while final payment for Preferred Fares of European river cruises is due 10 months prior to departure. For sailings of Preferred Fare cruises booked within 10 months of departure, final payment is due within 30 days of departure.

Seabourn Cruises

Final payment varies by cruise length. Final payment of cruises 21 days or shorter in length is due 120 days prior to departure. Final payment for cruises of 22 to 69 days in length is due 150 days prior to departure, while cruises of 70 days or longer is due 180 days prior to departure.

Silversea Cruise Line

Final payment for Classic and Expeditions cruises is due 150 days prior to departure.

Final payment for World Cruise and Grand Voyages is due 180 days prior to departure. For bookings made within 30 days of departure, final payment must be received within 48 hours of booking.

Swan Hellenic Cruises

Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure.

Tauck

Final payment for river and small ocean cruises is due 120 days prior to departure.

Trafalgar River Cruise

Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

Final payment is due 120 days prior to cruise start date.

Victory Cruise Lines

Final payment is due 120 days from sailing date.

Viking

Final payment dates vary quite a bit depending on length of cruise, if a guest has booked with Viking before, and whether they have more than one cruise currently booked. Generally speaking, final payment can range from six months (180 days) to up to 18 months before sail date.

Virgin Voyages

Final payment is due 120 days prior to voyage start date.

VIVA Cruises

Final payment is due no later than 30 days before the start of the trip.

Windstar Cruises

Final payment is due prior to 90 days before vacation start date.

UnCruise Adventures

Final payment is due no later than 120 days prior to the guest’s scheduled sail departure date.