What Is The Current Disney Cruise Line Deposit Policy?

With Disney Cruise Line, you can have a magical vacation at sea. While many dream to sail the high seas with Disney, the price of a cruise may seem out of reach to them. With the flexible payment options that are available for a Disney Cruise, Guests can turn their sailing dreams into reality.

Full payment is not required to book a Disney Cruise. Instead, you can book a sailing with Disney Cruise Line by simply paying a deposit. This makes paying for a Disney Cruise exceptionally easier for so many.

Even though the option to book a cruise with a deposit makes sailing more feasible, there are still many questions that surround the topic. How much is the deposit for a Disney Cruise? When is it due? When is the rest of the balance due? What if you need to cancel? 

In this article, I’m going to answer all of these questions for you. I'm going to go over all of the specifics of the Disney Cruise Line Deposit Policy and give more insight on how deposits work for Disney Cruises. Follow along to learn everything there is to know about the Disney Cruise Line Deposit Policy from how much a deposit is to how cancellations and refunds work.

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Plan Your Disney Cruise

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If you’d like assistance planning your Disney Cruise, you can reach out to our trust travel partners at Get Away Today! Their experienced travel agents are able to help you with every aspect of your magical cruise. If you’re a first time cruiser, you don’t need to stress about all of the tiny details. Your agent will handle it all to make sure that you’re comfortable and your cruise goes smoothly. For those who have sailed with Disney Cruise Line before, Get Away Today can help you too! Sit back, relax, and get ready for the cruise that you know and love. Your Get Away Today agent has it covered.

To start planning your magical vacation at sea, call 877-510-2929 or reach out via email at cruise@getawaytoday.com.

How Much is a Disney Cruise Line Deposit?

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Those who have previously vacationed to Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World may be used to the standard $200 deposit that is required to book a Disney vacation. However, when it comes to Disney Cruise Line, things are a bit different.

Rather than having a specific price to pay, Guests who are booking a Disney Cruise are required to pay 20% of the total cruise fare. This amount, of course, will vary for each booking party. Varying factors include party size, sailing date, number of nights, itinerary, and which ship you’re sailing on.

Disney Cruise Line Deposit Due Date

Disney Cruise Line stateroom

In order to confirm the booking of a Disney Cruise, the deposit payment is required. The deposit, however, is NOT required at check out. Disney Cruse Line offers a 3 day hold on cruises. You will be able to select all the specifics of your cruise, add it to your cart, and then select to have your cruise held for 3 days.

If you choose this option, you will be given a Deposit Due Date at check out. According to the Disney Cruise Line Deposit Policy, if the deposit is not paid by 11:59pm EST on the due date, your cruise will automatically be canceled and you will need to start the booking process over.

How to Handle the Remaining Balance of Your Disney Cruise

Disney Dream

After the deposit is made and the cruise is confirmed, it’s easy to take care of the rest of the balance on your Disney Cruise. With Disney Cruise Line, you are able to make payments that are convenient for you up until your Balance Due Date. This payment option is completely flexible. Payments are able to be made in any amount at any time.

If your Disney Cruise is 5 nights or less, your final payment will be due 90 days prior to your embarkation day. If your cruise is 6 nights or longer, your final payment will be due 120 days prior to your embarkation day.

Are Disney Cruise Line Deposits Refundable?

Disney Cruise Line The Little Mermaid coffee art

In regard to cancellations, the Disney Cruise Line Deposit Policy varies depending on the specifics of your cruise.

If you’re in a category with restrictions, whether that be an Inside, Outside, or Verandah category with restrictions, you will not receive a refund for your deposit or any other portion of your cruise. Categories with restrictions are completely nonrefundable and nontransferable. From the time of payment, there is a 100% cruise cancellation fee for all categories with restrictions.

For all other sailings, the cancellation policy depends on both the length of your cruise and which category you are staying in. There is a select window of time in which you must cancel your cruise in order to have your deposit refunded.

For cruises that are 1-5 nights, you must cancel at least 90 days prior to the vacation commencement date. To have your deposit refunded for cruises that are 6 nights or longer, you must cancel at least 120 days prior to your vacation commencement date. Deposits are nonrefundable for Suites and Concierge Staterooms.

Disney Cruise Line Vacation Protection Plan

Disney Cruise Line spa

To avoid losing your deposit or even more of your cruise cost, consider covering your cruise with the Disney Cruise Line Vacation Protection Plan. With the Vacation Protection Plan, you will have coverage no matter what!

In the event that your Disney Cruise is canceled or interrupted due to sickness, injury, death, or another covered reason, you will have coverage up to the total trip cost ($20,000 limit).

If you need to cancel for a non-covered reason, you are still taken care of with the Vacation Protection Plan. Under the “Cancel For Any Reason” portion of the plan, Guests can cancel for any reason and receive a credit towards a future Disney Cruise. This credit will be up to 75% of the cancellation fee amount and will be valid for one year from the date it’s issued.

The Disney Cruise Line Vacation Protection Plan can be added to your cruise online during the booking process or by calling (800) 951-3532.

Special Deposit Offers For Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line AquaDuck

Similarly to Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line offers a variety of promotions and special offers. Currently, a promotion is available where Guests are able to book their Disney Cruise by paying only half of the regularly required deposit. That means, rather than paying a deposit that’s 20% of the total cruise fare, Guests are only required to pay 10% of the total cruise fare!

Unfortunately, this offer will not be available much longer. This special deposit offer is available for select cruises that are booked by August 9th, 2024. (New Reservations Only) If you’re interested in these deposit savings, you’ll need to act fast!

Eligible Cruises Include:

  • Disney Wonder: October 20th, 2024 – February 24th, 2025
  • Disney Dream: January 4th, 2025 – March 29th, 2025
  • Disney Magic: January 6th, 2025 – March 20th, 2025
  • Disney Wish: January 3rd, 2025 – March 31st, 2025

New offers are added regularly. If you are not able to take advantage of this offer, but are still hoping to save on your Disney Cruise, keep an eye out for future Disney Cruise Line special offers! For the best tips on finding Disney Cruise Line savings, check out our article “Disney Cruise Deals – Top Ways to Get Discounts on a Disney Cruise“.

Disney Cruise Line's Onboard Booking Offer

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When you sail on a Disney Cruise, special savings will be offered to you. Savings are available for both cruises and deposits. Through Disney Cruise Line’s Onboard Booking Offer, cruisers are able to reserve a future Disney Cruise or make a Placeholder Reservation. When making a Placeholder Reservation, Guests are able to reserve a future cruise, but select the date of the cruise at a later time.

By using the Onboard Booking Offer, Guests save 10% off of the price of their future Disney Cruise. If the future cruise is 7 nights or longer, reduced deposits are also available.

Once you are on board your Disney Cruise, you will be able to book your future cruise or make your Placeholder Reservation on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app or by visiting the Disney Vacation Planning Desk. Blockout dates apply to this special offer. While you can reserve your future cruise during these blockout dates, you will not receive the 10% off discount that comes with the Onboard Booking Offer.

The Onboard Booking Offer is only valid for Categories 4 to 11. The cruise booked with the Onboard Booking Offer must sail within 24 months from the date the reservation was made or the Placeholder Reservation was booked. If the cruise does not take place within those 24 months, it will automatically be canceled.

Deposit Cost For the Onboard Booking Offer

Disney Cruise Line pool area

The Disney Cruise Line Deposit Policy is different for Guests that make a Placeholder Reservation. Those who do not select a date for their future cruise will pay a $250 deposit. In the event that the cruise is canceled, the $250 deposit is completely refundable. Once a date is selected for the future cruise, it will then be subject to standard cancellation fees.

Guests who do select a date for their future Disney Cruise at the time of booking will pay the regular 20% deposit that is depicted in the Disney Cruise Line Deposit Policy. Standard cancellation fees apply upon booking.

Disney Cruise Line Deposit

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Whether you're at home planning you're vacation or you're on a Disney Cruise right now, it's wonderful that these magical cruises can be booked with just a deposit. Now that you’re familiar with the Disney Cruise Line Deposit Policy, you’re ready to book your Disney Cruise! Get ready to enjoy the most magical vacation at sea!

New to cruising with Disney? Here's everything that you have to look forward to!

The price of your Disney Cruise includes:

Enjoy the magic of Disney, the luxuries of cruising, and the relaxation of a tropical paradise all in one vacation.

Don't forget, you'll need to act fast if you're wanting to save 50% on your cruise deposit. To receive this discount, your cruise must be booked by August 9th, 2024.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much deposit is due for a Disney Cruise?

A 20% deposit is due for a Disney Cruise. The specific cost of the deposit will vary among each cruise. Factors like date, cruise length, ship, and itinerary will all affect the price of the cruise and therefor affect deposit amount.

Do you get your deposit back on a Disney Cruise?

You can get your deposit back on a Disney Cruise. For cruises that are 1-5 nights, you must cancel at least 90 days before the vacation commencement date. For cruises that are 6 nights or longer, you must cancel at least 120 days before your vacation commencement date. Deposits are nonrefundable for Suites and Concierge Staterooms.

How much is the deposit for a Disney Cruise with a placeholder?

Guests who book a Disney Cruise with a Placeholder Reservation through the Onboard Booking Offer will pay a deposit of $250.

Do you have to pay in full when booking a Disney Cruise?

No, you do not have to pay in full when booking a Disney Cruise. To book a Disney Cruise, you must simply pay a deposit. This deposit will be 20% of the total voyage fare.

When must Disney cruises be paid in full?

Disney Cruises must be paid in full 90 days prior to embarkation day for cruises that are 5 nights or less and 120 days prior to embarkation day for cruises that are 6 nights or longer.

How does Disney Cruise verify pregnancy?

Disney Cruise verifies pregnancy through their Health Questionnaire that is included in the online check-in process. However, they do not require any sort of proof or documentation.

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About Rebekah Brown

Rebekah's love of Disney and passion for writing is what led her to Mickey Visit and Disney Dose. Her first visit to Walt Disney World was when she was a young child. Now she enjoys her Disney vacations with her own two children, husband, and parents. Rebekah will keep you up to date on all things that have to do with Walt Disney World. As a frequent visitor, Rebekah will share both her knowledge and personal experience with you through her articles.

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