Princess Cruises has announced a change to its deposit policy, making non-refundable deposits the default for new bookings starting October 15, 2025.
Traditionally, Princess Cruises offered refundable deposits as the default option, automatically applied by the booking system even if passengers did not specifically select it.
However, the cruise line’s latest policy states that deposits must be paid at the time of booking and will be non-refundable unless guests opt to upgrade to a refundable deposit for an additional fee.
Policy Update
The policy update also clarifies that bookings made within the final payment period require full payment at the time of reservation, with standard cancellation fees applying.
Existing reservations with refundable deposits will remain unchanged and refundable until the final payment due date.
Deposit amounts vary depending on cruise length and type, typically ranging from $100 to $500.
Guests seeking added flexibility may choose refundable deposits through specific promotions or by paying an upgrade fee.
Future Cruise Deposit Program Unchanged
Princess Cruises continues to offer its Future Cruise Deposit (FCD) program, which remains unaffected by this policy change.
Under the FCD program, guests can secure a $100 per person deposit toward a future cruise without selecting a sailing at the time of purchase.
The deposit is refundable if the guest does not book within one year and includes an onboard credit of up to $150 for the subsequent cruise.
Princess said the intention behind these changes is to balance booking security with guest flexibility while encouraging cruise planning.
This update now aligns Princess with other major cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Carnival Cruise Line.
