Princess Cruises has implemented a major change to its booking policies that affects new reservations made beginning September 2, 2026, for cruises departing January 1, 2027 or later. The changes include higher standard deposits, a 120-day final payment deadline across all cruise lengths, and an earlier cancellation penalty schedule for many cruises.
Existing Princess reservations made before September 2, 2026 are not being moved to the new terms. Those bookings remain subject to the payment and cancellation conditions that were in effect when the reservation was made. For anyone booking a new Princess cruise for 2027 or beyond, however, it is important to understand the new deadlines before putting down a deposit.
Final Payment Is Now Due 120 Days Before Sailing
Under the new policy, final payment is due 120 days before departure for all Princess voyages. This is a significant change for cruises of 13 nights or less, which previously generally had a final payment deadline of 90 days before sailing.
That means guests booking a typical seven-night Princess cruise will now need to pay the balance of their vacation approximately four months before departure instead of three months before departure. Longer Princess voyages were already generally subject to earlier final payment requirements, so the change will be most noticeable for passengers booking shorter cruises.
Reservations may be automatically canceled if final payment is not received by the required deadline. Payment reminders are expected to continue, but guests should not rely on a grace period beyond the official due date.
Standard Deposits Are Increasing
Princess is also increasing the amount required to secure most new reservations.
- For cruises of 1 to 5 nights, the standard deposit for Inside, Oceanview, Balcony and Mini-Suite accommodations increases from $100 to $125 per person. Suite deposits increase from $200 to $250 per person.
- For cruises of 6 to 9 nights, the standard deposit increases from $250 to $300 per person, while suite deposits increase from $500 to $600 per person.
- For cruises of 10 to 44 nights, the standard deposit increases from $400 to $500 per person, while suite deposits increase from $800 to $1,000 per person.
- Voyages of 45 nights or longer use a different deposit structure. An initial deposit equal to 10% of the cruise fare is generally required at booking, followed by an additional 20% payment at 320 days before departure. That brings the total deposit to 30%, with final payment due at 120 days before sailing.
For most guests booking a standard seven-night cruise, the deposit increase itself is minimal. The more important change is how the higher deposit fits together with Princess’s non-refundable fare options, earlier final payment deadline and revised cancellation penalties.
Cancellation Penalties Now Begin Earlier
Princess has also moved its cancellation penalty schedule earlier for cruises of up to 44 days. As a result, guests can begin losing a significant portion of their cruise fare sooner than under the previous policy.
For cruises of up to 44 days, the new cancellation schedule is:
- 120 days or more before departure: The deposit may be forfeited when the reservation was booked under a non-refundable deposit fare. Refundable deposits remain subject to the terms of the refundable fare selected at booking.
- 113 to 119 days before departure: 25% cancellation penalty.
- 91 to 112 days before departure: 50% cancellation penalty.
- 61 to 90 days before departure: 75% cancellation penalty.
- 60 days or fewer before departure: 100% cancellation penalty.
The shift to a 100% penalty at 60 days is one of the most important parts of the new policy for passengers taking shorter cruises. Under the previous schedule for cruises of 13 nights or less, the 100% cancellation penalty generally did not take effect until 30 days before sailing.
That means someone canceling a qualifying Princess cruise approximately two months before departure may now lose the entire applicable cruise fare.
Voyages of 45 nights or longer have their own cancellation schedule and should be reviewed separately, particularly for World Cruises and other extended itineraries.
Non-Refundable Deposits Matter More
Princess made non-refundable deposits the standard option for most new bookings in October 2025, although refundable deposit options may still be available at a higher fare.
That becomes more important under the September 2026 changes. Guests choosing the lower-priced non-refundable fare may be putting a larger deposit at risk immediately, while also facing an earlier final payment date and an accelerated cancellation penalty schedule.
Before booking, passengers should check whether the fare being displayed includes a refundable or non-refundable deposit rather than assuming the deposit can be refunded if plans change. When a refundable option is available, the higher fare may be worthwhile for travelers who value flexibility or are booking far in advance.
Travel Insurance Is Worth Considering
The new payment and cancellation schedule also makes it more important to understand travel insurance before a large portion of the cruise fare becomes non-refundable.
Standard trip cancellation insurance generally provides reimbursement when a traveler cancels for one of the covered reasons listed in the policy. Depending on the policy, those reasons may include certain illnesses, injuries, family emergencies and other qualifying events.
Cancel For Any Reason coverage, commonly called CFAR, works differently. It can provide reimbursement when a traveler cancels for reasons that are not covered under a standard cancellation policy, but it typically reimburses only a percentage of eligible prepaid and non-refundable trip costs rather than the full amount.
CFAR coverage and pre-existing medical condition waivers also have insurer-specific eligibility requirements and purchase deadlines. Some policies require travelers to purchase coverage shortly after making their initial trip deposit and may also require that all prepaid, non-refundable trip costs be insured.
For that reason, travelers considering insurance should review their options shortly after booking rather than waiting until the Princess final payment deadline. Coverage rules vary, so the policy terms should be reviewed carefully before purchasing.
Anyone booking a Princess cruise for 2027 or later should pay close attention to three things before completing the reservation: whether the deposit is refundable, the exact final payment date, and the cancellation schedule attached to the fare.
For guests who regularly book cruises well in advance, those details are now more important than ever.
