One of the first things that is done when a cruiser decides to book a ship is the deposit. The deposit confirms intent to sail aboard any given cruise. Until recently, the deposit for a cruise with the Disney Cruise Line was 20%. However, this requirement has been lowered. As of June 18th, the deposit went from 20% to 10%. For reservations made before the 18th, the 20% discount still applies.
The math used to determine the new deposit policy is based on the price of the cruise, before taxes and fees are added. Likewise, the cancellation fees will line up with what was paid for the deposit. The exception is for Concierge Guests, who are not eligible for refunds.
Cancellation Fees
- Cancellation fees will follow the new deposit policy for sailings made on or after June 18, 2025.
- If a reservation is cancelled during the deposit cancellation fee period and the deposit was 10%, the cancellation fees will also be 10% of the voyage fare.
- Cancellation fees for guests who previously paid a 20% deposit will be 20% of the voyage fare.
- Per our existing policy, deposits will continue to be non-refundable for Concierge Guests.
If a Guest is outside the cancellation fee period and prefers to take advantage of the new 10% deposit policy, they may cancel and rebook their reservation under the updated terms. Standard cancellation fees may apply for reservations within the cancellation fee period, as outlined in our terms and conditions.
For guests who book a Placeholder Reservation, there will also be a change in the deposit requirement. The Onboard Offer now offers guests a 50% reduced deposit price for sailings of 7 nights or more. Guests booking these cruises will only be required to pay a 5% deposit.
Onboard Placeholder Offers
- Guests who have booked a Placeholder Reservation will also see a change in the required deposit when they add a sail date to their reservation if the sailing is 7 nights or longer.
- Guests will only be required to pay a 5% deposit. If the reservation is cancelled outside of the deposit cancellation fee period, Guests will only be subjected to a 5% cancellation fee.
- In addition to the deposit percentage change, there will no longer be a three day hold when converting Onboard Placeholder Offers through the Contact Center or when booking online. A deposit will now be due at the time of placeholder conversion now that placeholders can be converted online.
The new policies come ahead of the arrival of two new ships to the Disney Cruise Line fleet. Later this year, both the Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure will be taking guests on voyages that are packed with Disney magic. Both of these ships will be packed with new experiences and stories for guests to enjoy as they bring their favorite stories to life from The Walt Disney Company.
What do you think about this update to the deposit policy for Disney Cruise Line? Does this make it easier to book a Disney cruise in the future? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
