One cruiser received a major scare when they were notified that their upcoming cruise was cancelled after forgetting to make their final payment.
Full payment isn't required when cruises are booked in advance. Instead, travelers can place a deposit to secure their reservation, with the final payment due by a specific deadline — often 60 to 90 days before departure, depending on the cruise line and itinerary.
Norie08 shared their harrowing experience on a Reddit message board, serving as a warning for fellow travelers not to make the same mistake in the future.
"I [forgot] to pay my final balance on my Royal Caribbean [cruise]. [Then, finally], remember[ed] it while I'm at work. I'm planning to pay for it after work. But now I have received notice of [the] cancelation of my cruise," they explain.
"Can I still beg them [that] I'm going to pay? I keep calling them, but nobody answers. I'm so sad!"
Norie08 booked a 4-night sailing for July 2025 directly through Royal Caribbean's website to celebrate their 6th anniversary. This also would have been Norie08's first cruise, making the situation more heartbreaking.
Luckily, they got in touch with Royal Caribbean's customer service team, who were able to reinstate their booking.
"I got it. I contacted them, and I paid my final balance and restored my reservation. I just lost my freebies for the anniversary!" they said.
Although Norie08 was relieved to have their cruise back, the situation served as an important lesson in travel planning.
Here are 4 tips to ensure you don't forget to make the final payment for your upcoming cruise vacation.
Read more: 25 Do's and Don'ts for your Royal Caribbean cruise in 2025
Set calendar reminders
"In the future, always put a calendar reminder in your phone!" commented one Reddit user.
The final payment due date will be clearly listed on your booking confirmation, whether it's 6 months or two years away, as well as on your online account.
As soon as you've placed your deposit, set multiple calendar alerts so you're frequently reminded about the upcoming payment date.
For example, you might not want the first reminder to pop up two days before you have to drop thousands of dollars on a cruise payment.
Instead, consider setting a reminder for two months, three weeks, and two days before the final payment is due. That way, you have time to come up with the funds, rather than scrambling at the last minute.
Read more: Should I make final payment for my cruise?
Work with a travel agent
Booking cruises through a travel agent is a game-changer. Not only can they help you find deals and decide on cabin categories, itineraries, and even shore excursions, but good agents will remind you when final payments are due.
For example, my amazing travel agent through MEI Travel, Christina, will always email me days ahead of when the final payment is due, asking if it's okay to go ahead and charge the card on file.
It's nice because I never have to worry about missing the final payment on my cruise vacations — one of the many perks of using a travel agent!
Similar-Routine7337 agrees, writing, "This is a big reason why I use a travel agent. I don’t have to worry about missing this deadline."
Read more: 10 things I'd recommend if someone is new to cruise ship travel
Frequently check your email
Cruise lines will send important notices to your email. Some may be related to your sailing's final payment, while others might be about itinerary changes.
For example, Carnival Cruise Line recently emailed me about ongoing maintenance on the main pool during my weeklong Alaska cruise. Though minor, I was glad I knew that the only indoor pool would be closed before I stepped foot on Carnival Luminosa.
Regularly checking your inbox will help you stay on top of important updates about your cruise. You may also receive a special upgrade offer!
Arrange automatic payments
"I always take the balance I owe after the initial deposit and divide by the number of months I have to pay it prior to the final payment due date and schedule equal monthly payments to be automatically taken from my credit card. This way I won’t have to pay a lump sum at the time I make the booking or at the final payment due date," explains Altruistic-Couple989.
"It’s sort of like putting your cruise on layaway, no finance fees and it makes it easier (at least for me) since I usually have 4-6 future cruises booked and all being paid in monthly automatic installment payments."
This is great advice for cruisers who fear they'll forget the final payment date or want to consistently pay off their vacation.
