Planning a Disney Cruise is a magical experience filled with dreams of ocean views, Disney characters, themed dining, and world-class entertainment. But life doesn’t always go as planned—sometimes, dates need to change. Maybe a family emergency comes up, or your kids’ school schedule shifts, or you simply want to move your vacation to a different season.
When that happens, one of the most common questions travelers ask is: How much does it cost to change a cruise date with Disney Cruise Line?
This guide walks you through every detail—from Disney Cruise Line’s change and cancellation policies to real examples of how the fees work, and smart strategies to minimize or even avoid those costs.
Disney Cruise Line (DCL) has a specific policy governing when and how guests can change their cruise dates. The cost depends on several factors, including:
How far in advance you make the change
The type of fare or promotion you booked under
The itinerary and sailing date
Whether you booked through a travel agent or directly with Disney Cruise Line
Essentially, the earlier you make a change, the lower the cost. If you wait too long—especially if you’re close to the sail date—fees can be steep or even result in a loss of your entire cruise fare.
Disney Cruise Line operates with tiered penalty periods for modifications or cancellations. These are based on the number of days before your scheduled sailing date.
Let’s break it down by cruise type:
60 days or more before sailing: No penalty. You can change the date freely or even cancel for a full refund (excluding nonrefundable deposits).
59–45 days before sailing: Loss of deposit or a small change fee (typically $50–$200 per person, depending on fare).
44–30 days before sailing: 50% of the total cruise fare is charged.
29–15 days before sailing: 75% of the total fare is nonrefundable.
14 days or less before sailing: 100% penalty (no refund).
75 days or more before sailing: No penalty for changes or cancellations.
74–56 days: Deposit is forfeited.
55–30 days: 50% of the fare charged.
29–15 days: 75% charged.
14 days or less: Full fare loss.
90 days or more: No penalty for changes.
89–65 days: Deposit lost.
64–43 days: 50% penalty.
42–30 days: 75% penalty.
29 days or less: 100% penalty.
So, the cost of changing your Disney Cruise Line date depends heavily on when you act. If you modify early, there’s often no cost. But as you move closer to departure, you could lose anywhere from your deposit up to the full cruise fare.
Another key factor in how much it costs to change your Disney cruise date is what type of deposit you made.
Refundable Deposits:If your booking was made under a refundable fare, you can typically change or cancel before the final payment date without penalty.
Nonrefundable Deposits:Some Disney Cruise Line promotions (especially discounted or “restricted guarantee” fares) require nonrefundable deposits. If you booked under one of these, changing your cruise date may result in losing the entire deposit amount—often $200 to $500 per person.
Disney Cruise Line treats a date change as a cancellation and new booking in many cases—especially if you’re switching to a different sailing or ship.
That means:
Your old booking is canceled.
Any penalties or lost deposits are applied.
Your new booking is priced at the current rate (which might be higher or lower).
For instance, if you originally booked a 4-night Bahamas cruise in March for $2,500 and switch to a 5-night Caribbean cruise in July, you’ll pay the price difference. And if you’re inside the penalty window, you could also lose your deposit or face cancellation fees.
So, while Disney may allow a date change, it’s not always “free.”
The final payment date is a critical milestone in Disney Cruise Line’s policy.
Here’s how it typically works:
For 1–5 night cruises: Final payment is due 75 days before sailing (90 for concierge staterooms).
For 6+ night cruises: Final payment is due 90 days before sailing (120 for concierge).
For holiday sailings: Final payment may be required 105–120 days before sailing.
Once final payment is made, any change—including a simple date change—can trigger penalties. Before that date, most modifications can be made freely.
That’s why experienced travelers always check the final payment deadline before making decisions about changing cruise dates.
Guests booking Concierge-level staterooms (Disney’s luxury suites) face stricter policies.
All Concierge bookings require a nonrefundable deposit.
Any change or cancellation results in loss of the full deposit amount.
After final payment, the entire fare becomes nonrefundable.
So, if you booked a Concierge room and need to change your sailing, expect to lose your deposit and possibly more, depending on timing.
Let’s look at a few practical examples to understand how this plays out.
Cruise: 4-night Bahamas sailing in April
Fare: $3,000 total for a family of four
Deposit: $400 total (refundable)
Change requested: 90 days before sailing
Result:Because the change is made before the 60-day cutoff, there’s no penalty. The deposit carries over to the new cruise, and you simply pay the price difference if the new cruise costs more.
Cost: $0 (plus or minus fare difference)
Cruise: 7-night Caribbean sailing
Fare: $5,600 total
Deposit: $800 (refundable)
Change requested: 40 days before sailing
Result:The change falls into the 55–30 day window for a long cruise, so Disney charges a 50% penalty. That’s $2,800 lost.
If you rebook another sailing, you’ll pay the new fare in full again.
Cost: $2,800 (plus new fare)
Cruise: 5-night Alaska sailing under a restricted offer
Fare: $4,200 total
Deposit: $500 per person (nonrefundable)
Change requested: 100 days before sailing
Result:Even though the request is early, nonrefundable deposits cannot be transferred. The $2,000 deposit is forfeited.
Cost: $2,000
Cruise: Concierge suite on a 3-night Bahamas sailing
Fare: $6,000 total
Deposit: $1,200 (nonrefundable)
Change requested: 120 days before sailing
Result:All Concierge deposits are nonrefundable, even if changed far in advance.
Cost: $1,200
In some cases, yes—you can change your cruise date without any fee.
You can modify your sailing before the final payment date if:
You booked a standard refundable fare.
The new cruise is of equal or greater value.
The change is made outside the penalty period (e.g., more than 60 or 75 days out).
Your deposit and payments can simply transfer to the new sailing.
However, if you booked a discounted, restricted, or nonrefundable rate, or if the final payment date has passed, you’ll face penalties.
During periods of uncertainty—like health crises or natural disasters—Disney Cruise Line sometimes introduces temporary “Flexible Booking Policies.”
For example, during the pandemic, guests were allowed to change sailings up to 15 days before departure without penalty.
As of 2025, Disney has mostly returned to standard policies, but the company may still offer case-by-case flexibility for emergencies or major travel disruptions.
If you’ve decided to modify your sailing, here’s how the process works:
Contact Disney Cruise Line directly at their reservation number or log into your Disney Cruise account online.
If you booked through a travel agent, contact the agent instead—they handle all changes.
Review your current balance, deposit status, and final payment date before confirming any change.
Choose your new sailing date, ship, and itinerary.
Confirm and pay any fare difference or applicable change fee.
Once the change is processed, you’ll receive a new confirmation email reflecting your new sailing details.
If you’re worried about losing money on a date change, there are several smart ways to minimize costs:
Book early but stay flexible.Always note your final payment deadline and make any changes before that date.
Avoid nonrefundable promotions.Those deals might save a few hundred dollars but can cost you thousands if your plans change.
Use travel insurance with “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage.Some policies reimburse up to 75% of your fare if you cancel or reschedule.
Rebook during off-peak times.Switching to a less expensive sailing might help offset change fees.
Call Disney directly for special consideration.In genuine emergencies, Disney may waive or reduce penalties at their discretion.
Consider transferring your booking to a travel agent.Some Disney-certified agents offer additional flexibility or incentives when modifying bookings.
If Disney Cruise Line cancels your sailing—due to weather, ship maintenance, or other reasons—there’s no cost to you.
You typically receive one of the following:
Full refund of all payments
Future cruise credit (often with a bonus incentive)
Option to reschedule to another sailing at no extra cost
In rare cases where Disney changes your itinerary (like port swaps), you usually can’t cancel without penalty unless the change is major.
Changing the date of your cruise isn’t the same as changing guest names on your reservation.
Disney allows minor name corrections for free, but replacing a guest entirely can trigger penalties—especially after the final payment date.
If you’re switching travelers along with the date change, always confirm the total cost beforehand.
Travel insurance is one of the best safeguards against losing money on a cruise date change.
A Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) policy lets you reschedule or cancel even for personal reasons—like a scheduling conflict or change of mind.
While it won’t reimburse 100% of your fare, it can cover 50–75% of nonrefundable costs, depending on your plan.
Insurance can also help if you must delay your trip due to illness, flight cancellations, or emergencies.
If you’ve booked additional vacation elements through Disney—like pre- or post-cruise stays at a Disney Resort or ground transportation—changing your cruise date can impact those, too.
Hotel stays: May need to be rebooked; subject to separate change or cancellation fees.
Flights booked through Disney Cruise Line Air Program: Airlines have their own change penalties, which can range from $100 to $500 per person.
Excursions and port adventures: Can usually be transferred or refunded if canceled early enough.
When changing cruise dates, always review all these related reservations to avoid surprises.
Whether it’s worth changing depends on your circumstances. If the change allows you to take the trip under better conditions—like school breaks, favorable weather, or a new ship—it might justify the cost.
However, if you’re already within the 30-day window and face a 50–100% penalty, it might make more sense to keep your existing sailing or use travel insurance.
1. Can I change my Disney Cruise date online?Yes. Log into your Disney Cruise Line account and look for your booking details. Some changes can be made online, but complex modifications may require calling customer service.
2. What if I booked through a travel agent?All changes must go through your agent—they handle communication with Disney Cruise Line.
3. Can I transfer my deposit to another sailing?Yes, if your booking is refundable and you’re outside the penalty period. Otherwise, you may lose the deposit.
4. How often can I change my cruise date?There’s no limit, but each change may affect pricing or availability. Always verify before confirming.
5. Can I switch from one ship to another?Yes, but it’s treated as a new booking and subject to cancellation penalties if within the restricted window.
Disney Cruise Line offers a world of adventure at sea—from the dreamy Disney Wish to the classic Disney Magic—but flexibility comes at a cost.
The answer to how much does it cost to change a cruise date with Disney Cruise Line depends on timing, fare type, and cabin level. If you change before the final payment date and booked a refundable fare, the cost is usually zero. But after that point—or with nonrefundable deposits—you could lose hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
To protect yourself:
Keep track of your final payment deadline.
Avoid nonrefundable offers if your plans aren’t firm.
Consider travel insurance.
Make date changes as early as possible.
By planning wisely and understanding Disney’s policies, you can maintain the magic of your vacation without facing unnecessary fees.
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