Much like the process for booking an ocean cruise, those wanting to secure their place aboard a river cruise have to start by putting down a deposit.
That’s where the similarities end, though. Each river cruise line offers its own unique set of deposit requirements that differ depending on a number of variables, from itinerary to cabin to add-ons like cruise airfare.
Scenic Jasper on the Danube. © 2015 Ralph Grizzle
To complicate matters further, these deposit policies vary wildly between lines. That creates a challenge for past river cruisers who may consider themselves to be “experienced” with one line, only to find out that Cruise Line X’s policy doesn’t align with their past experiences with Cruise Line Y.
The considerations to putting down a deposit on a river cruise are far from uniform across the board. Some lines stipulate that deposits are non-refundable. Other lines will give you a portion of the deposit back, minus a small fee. Some lines charge a modest deposit per person, while other lines want a significant portion of the voyage paid up no less than 48 hours from the time of initial reservation.
Here’s our table:
Deposit Requirements for Major River Cruise Lines
| LINE | DEPOSIT | DEPOSIT EXCEPTIONS | FINAL PAYMENT DUE | REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AmaWaterways | $400 per person | $2,400 per person (Africa) $350 per person (Economy Airfare) $600 per person (Business Airfare) | 90 Days Prior to Departure | Yes: Half of the cruise deposit is refundable prior to 121 days |
| Avalon Waterways | $250 per person | Delfin III: $500 per person Obergammau: $600 per person | 90 Days Prior to Departure | No |
| CroisiEurope | 25% of total fare | None | 90 Days Prior to Departure | Yes; $100 per person penalty if cancelled prior to 90 days. |
| Crystal | 20% of total fare | None | 90 Days Prior to Departure | If canceled 91 + days before your cruise, you receive a full refund |
| Emerald Cruises | Varies depending on itinerary | $1500 per person required prior to ticketed airfare if purchased through Emerald Cruises. | 90 Days Prior to Departure | No |
| Riviera | Varies depending on itinerary | None | 13 weeks prior to the departure | If canceled 91+ days before your cruise, you lose your deposit (2019 policy) |
| Scenic | $500 per person | $1500 per person required prior to ticketed airfare if purchased through Scenic. Bookings less than 21 days prior to departure incur a $50 "Late Booking" fee. | 90 Days Prior to Departure | No |
| Tauck | Varies depending on itinerary; must be paid within 10 days of booking. | None | 90 Days Prior to Departure | Yes; only within 10 days of initial reservation. |
| Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection | 10% of the total cruise fare due within 72 hours of booking. | $450 per person deposit required for all Uniworld-booked airfare. | 120 Days Prior to Departure | Yes; $200 per person penalty for cancelling prior to 120 days out. |
| Viking River Cruises | $500 per person | $1500 per person nonrefundable for air ticketed through Viking | Six Months Prior to Departure | Yes; $100 penalty per person applies if cancelled prior to 121 days out. |
Deposit Considerations
What also surprised us was how much booking your airfare with your river cruise line can really wallop you. Most river cruise lines we looked at wanted $1,500 per person above and beyond the deposit, and they want it the second your air is ticketed.
On the surface, that’s not so surprising: Airfares are expensive and, at the rates the cruise lines negotiate with their preferred carriers, highly restrictive. The cruise line doesn’t want to be responsible for your air should you cancel your cruise, so river cruise companies pass that cost along to you immediately. Trouble is, there’s a good chance you’re going to be able to get airfare for less than $1,500 per person, and you’ll be able to do it on your own terms and timeframe.
The other truly fascinating thing was how few river cruise lines were likely to give your deposit back at all. Unlike ocean cruise lines, which will typically give your deposit back as long as you cancel outside of the Final Payment window, most river cruise lines elect to keep your deposit. Because of that, you need to be sure that you’re picking a sailing, ship and line that work for you. Changing your mind, even well in advance, isn’t going to work for river cruises with most companies.
Now, to be fair, deposit policies among ocean cruise companies are slowly beginning to change to favor the model adopted by the river cruise lines. Either way, however, you’re going to want to invest in trip interruption/cancellation insurance. It is a costly but worthwhile addition to protect your investment because at river cruise prices, that’s exactly what this vacation is: an investment. We’ll have more on the ins and outs of trip interruption/cancellation insurance in a future article.
The data we’ve complied in this table is good as of March 2018. It is subject to change. While we will do our best to update this table as we learn of and are informed about revisions to these policies, it is always a good idea to check with your travel agent before booking any river cruise.
Need-to-Know
Some questions to ask your agent before booking your river cruise:
- What is the deposit policy? How much do I have to put down now?
- Is it fully, partially, or non-refundable?
- When is final payment due?
- What are the tiered cancellation penalties leading up to Final Payment and Departure Date?
- How much will trip interruption/cancellation insurance cost for my voyage?
Knowing this information beforehand helps make the entire booking process smoother. When it comes to travel, financial surprises are no fun. By making sense of the deposit policies of the most popular river cruise lines in Europe, you can help pick the line that is right for you and your budget.
Have questions about the deposit policies for different river cruise lines? Let us know by using the comment form below.
Is there any way to protect your deposit or paid in full river cruise if the company you are booked with happens to go belly up (bankrupt) six months from now?
I’m still thinking about those poor stranded travelers when Cook Tours declared bankruptcy!
It seems your Table of Deposit policies is out of date. Crystal River Cruises says they charge an Administrative Fee of $500.00 if you cancel anytime after making a Deposit. Pretty tacky, imho, since cruisers often Deposit 12+ months in advance.