Review Itinerary
When will I receive a cruise booking confirmation?
Within 24 hours after booking a cruise, you will receive a confirmation email that contains your booking number and your trip details. If you booked your cruise with a deposit, the confirmation email will include your final payment due date along with a link to your itinerary where you can make your payment.
What else should I know about receiving a cruise booking confirmation?
- If you made a last-minute cruise reservation and are unable to complete online registration with the cruise line, allow enough time to check in upon arrival and you will receive your cruise documents upon embarkation.
What if I have multiple booking itineraries for the same trip?
If you have multiple bookings (flight, hotel, car, etc.) for the same trip, you can merge them into one itinerary within My Trips (up to 5 trips). To link your bookings, follow these steps:
- Select “…” in the upper right-hand corner above the booking.
- Then, select “Link Trips Together”. Choose the trips you’d like to merge, press “Continue”, and then “Link”.
- Next, to save your preferred linked trip name, ensure to first click “Update”, followed by “Continue”.
- The newly linked trips will then be available in My Trips as one itinerary.
Important to know: any self-service features available for each individual trip will still be accessible for the respective bookings.
Still need help?
If you have not received a confirmation email or cannot find your itinerary number, contact us.
Do I need to register online after booking a cruise?
Once your final payment is processed, you must register online directly with the cruise line to:
- Complete and print your online check-in paperwork.
- View booking, itinerary and cruise line's travel requirements.
- Book shore excursions.
What do I need know about getting on a cruise ship?
If you are flying to the cruise departure city, ensure you schedule your flight to arrive at least 6 hours before your cruise departure.
- If you booked cruise line airfare, a cruise line representative may meet you at baggage claim to provide transportation from the airport to the pier. Check your travel vouchers for details.
- If you booked your own airfare, you are responsible for your own transportation to the pier.
If your cruise is more than 2 weeks away, you may be able to purchase shuttle transportation to the pier. For more information, contact us.
What should I do if my flight to the cruise gets delayed?
If your flight booked by the cruise line is delayed, let the cruise line know. If you miss the ship, the cruise line will often transport you to the ship's next port of call.
If your self-booked flight is delayed, let the cruise line know immediately so that they can make arrangements to get you to the ship.
What should I know before I embark on a cruise?
- Due to security reasons, passengers may not bring visitors onboard.
- Ship boarding usually begins 3-5 hours before the ship is scheduled to depart, and all passengers must be onboard at least 60 minutes prior to departure.
- If you leave your luggage out for the ship's staff to take on your last day, be sure to keep any necessities in a carry-on bag. Your luggage will not be accessible until after you depart the ship.
What do I need to do when embarking on a cruise?
On embarkation day, start by checking in at the pier, where your proof of citizenship (passport, or government-issued photo ID and birth certificate with raised seal) and any applicable COVID-19 travel requirement docs will be checked. Check the individual cruise line's policies for their specific COVID-19 travel requirements. Due to government regulations, all passengers are encouraged to be checked in and onboard no less than 60-90 minutes prior to the published sailing time to avoid the risk of automatic cancellation. Check the individual cruise line's policies for their final boarding times.
What do I need to do when disembarking on a cruise?
On the final night of the cruise, you can place your luggage outside your cabin door for the cruise line to take off the ship. If you do not set your luggage out, you have to take it off the ship yourself. Passengers depart in groups, and your group information, along with any necessary customs forms, will be left in your cabin the night before you disembark. You'll be required to pass through customs as you depart the ship.
To give yourself enough time to disembark, clear customs, and make it to airport check-in, we suggest you schedule your return flight to depart a minimum of 6 hours after your port arrival.
Change & Cancel
For information on changing or canceling a cruise reservation, please contact us.
Can I make changes to a cruise booking?
- Adding a passenger to your reservation: Depending on available room in your cabin, the cruise line, and how far in advance you contact us, it may be possible to add another passenger to your cabin or change a current passenger. These changes may affect the price.
- Changing a passenger's name: Some cruise lines may allow you to change a passenger's name after completing your reservation.
What else should I know about changing or cancelling a cruise booking?
- You can avoid costly penalties by ensuring all passengers' names exactly match their proof of citizenship. If you are unsure of how your name or your traveling companion's name appears on these documents, we strongly recommend you verify this information before you book your vacation.
- Cruise cancellation fees increase as you get closer to your departure date.
- You may want to consider getting cruise insurance, which can reimburse you for cancellation penalties in case of medical emergencies.
- Please consult your cruise line's rules and regulations for specific cancellation fees and policies.
- For refund information, read Refund timelines.
There are no service fees charged by American Express Travel Online for changing or cancelling your cruise reservation, but individual cruise line penalties may apply depending upon the sale date, the length of sale, and the destination.
Payment & Receipt
For most bookings, you can pay with a credit or debit card.
Do I need to pay a cruise deposit?
If your cruise departs more than 90 days in the future, you can usually choose to book with only a deposit. After booking, you will receive a confirmation email with your final payment due date and online payment instructions.
What else should I know about cruise payment options?
- For assistance or to make your final payment, refer to your confirmation email with payment link or contact us.
- If you have not paid in full by the final due date, the cruise line can cancel your reservation. You will not receive a refund for any payments you already made.
- If you plan to make a large payment with your credit or debit card or your booking exceeds your daily spending limit, please let your bank know in advance.
- For cancellation fees and refund information, read the terms and conditions located on your cruise receipt. For the cruise line's terms and conditions, visit the cruise line’s website or contact us.
Booking
What cruise cabin categories are available?
All cabins are classified as inside, oceanview, oceanview with balcony, or suite.
- Inside cabins are generally the smallest cabins onboard and have no view.
- Oceanview cabins have windows or portholes.
- Oceanview cabins with balconies have windows and ocean-facing balconies.
- Suites are generally the largest cabins onboard and have windows, often balconies, and offer the most amenities.
What cruise cabin amenities and occupancy options are available?
- All passenger cabins are located above sea level.
- When you book a cabin guarantee, an actual cabin in your selected category will not be assigned until the time of ship check-in, with the possibility of an upgrade. Final cabin category and location are at the total discretion of the cruise line.
- Specific occupancy details are listed on the Cabin category page during the booking process.
What documents do I need for closed-loop cruises?
Closed-loop cruises begin and end at the same port in the US. We recommend all customers have a passport when traveling by cruise. US citizens can travel on these cruises with valid proof of citizenship such as an original or approved copy of your birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID. You can find details about documents required for closed-loop cruises at the US Customers and Border Protection Info Center.
What documents do I need for international cruises?
If your itinerary includes visits to foreign countries, we recommend you check with your cruise line about which documents are required for entry to the countries you will be visiting. If you don't have the right documents, many countries will deny you entry.
Passports
A passport is a government-issued ID in the form of a passbook (valid for all international travel) or a passport card (valid only for land or sea travel between the US, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda).
Visas
A travel visa grants travelers the right to enter and depart a specific country. You may need a visa for each individual port on your itinerary, so check in advance.
Proof of citizenship
U.S. and Canadian citizens traveling on an Alaska, Caribbean, Hawaii or eastern Canada and New England cruises must have a photo identification and proof of citizenship. Valid forms of proof of citizenship include either an original or certified copy of birth certificate or a U.S. naturalization certificate.Cruises to most other destinations require a valid passport.
Non-U.S. citizens who have previously been admitted to the United States for permanent residence must carry their passport and Alien Registration Receipt Card.
All other non-U.S./non-Canadian citizens must have valid passports and any necessary visas. Such guests should verify carefully the existing identification requirements for their particular travel situation, as these requirements may change.
Guests arriving for embarkation without proper documentation may be denied boarding and will not be entitled to a refund.
Are there any additional travel document requirements when taking a cruise?
- Visit the individual cruise line's website to learn which COVID-19 related travel requirements apply for your trip.
- For more information, visit the U.S. Department of State website.
You can book a cruise either online or over the phone.
Can I book multiple cabins at once?
You can only book a single cruise cabin at a time. If you need more cabins, you can do one of the following:
- Make an individual reservation for each cabin
- To have a cruise specialist book multiple cabins for you, contact us.
What are the cruise pricing and gratuity guidelines?
- If you book online, you must pay in full at the time of booking. If your cruise qualifies for a deposit or partial payments, contact us.
- If you book by phone, you can pay in full or make a deposit at the time of booking. If your cruise qualifies, you can save an itinerary and make a full payment through the payment link in your confirmation email.
What else should I know before booking a cruise?
- Your cruise line will send your travel documents via e-mail or postal mail at their preference.
- If you made a last-minute booking and are unable to complete online registration with the cruise line, please allow enough time to check in upon arrival. You will receive your travel documents upon embarkation.
- Your cruise line may add a fuel surcharge to your statement to offset rising fuel
If you need assistance booking a cruise, contact us.