How to Gift a Cruise for Christmas: Practical Strategies You Need to Know

Are you stuck between wanting to give an experience your family will remember and worrying about getting the details wrong? Do you know you want to gift a cruise but feel overwhelmed by timing, booking rules, and what happens if plans change?

If you’re wondering, as a practical matter, how to gift a cruise for Christmas, here’s the deal: you have three main ways to gift a cruise, and each fits a different situation. We describe each method below. Pick the one that matches what you know about the recipient’s schedule and preferences.

1. Buy a Gift Certificate

Most major cruise brands sell gift cards or certificates you can put toward cruise fare or onboard spending. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Disney all offer some version of a gift card. Norwegian, however, has discontinued its traditional gift card program. At present, your primary option for Norwegian is to purchase onboard credit, which is tied to a specific booking. 

In most cases, you will buy gift cards in set increments (often starting around $50 and going up to $1,000 or more). Exact minimums and maximums vary by cruise line.

Some cruise lines let you send a digital gift card by email that you can print at home, while others also offer physical cards shipped by mail. Many brands, especially Disney and Carnival, offer seasonal or holiday-themed designs, and some provide faster shipping options during the December rush.

Why this works: You sidestep the guesswork on dates, destinations, and cabin types. The recipient chooses everything, and they typically have a long window to decide on their specifics. Many cruise-related gift cards don’t expire at all, or have very long validity periods, but you should always confirm the terms before you buy.

This is a great approach for anyone with an unpredictable schedule, strong opinions about destinations, or no recent cruise experience. First-time cruisers especially benefit because they can research and decide after the holidays.

Price example: A $500 certificate covers a 3-night Bahamas sailing for one person on Carnival (inside cabin, off-peak). A $2,000 certificate gets a couple started on a 7-night Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean.

Pros vs. cons:

• Flexibility: recipient picks everything (dates, destination, cabin type).
• No change fees or cancellation penalties.
• Less exciting to unwrap (it’s a piece of paper).
• Requires recipient to do the booking work.

2. Book and Pay for a Specific Cruise

If you know the recipient’s vacation window and destination preferences, you can book a complete sailing and pay in full. You’ll receive a booking confirmation with the ship name, dates, and cabin details.

Why this works: The trip is locked in, and all the recipient has to do is pack. This option fits best when you’re traveling together or the recipient has told you exactly what they want.

Watch-out: Cruise pricing works on supply and demand. Holiday sailings (Christmas week, spring break) and summer departures book 6 to 9 months out and cost 20% to 40% more than off-peak dates. A 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on Norwegian in July might run $1,400 per person, while the same itinerary in September drops to $900.

Pros vs. cons:

• Trip is locked in and paid for (feels like a complete gift).
• Recipient doesn’t need to do any planning.
• Expensive upfront.
• High cancellation penalties if plans change (see watch-out below).

Be forewarned: Cruise cancellation rules aren’t as simple as “cancel 90 days before and you’re fine.” What really matters is the final payment date and whether your fare is refundable or nonrefundable. With a refundable fare, cancelling before the final payment deadline usually means you get your money back. 

With a nonrefundable fare, you’ll lose all or part of your deposit even if you cancel months in advance. After the final payment date (often 75–90 days before sailing on a 7-night cruise), penalties increase in steps—starting at a percentage of the fare and reaching 100% in the last few weeks before departure. 

Always check the cancellation schedule for your specific sailing before you book. If there’s any chance of a schedule conflict, choose a gift certificate instead.

3. Make a Deposit and Let Them Pay the Balance

You can book a cruise, pay the deposit (typically $100 to $250 per person), and leave the balance for the recipient to cover. Final payment is usually due about 75 to 90 days before sailing for typical 5- to 7-night cruises, though some itineraries and lines use a slightly longer window (up to 120 days).

Why this works: You commit to a specific trip without fronting the full cost. The recipient gets a tangible gift (a booked cruise), and you keep your budget manageable.

Price example: Royal Caribbean requires a $250-per-person deposit on a 7-night Caribbean cruise. For a couple, you’d pay $500 upfront. They’d owe the remaining balance (typically $1,200 to $2,000 per person, depending on cabin and season) 75 days before departure.

Be forewarned: If the recipient can’t cover the balance by the deadline, the cruise line keeps your deposit. Confirm their budget and timeline before you choose this route.

Pros vs. cons:

• Lower upfront cost for you.
• Recipient gets a specific trip to look forward to.
• Coordination required (they need to know about the balance and deadline).
• Deposit is at risk if they can’t pay.

Know What’s Included and What Costs Extra

Cruise fares cover the stateroom, meals in the main dining room and buffet, most onboard entertainment, and port stops. Here’s what costs extra on almost every ship:

• Specialty dining: Typically $30 to $75 per person, per meal with some premium experiences costing more.

• Alcohol:  Expect around $10–$15 per cocktail. Unlimited drink packages usually run somewhere in the $70–$100+ per person, per day range, depending on the line and any pre-cruise discounts. Beverages and beverage packages will also incur additional charges for automatic gratuities.

• Shore excursions: $50 to $200+ per person, per port

• Gratuities: Typically about $16 to $20 per person, per day, automatically added to your onboard account (varies slightly by cruise line and cabin type).

• Wi-Fi: $15 to $30 per day

If you want to cover extras, consider gifting an onboard credit ($100 to $500) along with the cruise. The recipient can apply it to drinks, excursions, or spa treatments.

How to Gift a Cruise for Christmas: Timing and Flexibility Matter

Cruises can usually be booked 18 to 24 months in advance, though most families end up booking in the 6- to 18-month window.

If you’re gifting for Christmas 2025 and the recipient wants to sail in summer 2026, you’re in the sweet spot. If they want to sail during Christmas week or spring break, book as early as possible.

Change and cancellation policies: These depend heavily on the fare type. With a refundable fare, switching to a different sailing before the final payment date is usually treated as cancel-and-rebook—you don’t pay a separate change fee, but you will pay any price increase.

 With nonrefundable deposit fares, some lines charge a per-person change fee if you move to a different ship or date, and your deposit may turn into a future cruise credit instead of a cash refund. Once you’re past the final payment date, most “changes” are handled under the regular cancellation penalty schedule, not as a simple date change.

Worth keeping in mind: If the recipient needs maximum flexibility, a gift certificate is your best bet. They book when they’re ready, and you avoid change fees entirely.

Consider What They Actually Want

Before you pick a cruise, think about what matters most to the recipient:

Destination: Caribbean sailings and similar itineraries are warm year-round and depart from Florida, Texas, and East Coast ports. The Alaska cruise season runs from May through September only. Europe and Mediterranean cruises peak in summer. If you’re unsure, the Caribbean is the safest bet for families.

Ship size and vibe: Royal Caribbean and Norwegian operate mega-ships with water slides, rock climbing, and Broadway shows. Disney caters to families with character meet-and-greets and kids’ clubs. Celebrity and Holland America skew older and quieter. If the recipient has young kids, Royal Caribbean or Disney is a strong pick. For couples, Celebrity or Holland America works better. And, for folks who want a completely child-free experience, there is Virgin. (See more below.)

Cruise length: 3- to 4-night sailings are budget-friendly but feel rushed. 7-night cruises are the most popular and offer a better port-to-sea-day balance. 10+ night cruises cost more and require more vacation time.

Cruise Line and Ship Type Matter

Not all cruise lines and ships offer the same experience. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Royal Caribbean: Mega-ships with water slides, rock climbing, zip lines, ice skating, and Broadway-style shows. Best for families with kids or active adults who want a wide slate of entertainment options.

Carnival: Budget-friendly, fun, casual vibe. Somewhat smaller ships than Royal Caribbean, but still family-focused. Has a well-deserved “party” reputation. Shortest cruise options (3- to 4-night Bahamas sailings) if you want a low-cost gift.

Norwegian: Freestyle cruising (no set dinner times or dress codes). Mid-size to large ships with good kids’ clubs and adult-only areas. Strong choice for mixed groups (families and couples traveling together).

Disney: Premium pricing, character experiences, top-tier kids’ clubs, and family-friendly entertainment. Excellent choice for families with young kids (ages 3 to 10) who want the Disney magic at sea.

Celebrity, Holland America, and to some extent Princess: Quieter, more refined, older passenger demographic. Tend to be a better fit for couples or adults who want relaxation over water slides and loud pool decks. They also have a wider range of unique itineraries.

Virgin:  For folks who want a completely child-free experience.

If you’re unsure, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian have broad appeal and would probably be a safe pick for first-time cruisers.

Finally, don’t forget about presentation. Instead of handing over a printout of the booking confirmation, there are many ways to make the reveal more engaging. Creative presentation can transform a simple piece of paper into a truly special moment.

So, What’s the Bottom Line?

If you know the recipient’s schedule and preferences, book the cruise and pay in full. If you’re unsure about dates or destinations, buy a gift certificate and let them choose. If you want to commit to a specific trip but keep costs down, pay the deposit (or more) and let them cover the balance.

Check cancellation policies, confirm what’s included in the fare, and consider adding an onboard credit to cover extras. Then pick a presentation method that makes the gift feel special, and you’re done.

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