You may be wondering how you will afford your next vacation and if that is the case, read on! Cruising has become a popular and more financially feasible vacation option in recent years. Nowadays, you can purchase a cruise and pay for it in installments, which allows you to budget for your vacation and afford some of those pricier cruises.

Many cruise lines offer payment plans, so it is easy to select a cruise that can be paid in installments. Make a selection early; choose a payment plan to pay in monthly installments until the vacation’s balance is zero. This approach even allows cruise-goers to go on the cruise before it is paid in full.

In this post, the advantages and disadvantages of paying in installments will be addressed. Each cruise line is a bit different in how they approach the steps to pay in installments. Thus we will cover the differences. We will also discuss the different types of payment plans offered by various cruise lines around the world.

Click here to download this infographic as a PDF

Choosing A Cruise Paid In Installments

There are many options for cruising for people of all ages. From Disney cruises to Royal Caribbean, you are bound to find an option that suits you and your family. And a cruise paid in installments is no different of an experience than a cruise paid in lump-sum before the anchors are hoisted.

The following chart breaks down the advantages and disadvantages of choosing a payment plan for your next cruise:

Pros Cons
·         A fast application approval process

·         Affordable payments allow anyone to budget for a great, memorable cruise

·         Easier on the wallet upfront

·         Quick and easy payment plan options offered at various cruise lines and travel agencies

·         Save money by booking in advance and paying as you go

·         Most payment plans are automated, so if the money is not in your account when the installment is due, your bank may charge you late fees

·         Choose the account or debit/credit card for your payments wisely – while this can be changed, you do not want to rack up lots of credit card debt

As you can see, the benefits of choosing to pay for your cruise in installments far outweigh the negatives of payment plans. Some plans may even earn you rewards, like using a credit card that puts your money to work for you.

The following is a list of steps of how to pay for a cruise in installments:

  • Book a cruise with a deposit – This is available only up to a certain number of days before the cruise, and it varies from cruise line to cruise line
  • Select the payment plan option – Cruise lines offer a plan to pay in installments for a specific cruise and are flexible enough to allow you to pay off the debt even after you have been on the cruise.
  • Ensure the balance is paid in full – Before the final payment deadline, check to make sure you are on track to clear the balance. You do not want any fees to hit your account by accident.

Can You Pay Monthly For A Cruise?

On many of these payment plans, you can choose to pay monthly for your cruise. Most cruises require a down payment, and then you can pay monthly. Many plans allow for 12-months’ worth of payments, and there is no penalty for paying it all off early!

There are several types of payment plans available to the consumer. Additionally, almost any cruise line you can think of has a payment plan option. Now you may be wondering which is the best; you will have to read on to find out.

Types of Cruise Payment Plans

Cruise payment plans have become essential to the cruising experience. These financing plans allow you to book the cruise for which you have been waiting, pining even! You may even be able to go on the cruise before you finish paying for it, which is an added bonus of choosing to pay in installments.

There are a few different types of payment plans offered by cruise lines:

  • EZPay
  • UpLift
  • EasyPay

Norwegian Cruise Lines actually give you the step by step walkthrough on how to choose a payment plan for their cruises.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Book Now Pay Later Option

Norwegian Cruise Line is known for its freestyle experience, which allows you to build your own schedule and make the cruise all your own. For this reason, you may consider buying a cruise from Norwegian Cruise Line. But what if you can’t pay for the entire cruise right now? Well, you are in luck because Norwegian uses UpLift to pay for your cruise in installments.

The following steps describe how simple it is to book a cruise and pay for it in installments:

  1. When booking, select the “pay monthly” option.
  2. Complete UpLift’s application to calculate a monthly payment amount.
  3. Confirm your booking by paying the first installment.

What Is UpLift for Cruise Payment Plans?

UpLift Pay Monthly is used by multiple cruise lines to finance your vacation. It allows you to make monthly payments at a fixed rate for 12 months. Some of the major cruise lines that use UpLift as their payment plan service provider are Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean, and Virgin Voyages.

UpLift stands out as an easy payment plan option because of its:

  • Access to deals at any time
  • Affordable plan
  • Payments free from fees
  • Quick and easy application

Which Cruise Lines Have Payment Plans?

Nowadays, almost all cruise lines have payment plans. This allows a broad range of people from varied economic backgrounds to afford and go on a cruise vacation. Many of the major cruise lines, as well as some of the smaller ones, have installments.

The following is a list of popular cruise lines that offer payment plans:

  • Carnival Cruises
  • Holland America Line
  • Princess Cruises
  • Royal Caribbean
  • Virgin Voyages

These payment plans are easy to use and automated, so you will never forget a payment. But they do vary a little between different cruise lines. For example, if you are financing a Carnival cruise, the balance must be paid before you are set to depart. Carnival also does not require a credit check, whereas UpLift and the cruise lines that use its platform perform a credit check.

How Many Installments Are Required For Most Cruises?

With UpLift, the payments are monthly for a 12-month period. For other payment plans, like Carnival’s EasyPay, the balance must reach zero before your set departure date. In this case, if you fail to pay, your trip is canceled by the cruise line.

The number of installments can also be reduced if you decide to pay more consecutively. There are, luckily, no penalties for getting your finances in order. You can pay the installment price or pay more and reduce the number of total payments you must make.

Summary: Paying in Installments Is Easy

Most companies allow you to go on a cruise by signing up for a payment plan. These plans allow the customer to afford a pricier vacation experience. And financing keeps the customers happy and frees up much of their energy to focus on making memories instead of payment.

Going on a cruise paid in installments is simple. There is no elaborate set of steps you have to follow or hoops you need to jump through. Simply select the payment plan option during checkout and pay your first month’s installment to approve your booking.

All that’s left to say is Bon Voyage!