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Planning a cruise involves more than choosing your itinerary and cabin. You also need to know how you will pay for the cruise itself and how onboard purchases will be settled. Princess Cruises accepts several payment methods, but the options can differ depending on whether you are paying for the cruise before departure or settling your onboard account.
For direct cruise bookings, Princess lists credit and debit cards among its accepted payment methods. Onboard, the cruise operates largely on a cashless system, with purchases charged to your stateroom account through your OceanMedallion. Princess also allows eligible guests to settle onboard accounts with cash or traveler's checks, subject to its deposit requirements.
This guide explains the payment methods accepted by Princess Cruises, how onboard payments work, potential card authorization holds, and what you should know before sailing.
The payment methods available can depend on your booking location, currency, and whether you are making a pre-cruise or onboard payment.
Common options include:
Because payment options and fees can vary by market, passengers should check the payment information associated with their specific booking before making a payment.
Princess Cruises accepts major credit cards for onboard expenses. Its published onboard information lists:
Princess also states that bank-issued debit cards carrying the Visa or MasterCard logo are accepted on its ships.
However, the exact cards and fees available for pre-cruise payments can differ by country. For example, Princess's Australian payment information specifically lists Visa, MasterCard and American Express for direct cruise payments.
Potentially, yes.
Princess's regional terms specify service fees for some credit-card transactions. For example, its Australian terms currently state a 1.1% fee for Visa and MasterCard credit-card transactions and 2.75% for American Express, while debit-card payments do not carry that service fee. Fees can change, so passengers should check the terms applicable to their booking.
Your own bank may also charge foreign transaction or currency-conversion fees.
Yes. Princess accepts eligible debit cards, including bank-issued cards carrying the Visa or MasterCard logo for onboard accounts.
Debit cards can be convenient, but there is an important difference between using a debit card and a credit card.
Princess uses pre-authorization holds for onboard spending. These holds can temporarily reduce the funds available in your bank account even though they are not necessarily completed charges. Princess says some banks may keep these authorizations for up to 30 days.
You can, but you should make sure your account has enough available funds to accommodate temporary authorization holds.
A credit card may be more convenient for some travelers because temporary holds generally affect available credit rather than the cash balance in a checking account.
Cash can be used for qualifying onboard account settlement, although Princess generally operates its ships using a cashless purchasing system.
Princess states that passengers paying their onboard account with cash or traveler's checks must provide a cash deposit at the beginning of the cruise.
The exact deposit amount and accepted currency can depend on the ship and itinerary.
For example, Princess's 2026–2028 Australia and Asia information states that passengers without a credit or debit card can activate their onboard account with cash or traveler's checks by providing a minimum deposit of AUD 300 or USD 300 per person, depending on the ship's currency.
Usually, you should not expect to hand cash directly to individual venues for each purchase.
Instead, Princess links your onboard purchases to your shipboard account. Your OceanMedallion can be used for purchases, and the account is settled later.
Princess's onboard FAQ states that passengers paying with traveler's checks or cash must leave a deposit with Guest Services at the beginning of the cruise.
However, travelers should verify the current rules for their specific itinerary because accepted forms of payment can vary by region.
Also, do not confuse traveler's checks with prepaid cards. Princess's Australian booking information specifically says prepaid credit cards and Travelex Visa Cash Passports are not accepted onboard.
PayPal availability depends on the booking market.
Princess's Australian booking information lists PayPal as an online payment option and states that PayPal payments are subject to a surcharge.
This does not mean PayPal is universally available for every Princess Cruises booking worldwide.
If PayPal is important to you, check whether it appears as an available payment method during your booking or in your regional Princess payment information.
Yes, BPAY is available for eligible Australian bookings.
Princess states that Australian guests using an Australian bank account can use BPAY through the booking management system. Payments may take several days to process, so travelers should allow enough time before their payment deadline.
This is particularly useful for Australian customers who prefer paying directly from an Australian bank account rather than using a card.
Princess EZpay is an installment-style payment option available for eligible bookings.
Instead of paying the entire remaining cruise balance at once, qualifying passengers can have their credit card charged monthly until the final payment is due. Princess states that EZpay does not add interest or extra fees from Princess.
There are some important restrictions:
Therefore, EZpay should not be confused with a general payment method available to every Princess passenger.
Princess uses a cashless onboard system for most purchases.
Your OceanMedallion is connected to your personal shipboard account. When you purchase drinks, shop onboard, book eligible services, or make other chargeable purchases, the amount is added to your onboard account.
At the end of the cruise, the balance is settled using your registered payment method or another permitted settlement method.
Depending on your cruise and what is offered onboard, your account can be used for expenses such as:
Princess also allows eligible onboard credit to be applied to expenses such as shore excursions, beverages, shops, spa services and specialty dining.
The OceanMedallion is more than a room key. It is connected to your personal shipboard account and can be used for touchless purchases onboard.
The process is generally:
Princess recommends registering your card information in advance for Express Check-Out.
Yes. Princess uses a pre-authorization system for onboard spending.
For guests with a credit card on file, Princess states that an initial authorization hold of $100 may be placed on the card. Additional authorizations can occur as onboard spending accumulates.
These authorizations are not necessarily completed charges.
A pending amount can be the result of a temporary authorization.
Your bank may show the amount as unavailable even though Princess has not actually collected it as a completed transaction. Princess notes that some banks can maintain authorization holds for up to 30 days.
This is particularly important when using a debit card because the hold can reduce the amount of money immediately available in your bank account.
Princess states that third-party credit cards are not accepted for onboard charges because the cardholder needs to sign for the charges.
This means you should be careful when planning to use a card belonging to another person.
If someone else is paying for your cruise or expenses, check with Princess before sailing to determine what authorization or payment arrangements are permitted for your specific booking.
Princess generally uses U.S. dollars as its onboard currency.
There are exceptions. Princess states that select Australian-based itineraries use Australian dollars instead.
This matters because your bank or card issuer may treat the transaction as a foreign-currency transaction depending on where your card was issued.
Before sailing, check:
Onboard credit can be used toward eligible purchases, but it is different from a credit card or cash deposit.
Princess explains that onboard credit can be applied to purchases such as:
When you make eligible purchases, the onboard credit is applied before the remaining balance is charged to your registered card.
Princess also offers Future Cruise Credits and other cruise-related credits under qualifying circumstances.
These credits have specific terms governing where and how they can be used. They should not automatically be treated as interchangeable with onboard credit or cash.
For most travelers, the safest approach is to prepare more than one payment option.
A practical setup is:
If you plan to rely on a debit card, make sure you have sufficient available funds for possible temporary authorization holds.
Princess says the card used for the onboard account must be valid for the length of the cruise.
Princess recommends contacting your card provider before travel to help prevent onboard transactions from being blocked.
Do not assume that your available credit will only be reduced by completed purchases. Temporary authorization holds can affect your available balance.
A second card can be useful if your primary card is declined, lost, blocked, or affected by a bank security check.
Payment methods and fees can differ depending on where you booked the cruise and which currency applies.
Princess provides an itemized statement after the cruise when a card is registered for Express Check-Out.
Review the charges and contact Guest Services promptly if something appears incorrect.
| Payment method | Pre-cruise booking | Onboard account | Important point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa credit card | Yes, subject to market | Yes | Fees may apply |
| MasterCard credit card | Yes, subject to market | Yes | Fees may apply |
| American Express | Yes, subject to market | Yes | Regional fees may apply |
| Visa/MasterCard debit card | Yes, subject to market | Yes | Authorization holds may affect available funds |
| Cash | Depends on market | Yes, with conditions | Deposit may be required |
| Traveler's checks | Depends on market | Yes, with conditions | Deposit may be required |
| PayPal | Available in some markets | Not generally the standard onboard settlement method | Regional availability |
| BPAY | Eligible Australian bookings | No | Requires an Australian bank account |
| Onboard Credit | Not a general booking payment method | Yes, for eligible purchases | Applied against qualifying expenses |
| EZpay | Eligible bookings | No | Credit card required |
The table reflects Princess's published information, but payment methods, fees, and conditions can vary by market and itinerary.
Yes. Princess accepts Visa for onboard accounts, and Visa is also listed as a payment option for direct cruise bookings in applicable markets.
Yes. MasterCard is accepted for onboard accounts and is also available for direct cruise payments in applicable markets.
Yes. American Express is listed among the accepted onboard cards and is available for direct bookings in certain markets. Regional service fees may apply.
Yes. Princess accepts eligible bank-issued debit cards, including Visa and MasterCard debit cards. Be aware that pre-authorization holds can temporarily reduce your available funds.
Yes, Princess permits cash settlement with conditions. Guests paying by cash generally need to provide a deposit through Guest Services at the beginning of the cruise.
PayPal is available for certain regional bookings, including Australian online bookings, but it is not necessarily available for every Princess booking worldwide.
Do not assume that prepaid cards will work onboard. Princess's Australian booking information specifically states that prepaid credit cards and Travelex Visa Cash Passports are not accepted onboard.
Princess operates a largely cashless onboard purchasing system. Purchases are normally charged to your shipboard account through your OceanMedallion. Cash can be used to fund or settle an onboard account under applicable conditions.
Yes. Princess EZpay allows eligible guests to spread cruise payments across monthly installments using a credit card. Availability is subject to Princess's eligibility and regional rules.
Yes. Princess says eligible onboard credit can be used toward shore excursions purchased before or during the cruise, along with several other eligible expenses.
Yes. Princess uses pre-authorizations for onboard spending. Its current FAQ says an initial $100 authorization hold may be placed on a credit card, while further authorizations can occur as you spend.
Princess states that third-party credit cards are not accepted for onboard charges because the cardholder needs to sign for the charges.
Princess Cruises accepts several payment methods, with major credit and debit cards being the most convenient options for most passengers. Onboard purchases are generally handled through your OceanMedallion and charged to your shipboard account rather than paid for individually with cash.
Cash and traveler's checks can be used for qualifying onboard account arrangements, while options such as PayPal and BPAY depend on the booking market. Princess also offers EZpay for eligible bookings, allowing passengers to spread payments over time.
Before your cruise, check the payment rules for your specific country and itinerary, confirm any applicable card fees, and make sure you have enough available funds or credit to accommodate temporary authorization holds. That preparation can help prevent avoidable payment problems during your Princess cruise.
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Your ultimate guide to cruise adventures. Discover amazing destinations, find the perfect cruise, and create unforgettable memories on the high seas.
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