Plan a Cruise for 2027: Your Timeline

12 Months or More Before Sailing

• Agree on travelers, dates and a budget range.
• Check every passport’s expiry date against your return date; renew early if in doubt.
• Shortlist two or three lines and ships.
• For holidays, school breaks, suites, connecting family cabins, Alaska and European summer, book now.

9 to 12 Months Before

• Book the cruise if you have not, ideally with a refundable deposit if your plans could change.
• Buy travel insurance soon after the deposit.
• Note the final payment date and any deadlines for name changes.

3 to 6 Months Before

• Make final payment when it is due. After that date, cancellation charges usually apply.
• Book shore excursions, specialty dining, spa and shows if your line takes reservations.
• Decide on drinks and Wi-Fi packages, if they are not included.

30 to 60 Days Before

• Complete online check-in and choose an arrival time if your line asks.
• Print or download boarding documents and luggage tags.
• Register a card for your onboard account.
• Start your packing list; Cruising Checklist has one to print.

Making the Timeline Work for 2027 Sailings

Lines usually open their itineraries well over a year ahead, so many 2027 sailings are already on sale. If you are planning a cruise for early 2027, you are already in the six-to-nine-month window: move straight to flights, hotel and insurance. For summer and autumn 2027, you have time to compare lines and watch the sales early in the year before deciding.

For milestone trips — a significant birthday, an anniversary, a family reunion — start at the top of the timeline even if the date is far away. The cabins families need, such as connecting rooms and suites, are the first to go. And if anyone in your party needs a new passport, apply as early as possible; the State Department’s passport pages have current guidance. Keep every confirmation in one folder, paper or digital, and you will have everything to hand when online check-in opens.