High-risk MCC4 min readUpdated October 15, 2026

MCC 4411: Steamship and Cruise Lines Explained

MCC 4411 is Visa's code for cruise lines. Exact definition, 4411 vs ferries (4111), boat rentals and travel agencies, Visa rules and processor status.

Nick Bonnassies, CMO at Tagada · checked against 7 sources

Article summary

TL;DR

MCC 4411 is the merchant category code for cruise lines: merchants that carry passengers on the open seas or inland waters for vacation or pleasure, usually with food, entertainment and a cabin in the fare, on pre-defined routes. Commuter ferries use 4111 and boat rentals 4457. Visa doesn't list 4411 as high risk.

Visa titles 4411 Steamship and Cruise Lines. Mastercard calls it Cruise Lines and gives cruises their own industry program.
Scheduled ferries go to 4111, boat and yacht rentals without crew to 4457, and agencies that sell cruises to 4722.
4411 isn't on Visa's April 2026 high-integrity-risk list. Visa's rules treat cruise lines as T&E merchants, with their own authorization and receipt rules.
Processors are stricter: Stripe marks the code restricted and its business list prohibits cruises. Przelewy24 and Cash App Pay on Stripe prohibit 4411.

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On this page

You saw "4411" on a cruise charge, in your card's rewards terms or on a processor's form. It's the card code for cruise lines. Here is Visa's exact wording, how it differs from ferries and boat rentals, and the Visa and processor rules that name cruises.

What MCC 4411 means

MCC 4411 is the merchant category code for Steamship and Cruise Lines. Visa's definition:1

Merchants classified with this MCC provide passenger transportation on the open seas or inland waters for the purpose of vacation or pleasure. These Merchants typically offer food, entertainment, and cabin accommodations included in the fare and operate pre-defined and advertised routes.

Visa, Merchant Data Standards Manual, April 2026, p. 51

Visa's "Included in this MCC" column has one entry: "Ships – Cruise Lines". Its rules define a cruise line as "a Merchant that sells tickets for, and provides, travel and overnight accommodations on a ship or boat."2 "Inland waters" means river cruises fit too.

Mastercard titles the code Cruise Lines, with the same description. It gives cruises their own industry program (B001, Cruise/Steamship) and two transaction codes: X for tickets bought before embarkation, H for stores on board such as an apparel store, gift shop or florist.3 Stripe lists it as "Cruise Lines".4

Codes it is not

MCC	Visa title	Use it instead of 4411 when
4111	Local and Suburban Commuter Passenger Transportation, Including Ferries	A ferry runs regular routes on regular schedules
4457	Boat Rentals and Leasing	You rent a boat, jet ski or non-crew yacht
4722	Travel Agencies and Tour Operators	An agency books the cruise for the traveler
7011	Lodging – Hotels, Motels, Resorts, Central Reservation Services (Not Elsewhere Classified)	The stay is on land, in a hotel or resort
4789	Transportation Services (Not Elsewhere Classified)	Cable cars, shuttles and other transport with no specific code

Source: Visa Merchant Data Standards Manual, April 2026, pages 51 and 52.1 Visa lists 4111 and 4789 as similar merchants, and its 4789 text says cruise lines are not included there. Some directories put "ferry services for longer sea routes" under 4411. Visa's wording points to 4111 for scheduled ferries, unless the trip sells cabins, meals and entertainment for pleasure.

Verdict

Cruise sold by the cruise line: 4411. Scheduled ferry: 4111. Boat rental: 4457. Cruise sold by an agency: 4722.

Is MCC 4411 high risk? Visa rules and processors

4411 isn't on Visa's April 2026 list of high-integrity-risk MCCs.1 Visa's rules still name cruise lines often, because they sell trips far ahead:2

T&E merchant. Visa's glossary lists cruise lines among travel and entertainment merchants (p. 898), which may take an advance payment for the full price (table 5-21, p. 461).
Authorizations. An estimated authorization stays valid 30 days (table 5-12, p. 416), and the final amount may differ by up to 15% (table 7-10, p. 569). Cruise lines may also add amended amounts or delayed charges (section 5.8.8.3).
Tickets and receipts. Each ticket may go on its own receipt (5.7.3.1). Receipts show the cabin rate and the embarkation and disembarkation dates (p. 494). Purchases on board are In-Transit Transactions, authorized within 24 hours of arrival (5.7.3.4).

Source	Status	What it says
Visa high-integrity-risk list	Not listed	Visa's high-risk registration doesn't apply
Stripe MCC list	Restricted	"You must contact Stripe to use a restricted MCC"
Stripe business list	Prohibited	"Commercial airlines and cruises", under Travel
Przelewy24 on Stripe	Prohibited	Not supported for 4411
Cash App Pay on Stripe	Prohibited	Not supported for 4411

Read on October 14, 2026.4 5 6 The codes Visa does flag are in our high-risk MCC codes guide.

For cardholders and merchants

Cardholders. Your fare carries 4411. Shops on board may use another code: Mastercard's H code covers them, and Visa gives separate businesses their own MCC.3 1 Each issuer picks which codes earn points; HDFC Bank's Preferred Platinum Debit Card lists 4411 under Entertainment for cashback.7 Your bank can't change a merchant's code. If a charge looks wrong, it can explain a chargeback.

Merchants. Your acquirer assigns the code from your main activity. On Stripe, plan for a review before you sell. To find or correct your code, see how to find your MCC.

Updated on October 15, 2026

Nick Bonnassies

CMO at Tagada

CMO at Tagada. Before Tagada, Nick built direct-to-consumer brands that generated over $115M in sales, raised over $25M in crowdfunding and sold two of them. He also works as a fractional CMO on marketing operations and AI systems.

Frequently asked questions

What is MCC 4411?

MCC 4411 is the merchant category code Visa titles Steamship and Cruise Lines. It covers passenger transportation on the open seas or inland waters for vacation or pleasure, usually with food, entertainment and a cabin included in the fare, on pre-defined and advertised routes. River cruises fit the definition.

Do ferries use MCC 4411?

Not under Visa's definition. Ferries that run regular routes on regular schedules use 4111, Local and Suburban Commuter Passenger Transportation, Including Ferries. Mastercard says the same. 4411 is for trips taken for vacation or pleasure, with the cabin and meals usually in the fare.

Is MCC 4411 high risk?

Not for Visa: 4411 isn't on its April 2026 high-integrity-risk list. Processors are stricter. Stripe's MCC list marks Cruise Lines restricted, its business list prohibits commercial airlines and cruises, and Przelewy24 and Cash App Pay on Stripe prohibit 4411.

Do cruise purchases earn travel rewards?

It depends on your card. Each issuer picks its own codes. HDFC Bank's Preferred Platinum Debit Card, for example, lists 4411 under Entertainment in its cashback codes. Shops on board may carry a different code from your fare, so check your card's terms.

Sources

Checked October 15, 2026

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