In life, there are certain rules that we have to abide by regardless of where we are. You cannot, for instance, order an alcoholic drink at 17 years old in a fancy restaurant. The same rule applies to cruises, too!
Want to know how old you have to be to stay in your own room, purchase alcoholic beverages, or gamble? What are the age limits on certain kids' clubs? Can your teenager disembark at ports of call on their own? We have got you covered with our roundup of cruise line age policies.
Check out key age-related policies for each of the eight most popular mainstream cruise lines, including how old you have to be to drink on a Royal Caribbean cruise, sail alone on Carnival, and more.
Minimum Age to Sail and Cruise Alone
Carnival Cruise Line
Infants scheduled to cruise with their parents must be at least 6 months old on most sailings. On trans-ocean voyages or those to remote locations with more than two consecutive sea days, infants must be at least 12 months old.
Cruise ships are not equipped with full hospitals, so if anything were to go astray, it would be difficult to provide young infants with the proper care that they would need.
Moreover, if you are hoping to cruise without parents or guardians, everyone in your party must be at least 21 years of age. If anyone is under 21, the reservation will have to be attached to someone who is 25 years old or older.
So, for instance, if you and your best friend are both 21, you'll be fine! However, if one of you were to be 19, you would not be able to book a cruise with Carnival Cruise Line.
Note that exceptions are made for cruisers younger than 21 who are married or traveling with a spouse or in the military. Proof of marriage or active military status is required. Without proof, you will be denied boarding and no refund will be given.
Another exception is when those between the ages of 21 and 24 are traveling with their minor children.
Although passengers between the ages of 18 and 20 can stay in their own cabins anywhere on the ship, they must be traveling with someone at least 25 years of age.
Those from 13 to 17 are permitted to stay in their own staterooms; however, they can only be located up to three cabins away from a family member or guardian who is at least 25 years old.
Passengers 12 years old and younger who are booked in their own cabins must be either directly next door to or across the hall from a parent or guardian 25 years or older, and they may not stay in a balcony cabin without an adult present.
Celebrity Cruises
Passengers must be at least 6 months old to cruise. On sailings with three or more consecutive sea days, the minimum age is 12 months.
On sailings from the U.S., cruisers must be at least 21 years of age to cruise alone. Otherwise, they must be married or travel with an adult who is at least 21 years of age.
Minors are permitted to stay in their own cabins, but they must either be directly across the hall from or beside/connected to the stateroom of an adult in the same travel party.
Disney Cruise Line
The minimum age to sail is 6 months, except on trans-ocean cruises and voyages to Hawaii or the Panama Canal, where passengers must be at least 12 months old.
Passengers must be at least 18 to sail alone. Anyone younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult who is 21 years of age or older, and at least one adult must be booked in every cabin where minors are present.
Holland America Line
To cruise with Holland America, all passengers must be at least 6 months old or 12 months old for ocean crossings or voyages to remote areas (i.e., Asia, South America, the South Pacific, and Hawaii), where there are more than two consecutive sea days.
All cruisers younger than 21 years of age must be accompanied by at least one parent, guardian, or chaperone 21 years old or older. For every five guests under the age of 21, there needs to be at least one adult chaperone. This means that if you have six guests under 21, you'll need at least two adults.
MSC Cruises
There is no hard and fast minimum age for infants onboard MSC cruises. Some sailings, however, may have a minimum age due to the number of sea days or ports of call.
Anyone younger than 21 (for North American itineraries) or 18 (for international itineraries) is considered a minor. An adult must accompany all minors onboard and expressly agree to take responsibility for them when they sail.
If not staying in the same cabin as the minor, the adult serving as his or her guardian for the voyage must be booked in a nearby or connecting stateroom.
Norwegian Cruise Line
A minimum age requirement of 6 months is enforced, except on sailings where there are three or more consecutive days at sea. In that case, all passengers must be at least 12 months old.
Although Norwegian considers anyone 18 or older to be an adult, passengers younger than 21 years of age must be accompanied on their voyages, either in the same cabin or one that is connecting with someone who is 21 or older.
Two people younger than 21 may sail together in the same cabin if they are married and provide proof of marriage.
Princess Cruises
Passengers must be a minimum of 6 months old in order to sail on most voyages. For itineraries that include trans-ocean crossings or remote locations that require more than two consecutive sea days, cruisers must be at least 12 months old.
Anyone traveling while younger than 21 must be booked in the same stateroom as someone at least 21 years of age. An exception is made for family groups where multiple cabins are booked. In those cases, the minimum age is 16 for each cabin.
Royal Caribbean
A minimum age of 6 months is required in order to cruise. Any voyage with three or more consecutive sea days -- including trans-ocean sailings and those to remote destinations -- calls for a minimum age of 12 months for each passenger.
Anyone wanting to sail unaccompanied must be at least 21 years of age on sailings from North America. Those departing from other regions allow cruisers sailing alone to be 18.
No passenger younger than 21 will be assigned to a cabin unless another person in the same travel party is booked there and is at least 21 years old.
For families wanting to book multiple cabins, they will have to book one adult and one minor in each. Additional SeaPass cards can be obtained at Guest Services, and they will only function as room keys.
Exceptions to these rules are made for underage married couples or active military personnel with proof of marriage or active-duty status.
Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages is an adults-only cruise line, meaning that nobody under the age of 18 is able to sail onboard their ships. That being said, 18-year-olds are able to make a booking without someone 21+ in the same room.
How old do you have to be to drink on a cruise?
Carnival Cruise Line
Passengers on Carnival sailings departing from North America must be at least 21 years old to purchase and consume alcohol.
Celebrity Cruises
The minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on Celebrity voyages from North America is 21.
The drinking age decreases to 18 on sailings that depart from South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
Disney Cruise Line
Cruisers must be at least 21 years old to purchase and consume alcohol onboard Disney ships.
On sailings from Europe, where the drinking age is lower, parents can sign consent forms allowing their 18-and-older children to consume alcohol in their presence.
Holland America Line
For sailings departing from North America, the drinking age is 21.
On voyages that depart from and return to Europe, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, or Taiwan, the drinking age onboard is 18. For those that depart and return to Japan, the drinking age is 20.
MSC Cruises
For itineraries that include even one U.S. port, passengers must be at least 21 to purchase and consume alcohol. I
International sailings can see the age dip as young as 18 years old.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Passengers sailing with Norwegian on North American voyages must be 21 years or older to purchase and consume alcohol. However, those who are between the ages of 18 and 20 may purchase beer or wine when the ship is in international waters, which is defined as when the ship is three miles of out U.S. territorial waters.
The parent/legal guardian must be on board and present themselves to Guest Services, so they can sign the permission form. Note that the age modification rule does not apply to Hawaii or Alaska cruises.
On international sailings, the drinking age is lowered to 18.
Princess Cruises
The legal drinking age on Princess cruise ships is 21 years. The age requirement is lower on sailings departing from non-North American ports, such as Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and New Zealand. For these cruises, the legal drinking age is 18.
Royal Caribbean
Anyone purchasing or consuming alcohol on a Royal Caribbean cruise from North America must be at least 21 years old.
The age drops to 18 years for voyages from select international ports. The drinking age at all private islands remains 21, regardless of country of embarkation.
Virgin Voyages
Virgin has one of the most relaxed alcohol policies for a mainstream cruise line. Per their website, "The drinking age in international waters is 18, in the United States it's 21, and in other ports, we'll go with whatever their country's laws specify."
Are there casinos for 18-year-olds on cruises?
Carnival Cruise Line
Passengers wishing to gamble or play bingo must be at least 18 years of age. Anyone younger than 18 is not permitted in the casino or to purchase bingo cards.
Celebrity Cruises
Anyone looking to spend time in the ships' casinos must be at least 18 years old on most Celebrity sailings. Alaska voyages require passengers to be at least 21. Anyone younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult while playing bingo. Note that they don't allow anyone in the casino to smoke.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line does not have onboard casinos, so there are no gambling rules onboard. For bingo, cruisers must be at least 18 years old or accompanied by an adult.
Holland America Line
Travelers headed to the casino must be at least 18 years old. No special mention is made with regard to age restrictions for bingo play.
MSC Cruises
Gambling is not permitted for any passenger younger than 21 years of age on MSC sailings that contain U.S. ports, including those embarking from the United States. On international sailings, the minimum age is 18.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Cruisers must be at least 18 years old to gamble in Norwegian ships' onboard casinos and to collect any winnings. No specific rules are outlined for travelers wishing to play bingo.
Princess Cruises
On cruises from North America, gamblers must be 21 or older to enter the casino and collect any prizes won. For those wishing to play bingo, they will also have to be 21+ to purchase a card and claim a prize.
On sailings from other countries, the gambling age can be as young as 18.
Royal Caribbean
All passengers who plan to gamble onboard must be at least 18 years old. The age increases to 21 years old on Alaska sailings. There is no specific mention of age restrictions for bingo play.
Virgin Voyages
All guests onboard Virgin Voyages may gamble, as the minimum age to board is 18.
Miscellaneous Cruise Line Age Restrictions
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival's complimentary youth programming is called Camp Ocean, and it is broken down into five different categories, each of which has their own dedicated area for activities:
- Turtles (6mo - 2)
- Penguins (2-5)
- Stingrays (6-8)
- Sharks (9-11)
- Circle "C" (12-14)
- Club O2 (15-17).
Note that a parent or guardian 18 years of age or older must sign each child up to participate. Afterward, those who are 9 and older can sign themselves in and out of the club with a parent's or guardian's permission.
In terms of entertainment, nobody below the age of 18 is allowed to go inside of the ship's nightclubs after 10pm. Moreover, nobody under 18 can attend late-night R-rated comedy performances.
When the ship is docked in port, those who are 16 and older can disembark. Parents can increase this age by visiting Guest Services. If, however, they want to go alone on a Carnival excursion, they must be 18.
If you have minors who want to get pampered in the spa, those 18 and younger will be required to be supervised by a parent or guardian when making the appointment. Similarly, they cannot use the fitness center without supervision, either.
As implied in the name, the use of adults-only areas, such as Serenity, is restricted to those 21 and older.
Finally, the sale of tobacco onboard is limited to passengers aged 21 and older.
Celebrity Cruises
Parents sailing onboard Celebrity Cruises will love the fact that they can take advantage of complimentary youth programming. There's nothing better than enjoying a peaceful dinner knowing that your children are well taken care of!
The Camp at Sea program is available to potty-trained children from ages 3 to 17 and is divided into the following groups:
- Toddler Time (children under the age of 3)
- Shipmates (3-5)
- Cadets (6-9)
- Captains (10-12)
- Teens (13-17)
The minimum age to attend shows alone in the ship's theater is 16, while those heading to the onboard nightclubs must be at least 18 years old.
No cruiser younger than 18 may get off the ship in port unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Moreover, travelers younger than 16 are not permitted in the onboard fitness centers, hot tubs, or thalassotherapy pools on Celebrity's vessels. Cruisers between the ages of 13 and 17 are allowed in the spa only for booked treatments.
In regards to smoking, passengers must be at least 18 years old to possess, purchase, and use tobacco products while sailing.
And while Royal Caribbean, Celebrity's sister brand, recently increased the minimum age to the ship's Solarium to 18, Celebrity's is still 16.
Disney Cruise Line
If you are a family sailing onboard Disney Cruise Line, you are most likely looking forward to the high-quality children's programming that is offered to passengers who are under the age of three all the way to 17:
- It's a Small World Nursery (under 3)
- Oceaneer Club and Lab (3-12)
- Edge (11-13)
- Vibe (14-17)
Parents can expect to pay $9.00/hour to take advantage of the It's a Small World Nursery. If you have more than one child, the rate for the second is $8.00 per half hour for any additional children in your family. Reservations can be made in advance.
Disney is one of the only cruise lines that does not list specific age restrictions for venues such as the theater or hot tubs.
If you want your children to be able to get off the ship on their own, you will have to visit Guest Services to fill out the appropriate forms. Additionally, unless they're participating in a special teen excursion, cruisers must also be at least 18 years old to go alone on excursions offered by the cruise line.
Regardless of which ship you're on, the spa and fitness center is reserved for use by passengers who are at least 18 years old.
There's no minimum smoking age posted on Disney Cruise Line's website. However, there is a minimum age for adults-only spaces Satellite Sun Deck's Quiet Cove pool and The District. Note that The District's age policy only kicks in after 9pm.
Holland America Line
Even though you won't find a ship full of families with children onboard Holland America ships, they still offer complimentary programming, called Club HAL, on all of their ships:
- Kids (3-6)
- Tweens (7-12)
- Teens (13-17)
Parents are able to take their children to theater and stage performances; however, they are not allowed to be unaccompanied. Moreover, anyone sitting in the first two rows must be at least 18 years of age.
When the ship is docked in port, those younger than 16 will not be permitted to leave the ship on their own unless parents make prior arrangements with the ship's gangway officer. Cruisers must be at least 18 years old to go on ship-sponsored excursions by themselves.
No one younger than 18 is permitted to use the onboard spas unless they're receiving a specific treatment through the teen spa program. Passengers must be at least 16 years old to use the fitness center unsupervised.
Holland America requires passengers to be at least 21 years of age to possess, purchase, or use tobacco on its cruises from North America.
Finally, the Greenhouse Retreat, which is part of the onboard spa that includes thermal relaxation facilities, is the line's adults-only area. Nobody under 18 is allowed. The SeaView Pool is also reserved for adults.
MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises' kids clubs feature fun activities for a range of age groups:
- Baby Club (under 3)
- Mini Club (3-6)
- Junior Club (7-11)
- Young Club (12-14)
- Teen Club (15-17)
Unlike other mainstream cruise lines, the Baby Club is included in the base cruise fare. Parents can drop off their little ones without worrying about additional fees! Moreover, MSC does not list any age restrictions for shows or nightclub entry on its website.
Anyone younger than 18 must be joined ashore by an adult travel companion, and the cruise line does not allow anyone younger than 18 to enter the spa or thermal areas on its newest ships.
On other ships, however, teens ages 13 to 15 are allowed if parents fill out a waiver and accompany them. Those aged 16 and 17 can visit on their own if their parents sign a waiver.
MSC's smoking policies do not outline specific age requirements for the possession, purchase, or use of tobacco products while sailing.
If you want to enjoy MSC Cruises' adults-only areas, you should know that no one younger than 18 is permitted in the top-deck Solarium area.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian is one of the most kid-friendly mainstream cruise lines, and programming for children includes the Guppies (6 months to 3 years old); Splash Academy's Turtles (3-5); Seals (6-9); Dolphins (10-12); and Entourage (13-17).
Teens in Entourage can come and go as they please, while Dolphins can sign themselves into and out of the kids club with parental permission.
When it comes to the Guppies program, you should know that parents are required to remain with their children. If that is not of interest, a few Norwegian Cruise Line ships -- Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Bliss -- offer Guppies Nursery, which allows parents to drop off young tikes for an additional surcharge.
Cruisers must be 18 or older to frequent the ships' nightclubs and discos, while a minimum age of 16 years is required for all onboard hot tubs.
If you have teens who want to get off the ship by themselves, you'll have to let them know that passengers younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult in the same travel party in order to leave the ship or take a ship-sponsored excursion.
Nobody younger than 16 is allowed in the fitness centers, and the spas (including thermal areas) are reserved for anyone 18 or over, and Norwegian Cruise Line requires passengers to be at least 18 years old to possess, purchase, or use tobacco during any voyage.
Finally, cruisers cannot enter Spice H2O, Posh, and Vibe -- Norwegian's adults-only sun decks -- unless they are 18 or older.
Princess Cruises
Like Holland America Line, families with younger children are likely to sail on a more kid-friendly line, such as Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, or Carnival. They do, however, offer Camp Discovery for kids between the ages of 3 and 17:
- The Treehouse (3-7)
- The Lodge (8-12)
- The Beach House (13-17).
Children younger than 3 are only permitted in the kids' club when supervised by a parent at all times.
Unaccompanied children younger than 13 are not allowed in entertainment venues onboard, and nobody under 18 is allowed in any ship's nightclub after 11 p.m.
When it comes to disembarkation in port, Princess does not specify an age requirement for unaccompanied disembarkation. However, passengers younger than 18 will only be permitted on ship-sponsored shore excursions with an adult or, in select cases, when a parent or guardian signs a waiver in the presence of the tour operator.
Use of the spa is limited to adults 18 and older, while the fitness center is reserved for people over 16. However, some spa services are available to children 13 years and older when a parent or guardian is present. Children of any age are allowed in saunas and hot tubs, provided they are toilet-trained and under adult supervision.
Passengers onboard all Princess ships must be at least 18 years old to possess, purchase, and consume tobacco products while cruising. Similarly, Princess Cruises' grownups-only enclave, the Sanctuary, is for those 18 and up, too.
Royal Caribbean
Want to take your kids on the largest cruise ships at sea? Look no further than Royal Caribbean. With their Adventure Ocean with programming that's rivaled only by Disney Cruise Line, they'll be happy no matter what they're doing!
- Royal Babies and Tots (under 3)
- Aquanauts (3-5)
- Explorers (6-8)
- Voyages (9-11)
- Teens (12-14 and 15-17)
Note that while most youth programming is included, Royal Babies and Tots is an additional fee of $6 per hour per child from 9am-6pm and $8 per hour per child from 6pm-midnight. It is available on all ships excluding the Jewel of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, and Explorer of the Seas.
There is also a Sitters at Sea program. For $19 an hour for up to four children, a Royal Caribbean staff member will come to your stateroom equipped with age-appropriate activities. The minimum age of every child is one, though.
Children are discouraged from attending Royal Caribbean's comedy shows, which are generally geared toward adults and might contain inappropriate material, and passengers under 18 are also not allowed in onboard nightclubs.
To be able to get off the ship, guests must be 18 years old to get off by themselves. Otherwise, they'll have to be escorted by an adult.
Spa treatments are generally only available to cruisers 18 and over. YSPA on select ships, however, offers a series of services for 13 to 17-year-olds. Passengers 16 and older are permitted to use the onboard fitness facilities.
You must be 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use tobacco onboard any of Royal Caribbean's ships when sailing from a U.S. port. On voyages departing from other locations, the minimum age is 18.
As of October 2023, Royal Caribbean's just-for-grownups Solarium is restricted to use by passengers 18 and older. It used to be so that those 16 and older could enjoy this retreat.
Virgin Voyages
Since Virgin Voyages is an adults-only cruise line, there are no complimentary youth clubs onboard.
Since all guests are considered adults, there are no age restrictions in regard to getting off the ship alone, using the spa and fitness center, smoking, etc.
Ashley Kosciolek
Ashley boarded her first cruise more than a decade ago and never looked back. Since then, she has written thousands of expert cruise tip features; ship, port and shore excursion reviews; and industry news articles. Her work has appeared on Cruise Critic, USA Today, the Associated Press, NBC News, the Miami Herald and Huffington Post.
