Growing up, a rite of passage was partaking in Senior Beach Week. After graduating high school, it is customary for graduates to rent a house or condo, typically at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, to celebrate their accomplishments with their friends before going off to college in the fall.
Since most high school graduates are just 18, options are pretty limited. There are only so many hotels that will rent a room to those under 21.
If you're looking for some way to celebrate your graduation or simply want to take your first big trip without any parents, a cruise might cross your mind. With food, accommodations, and entertainment included, you'll get the most bang for your buck and won't have to worry about tallying up all the expenses at the end.
Even though at 18 in the United States you're technically an adult, most mainstream cruise lines do not treat 18-year-olds in the same way. Many have restrictions that prohibit guests under 21 from sailing by themselves.
Here's everything you need to know about the best cruises for 18-year-olds.
Are you able to take a cruise alone at 18 years old?
In short, the answer is yes, you can book a cruise at 18 years old and sail without your parents; however, there are some caveats.
If you're cruising from the United States, your options will be more limited than if you were to sail from, for instance, Europe, as most U.S.-based sailings require at least one guest in the cabin to be 21.
Which cruise lines allow you to cruise alone at 18?
For the most part, European and American cruise lines require you to be 21 to cruise by yourself. If, however, you're sailing to Europe, some lines will let you board at 18 without someone who is 21. These include MSC Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Royal Caribbean.
Additionally, the majority of mainstream cruise lines make exceptions for those under 21 who are married and able to present a valid marriage certificate.
According to Norweigan Cruise Line's website, "Note: Two people under the age of 21 may travel together in the same stateroom if they are a married couple and provide proof of marriage to a Norwegian Cruise Line representative at the pier prior to boarding."
For those looking to stay within the United States and travel to The Bahamas and Caribbean, here are the best options.
Virgin Voyages
Having launched their first ship in 2021, Virgin Voyages is a relatively new cruise line. What sets them apart is that they only cater to adults. You won't find anyone under the age of 18 onboard any of their three ships: Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, and Brilliant Lady.
Because their minimum age to sail is 18, those under 21 can sail by themselves and join in on all the adult-only fun.
The Virgin experience is unlike any cruise you've taken or heard of. Onboard, you can expect wild deck parties with DJs, risque entertainment, themed events, a tattoo parlor, and more. If you sail to the Beach Club at Bimini, you can partake in a pool party that's similar to what you might find at an all-inclusive resort with tons of pool floats.
Plus, everyone is able to drink onboard the ship, whereas most other mainstream cruise lines only let those 21+ drink, even when the ship is in international waters.
While their base rates are more expensive than other U.S. competitors (we're looking at you, Carnival!), it includes much more. You won't have to worry about paying extra for Wi-Fi to stay connected with loved ones back home, and all 20+ eateries onboard are included. There's a restaurant for all taste buds, with options ranging from Mexican to Korean BBQ, Italian, Udon noodles, pizza, hot dogs, and more.
Disney Cruise Line
The minimum age to sail with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and all of your other favorite Disney pals is 18. Like Virgin, however, the cost of a Disney cruise is substantially more than Carnival, MSC, Norwegian, etc. Plus, you'll find more families with younger children, so it might not be the right environment if you are looking to party, especially since the minimum age to drink is still 21.
That being said, if you grew up loving Walt Disney World and Disneyland, a Disney cruise might be the perfect vacation for you.
During the day, you can lounge by the pool and watch some of your favorite Disney films before indulging in delicious three-course meals in the themed dining rooms at night or splurging on a meal at one of the adult-only restaurants onboard, such as Remy.
Since you'll be 18, you can even access the adult-only Quiet Cove Pool if you don't want to be around all the children.
Short cruises to The Bahamas will take you to Nassau, Castaway Cay, and (beginning in 2024) Lighthouse Point. In Nassau, you'll be able to get your party in at Señor Frogs or on a booze cruise after snorkeling and seeing some of the sights underwater. At Castaway Cay or Lighthouse Point, you can enjoy all the fun beach-related activities while still being immersed in Disney magic.
Read more: What's it like to go on a Disney cruise as an adult without kids? I loved the escape it offered
While there aren't too many options for those looking to cruise alone at 18 out of the United States, if you decide to fly across the pond, you'll have more to choose from
If you're looking to sail with a specific line that you grew up with or want a certain atmosphere, flying to Europe to board your cruise might be the best option. If you decide to sail from, for instance, Barcelona, you'll be able to choose from sailings on well-known cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, and Celebrity Cruises.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean deploys quite a few ships to Europe during the summer, so you'll be able to pick from a small ship that's sailing a more port-intensive itinerary to a mega Oasis Class ship and everything in between.
The larger ships are packed with the most to do, including zip lines, rock walls, surfing simulators, ice skating rinks, and more. Of course, with it being Europe, you'll have less time to explore everything on board than if you were sailing to the Caribbean, as even Mediterranean cruises on Oasis Class ships tend to have jam-packed itineraries.
That doesn't mean you cannot explore culturally rich destinations during the day and party at night, though!
Read more: Top things I loved and hated about my Royal Caribbean cruise in Europe
MSC Cruises
A more budget-friendly option is MSC Cruises. While you cannot board one of their ships from the U.S. at 18 years old, you can embark on one of many European itineraries! Since this is a European cruise line, you're more likely to have a diverse crowd onboard. In fact, that was one of the things that surprised me the most on my first-ever MSC cruise that sailed from Genoa, Italy!
The environment onboard is lively, and you'll have plenty of entertainment to choose from, whether it's listening to live music in one of the lounges, watching a stage show, or attending one of the themed parties.
Another pro of sailing with MSC Cruises is that their drink packages are more reasonably priced compared to other mainstream cruise lines. Plus, you can often bundle drink and internet packages with your base fare at the time of booking for even more savings.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises is Royal Caribbean's sister brand and tends to be more upscale than the latter. Their ships are modern with great cocktail bars and stunning dining venues.
They don't have any many activities as MSC and Royal Caribbean, meaning that Celebrity would be an ideal cruise line for those looking for a sleek ship to return to each evening after spending long days ashore.
Celebrity Cruises also tend to be more expensive, so you'll need to have a healthy budget set aside for this trip. A more expensive cruise fare might mean making sacrifices when it comes to shore excursions and cruise add-ons.
Read more: 10 things I learned on my first Celebrity cruise
Can you drink on a cruise if you're 18?
If you are cruising from the United States at 18, you won't be able to order drinks in most instances, even if you're with a parent or guardian. That being said, if you happen to be sailing on Virgin Voyages, you can drink once the ship is in international waters.
Moreover, Norwegian Cruise Line allows guests between the ages of 18 and 20 to purchase beer or wine when the ship is in international waters, if a parent/guardian is onboard and able to present themselves to Guest Services to sign the required permission form. The age modification rule doesn't apply to Alaska or Hawaii cruises.
If you're cruising to Europe at 18, you'll be able to drink onboard regardless of the cruise line, as they have a lower drinking age than the United States.
Per Disney Cruise Line's website, "The drinking age on board is 21, and a valid photo I.D. is required."
"However, during round-trip cruises departing from any European country that has a lower drinking age, parents or guardians may sign a Beverage Consent Form that allows their 18- to 20-year-old children to consume alcoholic beverages while in the adult’s presence."
Even though most cruise lines won't let you sail alone at 18 years old, you are not totally out of luck
The majority of mainstream cruise lines don't allow those under 21 to sail alone. Some, such as Carnival, have even stricter policies, as if there's anyone under 21 in the reservation, someone has to be 25+ to board.
Of course, if you're looking to cruise without parents, you do have a few cruise lines that you can turn to, including Virgin Voyages and Disney Cruise Line. If, however, you're willing (and able) to hop across the pond to Europe, your list of options will increase.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
