What is the Legal Drinking Age on Cruises?

Table Of Content

• Can 18-Year-olds Drink Alcohol in the Cabin?
• My young adult children are very active and I'm not. Can we split up and go on different shore excursions in port?
• Where can I buy drinks onboard?
• North America Including Alaska and Hawaii
• Do I have an in-cabin bar, or can I have drinks in my cabin?
• What is the Legal Drinking Age on Princess Cruises?

We’ve also provided links to cruise line alcohol policies so you can double-check any finer terms beneath the tables. For further clarification of the rules, I’ve covered them beneath the table and links to the cruise line policy so you can double-check the details yourself. You might have the idea to bring on mixers and then buy a bottle from the duty-free shop to enjoy on your cruise.

Can 18-Year-olds Drink Alcohol in the Cabin?

The only exception is for cruises sailing from Australia, where the minimum drinking age is 18. For instance, on most Carnival cruises, the minimum age to purchase and consume alcohol on the ship is 21, regardless of the legal drinking age in the destination ports. If the sea of alcohol on cruise ships is off-limits to you due to age restrictions, fret not. Your cruise journey can still be as colorful as a Caribbean sunset and as bubbly as champagne. Let’s embark on a voyage of discovery, exploring the treasure trove of alternatives available for those under the legal drinking age.

My young adult children are very active and I'm not. Can we split up and go on different shore excursions in port?

However, cruise lines have different policies when it comes to traveling unaccompanied at that age. So, it’s best to check specific cruise age policies before you book your journey. Using a fake ID to purchase alcohol is illegal and can result in fines and potentially jail time. However, it is important to note that importing, possessing, or dealing unlawful drugs, including marijuana, is a serious offense in the Bahamas with heavy penalties. On sailings with three or more consecutive sea days, the minimum age is 12 months. Each cruise line also has its own set of rules and regulations when it comes to drinking and the legal drinking age on board.

Where can I buy drinks onboard?

For bingo, cruisers must be at least 18 years old or accompanied by an adult. 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. Note that exceptions are made for cruisers younger than 21 who are married or traveling with a spouse or in the military. Without proof, you will be denied boarding and no refund will be given. However, you’ll be subject to the same rules as adults when it comes to being drunk – if you’ve had too much while you’re ashore you may not be allowed back onto the ship.

For the rest of the world, the age is 18, except for Japan where it’s 20. British cruise line Cunard has a drinking age of 21 in US waters and 18 years of age for the rest of the world. The Italian cruise line Costa cruise line has a drinking age of 21 for any cruise from or to US ports. If you are traveling with or of the age of 18, you can get more specific information here about which cruise lines allow 18-year-olds to drink. When buying from a duty-free shop, your bottles will be packaged and then stored by the staff until the last day of your cruise. They will then be delivered to your cabin on the last night to take with you as you get off the ship.

So, if you are under the minimum drinking age, avoid alcohol altogether to avoid any potential consequences. One of the primary ways that cruise ships check ID’s and ages is by using a key card system. In Australia and New Zealand, the minimum age to consume alcohol is 18 years old. Whether you are 18 to 20  years of age, if you are deemed underage by the cruise line rules, you will not be able to purchase any alcohol.

Do I have an in-cabin bar, or can I have drinks in my cabin?

Princess Cruises Alcohol Policy - Cruise Critic

Princess Cruises Alcohol Policy.

Posted: Wed, 18 Dec 2019 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Most Caribbean cruises include a US port, even if it is just the home port, and so guests must be 21 or older to drink while on the ship, even while sailing the Caribbean. 18- to 20-year-olds can disembark at most Caribbean islands and drink in private bars not run by the cruise line, though. So now you know the drinking age on cruises for all major cruise lines and regions.

Drinking Age on a Cruise Ship in North America

Passengers 16 and older are permitted to use the onboard fitness facilities. Disney is one of the only cruise lines that does not list specific age restrictions for venues such as the theater or hot tubs. 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. The parent/legal guardian must be on board and present themselves to Guest Services, so they can sign the permission form.

Just like a carnival juggler juggling different balls, Carnival juggles different age requirements based on geography. In general, the minimum age to consume alcoholic beverages is 21. Yet, when celebrity cruises ships sailing from numerous international ports, year-olds can consume beer and wine with a signed beverage consent form from their parents or guardian.

Here’s a look at the minimum drinking age for the major cruise lines depending on where the ship is sailing, according to their own policies. There are some cruise lines which let guests drink on Europe voyages, and others that permit drinking for 18- to 20-year-olds in some regions if parents sign a waiver. Outside of US waters, some cruise lines allow parents or legal guardians to sign a waiver giving consent for their 18 to 20-year-old to drink alcohol on board. If you cruise ship sales from a North American port, the minimum drinking age is 21.

When the ship is docked in port, those who are 16 and older can disembark. If, however, they want to go alone on a Carnival excursion, they must be 18. It is also worth noting that guests under 18 will have to leave the onboard Night Clubs by 11.00 pm.

For more on cruises and drinking ages, you can see our article here. Prices for cocktails on cruise ships usually run about $10-14 per drink, before gratuity. So expect to spend about $12 to $16.50 per beverage when gratuity is added.

This form can be obtained and completed at the Guest Services Desk upon embarkation of the vessel. If you are considered a “young adult” (meaning years old) and you are sailing with a parent who signs a waiver, then you can drink wine and beer aboard the ship — but not cocktails. What you do in the privacy of your own cruise room will likely not be monitored, unless your young adult child then goes out onto the ship and behaves inappropriately.

Carnival Cruise Line welcomes guests with specific dietary needs and has provisions in place to accommodate those requirements. You can bring any necessary beverages related to dietary restrictions or for medical reasons onboard with prior approval from the Special Requirements Department. Even more curious is that this doesn’t happen to me on luxury lines where all beverages are already included in the price of your cruise. But having paid a certain amount to have all my drinks included on Carnival Conquest, I felt obligated to get the most from my purchase.