Can You Drink On A Cruise At 18? Everything you need to know
When most people think about cruising, the first thing that comes to mind is drinking. And for good reason – a cruise is a great opportunity to let loose and enjoy some cocktails with friends.
But what are the rules around drinking on a cruise ship?
How old do you have to be?
Can you drink on a cruise at 18?
Can you drink in public?
And what happens if you get drunk?
As a travel advisor who has taken many courses to become a cruise specialist, I have learned the ins and outs of cruising.
Read on for answers to all your questions about drinking on a cruise.
The answer to this question can’t be answered with one single answer. The fact is, the legal drinking age on cruises depends on the cruise line and the port of embarkation.
Let’s look at the policies of a few of the most popular cruise lines.
Carnival Cruise Line
On Carnival cruise ships, alcohol consumption is only permitted for guests aged 21 and over. This rule applies to private Carnival islands such as Half Moon Cay and Princess Cay.
The only exception to this rule is for Carnival Australia, where passengers 18 and over are allowed to consume and purchase alcohol.
Royal Caribbean
For sailings that begin in North American ports, the legal drinking age onboard Royal Caribbean is 21.
However, if you are sailing on Royal Caribbean from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South America, and Asia, the drinking age on board is 18 years old.
Royal Caribbean private islands, such as Perfect Day at Coco Cay, the drinking age will be 21 years old, no matter where the cruise started.
Norweigan
The legal drinking age for all alcoholic drinks on Norwegian Cruise Line ships is 21.
However, NCL does have one advantage over the other lines, and that is that in international waters, passengers who are over 18 can drink beer and wine.
Like Disney, this rule only applies if the parent is on board with the minor and signs a consent form.
Disney
The legal drinking age on Disney Cruise Line is 21, with one exception.
If you are sailing from Europe and you are sailing with a parent, that parent can sign a consent form that allows you to drink in their presence only. This option is available for guests 18-20 years old.
Celebrity Cruise Line
The legal drinking age for alcoholic beverages on all Celebrity Cruises ships sailing from North America is 21.
For guests sailing from South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, the minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages onboard any of our Celebrity Cruises ships is 18.
The drinking age on private islands is 21.
Can you drink at 18 on a Caribbean cruise?
The drinking age on most cruise ships is 21. If the cruise originates from a US port, the minimum age to drink on board is 21.
It is a common misconception that minors can drink on board if they are heading to a port where the drinking age is 18, but that is not the case.
You must provide identification when booking your cruise, and that information will be attached to your sail and sign card, and crew members will know your age. Cruise crew members will not serve underaged guests.
Can you drink at 18 on a Bahamas cruise?
No, you can not drink on board a cruise to the Bahamas if the cruise has departed from a US Port.
What about private islands in the Bahamas?
Many cruise lines have private islands in the Bahamas, such as Half Moon Cay (Carnival) or Castaway Cay (Disney).
The minimum age to drink in the Bahamas is 18, so some assume that once you are on the private island, you can drink as long as you are 18.
This isn’t the case, though. If you are on an island owned by the cruise line, the same rules apply as if you are still on board the ship, which means no drinking for anyone under 21.
However, if you get off the ship in a port that is not owned by the cruise line, you are able to follow the rules in that country.
For example, the drinking age in Nassau is 18. So if you have a cruise stop in Nassau, Bahamas, you can drink as long as you are 18 while you are in that port.
To help clarify this:
| Cruising Age | 21 | 18 |
| Can I drink on board the ship? | yes | no |
| Can I drink on Private Island? | yes | no |
| Can I drink in Bimini, Nassau, or Freeport? | yes | yes |
Are there any cruises where you can drink at 18?
Yes, cruises on certain lines like Disney, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Australia, and Celebrity that do not originate in North America you may be able to drink at 18 years old.
Can you drink at 18 in international waters?
Once you are in international waters (more than 3 miles away from US waters), you may drink on Norweigan Cruise Line if your parents sign a waiver.
If your cruise line has a no drinking policy under 21, where you are located in the ocean, the rules will not change.
What if I turn 21 during my cruise?
Most cruise lines determine your age based on the age you are the day you board the ship, meaning if you aren’t of drinking age when the cruise starts, you will not be able to drink for the duration of the cruise.
There are a few exceptions to this rule. Norweigan and Celebrity Cruise Lines, both allow a guest who has turned 21 during their sailing to show ID to guest services and have their age updated. Once guest services approve this, that passenger will be allowed to purchase alcohol for the remainder of the cruise.
Overdrinking on a cruise
No matter which cruise line you go on, you must drink responsibly and maintain control of yourself.
Drinking too much can cause a host of problems for you. First, getting too drunk on a moving ship can make it difficult to navigate your way around safely.
You can also become dehydrated easily and become sick in the heat and humidity.
If you become so drunk that you are dangerous or disruptive to other passengers, you can find yourself in trouble with ship security and potentially authorities when you return to port.
You can be confined to your cabin or even earn yourself a trip to the cruise jail if you become overly intoxicated.
Drinking Ages on Cruises Recap
As you can see, the “typical” age that you can drink on a cruise is 21 years or older. There are exceptions to the rule, especially if your cruise does not originate in North America.
It is always best to check your cruise line’s alcohol policy before you board so you know what to expect.
Hiring a travel advisor is a great way to be sure you know all of the facts pertaining to your unique situation as well. As a cruise specialist, I am happy to help you plan your trip (at no additional cost) and help you fully understand all of the rules and regulations pertaining to your sailing and situation.
