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This aligns with the legal drinking age of most states in the U.S., thereby anchoring their policy in familiar waters. On most Carnival cruises, the minimum age to buy and consume alcoholic drinks on the ship is 21. The only exception is for cruises sailing from Australia, where the minimum drinking age is 18.
Can you drink on Royal Caribbean at 18?
Outside of Us territorial waters, 18 to 20-year-olds can buy and consume beer and wine only They will not be able to drink hard liquor until they are 21. Passengers disembarking from and sailing in US waters are not allowed to buy or consume alcohol until the age of 21. However, be prepared for the possibility that you might not be able to consume alcohol on the ship, depending on the cruise line’s policies. In most cases, if a U.S. or Middle Eastern port is on your itinerary, you won’t be allowed to drink at 18, even when the ship is in international waters. Outside of the United States, different embarkation locations may offer varying drinking age restrictions.

Carnival Cruise Lines Policies
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. Air Force as an Arabic linguist, Sophia now explores the world as a freelance writer. She funds her four-year (and counting!) cruise adventure using points and miles. Sophia’s travel expertise comes from her time as a reporter for The Points Guy, featured in Forbes, Business Insider, and The Balance. When not traveling, she enjoys relaxing in Priority Pass lounges with tea and battling slow Wi-Fi. Join her as she shares cruise insights and explores the world, one voyage at a time.
What Cruise Lines Allow Drinking at 18 Years Old?
Cruise lines employ sommeliers in the main restaurants to help you choose the perfect wine for your meal. If you wish to order a bottle of wine, you're not required to finish it in one sitting. Just ask your waiter to cork it and save it for you, and you can access it from any restaurant on a subsequent day. As of October 2023, Royal Caribbean's just-for-grownups Solarium is restricted to use by passengers 18 and older. 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.
That said, you’ll notice that most cruise ships sailing from North America have a minimum drinking age of 21 years to abide by United States law. This is despite Mexico and some places in Canada having minimum drinking ages of 18 or 19. Across the rest of the world, the drinking age varies from 18 to 21 years old, including in some US cruise lines, although parental permission may be required. Cruise line policies vary, but most allow 18-year-olds to be in bars and nightclubs on their own or with adult family and friends. However, the drinking age is 21 on ships visiting the US or sailing with US-based cruise lines. The legal drinking age in international waters is defined by the rest of the cruise itinerary.
Drinking responsibly is important to avoid ruining your vacation and that of others. For example, some cruise ships allow passengers as young as 18 into the casino, but you must be 21 to drink on the ship. Therefore, you may be given a wristband to indicate to the staff that you are underage. The exception is when the ship is in U.S. waters and the minimum drinking age is 21.
The drinking age decreases to 18 on sailings that depart from South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. A minimum age requirement of 6 months is enforced, except on sailings where there are three or more consecutive days at sea. There are, however, some exclusions if the ship travels more than three miles outside of US territorial seas.

However, sailings from Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and New Zealand have a legal drinking age of 18 on Princess cruise ships, and cruises between Japanese ports have a minimum age of 20. For destinations departing from Europe, anyone 18 to 20 may have their parents sign an alcoholic beverage consent form, allowing them to consume alcohol while in an adult’s presence. Once you leave the ship, you are governed by the laws and regulations of the port city. In other words, if the country’s legal drinking age is 18, you can consume alcohol in ports of call, even if the ship’s drinking age is 21.
Norwegian cruise line allows passengers aged 18 – 20 to drink alcohol onboard once they are out of international waters. Virgin Voyages allows passengers 18 and older to drink responsibly in international waters, with a focus on curated cocktails and mindful consumption. Their ships boast stunning designs and offer an adults-only experience. We’ll help you understand the minimum drinking age on a cruise ship to help you prepare for your next vacation. However, cruise lines have different policies when it comes to traveling unaccompanied at that age.
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MSC Cruises allows guests aged 18 and older to drink on all cruises except those which feature a North American or Caribbean port of call. 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. On most cruise lines' ships, alcoholic drinks cost extra and incur an automatic 15 to 20 percent service fee.
The only main cruise line which offers drinking to 17 years olds is P&O cruises which allow alcohol with a meal to anyone over 16 years of age. If 18-year-olds are deemed underage, they should not be by drinking in their cabins. However, it is not unheard of for teens to smuggle or sneak alcohol to their cabins. This is likely to go unnoticed unless the teens in question overindulge and get caught outside the cabin inebriated. One exception is the British cruise line P&O Cruises which allows 16 and 17-year-olds to drink alcohol with a meal.
Some cruise lines permit 18-year-olds to drink in international waters, while others adhere to stricter regulations, especially for US-based itineraries. Port age restrictions may also affect drinking privileges, as some ports may have higher legal drinking ages. Violating alcohol policies can result in consequences like refusal of service, fines, or even disembarkation. It’s crucial to research and understand the specific policies of the chosen cruise line and all ports of call to avoid unpleasant consequences. Ultimately, underage drinking should be approached with caution to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, regardless of personal desires or circumstances.
Nonetheless, should your voyage commence from regions such as South America, Asia, Europe, New Zealand, or Australia the permitted age for alcohol consumption is reduced to 18. The rules vary by cruise line, but most allow 18-year-olds to hang out at bars or nightclubs on their own, or with family and friends who are also 18+. But do note that the drinking age on all ships that visit the U.S., as well as on many U.S.-based cruise lines sailing anywhere in the world, is 21.
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