Think turning 18 means you can order a cocktail on your cruise? Not so fast.
Cruise lines all have their own drinking age rules, and they don’t always match the laws of the country you’re sailing from. In some cases, you’ll be able to enjoy a drink at 18. In others, you’ll have to wait until you’re 21.
The good news is that there are a few exceptions that many people don’t know about. Knowing them could make all the difference when choosing your cruise.
So, when can you actually drink at 18 in international waters? Let’s find out.
Many Cruise Lines Have a Minimum Drinking Age of 21
The rules vary much more than most people expect. While 21 is the standard on cruises that sail from or visit the US, many cruises elsewhere in the world have a minimum drinking age of 18.
Even then, every cruise line has its own policy. Some allow guests aged 18 to drink on European sailings but require them to be 21 on US itineraries. Others let 18- to 20-year-olds drink in certain regions if a parent or legal guardian signs a consent form.
That means if you’re 18, 19 or 20 and want to enjoy a drink on your cruise, choosing the right cruise line and itinerary is just as important as choosing the right destination.
Some cruise lines have even more unusual rules. Norwegian Cruise Line, for example, allows guests aged 18 to 20 to drink beer and wine only on certain sailings in international waters, provided a parent or legal guardian completes a waiver. Spirits are still off the menu until they turn 21.
Then there’s P&O Cruises, which has one of the most unusual policies of all. Guests aged 16 and 17 can be served modest amounts of beer, cider or wine with a meal, as long as they’re accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. It’s similar to the law in licensed restaurants in the UK—but yes, “modest amounts” is never actually defined.
When In Port, Local Laws Will Apply
If you’re under the drinking age on your cruise, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t drink at all. You may still be allowed to buy alcohol while you’re ashore if you’re visiting a destination where you’re legally old enough.
Similarly, there may be ports such as Amsterdam where you’re allowed to smoke weed ashore but not on the ship.
TODAY’S BEST CRUISE DEALS!
Don’t miss these offers…
Cruise line rules are about serving alcohol onboard, not preventing passengers from returning after a few drinks ashore. So if you’ve enjoyed a couple of beers or cocktails in port, you’ll normally be welcome back on the ship.
However, the same rules apply to everyone when it comes to excessive drinking. If you’ve had far too much to drink and you’re clearly intoxicated, you may not be allowed back onboard until it’s safe to do so.
It’s also worth remembering that cruise lines’ private islands follow the cruise line’s own rules rather than the local laws. So even though the legal drinking age in The Bahamas is 18, if the drinking age on your ship is 21, it’ll be 21 on the private island too.
Some Cruise Lines Have a Drinking Age of 18!
British cruise lines such as P&O Cruises, Fred. Olsen and Marella Cruises have a standard minimum drinking age of 18 on most of their sailings.
Most other cruise lines lower the drinking age to 18 on cruises that don’t visit the US, although there are some exceptions. Some have different rules for Alaska, Hawaii or the Middle East, while Carnival Cruise Line generally only lowers the drinking age on cruises based in Australia.
International Waters and Drinking Rules
The legal drinking age in international waters isn’t determined by where the ship is sailing at that moment. Instead, it’s usually based on the cruise line’s policy and the overall itinerary.
For most cruises that include a US or Middle East port, you won’t be able to drink at 18, even when the ship reaches international waters. However, a few cruise lines make limited exceptions, so it’s always worth checking the policy before you book.
Bahamas Cruises and Drinking Ages
The legal drinking age in The Bahamas is 18, so if you get off the ship and visit a local bar or restaurant, you’ll usually be able to drink legally at 18.
However, if you’re visiting one of the cruise lines’ private islands, the ship’s drinking age rules usually apply instead. So if the minimum drinking age on your cruise is 21, it’ll generally be 21 on the private island too.
Caribbean Cruises and Drinking Ages
Most Caribbean cruises either depart from or visit a US port. That means the minimum drinking age onboard is usually 21, even when you’re sailing through the Caribbean.
However, guests aged 18 to 20 can usually get off the ship and drink legally in local bars and restaurants on many Caribbean islands, provided they aren’t at a cruise line-owned destination.
Mexico Cruises and Drinking Ages
If a Mexican cruise itinerary doesn’t include a US port, guests aged 18 or over can usually drink onboard. However, if the cruise departs from or visits the US, the onboard drinking age is typically 21.
In that case, guests aged 18 to 20 can still drink while they’re ashore in Mexico, but not while they’re on the ship.
Carnival’s drinking age is usually 21, but…
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.
Read the Carnival Liquor & Beverage Policy and the amended Liquor & Beverage Policy for Australia cruises.
Norwegian Cruise Line lets 18-Year-Olds drink, Itinerary Permitting
18-year-olds are allowed to drink beer and wine on an NCL cruise, provided that the cruise does not have a US port on the itinerary. Also, an accompanying parent must be on the cruise and must sign the Young Adult Alcoholic Beverage Waiver, except on round-trip European and Australian cruises.
Read the NCL Liquor & Beverage Policy
Disney’s European Cruises Allow 18-Year-Olds to Drink
Guests on a Disney Cruise Line ship in Europe may drink alcohol if they are aged 18 to 20 and their parents or guardians on the same cruise sign a Beverage Consent Form. The form is not needed for round-trip cruises from Australia and New Zealand. Elsewhere in the world the drinking age on Disney ships is 21.
Read the Disney Cruise Line Alcohol Policy
Royal Caribbean Also Allows 18-Year-Olds to Drink In Select Situations
You can drink on a Royal Caribbean cruise if you are aged 18 or older and your cruise originated from a port in South America, Europe, Asia, Australia or New Zealand. Any other cruises have a drinking age of 21. The minimum drinking age is also 21 on Royal Caribbean’s private islands, regardless of where the cruise originated.
Read Royal Caribbean’s Alcohol Policy
Most MSC Cruises Allow 18-Year-Olds to Drink
MSC Cruises allows guests aged 18 and over to drink alcohol on most sailings. However, if the itinerary includes a US port, the minimum drinking age is 21 for the entire cruise.
Read MSC’s Boarding Conditions to see the alcohol policy. It’s a long document so use search to find the relevant section.
Legal Drinking Age by Cruise Line
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.
I’ve not added a column for cruises in the US or Middle East because the same rule applies across the board – if a cruise line is visiting a US port then the minimum drinking age is 21.
Even cruise lines like Fred Olsen and Marella Cruises, on their rare calls to North American ports, raise their typical drinking age to 21.
| Cruise Line | Drinking age on non-US or non-Middle East cruises |
|---|---|
| Azamara | 18 |
| Carnival | 21 |
| Celebrity Cruises | 18 |
| Costa Cruises | 18 |
| Cunard | 18 |
| Disney Cruise Line | 18 with parental permission |
| Fred. Olsen | 18 |
| Holland America Line | 18 (20 in Japan) |
| Hurtigruten Expeditions (HX) | 18 for beer and wine. 20 for spirits. |
| Marella Cruises | 18 |
| MSC Cruises | 18 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | 18 with parental permission. 18 without parental permission in Europe and Australasia only. Beer and wine only. |
| Oceania Cruises | 21 |
| P&O Cruises | 18 (16 with a meal) |
| Princess Cruises | 18 (20 in Japan) |
| Regent Seven Seas Cruises | 21 |
| Royal Caribbean | 18 |
| Seabourn Cruises | 18 |
| Silversea Cruises | 21 |
| Viking Cruises | 21 |
| Virgin Voyages | 18 |
Final Word
There you have it: the rules around the legal drinking age on cruise ships aren’t always as straightforward as they seem. Your age, the cruise line you choose, and even your itinerary can all affect whether you’re allowed to order a drink onboard.
If you’re under 21 and planning your first cruise, it’s also worth checking each cruise line’s policies on travelling independently. Some still class guests under 21 as minors, even if they’re legally adults.
To make things easier, take a look at my guide to the best cruises for 18-year-olds without parents. It covers which cruise lines let young adults sail independently, what the age rules are, and where you can enjoy your first cruise with fewer restrictions.
And whatever your age, remember to drink responsibly. A great cruise can quickly be spoiled if you overdo it, and serious alcohol-related incidents can even result in being removed from the ship at the next port.
TODAY’S BEST CRUISE DEALS!
Don’t miss these offers…
Brilliant info. Thanks so much
My family and I are going on a Caribbean cruise in December with P&O sailing from Barbados Can you please tell me if 19 year olds will be allowed to drink alcohol whilst onboard?
Yes, they will be able to.