A common, and important, frequently asked question of ours at iCruise.com is “How old do you have to be to take a cruise?”

For the safe and security of every passenger, each cruise line has a minimum age requirement in place for many areas of the ship, from actual embarkation to fitness centers.

We’ve put together a guide of each area onboard that implements an age restriction. Please note that this was the most accurate information at the time of this article, policies are subject to change. Please discuss any concerns with your travel agent.

Carnival Cruise Line Age Requirements

Guests under the age of 21 are not permitted onboard unless:

• Traveling in the same stateroom with an individual 25 years or older
• Traveling in the same stateroom with their spouse (proof of age and/or proof of marriage are required)
• Traveling with a parent or guardian in an accompanying stateroom.

Do note: A guest’s age is established upon the first date of the sailing. Carnival will not make any refunds for a Guest’s failure to provide proper proof of age or marriage or otherwise observing this requirement.

Infants must be at least 6 months old at the time of sailing to board the ship. Infants must be at least 12 months old on Transatlantic, South America and Hawaii itineraries at the time of sailing.

• This requirement is due to the limitations of medical care onboard, especially prenatal and early infant care facilities. Treatment may be required that is not obtainable during the cruise or in ports of call.
• Guests must bring their infant’s birth certificate on embarkation day. The child may not turn six months during the cruise; it must be by the first day. Example: if cruise departs February 6, the child must be at least six months on or before February 6.
• Denial of boarding for infants who do not satisfy these minimum age requirements may also result in the denial of boarding for one or more guests sailing with that infant.

Guests under 18 are not allowed in the casino.

Fitness facilities are available to minor guests when accompanied by an adult.

Salon services are available to guests of all ages.

Guests must be at least 18 years of age to reserve spa treatments online and to receive treatments or utilize spa facilities.

• Onboard guests will have the opportunity to book a treatment from Carnival’s ZSpa menu for teens, a selection of services for guests between the ages of 13-17.

Shore Excursions: Guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult to participate in shore excursions. Some excursions require a minimum age to participate and will be noted accordingly.

• Children under 3, who do not occupy a seat, will not be charged and do not require a ticket unless noted in the shore excursion description.
• Children between the ages of 4 to 12 years and teens between the ages of 13 to 18 years will be charged full adult price or special child/teen prices, when applicable and noted.
• Children 12 and under are required to wear life jackets at all times while onboard any fishing boat. Children must weigh 40 pounds or more to fit the life jacket and participate in a fishing excursion.

Celebrity Cruises’ Age Requirements

Guests under the age of 21 are not permitted onboard unless:

• Traveling in the same stateroom with an individual 21 years or older
• Traveling with a parent or guardian in a stateroom directly next door or directly across the hall
• Traveling in the same stateroom with their spouse (proof of marriage required)
• An active duty member of the United States or Canadian military (proof of active duty military status required)

Do note: A guest’s age is established upon the first date of the sailing. Celebrity Cruises will not make any refunds for a Guest’s failure to provide proper proof of age or marriage or active military status or otherwise observing this requirement.

Infants must be at least 6 months old at the time of sailing to board the ship. Infants must be at least 12 months old on Transatlantic, Transpacific, select South America and Hawaii cruises/cruisetours at the time of sailing.

Any cruise that has 3 or more consecutive days at sea will require infants to be 12 months old on the first day of the cruise/CruiseTour.

• This requirement is due to the limitations of medical care onboard, especially prenatal and early infant care facilities. Treatment may be required that is not obtainable during the cruise or in ports of call.
• Guests must bring their infant’s birth certificate on embarkation day. The child may not turn six months during the cruise; it must be by the first day. Example: if cruise departs February 6, the child must be at least six months on or before February 6.
• Denial of boarding for infants who do not satisfy these minimum age requirements may also result in the denial of boarding for one or more guests sailing with that infant.

Children must be fully potty trained to enter pools or whirlpools (no swim diapers). United States Public Health Department Policy (USPH) prohibits persons who are not toilet trained or use diapers, pull-ups or swimmers from using pools or whirlpool.

Children have to be twelve months old or older to be eligible for in-stateroom sitting. Babysitting services are available through the Cabin Services Desk onboard all Celebrity ships (except Celebrity Xpedition).

Children participating in the Celebrity Youth Program and Slumber Parties must be a minimum age of 3 years old and completely toilet trained (diaper/pull-up free). Toddler Time interactive play is available for children under the age of 3 that are not yet potty trained, they must be accompanied by a parent.

You must be 18 years of age to book a spa treatment:

• For those guests between the ages of 13 -17, Celebrity offers a special YSPA menu for teens, or you may ask the Spa Manager about other treatment options for younger guests.

Guests under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or adult in the theater, fitness center, whirlpools and Thalassotherapy pool (during inclement weather and select hours, the ship may permit the Thalassotherapy Pool (if covered) to be used by persons under age 16 provided they are directly supervised by a parent or guardian).

Guests under the age of 18, 16-17 years old, must be accompanied by a parent or adult in ports of call, Bingo games, AquaSpa, Casino (except Alaska*) and Adult Night Club/Disco**.

*For all Alaska itineraries, guests must be 21 years of age or older to gamble in the casino.

** The minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on all Celebrity Cruises‘ ships is 21 years of age. However, on ships in Europe, South America and Australia, where the legal drinking age is lower than 21, a parent who is sailing with children between the ages of 18 to 20, may sign a waiver allowing the 18 to 20 year old to consume alcoholic beverages. The 18- to 20 year-old must agree to comply with Celebrity Cruises’ policies, including among other things, agreeing to not provide alcoholic beverages to any other person, regardless of age. Restrictions apply, and this policy is subject to change without notice. An individual’s age on the date of sailing determines his or her status for the entire cruise vacation.

About Alara Shannon, Cruise & Travel Writer

Alara has traveled extensively since an early age. After the birth of her daughter, when an opportunity for a career in cruise travel presented itself, Alara decided to re-enter the workforce. She hopped on board with one of the largest cruise agencies and excelled in both cruise sales and customer service. This led to the chance to dive headfirst into the Internet Marketing world; taking on the roles of resident Bloggess, custom content creator and social media expert. Beyond a love of anything travel related, her life revolves around her family of four (husband + 2 little ones), writing, playing piano, coffee, recycling, and crafting (well, attempting to craft). Her dream destination? New Zealand!