Cruise Line Minimum Age Requirements
By Alara Shannon, Marketing | May 01, 2013 ( Comments)
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.
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, guardian or chaperone at least 21 years old; one adult chaperone is required for every five guests under the age of 21
Do note: A guest’s age is established upon the first date of the sailing. Holland America will not make any refunds for a Guest’s failure to provide proper proof of age or otherwise observing this requirement.
Traveling with minors on Holland America: Minors under the age of 18 traveling to foreign countries must be accompanied by both parents or have a notarized letter of consent signed by the parent(s) not traveling. If the other parent is deceased or the child has only one legal parent, a notarized statement must be obtained as proof. An iCruise.com Cruise Specialist can provide additional information about 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 Trans-ocean 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.
Children participating in the Club HAL® Youth Programs must be a minimum age of 3 years old and must be toilet trained. Children in pull-ups or diapers are not allowed in the youth facilities, due to mandates from US Public Health. Exceptions to this rule cannot be made.
There are Toddler Times available in the Club HAL for kids under 3 to play in the children’s facilities. Times will be listed in the daily newsletter. Parents must stay with their infants and toddlers at all times.
Club HAL’s port day activities as well as After Hours is available for children ages 3-12 who meet Club HAL’s eligibility requirements. Club HAL After Hours is available on all ships (except the ms Prinsendam) from 10:00pm – 12:00am for children 3 years and up.
Alcohol: Persons under 21 years of age are not permitted to consume alcoholic beverages on Holland America.
Casino: Guests under the age of 18 are not permitted to gamble or loiter in the casino and proof of age may be requested.
Fitness & Spa: The minimum age for guests using Holland America’s fitness center is 16 unless accompanied by an adult. Guests must be at least 18 years of age to receive treatments or utilize spa facilities on a Holland America ship unless participating in the kids and teen spa program. Salon services are available to guests of all ages.
Princess Cruises’ Shore Excursions Age Requirements: Guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult to participate in Holland America shore excursions. Some excursions require a minimum age to participate and will be noted accordingly.
Minors Traveling Ashore: Parents and guardians are responsible for deciding whether or not minors under age 16 are allowed to go ashore without adult supervision. If you want to permit a minor traveling with you to go ashore without an adult companion, please discuss this in advance with the ship’s Security Officer so that they can make a notation of this in Holland America’s gangway control system software. Absent this approval, the security personnel will generally prohibit minors from leaving the ship without an adult companion although they cannot provide absolute assurances in this regard. It is ultimately the responsibility of parents and guardians to ensure that minors traveling with them act in accordance with their instructions.
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 family groups booking multiple staterooms, the minimum age for each stateroom is 16 years of age, provided they are traveling with a parent or legal guardian.
Do note: A guest’s age is established upon the first date of the sailing. Princess 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 Asia, Orient & Africa, Australia & New Zealand, Hawaii, South America, Transatlantics & Transpacific itineraries. Minimum age for escorted land tours is 5 years old.
- 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 have to be a minimum age of 3 years or older to be eligible for Princess Cruises’ group kidsitting. Private babysitting is NOT available on any Princess ship.
Children participating in the Princess Youth and Teen Programs must be a minimum age of 3 years old and completely toilet trained (diaper/pull-up free). Children under the age of three, or those who are not potty-trained, may only be in the youth center when accompanied by an adult.
Alcohol: The U.S. legal drinking age of 21 years is always observed onboard a Princess Cruise and proof of age may be required. The age restriction is clearly posted in the bars. IMPORTANT NOTE: For the Sun Princess and Dawn Princess sailings that sail to/from Australia, the minimum drinking age onboard is 18 years old.
Pool Deck: Children under the age of 16 are not permitted in the swimming pool without supervision by a responsible adult. Children must be fully potty trained to enter pools or whirlpools (swim diapers are not permitted). 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.
Casino: No passenger under the age of 21 years is allowed to participate in gaming activities or loiter in the casino. Passengers under the age of 21 years may attend Bingo if they are accompanied by an adult 21 years or older, but they may not purchase or actively play a bingo ticket, nor may they claim a prize. IMPORTANT NOTE: For the Sun Princess and Dawn Princess sailings that sail to/from Australia, the minimum age is 18 years old.
Disco: Entry into the Disco on a Princess Cruise is limited to passengers 18 years and older. Please note, special children and teen discos will be scheduled at times during the cruise.
Lotus Spa: Guests must be 18 years or older to indulge in any body treatments at the Lotus Spa and at least 16 years of age to utilize the fitness facilities. Other Spa services are available through the YSpa to guests 13 years and older when accompanied by an adult.
Other adult areas on the ship may restrict minor passengers from using facilities without adult supervision. Passengers may consult Reception Desk or daily Princess Patter for information about such limitations.
Princess Cruises Shore Excursion Age Requirements: For most shore excursions, there is no minimum age for children as long as a parent or guardian accompanies them. Generally, unaccompanied children must be at least 18 years of age. Please note that parents are responsible for bringing a safety seat for their child, as they are not available from the tour operator. Also note that for snorkeling shore excursions – minimum age restrictions may apply and vary by tour.
