Agent to Agent: Cruise Age Requirements

Dear Tammy: I have a few younger clients who want to go on a cruise when they turn 21 years old. After doing some research I'm finding that there are some cruises that will not allow them to stay in the cabin without a 25-year-old present. A 21-year-old is an adult, so why do they do this?

Tammy: Most cruise lines do allow 21-year-old's to book their own stateroom, and many of those allow minors to stay with them. By the age of 21, you can be married, vote, and drink, but some cruises won't let you book your own stateroom even though your 21 years old unless you have a 25-year-old staying in the room, too. Is there really a big difference in between a 21 year old being in charge and a 25 year old being in charge? I don't think so.

Costa is an example of a cruise line that requires any guests who are between the ages of 21 and 24 to have at least one person who is 25 years old or older staying in the same room with them. Costa doesn't do this for all of their cruise lines, just the ones that go to special destinations or have special itineraries. But still, why is it that a 21-year-old has to be supervised when they're already an adult? Why only when traveling to certain destinations?

Carnival, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, and Windstar Cruises all have policies in place that if any of the guests staying in a stateroom are under the age of 21 years old than a 25-year-old must also be in the same room within them.

Clipper, Cruise West, Oceania, Radisson Seven Seas, Sea Dream, and Windjammer are some of the many cruises that allow 18-year old's to book a stateroom. This makes complete sense as an 18-year-old is actually considered an adult.

Be sure to check for age requirements when it comes to the consumption of alcohol and gambling, too. Some cruise lines will serve any kind of alcohol to guests who are only 18 years old, with others only serving 18-year-old's beer or wine. When it comes to gambling, depending on the cruise line guests will need to be 18 years old, 21 years old and even 25 years old in order to gamble on the cruise line.