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Can a 16 year old go on a cruise by themselves?

Children aged 16 and 17 have to be accompanied by an adult to cruise. However, at this age, they are generally allowed to stay in their own cabin and can do things alone on the ship, such as attending shows in the theatre, going to the gym, and leaving the ship by themselves without your permission.



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Children who are under the age of 18 must have an adult traveling with them who has both control and custody over them. A parent or guardian is required to complete and submit a minor authorization form prior to embarkation.

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For sailings departing from U.S. homeports, an official US state-issued Birth Certificate is also accepted. Guests age 16 and older that present an official US state-issued Birth Certificate will also need to provide a valid Driver's License or picture ID issued by the government.

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On all cruises and cruise journeys, minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied and share a cabin with a parent, legal guardian or other responsible adult over the age of 21.

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If you have joint custody and your child is under 16 then both parents will need to grant permission and the child will need a passport. Again, child custody arrangements can vary from one family to another, so be sure to review your agreement before taking a trip.

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In lieu of a passport, children are able to use a U.S. state-issued original or certified copy of their birth certificate (hospital certificates are not acceptable) or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization as proof of citizenship for entry into the U.S. by land or by sea.

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In most areas of the world, the minimum drinking age is anywhere from 16 to 18, so it is possible to find a cruise that adheres to this minimum. 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.

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Though Royal Caribbean doesn't explicitly define a fleetwide set curfew time in its guest policy, it leaves curfews to the discretion of the ship's Captain and underscores that parents and guardians are responsible for the behavior and appropriate supervision of their accompanying minor(s) and young adult(s) ...

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Guests must be 21 years of age or older to be served alcohol on board. Proper I.D with birth date is required. In keeping with U.S. federal law, the age for the sale of tobacco products is 21. This policy is for U.S.-based itineraries/ships only.

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What is Kids Sail Free promotion? How do my kids qualify? Kids sail free is a limited time promotional offer that allows for guests 12 or younger to receive a free cruise fare. This offer is only available during active dates.

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A few lines (including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess and Norwegian) allow 18- to 20-year-olds to drink alcohol in international waters if their parent or adult guardian signs a waiver form.

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Guests must be 21 years of age or older to be served alcohol on board. Proper I.D with birth date is required. In keeping with U.S. federal law, the age for the sale of tobacco products is 21. This policy is for U.S.-based itineraries/ships only.

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Travelers under the age of 18 must travel with an adult over the age of 18. Children under the age of 16 must have a passenger who is 16 or older share their cabin. Minimum age to leave a P&O ship on your own: Guests must be 17 or older to go on a ship-sponsored shore excursion on their own.

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Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival has one of the loosest beverage policies of all cruise lines, allowing each guest to carry on a maximum of 12 sealed 12 oz. cans or cartons of a non-alcoholic beverage (e.g., sodas, juices, milk, or sparkling water) – a policy that most cruise lines have eliminated.

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Typically, you'll need a notarized letter of consent, signed by the other parent (include contact information), saying that you have permission to take your children out of the country on the specific dates and specific cruise and to sign activity waivers and make medical decisions for the child when traveling.

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If your child is traveling alone, with only one parent, or with a non-legal guardian, they will require a Child Travel Consent signed by both parents or legal guardians. A Child Travel Consent is sometimes called a letter of permission to travel.

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However, in general, minors under the age of 18 are required to be accompanied by a responsible adult in the same stateroom or a connecting stateroom. Some cruise lines may have family suites or cabins that can accommodate families with children. These cabins may have a separate sleeping area for children or bunk beds.

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For U.S. citizens: For Round Trip cruises from the U.S. that DO NOT include Panama or Colombia, U.S. citizens 17 and under will be able to present either an original, notarized or certified copy of their birth certificate, or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issues by DOS AND a valid Government Issued ID.

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What is this? It provides free cruise fare for third guests and higher who are 12 years old and younger as of departure date on sailings 3 nights or longer booked in the same stateroom as the first two qualifying guests in a triple or quad occupancy stateroom.

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