Can a 17 year old go on a cruise without a parent?

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.



Generally, the answer is no; nearly all major cruise lines (including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Disney) require at least one person in the stateroom to be 21 years of age or older. A 17-year-old cannot book a cruise or sail as a solo passenger. However, there are a few nuances. If the 17-year-old is traveling with a group (such as a school trip or a large family) and a parent or legal guardian is on the same ship, they may be allowed to stay in their own cabin, provided that cabin is adjacent to or directly across the hall from the adult's room. If a 17-year-old is traveling with an adult who is not their legal parent or guardian (like a grandparent or a friend's parent), they must carry a notarized Letter of Consent signed by both parents authorizing the travel and any medical treatment. Some European river cruise lines or smaller niche lines may have slightly different age requirements, but for the standard Caribbean or Mediterranean "big ship" experience, a minor under 18 must always be accompanied by an adult. Always check the specific "Age Policy" of your chosen cruise line before booking, as these rules are strictly enforced at the pier.

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Are there any cruise lines that allow a 17-year-old to travel with an 18-year-old? Passengers on a cruise line must be 21 to travel alone. Anybody under the age of 21 must be travelling with a parent or legal guardian and provide proof.

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Children aged 17 years and under will require a passport or Birth Certificate to travel or government issued photo ID.

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Royal Caribbean's minimum age to sail unaccompanied on sailings originating in North America is twenty-one (21). Royal Caribbean's minimum age to sail unaccompanied on sailings originating in South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand is eighteen (18).

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Passengers under 21 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or chaperone who is at least 25 years old; one adult chaperone is required for every five people under 21. Parents, guardians and chaperones are responsible for overseeing the onboard conduct of minors.

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Passengers under 21 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or chaperone who is at least 25 years old; one adult chaperone is required for every five people under 21.

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Sit by the pool, relax and enjoy the ocean view. Read a book. Play games on your phone/tablet, do a crossword book. Participate in ship activities - mini golf, court sports, cornhole.

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At night, supervised teen programming may include interactive games, video game or arcade play, and late-night dance parties. The teen lounges will likely be open for general socializing, as well.

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What is the drinking age on board? The drinking age in international waters is 18, in the United States it's 21, and in other ports, we'll go with whatever their country's laws specify.

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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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Children traveling with adults who are not their parent or legal guardian must present an original, notarized consent form signed by the legal guardian and authorizing them to take the child on the specific cruise, including activities, excursions and allowing emergency medical treatment to be administered if needed.

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Drinking Alcoholic Beverages / Tobacco Products 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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Infants must be at least 6 months of age at the time of embarkation in order to sail. Children must be at least 12 months of age at the time of embarkation to sail on trans-ocean crossings and remote itineraries, where there are more than 2 consecutive sea days.

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Most cruise lines welcome children to travel on their ships, though infants and pregnant women are subject to some restrictions (click here to read more). Families booking more than one cabin may be subject to minimum age requirements for kids staying in a separate cabin.

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If the child does not have a photo ID, the following will be accepted: Original birth certificate. Certified copy of the birth certificate. Medicare card*

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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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For U.S. Sailings only, U.S. Citizens may cruise using an official US state-issued Birth Certificate and a supporting Government Issued Photo ID, like a driver's license or an identity card.

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Traveling with a child that is not your own Are you traveling with a grandchild, niece, nephew, or other child that you are not the guardian of? When a minor (age 17 and under) travels without their legal guardian, an accompanying adult must present a notarized form signed by the child's guardian.

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It is true that a parent who has sole custody of their child or children does not need permission from the other parent to travel domestically or abroad. Parents with sole custody will have to provide their court-ordered custody arrangement to get the child's passport.

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