Infants sailing on board a Norwegian Cruise Line vessel must be at least six months of age. However, for voyages that have three or more consecutive days at sea, the infant must be at least 12 months old. When on board, a minor is defined as an individual under 18 years of age at the time of embarkation.

The minimum age to sail on a Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) vessel in 2026 is 6 months old at the time of embarkation. However, there is a significant exception for specific itineraries: for any cruise that includes three or more consecutive days at sea, the infant must be at least 12 months old. This policy is in place because the onboard medical facilities, while advanced, are not equipped to handle pediatric emergencies for very young infants over long periods away from land-based hospitals. Additionally, NCL has strict rules regarding cabin occupancy: guests under 21 years of age must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older in the same or a connecting stateroom. For travelers between 18 and 20, they are considered "young adults" and can enjoy most ship amenities but cannot purchase alcohol on US-based sailings unless a "Parental Consent Form" is signed by a parent/guardian also traveling on the ship for beer and wine in international waters.