Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line share surprising ban
Carnival's rules just went affect while Royal Caribbean's ban has been in place longer but has some exceptions.
Americans have never really agreed as to what age makes you a legal adult.
In most areas, you're an adult when you turn 18. At that age, you are considered to be of the age required to consent to sexual relations, and nearly every state allows you to marry once you turn 18 (although a few require parental permission).
!8-year-olds can vote, rent a hotel, and gamble in many (but not all) casinos across the country. All 18-year-olds can get a driver's license, but they can't rent most cars, and there's no state where they can legally drink alcohol.
Basically, the United States has left some questions of when someone becomes an adult to the states. That has created the confusing situation where an 18-year-old can die in service to their country but can't have a drink to toast a fallen compatriot.
Most states allow 18-year-olds to rent hotel rooms but you won't generally be able to rent a car until you are 25. That's a car insurance thing, and there are some companies that make exceptions, but generally, an 18-year-old is out of luck in this area.
Cruise lines also have some inconsistent rules when it comes to age. 18-year-olds can gamble in their casinos, but they cannot drink on any cruises leaving from the U.S. Even though many ports allow 18-year-olds to drink while visiting, all the major cruise lines follow U.S. law when sailing from American ports.
Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival, however, have a surprising ban that impacts passengers under the age of 18.
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Carnival's ban just came into effect
Carnival Cruise Line recently banned passengers under the age of 21 from traveling on their own.
"Guests are required to be 21 years of age (on embarkation day) to travel on their own. Guest ages will be verified at embarkation. Guests not conforming to this policy will result in denied boarding and no compensation will be provided at embarkation. For additional minor age restriction guidelines while on board," the cruise line shared on its website.
That's a change from its previous policy, where passengers 18 and older could be booked into their own cabin.
However, people under 21 do not need to travel with their parents.
"Guests 20 years of age and younger MUST travel with a relative or guardian 25 years of age or older (guardian does not need to be a legal guardian)," the cruise line shared.
This policy seems to be intended to make sure you don't get groups of college-aged kids traveling without someone at least 25 years old in their group. It's a ban designed to make sure that there's at least one "adult" in the cabin, even though that word has limited legal meaning.
Royal Caribbean has a similar ban
While Carnival's rules just changed Feb. 1, Royal Caribbean has had similar rules in place for a longer term. The cruise line, however, does allow 18-year-olds to sail unaccompanied in some cases.
"Royal Caribbean's minimum age to sail unaccompanied on sailings originating in North America is twenty-one (21)," it shared on its website.
The rules, however, are different in other markets around the world.
"Royal Caribbean's minimum age to sail unaccompanied on sailings originating in South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand is eighteen (18)," it posted.
The cruise line also noted that their might be situations where the rules are different.
"The company retains the right, on rare occasions, to raise the minimum age to sail unaccompanied on any sailing when local laws require or permit such a modification," it declares on its website.
Royal Caribbean made it clear that no guest younger than the age of 21 will be assigned to a stateroom unless accompanied in the same stateroom by an adult 21 years old or older. A guest's age is established upon the first date of sailing.
"This age limit will be waived for children sailing with their parents or guardians in connecting staterooms; for underage married couples; and for active duty members of the United States or Canadian military," it shared. "Certain other restrictions and conditions will apply; such as compliance with the age twenty-one (21) alcohol policy, and proof of marriage for underage couples or proof of active duty military status required."
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