Is there an age limit for cruises?
The short answer
The age rules the cruise lines publish are minimum ages — for children, and for booking a cabin. None of the rules we checked sets a maximum age. What matters later in life is traveling safely: health cover, and any help you need getting around.
The age rules each line publishes
| Cruise line | What the line says | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival Cruise Line | Infants must be at least 6 months old on most itineraries | September 21, 2026 |
| Royal Caribbean International | Drinking age is 21 from North America, the UAE and the private destinations; 18 elsewhere | September 21, 2026 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Anyone under 21 is a minor and must be accompanied by a guest 21 or older | September 21, 2026 |
| MSC Cruises | A minor is anyone under 21 on voyages calling at a US port, and under 18 on voyages that do not | September 21, 2026 |
| Princess Cruises | Under-21s must share a stateroom with a guest 21 or older | September 24, 2026 |
| Celebrity Cruises | No guest under 21 is booked in a stateroom unless an adult 21 or older is with them | September 21, 2026 |
| Disney Cruise Line | 6 months old on most itineraries, and 1 year on transatlantic, Hawaii, Panama Canal and South Pacific | September 21, 2026 |
| Holland America Line | Nobody under 21 may book, and any guest under 21 must share a stateroom with someone 21 or older | September 21, 2026 |
| Virgin Voyages | 18 and over — every sailing is adults only | September 21, 2026 |
| Viking | 18 and over on the day of embarkation | September 21, 2026 |
| Cunard Line | Nobody under 21 may book, and any guest under 21 must share a stateroom with someone 21 or older | September 21, 2026 |
| Oceania Cruises | 18 and over on new bookings made from January 7, 2026 | September 24, 2026 |
If you want a ship with no children at all, choose a line that takes only adults: Virgin Voyages or Viking, or Oceania on bookings made from January 7, 2026. See best cruise lines for seniors.
Rather talk it through? Kathryn Lyn answers the phone.
Call (239) 357-0814Traveling safely at any age
- Ask your doctor about the trip, especially if you have a chronic condition.
- Buy travel medical insurance — Medicare usually does not cover you outside the U.S.
- Ask for wheelchair help at the terminal if walking long distances is hard.
- Travel with a companion if you need help with daily care — some lines do not provide personal care.
What the rules say
Medicare.gov: Medicare usually doesn't cover health care while you travel outside the U.S. Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa count as part of the U.S.
Source: Medicare.gov, checked September 26, 2026
Uniworld: Uniworld does not provide personal care or mobility devices such as wheelchairs or scooters, and some destinations have uneven ground, steps or areas not easily reached by wheelchair.
Source: Uniworld, checked September 28, 2026
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