Enjoying the last of your teen years is seen as one of the best times of your life. A cruise ship is one of the most exciting places to spend this time as there is so much to do and see – however you must keep in mind that the legal ages that apply in the UK don’t always apply in other destinations. To make sure you don’t plan a night out and get stuck at the door, here’s a quick guide to drinking and gambling age restrictions onboard a cruise ship.

Drinking

If sailing in European waters, then you are safe and legal to drink at the age of 18 onboard most cruise ships. ID must be used onboard between the ages of 18 and 21, and sometimes you will need to be accompanied by someone over 21.

In other destinations outside of Europe, the legal drinking age tends to be 21. Cruise lines do have the right to change this according to where in the world they are, so make sure you check with staff onboard before you try to order a martini and get rejected.

Gambling 

Onboard most ships, there is a casino – with some ships also having a video arcade. On most ships you will need to be at least 18 to participate in any gambling activities. Proof of age should be brought onboard so you won’t be turned away from having some fun and trying to win some money. Onboard certain ships the minimum gambling age is 21.

The ages above are general guidelines, contacting us or the cruise line directly will allow you to find out what rules they apply.