<p>For graduation some friends and I would like to go on a cruise. We've done some research and it seems like most cruises have some age requirements, usually 18 or 21 without a parent.. and there's about a 50/50 split in our group between 17 and 18 year olds. There are a few cruiseliness that say that as long as there's an 18 year old in the room it's fine, but there are only a few and none have the type of cruise we want. </p>
<p>Does anyone have any experience with this? I've also heard that they might not be strict with the age thing but I don't know how credible that is..</p>
<p>They are strict with the age limits so don't book something and then show up to board thinking they'll just let you on...they won't. </p>
<p>...I'm not sure where you've gotten your info but here's what I've found... "The lowest minimum age requirement for any cruise line is 18. The following cruise lines require that at least one person in each cabin is 18 or older: American West Steamboat Company, Cruise West, Cunard, Oceania, Orient Lines, P&O Cruises, Peter Deilmann, Regent (Radisson) Seven Seas Cruises, SeaDream, Star Clippers, Uniworld and Windjammer."... "The following cruise lines require that either 1) All passengers in a cabin must be 18 or older, or 2) If anyone in the cabin is younger than 18 years old, someone in the cabin must be 21 or older: Clipper, Disney Cruise Line, GAP Adventures, Princess Cruises, Silversea and Viking River Cruises. "</p>
<p>... most of the cruise lines that would allow you to go are higher end lines. Oceania, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, SeaDream, and Star Clippers are all pretty costly. Good luck!</p>
<p>If you're 18, you can buy alcohol on a cruise. And if you can't, for some odd reason I'm unaware of, you can always find someone to buy it for you or bring it with you. Especially if you are going over spring break, there will be plenty of college students w/ alcohol. Buying alcohol on a cruise is very costly, though. Very.</p>
<p>I wouldn't advise drinking on a cruise though. I had the WORST experience on a cruise, and it had nothing to do with alcohol. First of all, I went during spring break. Well, basically, if you go on any of the major break weeks, esp. the first few weeks of summer, all the standard cruise lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean...) will be crowded. Anyway, I thought it would be fun. What I did not consider was that being stuck at sea for five days with thousands of people I did not know would NOT be fun. For one thing, I got stalked, and I was only like 13 so I ended up hanging out w/ my parents for most of the time. The food was terrible. I mean, if you want to gain weight, go on a cruise. Also, if you want to see fat people in string bikinis and speedos, go on a cruise. Basically, if you really enjoy good ol' American entertainment, go on a cruise. Like, there was a hairy chest contest. Also, everyone was smoking. Everyone. The cruise line also hires poor foreigners to work on the cruise for slave wages, so you can leave feeling guilty about that. Also, my mom almost got left in Jamaica. My dad and I asked the officials if they could put off leaving for a few minutes, but they refused. Luckily my mom made it back.</p>
<p>Anyway, um, have fun or something like that! Again, I would not advise drinking on a cruise for common sense reasons. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>There are sick people on cruises. Think about it: If you're a rapist, where's the best place to be? On a boat with drunk college students. </p></li>
<li><p>Cruise officials will not look out for your safety. Drank too much and get left in Jamaica? Well, if you aren't kidnapped by a poor Jamacain who could sell you into slavery, that's your parents credit card, and, whoops, you've lost all their trust right before college. </p></li>
<li><p>Besides rapists and stalkers, there will be plenty of men looking to take advantage of naive, drunk teenagers. </p></li>
<li><p>It's way too easy to fall overboard. And, trust me, that boat is NOT turning around.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>oh haha so I wasn't really talking about drinking, I was talking about which cruises would let us go without parents (because like I said, I'm 17 and so are several of my friends) because it seems like most of them want people to be at least 18..</p>
<p>so for any of you who have gone without parents, were you under 18 at the time/which cruiseline was it?</p>
<p>I was just doing tons of research myself on this topic. I'm a college Frosh and my friend is graduating high school. We're going on a cruise this summer.</p>
<p>The only cruise line that would offer a good time and meet your age restrictions is Princess. Princess is a step above Carnival, but no where near the other lines that were listed in price. Princess requires all passengers to be at least 18 unless accompanied by a person 21 and over.</p>
<p>It is definitely possible to have a good time on a cruise without alcohol. Needless to say, however, if you look old enough most likely the bartender is not going to ID you, and obtaining a fake ID is not that hard these days.</p>
<p>Every cruise line that I know of has a policy that if one guest is 17, there needs to be someone 21+ in that room. The only cruise line that I know of that lets you book if you're under 21 is Princess but I believe you'd still need someone 21+ if there are minors. Also, I'd plan on packing your liquor since many cruise lines are 21+ for cruises that leave American ports like Royal Caribbean.</p>
<p>In order to drink legally on a cruise if you are under 21, the majority of cruise lines require a form signed by the parent saying it is okay. They also limit it to beer and wine, in most cases. Cruise lines are getting very strict, no one is going to take on the liability of a bunch of drunk 18 year olds. Another person going overboard is just what the cruise industry needs right now.</p>
<p>I went on a 7 day cruise over Christmas and am going on a 15 day Europeon Cruise for graduation, I can't wait. We are spending a few days in Rome pre-cruise and London post-cruise. In International waters and leaving from Europeon Ports the drinking age is 18 but I will only be 17 - doesn't matter because I don't drink:)</p>