Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships By Age

What Permission To Travel Or Consent To Travel Letters Do

A consular officer at the U.S. Office of Childrens Issues verified that many countries require a Permission to Travel letter with parents notarized signatures, plus identification for the child , and that both are essential.

Consular Information Sheets issued by the U. S. Department of State often carry this warning: In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry/exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the childs travel from the parent or legal guardian if not present. Having such documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry/departure.

A CBP spokesperson recommends that all travelers read the helpful online resource Know Before You Go.

A Cruise Ship Dancer And Musician Reveal What It’s Like To Be Entertainers At Sea

• From actors to musicians, cruise ships employee dozens of performers to entertain guests on board.
• A Royal Caribbean singer and dancer told Insider what it’s like to live and work on a cruise ship.
• Singer and popular TikToker Bryan James says the gig is “one of the best jobs on the planet.”

Acrobats, ballroom dancers, rock bands, aerialists, and actors nearly every entertainment job you can think of exists onboard a cruise ship somewhere.

According to singer Bryan James, who started working on cruises in 2017 and is currently onboard Royal Caribbean’s largest ship, the Wonder of the Seas, the gig is “one of the best jobs on the planet.”

That’s how the 35-year-old described it to his nearly 700,000 TikTok followers, who are endlessly fascinated by his behind-the-scenes footage of cruise life, with videos documenting everything from what crew members eat in a day to staff lifeboat training.

“When you’re like a gigging musician like me, it’s just a hustle on land,” James told Insider. “Ships really allow you to have a very anxiety-free existence.”

In the hierarchy of ship workers, entertainers are pretty close to the top. Whereas most crew members work 10 hours a day, seven days a week, James performs around three hours a day and usually has one full day off from performing each week.

In a $7 billion industry tasked with engaging thousands of passengers stuck onboard a ship together for up to days at a time, entertainment is the name of the game.

How Do You Measure How Big A Cruise Ship Is

Cruise ships are measured by their gross tonnage, which can be a confusing metric to understand.

Gross tonnage is a nonlinear measure of a ship’s overall internal volume.

What?

Basically, this is a way to measure passenger vessels by volume and not weight. This is the standard way to measure how cruise ships compare to each other because of how designs can vary greatly.

Also Check: What Cruise Lines Match Loyalty Programs

What About When Kids Need Some Downtime

When some quiet time is needed, Royal Caribbean’s libraries offer a family section filled with titles suitable for kids and a comfy reading area to relax in.

Teens might also appreciate the special pampering treatments available at the spa. The YSPA program offers a dedicated menu for 13 to 17 year olds, featuring a selection of massages, facials, hair treatments and, for 16-17-year-olds only, Fitness Frenzy classes in the aerobic studio, which is a fun way to bond with similar aged kids onboard.

To attend the spa, teens must have parental consent, with strict protocols in place, which means for teens under 16, a parent or guardian has to be present during the treatment.

Royal Caribbean Ships By Age Newest To Oldest 2022

by Joe Miragliotta Jul 7, 2022

Are you looking to book a Royal Caribbean cruise but want to know the age of the ship, its itinerary, and how many people it can hold? Youve come to the right place.

Im a huge cruise fan but that doesnt mean I will book just any itinerary. Knowing what the ship has to offer, especially how new or old it is always plays a major role in how I book a cruise. This is why I created this post to break down Royal Caribbean ships by age, class, and how many guests they can accommodate.

Royal Caribbeans Odyssey of the Seas top deck

This post should help those looking to book the newest ships with the latest and greatest technology Royal Caribbean has to offer. If there is something you would like to see included dont hesitate to reach out via or shoot me an email.

Recommended Reading: Do Disney Cruises Have Casinos

P& o Cruises Age Policy

Minimum age to cruise with P& O Cruises: Babies must be at least 6 months old to sail on most P& O cruises. The minimum age is 12 months on select cruises with remote itineraries or numerous consecutive days at sea. Adults-only ships require guests to be 18 years or older to sail.

Rules for cruising alone on P& O Cruises: Passengers must be at least 18 years old to travel on their own. Travelers under the age of 18 must travel with an adult over the age of 18. Children under the age of 16 must have a passenger who is 16 or older share their cabin.

Minimum age to leave a P& O ship on your own: Guests must be 17 or older to go on a ship-sponsored shore excursion on their own.

P& O cruise venues with age restrictions: Passengers must be 18 years or older to enter the casino, book spa treatments and use spa facilities on their own.

Spa treatments are available for ages 14 to 17 years old with parental supervision. Salon treatments are also available under age 14 with parental supervision. Guests 14 to 16 years old can use the cardio equipment in the gym if accompanied by a guardian 18 years or older, but only passengers 17 years and over can use the weights. Passengers under 18 years might have restricted access to specific pools.

What Makes Oasis Class Ships The Best For Kids

The Adventure Ocean kids clubs on Oasis-class ships are expansive, spanning up to 29,000-square-feet, including designated areas for babies, toddlers, kids, tweens and teens. Amenities include a theater, arts and crafts at the Imagination Studio, the Adventure Science Lab, plus a fun video arcade and DJ academy.

Royal Caribbean is also certified as autism-friendly, which extends to the kids’ clubs. Oasis-class ships offer toys that can be loaned to families for in-cabin use plus movies, games and activities suitable for children with autism.

Adventure Ocean kids clubs are broken out into three groups, plus teens. All kids have to be signed into and out of the clubs by a parent or guardian and must be toilet trained.

Aquanauts : The dedicated Aquanauts space features a colorful plastic slide, while fun programing might include finger painting, building blocks, storytelling, music activities and dressing up activities.

Explorers : Treasure hunts, face painting, arts and crafts, sports competitions and age-appropriate science lab experiments fill the Explorers’ action-packed program.

Voyagers : This set gets a fun program that includes movie time, science lab experiments such as volcano building, trivia, sports competitions, gaming time, talent shows and discos.

Supervised activities for Aquanauts, Explorers and Voyagers takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., though times can occasionally vary depending on port/sea days programing.

Don’t Miss: Best Months To Cruise Alaska

Princess Cruises Age Policy

Minimum age to cruise with Princess Cruises: Babies must be 6 months to sail on Princess Cruises in general. However, they must be 12 months to sail on trans-ocean crossings and remote itineraries with two or more consecutive sea days.

Rules for cruising alone on Princess: Guests must be 21 years old to travel on their own. Travelers under the age of 21 must travel with a passenger who is at least 21 years old. At least one passenger in every cabin must be 16 years old or older for cabins with solely guests under the age of 21, their reservation must be linked to that of a parent or legal guardian in another cabin.

Minimum age to leave a Princess ship on your own: Guests must be 18 years of age or older to go on a ship-sponsored shore excursion on their own, although a few operators may allow an unaccompanied passenger under 18 with a waiver signed by the parent or guardian in the operatorâs presence.

Princess cruise venues with age restrictions: Passengers must be 18 years old to use the casino . Guests must be at least 18 years old to get a body treatment at the spa and enter the disco after 10 p.m., 16 to use the gym and 13 to access spa services . Children under 13 can attend evening entertainment shows when accompanied by an adult. The Sanctuary and Retreat are for adults over age 18 only.

Difference Between New And Old Royal Caribbean Ships

If you are planning to book a Royal Caribbean cruise, you might have a lot of questions in your mind.

One of the most prominently asked questions is the difference between new and old Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

Below is everything you need to do to help you decide whether to book an old or new cruise ship from Royal Caribbean.

Recommended Reading: Hotels Near Carnival Cruise Port Miami

Easy Guide On Royal Caribbean Ships By Age

Find out about Royal Caribbean ships by age including the newest and oldest ship in the fleet. Cover the Oasis-class and even future class cruise ships.

One of the biggest cruise lines in the world is Royal Caribbean and its ever-evolving fleet of small to mega-sized ships. The cruise line is investing heavily in upgrading even the older ships so just because a ship was built years ago it could still be just as fresh and new and more recent builds.

What If I Am Caught Drinking While Underage

The rules are very clear about drinking on a cruise and in port. If you are under 21, you better wait until you arrive at a port before taking a sip. If you are under 18, then most ports and the cruise ship are off limits.

But what if you decide to sneak a drink anyway?

If you are on the cruise ship, theres a chance that it could end your trip early. Royal Caribbean makes the following statement:

Guests who violate any alcohol policies, , may be disembarked or not allowed to board, at their own expense, in accordance with our Guest Conduct Policy.

While getting kicked off the ship may be a possibility, we find it unlikely. Thats not to suggest that you try and test your luck.

If you are caught drinking underage while in port, you are subject to the laws of that country. Depending on the country, that could mean serious legal issues at worst. At best, it could make you sweat getting back to the ship in time for departure.

Recommended Reading: What Is An Adults Only Cruise

Each Cruise Line Has Different Minimum Age Policies

The cruise industry operates in its own world in many aspects because they are fundamentally international operations. As such, youll find a variety of different lines having similar policies but with different details. It is incredibly frustrating when by all means, someone at 18 here in the US is considered an adult, can buy a house, fly to Europe and rent a hotel but, generally speaking, cant book a cruise. To add to the confusion, the 21 age restriction isnt specifically a drinking age issue because some lines allow you to drink at 18 in international waters with parent or guardian signing a waiver to confirm they accept the responsibility.

It is also important to note that just as the minimum age to book a cruise and drink on the cruise varies from line to line, so do a variety of other policies on the ship. These include things such as access to different venues such as comedy clubs, casino, and certain adults only areas such as Carnivals Serenity area where you need to be at least 21 to enter.

That being said though, with the exception of drinking and gambling where there are specific legal restrictions, most other policies are entirely at the discretion of the individual cruise line, ship, and crew, so for instance, a mature and respectful 20-year-old traveling with their 25-year-old companion will probably have no problem entering the Serenity deck on a Carnival cruise.

Recommended Reading: Best Cruise Line For Adults To Alaska

Cunard Line Age Policy

Minimum age to cruise with Cunard: Babies must be at least 6 months old to board most Cunard cruises. Transatlantic and world cruises are exceptions to this rule as the minimum age aboard these types of cruises is 12 months.

Rules for cruising alone on Cunard: Passengers must be at least 18 years old to cruise on their own with Cunard cruises. An adult who is 18+ years of age must be staying in the same room as a minor who is at or below the age of 16. Children who are 16 and 17 years old, however, can be in the same cabin together and alone, but there must be an 18+ year old adult in accompaniment in a separate cabin.

Minimum age to leave a Cunard ship on your own: In order to attend ship-sponsored shore excursions alone, guests must be 18 years of age or older. No minor can be allowed to stay onboard without adult supervision.

Cunard cruise venues with age restrictions: The casino, gambling altogether and the fitness center are only to be used by passengers 18 or older or 21 in U.S. waters. Children can utilize spa services and the gym if they are 16 to 17 years old, but only if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian .

Don’t Miss: Royal Princess Cruise Ship Deck Plans

Projects On Hold Or Abandoned

The public is at the mercy of Royal Caribbean to give updates on projects, or for there to be statements made as a matter of public record, to get a sense of any progress.

Many projects were announced before 2020 that are at best on hold, or perhaps even canceled. These are projects and ideas Royal Caribbean announced at one time, but there has not been an update in quite some time.

The Royal Amplified program, which upgrades Oasis, Freedom, and Voyager Class ships, has been on hold since the start of the pandemic. Ships like Allure of the Seas, which was due for amplification in 2020, do not have any enhancements scheduled.

In addition, the Royal Beach Club in Antigua, which was originally supposed to be finished by 2021, appears to be on hold. While Royal Caribbean still plans to build a Royal Beach Club there, their priority is to finalize the Royal Beach Club in Nassau first.

Likewise, there have not been any new updates on a Perfect Day makeover for Labadee.

Lastly, while Royal Caribbean originally planned to purchase the Grand Lucayan Resort in Freeport, Bahamas, the sale was determined, as stated by Bahamian administration, to not be in the best interest of the Bahamian people.

What Cruise Lines Allow Drinking At 18

All US cruise ships in US waters adhere to the legal drinking age law of 21. US waters are considered territorial waters extending 12 nautical miles from the baseline, the low waterline of the coast.

Many cruise lines allow 18-year-olds to drink alcohol if they depart from international waters, even if it is a US cruise line.

These include:

Read Also: Which Cruise Lines Depart From Los Angeles

Are New Royal Caribbean Ships Better

New Royal Caribbean ships feature better technology, more activities, modern facilities, and updated decor. While old vessels are refreshed every three to five years, they simply dont compare to the range of amenities and features offered by newer cruise ships.

However, many older Royal Caribbean cruise ships have undergone significant renovations thanks to the Royal Amplified program. Through the program, older Royal Caribbean vessels received substantial upgrades to bring their amenities closer to those of newer ships.The program is more than the usual ship refurbishment. Each vessel in the program received upwards of $165 million in renovations to add new activities, entertainment, and dining options with an overhaul to the pool deck.

In our opinion, Amplified Royal Caribbean ships are on par with newer vessels, with the bonus of lower cruise fares.

Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships For Kids

The ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet are great options for families cruising with children, but the four Oasis-class ships — Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas — stand head and shoulders above the rest. These ships are the largest cruise ships in the world, and they’re brimming with family-friendly activities, amenities and entertainment options that are sure to keep your kids happy throughout your entire sailing.

Read Also: Does Disney Cruises Require Vaccine

Royal Caribbean Tests New Activities

For adults, a lot of cruise-ship activities are built around bars and drinking. The larger Royal Caribbean ships have dozens of bars on board, many with themes, musical acts, and even a robot bar. Underage passengers are allowed into these venues, but people who are under 21 don’t get the full experience.

Passengers who are at least 18 but under 21 are in a grey area on cruises. A lot of activities should appeal to them, but none are geared specifically for them.

That’s something Royal Caribbean has been trying to address with a new offering called Hyperlink, targeting passengers ages 18 to 25, Matt Hochberg of the Royal Caribbean Blog first reported.

The program has been in a trial phase on Symphony of the Seas . Hyperlink, which has also been spotted in the Cruise Compass daily program on other ships, includes activities like dodgeball specifically for cruisers in that age group.

Activities include meetups, dedicated nightclub time, and other events organized by the onboard-activities staff.

“It appears the goal is to gather passengers of this age so they can meet and spend time together with the intention of fostering new friendships,” wrote Hochberg, whose blog is not affiliated with the cruise line.

“Just like other events, there’s no preregistration needed. Guests of this age can simply show up at the selected time and location.”