Carnival Cruise Line has refined their minor policy that will be effective for guests with bookings created on or after February 1, 2025. The updates to the minor guest policy further clarify when and where minor guests can stay on the ship (i.e stateroom location), documentation when one or more parent/guardian is not on the sailing, specialty cabin age guidelines, deposit for groups of minors, and much more.
Guests Traveling Alone Without Parent or Guardian
Carnival requires guests to be 21 years or older on the embarkation day of the cruise in order to travel alone. Guests who are 20 years of age & younger are required to be with a relative or guardian that is at least 25 years or older. Carnival's policy defines a guardian and that does not mean a legal guardian. However, guests that are minors that are traveling without at least one parent/guardian should have an original signed letter authorizing them to sail with the guardian they will have onboard.
** If you will have a minor traveling with you I highly recommend you read Carnival's policy in full for all of the nuances to the policy. I have the link included at the bottom of the article.
Carnival requires guests to be 21 years or older on the embarkation day of the cruise in order to travel alone. Guests who are 20 years of age & younger are required to be with a relative or guardian that is at least 25 years or older. Carnival's policy defines a guardian and that does not mean a legal guardian. However, guests that are minors that are traveling without at least one parent/guardian should have an original signed letter authorizing them to sail with the guardian they will have onboard.
** If you will have a minor traveling with you I highly recommend you read Carnival's policy in full for all of the nuances to the policy. I have the link included at the bottom of the article.
Onboard Stateroom Location:
Sometimes cruisers are traveling with minors want to have separate staterooms. Carnival has a policy that outlines how close or far guests are are 20 years and younger can be from their onboard relative or guardian. The rules are based on the age of those in the particular stateroom. It is important that the stateroom bookings are linked for Carnival to know who is traveling with who as Carnival reserves the right to cancel a reservation for non-compliance and this could result in a denial of boarding with no compensation.
14 Years & Younger:
Guests that are 14 years and younger can be a different stateroom, but it must be a connecting stateroom or in the same cabin as their onboard guardian(s).
15 - 17 Years Old:
The guests that are 15-17 years old can be up to 3 staterooms away from their relative or guardian. Keep in mind the relative/guardian must be 25+ years old.
Guests 18-20 Years Old:
Carnival allows these guests that are 18-20 years old to be booked anywhere on the ship in their preferred location. However, they must have a guardian as defined by Carnival's policy that is at least 25 years or older.
The key thing with the onboard stateroom location policy is that the bookings need to be linked for Carnival to know who is traveling with who.
Sometimes cruisers are traveling with minors want to have separate staterooms. Carnival has a policy that outlines how close or far guests are are 20 years and younger can be from their onboard relative or guardian. The rules are based on the age of those in the particular stateroom. It is important that the stateroom bookings are linked for Carnival to know who is traveling with who as Carnival reserves the right to cancel a reservation for non-compliance and this could result in a denial of boarding with no compensation.
14 Years & Younger:
Guests that are 14 years and younger can be a different stateroom, but it must be a connecting stateroom or in the same cabin as their onboard guardian(s).
15 - 17 Years Old:
The guests that are 15-17 years old can be up to 3 staterooms away from their relative or guardian. Keep in mind the relative/guardian must be 25+ years old.
Guests 18-20 Years Old:
Carnival allows these guests that are 18-20 years old to be booked anywhere on the ship in their preferred location. However, they must have a guardian as defined by Carnival's policy that is at least 25 years or older.
The key thing with the onboard stateroom location policy is that the bookings need to be linked for Carnival to know who is traveling with who.
Does Carnival offer exceptions to the age requirements?
Yes, Carnival does offer exceptions to the age requirements. Guests that are 18-20 years old can travel without a guardian that is 25+ years of age if the guests are legally married. However, proper documentation must be provided at embarkation. Carnival outlines what documentation is acceptable in their policy so I recommend you read the policy in full.
Carnival also offers an exception to qualified military personnel. US and Canada military personnel personnel that are 18-20 years old can get an exception with the appropriate paperwork shown at embarkation. Again, I recommend reading Carnival's policy in full if this applies to you!
Yes, Carnival does offer exceptions to the age requirements. Guests that are 18-20 years old can travel without a guardian that is 25+ years of age if the guests are legally married. However, proper documentation must be provided at embarkation. Carnival outlines what documentation is acceptable in their policy so I recommend you read the policy in full.
Carnival also offers an exception to qualified military personnel. US and Canada military personnel personnel that are 18-20 years old can get an exception with the appropriate paperwork shown at embarkation. Again, I recommend reading Carnival's policy in full if this applies to you!
Groups of Minors: Deposit and Prepaid Gratuities
Carnival will now require groups of minors to pay a deposit of $100.00 per minor. This deposit is a damage deposit. 8 or more staterooms will have to booked through Carnival's Groups Department. Carnival also will require prepaid gratuities per minor that will be due at final payment.
Carnival will now require groups of minors to pay a deposit of $100.00 per minor. This deposit is a damage deposit. 8 or more staterooms will have to booked through Carnival's Groups Department. Carnival also will require prepaid gratuities per minor that will be due at final payment.
This Was A Summary of Carnival's Updated Policy
You should read Carnival's full updated policy for minor guests yourself prior to booking and again before sailing to make sure you meet all requirements 100%. Please keep in mind that failure to comply could result in denial of boarding and you may not get compensation back. Click Here for Carnival's policy (link will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide and to Carnival's website).
You should read Carnival's full updated policy for minor guests yourself prior to booking and again before sailing to make sure you meet all requirements 100%. Please keep in mind that failure to comply could result in denial of boarding and you may not get compensation back. Click Here for Carnival's policy (link will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide and to Carnival's website).