Cruise lines get to pick and choose some of the rules they follow based on where they sail.
In most, but not all, cases, if they sail out of North American ports they abide by U.S. law.
MSC Cruises, for example, does not provide Internal Revenue Service tax forms when a cruiser hits a jackpot bigger than $1,199 in its casinos. If the winner is a U.S. citizen, they owe taxes on their winnings; they just won’t get a Form 1099 reporting the win to the IRS.
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Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Virgin Voyages and other cruise lines do use that form, which can lead to a slow collection process when a passenger hits a jackpot. Cruise-ship casinos also use 18 as their gambling age, even though most U.S. casinos set 21 as the minimum age.
All the major cruise lines that sail out of the U.S. also use 21 as the legal age to drink alcohol on their ships. That rule does not change when the ship stops in a port where the drinking age is younger.
That means that cruisers ages 18 through 20 can legally drink in some ports but not once they get back on the ship.
The cruise line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, recently emphasized its alcohol policies on its website.
Carnival has a minimum drinking age of 21.
Image source: Carnival
Carnival makes its alcohol rules clear
Carnival’s on-board drinking age is 21 and Heald recently made clear that there were no exceptions to that benchmark. He shared a message he got from a customer he did not name.
“We are taking a cruise with our 19-year-old daughter and her 18-year-old girlfriend. I was told that Carnival Cruises has a Young Adult Alcoholic Beverage Waiver form available at the Guest Services Desk for parents to sign to allow their 20-year-olds to drink on the Panorama. I called Carnival and was told the form was not available on they were sketchy about if this could be done or not. Can it and if not why not because my daughter and partner are not children?” the upcoming passenger asked.
Heald was playful but direct in his answer.
“Well then, it’s certainly not my place to judge how other parents, ummmm, parent. However, I find it a wee bit strange that a parent would ask for this,” he wrote. “…We don’t have a waiver and will not be allowing these ladies to be served alcohol. I have written to the guest and explained this. Her response to me was disappointing, to say the least.”
Carnival does have good news for 18-20-year-olds
While Heald clarified that Carnival (CCL) does not allow underage drinking on its ships, it has taken steps to make it easer for passengers 18 to 20 years old to meet.
“So, this morning I want to talk about 18-20-year-olds and first some good news. Following some of you writing to me here saying there should be a meet and greet and a chance for this age group to meet new friends I am happy to tell you that there now is,” he wrote.
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This move follows Royal Caribbean, which created its Hyperlink group to help passengers in that age group meet. The Carnival program does not include events, just a meetup, while Royal’s has regularly scheduled programming for the group.
Heald explained how the Carnival program will work.
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“On every ship on the first seaday (not embarkation day), there will be a meet and greet under the supervision of one of the brilliant Fun Squad members,” he added.
“They will meet and hopefully enjoy a chance to meet new friends, follow each other on Insta and Tit Tock, and enjoy the cruise with people of their own age. Check the Hubb app or the paper copy of the Funtimes for information.”
