What are the onboard alcohol policies?
There are three aspects of cruise line alcohol policies that are worth noting – minimum drinking age permitted, drinks pricing and packages and taking spirits and wine onboard. The rules differ across the various cruise lines so we are only able to give a summary here. Minimum Drinking Age • On most British and European cruise lines the permitted drinking age is 18, however some may raise this to 21 when cruising out of an American cruise port. • On American cruise lines the drinking age is 21. • Some cruise lines permit wine and beer to be served to 18 year olds with parental consent. Drinks Pricing and Packages • There are few all inclusive cruise lines and most alcoholic and soft drinks are charged as an extra, usually with a service charge of 10 or 15%. • On most cruise lines you can buy a soft drinks package for the duration of the cruise. Full bottle purchases onboard or ashore • Alcoholic beverages purchased ashore or on board at duty free prices will be stored and delivered to
