Minimum age to book?

[ACJT]

What is the minimum age to book a stateroom? A very responsible friend of ours will be 18, and we would consider letting her take our 10 and 12 year old kids on a three day cruise. Is she legally old enough?

 

[emilyann415]

They are old enough to book the cruise...yes....that part is fine. You would need to decide if they are responsible and grown up enough to handle any emergencies that might come their way like any medical issues in say a foreign country. I am 40 this year and honestly don't know if I'm ready to take our kids by myself. Anyway, the answer to your question is yes....you decide the rest.

 

[brianvdb]

What is the minimum age to book a stateroom? A very responsible friend of ours will be 18, and we would consider letting her take our 10 and 12 year old kids on a three day cruise. Is she legally old enough?

You can book a stateroom if you are 18 or older... however... minors UNDER 18 have to be booked into a stateroom with at least one adult who is either their parent, legal guardian, or over 21 years of age.

 

[ACJT]

You can book a stateroom if you are 18 or older... however... minors UNDER 18 have to be booked into a stateroom with at least one adult who is either their parent, legal guardian, or over 21 years of age.

Got it. In other words Disney won't let someone be a chaperone unless they are 21 or older. In my case then it would be a no go.

 

[RHSTigerMom]

You can book a stateroom if you are 18 or older... however... minors UNDER 18 have to be booked into a stateroom with at least one adult who is either their parent, legal guardian, or over 21 years of age.

Not necessarily true. My 18 yr old and her 16 yo friend are booked in a stateroom. The only stipulation was that one person has to be 18.

 

[RHSTigerMom]

As the parent of an incredibly responsible and mature 18 yo, I would not allow her to take two children on a cruise alone.

 

[wdwwishes]

Legalities aside, I'd want to go!!!!! Seriously though, I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable with that. It seems like a good idea up front but I'd feel simply terrible if something did happen or my kiddos didn't quite live up to their "good natures" etc.

 

[ACJT]

Not necessarily true. My 18 yr old and her 16 yo friend are booked in a stateroom. The only stipulation was that one person has to be 18.

So does DCL have a stated policy on this? On their website ? I'm getting conflicting responses.

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[crisi]

Not necessarily true. My 18 yr old and her 16 yo friend are booked in a stateroom. The only stipulation was that one person has to be 18.

Are you on the cruise with them?

 

[Zandy595]

As the parent of an incredibly responsible and mature 18 yo, I would not allow her to take two children on a cruise alone.

Are they going on this cruise alone?




Disney Cruise Line Terms & Conditions

Minors under the age of 18 not traveling with a parent or legal guardian must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older in the same stateroom. The parent or guardian of any minor not traveling with a parent or guardian must appoint an adult to have custody and control over the minor and to contract on their behalf in connection with the Disney Cruise Line vacation. A minor authorization form can be obtained by visiting disneycruise.com and selecting "My Disney Cruise" or is sent when a document package is mailed. The form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian prior to embarkation at the Disney Cruise Line Terminal.

 

[Ofinn]

What is the minimum age to book a stateroom? A very responsible friend of ours will be 18, and we would consider letting her take our 10 and 12 year old kids on a three day cruise. Is she legally old enough?

I would call DCL and ask. All your going to get here is parenting advice which is not what you want. You just want an answer to a simple question.

 

[disprincess4ever]

Basically 1 person per stateroom has to be 21 or older. If you booked 2 staterooms as a family and all the kids were in 1 room, that's still ok because someone 21 or older is still on the trip with them.

These are the rooms for DCL. I'm pretty sure you only have to be 18 to book a room at Disney World though.

 

[RHSTigerMom]

We are going as well and I will have the minor authorization form from the 16yo parents. Maybe that's the difference? The only thing DCL said at booking was someone 18+ had to be booked in the stateroom. Where you choose to sleep once checked in is up to you.

 

[ACJT]

I would call DCL and ask. All your going to get here is parenting advice which is not what you want. You just want an answer to a simple question.

Thank-you. The best answer so far. Off to the phone I go.

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[Zandy595]

We are going as well and I will have the minor authorization form from the 16yo parents. Maybe that's the difference? The only thing DCL said at booking was someone 18+ had to be booked in the stateroom. Where you choose to sleep once checked in is up to you.

The difference is you're going on the cruise with them.

 

[brianvdb]

Not necessarily true. My 18 yr old and her 16 yo friend are booked in a stateroom. The only stipulation was that one person has to be 18.

Sorry... should have worded that better... a parent/guardian/chaperone over 21 must be on board the ship. In addition, someone over 18 must be booked into each stateroom. The T&C section quoted above is the one I was referring to.

Technically, it looks like if it is a chaperone only (no parent/guardian), the chaperone must actually be booked into the same room as the minor(s) - although as others have said... DCL doesn't keep track of where you sleep.

 

[danfromca]

Sorry... should have worded that better... a parent/guardian/chaperone over 21 must be on board the ship. In addition, someone over 18 must be booked into each stateroom. The T&C section quoted above is the one I was referring to.

Technically, it looks like if it is a chaperone only (no parent/guardian), the chaperone must actually be booked into the same room as the minor(s) - although as others have said... DCL doesn't keep track of where you sleep.

DCL is actually more flexible on this than most. Many cruise lines require a 25+ year old to accompany minors if the parents aren't onboard.

 

[gigi1313]

We are going as well and I will have the minor authorization form from the 16yo parents. Maybe that's the difference? The only thing DCL said at booking was someone 18+ had to be booked in the stateroom. Where you choose to sleep once checked in is up to you.

DCL did not allow me to book my 18 and 16 yos in their own stateroom, an over 21 was required to be booked with the 16yo.