There are some wildly different opinions on the appropriate age to let your kids roam around a cruise ship on their own.
It’s already a sensitive subject when you’re at home and you’re thinking about what age you’ll let them walk to the park or the shop without supervision. Add in some of the risks of a cruise ship? The debate can get feisty, fast.
There’s plenty of wild opinions here, so buckle in…
Cruise Line Rules
Before we get into the whole mess of what some cruisers have to say on the subject, let’s start with the cruise lines’ rules on kids onboard.
You aren’t going to see any rules on the ages that kids can walk around a ship unoccupied, because it’s not exactly an easy thing for them to monitor.
A child could be going to the bar for a drink while the parents are watching from a few feet away, they could have freedom to roam the whole ship, and it’s hard to tell as an onlooker.
Of course, if a crew member sees an unattended toddler, they’re probably not just going to ignore them…
But with kids aged seven and up, crew are unlikely to ask where their parents are unless the kids are causing trouble.
What we do know is the age at which cruise lines allow kids to sign themselves in and out of the kids’ clubs onboard…
That’s a good guideline to use on the ages that cruise lines are happy with children having some level of independence. Here’s a summary of those rules for the main family-friendly cruise lines:
| Cruise Line | Kids’ Club Sign-Out Age (No Prior Permission) | Kids’ Club Sign-Out Age (Parent Approval) |
|---|---|---|
| A-ROSA | No age limit | No age limit |
| Carnival | 12+ years old | 9+ years old |
| Celebrity Cruises | 10+ years old | 10+ years old |
| Disney Cruise Line | 11+ years old | 8-10 years old |
| Marella Cruises | 12+ years old | 12+ years old |
| MSC Cruises | 12+ years old | 7+ years old |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | 13+ years old | 10+ years old |
| P&O Cruises | 13+ years old | 13+ years old |
| Princess Cruises | 13+ years old | 8+ years old |
| Royal Caribbean | 12+ years old | 9+ years old |
On the majority of family-friendly cruise lines, the kids’ clubs are split into different age groups, and they’ll usually have their own dedicated spaces with age-appropriate facilities and entertainment.
Read more: Cruise Kids’ Club Age Groupings Guide
And it’s those brackets that will typically play a part in the ages that kids can sign themselves out of the clubs independently. Usually once a child reaches 12/13 then they’re free to sign out as they please.
That’s because the teen clubs aren’t always staffed. Usually, crew members are there. But sometimes the teen club is just a room where teenagers can meet their friends with no supervision or organised activies.
There are cameras though, so if the teenagers start behaving inappropraitely then it won’t be long before the security team are on their way.
But then for the group one step down from that, a lot of cruise lines will let children sign out if they get parental permission first – usually part of the registration form you’ll fill in when you sign your child up for the club at the start of the cruise.
On some cruise lines that’s as young as 7 years old! But typically it’s 8 or 9 years old.
Suggested read: Cruise Kids Club Age Groupings Guide
What Parents Say
It’s tough to make the call on what the right age is to let your child explore alone – so I asked my Facebook fans what their thoughts were.
And if you browse the full list of comments on that post, you’ll see that opinions vary wildly!
1 in 3 parents wouldn’t let 17-year-olds explore alone
The majority of responses were actually those of people who wouldn’t let their children explore independently. Nearly 20% of respondents said that 18 would be a suitable age, and another 12.5% said 21. That’s a third of people who think children should never explore on their own!
When I was 17 I moved to live in another country without any adults for two months, so I find it pretty wild to think that some teenagers of that age wouldn’t be allowed out of their parent’s sight on a ship.
People had some VERY strong opinions on the matter:
A lot of people are worried about the various dangers of a cruise ship (more on those in a bit), but at the same time I’m surprised so many people would wait until their child was an adult.
There are a lot of people who seem to have negative opinions of children in general. Several said they shouldn’t be cruising at all, and some believed that child behaviour was an issue on ships:
At the other end of the spectrum, quite a few parents suggested that 10 was a fine age.
There were hardly any other comments that suggested a younger age than that – beyond a few joke ones (I assume!) that said babies/toddlers were allowed to roam so that the parents could relax a bit!
I did laugh at this one – a clever way of keeping behaviour in check:
Of the parents who did allow children to explore on their own, 12-15 was the age range that most agreed with.
It seems like, to most people, that 12-13 age is the time when parents will consider it – and once they’re comfortable with the ship themselves, they will allow it:
One important thing to consider is whether the ship makes it easier to keep tabs on your kids.
For this reason, Princess Cruises is a brilliant option. Everyone in your party is given a Medallion, and this does a lot of clever things – one of which is acting as a tracker.
You can use the Princess app on your phone to see where everyone in your travelling party is.
If kids don’t have a phone, they can use the screens around the ship to find you. This relies on their map reading skills and ability to know which is the front of the ship and which is the back, so you’ll want to practice this a bit before you let them run free!
A lot of parents will feel more secure knowing that they’re able to get an idea of where their child is when they’re off exploring.
Read more: 21 Things You Need To Know About Princess Cruises’ Medallion
If you aren’t sailing with Princess Cruises, then signing everyone up for the WiFi package and using a messaging service like WhatsApp is the best way to keep an eye on them/stay in touch for emergencies.
Also some cruise lines such as NCL and Royal Caribbean have free chat functionality that you don’t need paid WiFi for – but be aware you won’t always get notifications when you’ve got a message. You usually need to manually check.
Read more: How to Text on a Cruise Ship for FREE!
Finally, I think this comment best sums it all up – there really isn’t one fixed age that should apply to everyone:
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Safety Tips for Kids Onboard
There are some critical safety tips that you’ll want to go over with your kids before you do let them roam on their own. Here’s what you should consider.
1. No Climbing Balconies, Ever
Balconies on a cruise ship might look fun to explore, but they’re not safe for climbing. Make sure your child know never to climb on railings or stand on balcony furniture
This is a strict safety rule – balconies can be dangerous, and it’s important they understand the risks involved. A good time to reinforce the conversation around peer pressure too – if they have friends doing it, that doesn’t mean they should do it too.
2. Siblings Stick Together
If your child is travelling with siblings, remind them to stick together while exploring. There’s safety in numbers, and it’s easier to keep track of each other. Whether they’re heading to the pool or checking out the kids’ club, siblings can look out for each other and stay close.
3. Make Sure They Know Their Cabin Number and Can Find It
It’s important that your child knows their cabin number and can easily find it if they get separated. Make sure they understand how to read the ship’s deck plans and point out landmarks near your cabin. If they feel lost or confused, they should know where to go for help.
4. No Trusting Strangers
Teach your child that while cruise staff are there to help, they should never go off with someone they don’t know – whether it’s another guest or a crew member not wearing a uniform. Remind them to be cautious of anyone offering something that feels too good to be true or trying to lure them away from public areas.
5. Being Careful Around Pools
The pool area can be a lot of fun, but it’s also where accidents can happen. Remind your child to always be careful around the water – whether it’s slipping on the wet floors or avoiding rough play.
6. Knowing How to Find Crew if They’re Stuck
Make sure your child knows who to approach if they need help. Cruise staff members wear uniforms and are there to assist. Teach your child how to identify a crew member and show them the key locations where they can find help – like the kids’ club or reception.
7. Know the Ship’s Muster Drill
Before your child starts exploring, make sure they know where the muster stations are and what to do in an emergency. These stations are where everyone gathers for safety instructions, and it’s important your child is familiar with the area. Attend the muster drill together so they know where to go and what to do in case of an emergency.
8. No Running in Public Spaces
Encourage your child to walk, not run, when moving through public areas on the ship. The deck and corridors can get crowded, and running could lead to accidents – whether they slip on a wet floor or bump into someone. Remind them to be mindful of their surroundings and take their time getting from one place to another.
The Good Behaviour Conversation
I know that every parent (well, most parents) believe that their child is extremely well behaved. But that doesn’t mean you should assume they will automatically be at their absolute best when on a cruise ship – especially if they’re getting some independence that they might not normally enjoy at home.
So, regardless of how much of an angel your child may be when you’re around, still have the conversation with them about behaving properly when they’re alone on a ship.
There are a few specifics to remind them of – things like they should avoid running down cabin corridors (they’ll be louder than they realise), they shouldn’t mess with any door decorations or ‘Do Not Disturb’ signs, and they should be respectful when they’re close to adults-only spaces on the ship, and avoid being loud near them.
Still – encourage them to have fun! If you’re on a cruise ship with your kids then that means your kids have been welcomed onboard – not to pretend to be adults, but to be kids!
This means they’re allowed to laugh and joke with friends, splash around (safely), and just have fun.
There’s a chance they’ll encounter some grumpy cruisers who are adamant kids should be seen and not heard, or that they shouldn’t even be on cruise ships at all (even when it’s clearly a family-friendly ship!)
Just remind your kids to keep volume levels respectable, and if they still get harassed by someone, they can report it to a crew member who can step in and help if you’re not around.
Leaving Your Child Onboard While You Visit Port
Some cruise lines don’t just let you leave your child in the kids’ club – they give you permission to leave them on the ship while you go ashore!
It’s not something that every cruise line will allow, and I know that a lot of parents might not be comfortable with it.
We left our kids onboard while we went ashore and got quite a lot of backlash because of it!
It’s fair to say that this caused a bit of a stir on Facebook, and a lot of people felt the need to tell me and Matt what they thought of our parenting approach…
I understand that parents have their worries but we were never at risk of missing the ship (we wouldn’t have put ourselves in that position), and we knew that the staff onboard were more than capable of keeping the kids safe. They weren’t allowed to leave the kids club.
If we had been hit by a bus when exploring ashore, then I’d rather the kids were in the kids club for that, to be honest!
I’m not saying every parent should cruise exactly like we do, and I get why some people get anxious.
But the option is there, if you feel comfortable with it. And we were, and it was a lovely day.
Final Word
Ultimately, the decision of when to let your kids roam a cruise ship alone is a deeply personal one, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
The cruise line guidelines give a decent starting point, but parents must consider their child’s maturity, the layout and safety measures of the ship, and their own comfort level. It’s about finding the right balance between giving your child independence and ensuring they are safe.
Most importantly, open communication with your child is key. Set clear expectations, teach them the safety guidelines, and be sure they know how to reach you if anything feels off.
It’s always a good idea to start small – such as letting them go to get an ice cream and bring it back, or leaving them playing football for 15 minutes – before you give 100% freedom in a new environment.
Whether you allow your child to explore the ship at 10, 12, or later, what matters most is ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to enjoy their freedom safely.
After all, a cruise is meant to be a fun, stress-free experience for both parents and kids alike!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
