Princess boarding reversal highlights differing rules for minors’ cabins

A single mother said Princess had repeatedly confirmed during the booking process that her two eldest teenagers could share a cabin while she stayed separately with her other child. The oldest teenager was 17.

At a Florida cruise terminal, the family was initially told that the teenagers needed an adult in their room. The mother said a supervisor agreed with the check-in agent before the decision was reversed shortly afterward. The family was then permitted to board using the cabins as originally booked.

According to the reported Princess policy, families using multiple staterooms need at least one person aged 16 or older in each room, provided the children are traveling with a parent or legal guardian.

Royal Caribbean’s UK booking conditions require a cabin occupied only by minors to be directly next door to or opposite the parent or guardian’s cabin. Celebrity Cruises states the same proximity requirement and lists no specific minimum age for children occupying that cabin.

The reported Carnival rules require passengers aged 15 to 20 to stay no more than three staterooms from an accompanying adult aged 25 or older. Carnival also requires at least one responsible adult for every five minors in larger groups. Norwegian Cruise Line generally requires passengers under 21 to be accompanied by someone aged 21 or older in the same cabin or a connecting or adjoining stateroom.