What Is the Norwegian Drinking Age on a Cruise?

Author : Cruises fares | Published On : 08 Oct 2026

The official Norwegian drinking age is 21 years old for all spirits, hard liquor, and general alcohol consumption on sailings departing from US ports. However, young adults aged 18 to 20 can legally consume beer and wine on certain international itineraries or with a signed parental waiver in international waters.

Can You Drink at 18 on NCL? The Complete Guide

Understanding the norwegian cruise line alcohol policy before embarking helps avoid confusion at the bar, ensures young adults know their options, and outlines how the norwegian alcohol package works for guests under and over 21.

What Is the Norwegian Drinking Age?

The general norwegian cruise line drinking age rule depends on where the ship is sailing and whether a waiver is filed.

Sailing Itinerary	Age to Drink Liquor / Spirits	Age to Drink Beer & Wine	Special Conditions
US Departures (US / Caribbean / Bahamas)	21+	18–20 (With Waiver) / 21+	Parent must sign a Young Adult Waiver onboard.
Alaska & Hawaii Voyages	21+	21+	Strict limit of 21; waivers are NOT permitted.
Europe & Roundtrip Non-US Sailings	21+ (For Liquor)	18+	No waiver required in international waters/Europe.

The 18–20 Young Adult Waiver Rule

For international sailings departing from North America (excluding Alaska and Hawaii), parents traveling with young adults between 18 and 20 years old can sign a waiver granting permission to consume beer and wine only.

Key Rules for the Waiver:

In-Person Signing: A parent or legal guardian must visit the Guest Services Desk on embarkation day to sign the Young Adult Alcoholic Beverage Waiver in person.
Beer & Wine Only: The waiver never allows 18–20-year-olds to purchase or consume hard liquor, cocktails, or spirits.
Valid Locations: Once signed, the minor's keycard is updated to allow beer and wine orders while the vessel is in international waters.

How the Norwegian Alcohol Package Works by Age

Norwegian Cruise Line offers various drink packages (often included as part of "More At Sea" / "Free at Sea" promotions). How these packages apply depends strictly on your age:

1. Guests 21 and Older

Unlimited Open Bar Package: Includes cocktails, spirits, beer, and wine by the glass (up to $15 per drink retail value).
Two-Drink Rule: Guests can order up to two alcoholic drinks per transaction.

2. Guests Aged 18–20

Adult Soda Package: Guests under 21 automatically receive the non-alcoholic soda package instead of the Unlimited Open Bar package.
Using the Waiver: If an 18–20-year-old signs a parental waiver to drink beer/wine, those drinks are charged a la carte unless an upgraded package configuration allows it onboard.

Norwegian Cruise Line Alcohol Policy Highlights

To keep all guests safe and compliant, NCL enforces several firm rules regarding onboard alcohol:

Bringing Your Own Wine: Guests may bring sealed bottles of wine or champagne onboard during embarkation, subject to a $15 corkage fee per 750ml bottle (corkage fee is waived for guests with a beverage package).
Liquor & Beer Prohibitions: Guests are strictly prohibited from bringing hard liquor, spirits, or beer onboard at embarkation.
Port & Duty-Free Purchases: Any alcohol purchased in ports of call or at onboard duty-free shops will be held in secure storage by NCL security and returned to your stateroom on the final night of the cruise.