Royal Caribbean changes age rule in adults-only Solarium

As a family-friendly cruise line, Royal Caribbean has very few areas on its ships that aren't for everyone. The cruise line wants passengers of all ages to feel welcome so it only restricts access by age in very limited situations.

Its various kid and teen clubs, for example, only allow the age ranges served into the dedicated space for each group. That's more a question of safety than anything else, as you don't want adults looking to use the Xbox strolling into a space designed to be a safe area for teens.

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Aside from that, there are only a few exceptions to Royal Caribbean's (RCL) - Get Free Report ships being all-ages spaces. Comedy shows on Oasis-class ships in the dedicated comedy club space are 18-and-older. In addition, you have to be 18 to be in (and play in) the casino on the cruise line's sailings from the United States.

People who aren't legal drinking age (21 on all U.S. sailings) can even be in bars. They just have to stick to non-alcoholic beverages, mocktails, and soda. In fact, until recently there was only one space on Royal Caribbean ships that defined "adult" as 16 not 18 — the Solarium pool area.

Those sections, which contain a bar, hot tubs, and in most cases a pool, were adult-only, but the cruise line defined adults as 16 and over. That has just changed as Royal Caribbean has updated its Solarium policy.

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Royal Caribbean makes 18 the new 16

Royal Caribbean Solariums are meant to be adult-only locations to give grownup passengers a respite from the family-friendly pools. Having that one area of the ship use 16 as the age for "adults" never made much sense as aside from drinking alcohol, 18 has been the cruise line's standard adult age.

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Once you turn 18, for example, you age out of the teen program. Royal Caribbean has also been offering some "Hyperlink" activities for 18-25-year-old passengers and 18 is the "adult" age for curfew at 1 a.m. where anyone younger than 18 must be with a parent.

Now, Royal Caribbean has changed the age required to be in its Solarium from 16 to 18. 

"At Royal Caribbean, our guests' feedback matters. This is why we have decided to keep our 'adults-only' areas consistent and update the Solarium age restriction from 16+ to 18+ years old," the cruise line sent in a message to travel agents.

Children under 18 are allowed to eat in Solarium Bistro on Oasis-class and Quantum-class ships that have that as an option. They can also pass through the area on ships where it's on the way to something else. People under 18, however, cannot use the pools, hot tubs, or recliners in the Solarium.

Royal Caribbean bets big on adults

In addition to its onboard Solariums, Royal Caribbean plans to add an adults-only added-charge area to its Perfect Day at Coco Cay private island. The new section of the island, which opens later this year, will have a Las Vegas day club vibe, according to the cruise line.  

Dubbed Hideaway Beach, the new section of CocoCay will welcome anyone 18 or older.

"Tucked away on the northwest beach of Perfect Day at CocoCay, Hideaway Beach packs the best of a tropical getaway. For an entry charge, vacationers age 18 and older can celebrate, cool off, and kick back across a private beach, two pools, 20 cabanas, seven open-air bars and spots to grab a bite, and more," Royal Caribbean shared in a statement.

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The cost to enter Hideaway Beach will vary based on demand. As is the case for CocoCay's Beach Club, another added fee area, the price can be very different depending upon factors like time of year and which ships are docked at CocoCay that day.