Turning 21 during my cruise, will they let me drink at midnight?

Hey all, this is my first post on here as I have been trying to search for an answer to this and have yet to find one. I am sailing to the Caribbean on the Pearl from March 6-13, and I turn 21 on March 12. My question is, will they let me drink at midnight on March 12th, (March 11th night) as long as I can show my passport proving im 21? I know on the travel documents it lists your age at time of sailing, but how do they handle turning 21 during the cruise?

Thanks!!

Hey all, this is my first post on here as I have been trying to search for an answer to this and have yet to find one. I am sailing to the Caribbean on the Pearl from March 6-13, and I turn 21 on March 12. My question is, will they let me drink at midnight on March 12th, (March 11th night) as long as I can show my passport proving im 21? I know on the travel documents it lists your age at time of sailing, but how do they handle turning 21 during the cruise?

 

Thanks!!

I would think so, but you would have to get a new cabin key from customer service before they would actually let you purchase it (your passport is good for a lot of things but I doubt it would work in this situation). (They clip a corner of the card to show you are under 21.) Are your parents going with you or will you be going with someone else? If your parents are going with you then they can sign a form allowing you to purchase beer and wine from day one (don't know if that helps or not, but decided to throw it out there).

My understanding is that your age is determined based on what it is when on embarkation day, and that is what is used for the length of the cruise. If you are under 21 on embarkation day, you will need to have the consent of an adult in your cabin or adjoining stateroom that agrees to be responsible for you in order to drink.

© Guests under 21: Any Guest under 21 years of age is considered a minor. Any under-21 Guest must be accompanied by a Guest over age 21, in the same or an adjoining stateroom, who expressly agrees to be responsible for the under-21 Guest throughout the cruise. The Guest agrees that this responsibility includes, but is not limited to, preventing the under-21 Guest from violating the vessel's rules, including preventing the under-21 Guest from purchasing and/or consuming alcohol and/or gambling on board the vessel, except as set forth herein. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to purchase or consume alcohol, except that Guests 18 through 20 years of age are permitted to purchase and consume beer and wine only, when in international waters, on voyages apart from Alaska and Hawaii, if accompanied by one or more of their parents or a legal guardian who gives written consent. Guests must be 18 years of age to engage in gambling on the vessel.

No! You remain the age that you are at embarkation and remain that for the entire cruise. That said, you will be able to drink in the ports, just not on the ship. BTW, my daughter turns 21 on March 15 so happy birthday to you both.

I found this on Cruises.Inc.

Norwegian Cruise Line: Drinking age is 21 -- all ships, all destinations, all liquor. NCL does permit guests between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty (20) to purchase and personally consume wine and beer while on NCL ships with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.

On every cruise I have been on your age is determined the day of embarkation and remains throughout the cruise.

I found this on Cruises.Inc.

 

Norwegian Cruise Line: Drinking age is 21 -- all ships, all destinations, all liquor. NCL does permit guests between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty (20) to purchase and personally consume wine and beer while on NCL ships with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.

As an addition to that, on Hawaii and Alaska cruises you must be 21 for any alcohol.

As an addition to that, on Hawaii and Alaska cruises you must be 21 for any alcohol.

on a past cruise (Spitit - Boston to Bermuda July, 2009) with 20 year old DD, we signed the consent form and the servers did nothing to limit her purchases to "personal consumption" unless a helmet of 6 beers is personal consumption.

From NCL:

Does anyone have a link that supports "the age at embarkation is the age throughout the cruise"? There are only two areas (that I can see) where this issue would be, well, an issue. Someone turning 21 is obvious. The other is a kid in the kid's crew turning a year older and being in the next highest age group. It is my understanding in the latter case the child stays in the lower age group until his or her birthday, at which point he or she joins the next highest age group. My curiosity has been piqued.

OP, are you traveling with your parent or guardian? If so, your parents can sign the form allowing 18-20 year olds to drink alcoholic beverages.

In researching this, I have found out that RCCL, Celebrity and Azamara will reflect your new age if you are celebrating your 21st birthday on board. Can't find anything else regarding NCL right now other than the 18-20 year old/form thing. Will keep looking.

From RCCL, Celebrity and Azamara: ). A guest's age is established upon embarkation (beginning of the cruise). If a guest celebrates their 21st birthday during the cruise, the guest may thereafter ask the Front Office Manager to modify ship's records to permit their consumption of alcohol during the remainder of the cruise. The guest will be required to appear at the Guest Relations Desk with his or her parent or guardian and to present a government issued form of identification to establish that the guest's 21st birthday was celebrated during the cruise. The ship’s staff may refuse to serve alcoholic beverages to any guest who does not consume alcohol responsibly and may request verification of a guest's age to determine whether they are of age to consume alcohol pursuant to this policy.

OP, are you traveling with your parent or guardian? If so, your parents can sign the form allowing 18-20 year olds to drink alcoholic beverages.

 

In researching this, I have found out that RCCL, Celebrity and Azamara will reflect your new age if you are celebrating your 21st birthday on board. Can't find anything else regarding NCL right now other than the 18-20 year old/form thing. Will keep looking.

 

From RCCL, Celebrity and Azamara: ). A guest's age is established upon embarkation (beginning of the cruise). If a guest celebrates their 21st birthday during the cruise, the guest may thereafter ask the Front Office Manager to modify ship's records to permit their consumption of alcohol during the remainder of the cruise. The guest will be required to appear at the Guest Relations Desk with his or her parent or guardian and to present a government issued form of identification to establish that the guest's 21st birthday was celebrated during the cruise. The ship’s staff may refuse to serve alcoholic beverages to any guest who does not consume alcohol responsibly and may request verification of a guest's age to determine whether they are of age to consume alcohol pursuant to this policy.

We are taking my DD on cruise for her 21st birthday in March. Her choice was NCL. I would hope this the case with NCL since she wanted to celebrate her 21st BD at sea. 21 is 21 and hell, this isn't a cheap birthday gift! Maybe I booked on the wrong cruiseline!:eek:

Does anyone have a link that supports "the age at embarkation is the age throughout the cruise"? There are only two areas (that I can see) where this issue would be, well, an issue. Someone turning 21 is obvious. The other is a kid in the kid's crew turning a year older and being in the next highest age group. It is my understanding in the latter case the child stays in the lower age group until his or her birthday, at which point he or she joins the next highest age group. My curiosity has been piqued.

I found an answer for Kids Crew, still looking for the 21 policy. See below from FAQ:

Can my child move up an age group if celebrating a birthday during the cruise?

Children must be at least two years old to participate in Kid’s Crew based on date of birth at the time of sailing according to the ships manifest. No exceptions can be made.

Children turning two years old during the cruise are welcome to participate on their birthday.

Children turning six during the cruise are welcome to register for and participate in the 6-9 year old age group beginning embarkation evening.

Children turning ten during the cruise are welcome to register for and participate in the 10-12 year old age group beginning embarkation evening.

Children turning thirteen during the cruise are welcome to participate in the Teen’s Program and Teen Center on their birthday. No exceptions can be made.

I found an answer for Kids Crew, still looking for the 21 policy. See below from FAQ:

Can my child move up an age group if celebrating a birthday during the cruise?

 

Children must be at least two years old to participate in Kid’s Crew based on date of birth at the time of sailing according to the ships manifest. No exceptions can be made.

Children turning two years old during the cruise are welcome to participate on their birthday.

Children turning six during the cruise are welcome to register for and participate in the 6-9 year old age group beginning embarkation evening.

Children turning ten during the cruise are welcome to register for and participate in the 10-12 year old age group beginning embarkation evening.

Children turning thirteen during the cruise are welcome to participate in the Teen’s Program and Teen Center on their birthday. No exceptions can be made.

A ray of hope:o!

We are taking my DD on cruise for her 21st birthday in March. Her choice was NCL. I would hope this the case with NCL since she wanted to celebrate her 21st BD at sea. 21 is 21 and hell, this isn't a cheap birthday gift! Maybe I booked on the wrong cruiseline!:eek:

Just download print and sign the consent form that allows ages 18-20 to drink with parental consent

Just download print and sign the consent form that allows ages 18-20 to drink with parental consent

That will only allow beer and wine. I think the question is whether they will be able to drink liquor when they turn 21 during the cruise.

Just download print and sign the consent form that allows ages 18-20 to drink with parental consent

That's only good for beer and wine.

Maybe the NCL representative who reads this board can comment and direct us to the official policy.

I found an answer for Kids Crew, still looking for the 21 policy. See below from FAQ:

Can my child move up an age group if celebrating a birthday during the cruise?

 

Children must be at least two years old to participate in Kid’s Crew based on date of birth at the time of sailing according to the ships manifest. No exceptions can be made.

Children turning two years old during the cruise are welcome to participate on their birthday.

Children turning six during the cruise are welcome to register for and participate in the 6-9 year old age group beginning embarkation evening.

Children turning ten during the cruise are welcome to register for and participate in the 10-12 year old age group beginning embarkation evening.

Children turning thirteen during the cruise are welcome to participate in the Teen’s Program and Teen Center on their birthday. No exceptions can be made.

Thanks Mooder, I was looking for that but for some reason couldn't get to that part of the site.

Thanks Mooder, I was looking for that but for some reason couldn't get to that part of the site.

It took a bit of searching. My thinking is that it is in their best interest to sell MORE alcohol not less. Gee, where'd I get that idea:confused: So, if they can do this with kids, why not with 21 year olds? And it is fairly simple to get a new key card issued so.....

That will only allow beer and wine. I think the question is whether they will be able to drink liquor when they turn 21 during the cruise.

Plus, we have found in every case that we tried that the parent MUST be present on the cruise to use this form. We have sailed several times with 18-20 year old friends of our daughters, and every time the friends were denied this privilege, even with the forms filled out and notarized, plus notarized letters from their parents. This was especially true during spring break cruises, where the desk staff scrutinized even our signatures and identification when we went to the desk with our own daughters. I understand the reasoning, there were a lot of rambunctious, tipsy young folks on these cruises and they want to keep that to a minimum I am sure, plus there must be liability issues. The cards of all underaged persons were "clipped" on the corner on checkin, and we went to the desk to sign the paperwork and exchange our own daughters cards for unclipped ones.

That being said, nobody in our group was ever denied a glass of our wine with us at dinner, nor when we shared a beer with them in our suites. We kept a watchful eye on all of them as well.

To the OP, you don't say who you are sailing with. If it's your parents or legal guardian, and they agree to sign the paperwork, and you are not sailing in HI or AK, just go to the desk as soon as you board for permission to drink beer and wine. I would suggest going to the desk after midnight on your birthday armed with your ID and see what they say, the worst they can say is "no". Since it's the last night of your sailing, that won't give you much time to enjoy any privileges granted, but you will still have time to ring in your birthday - if they say no, just celebrate once you return from the cruise!

Edited to add: I was mistaken with the date, it seems you will be turning 21 the night before the last night, I would still do the same thing.. Also wanted to add that once, at a show, my 20 year old daughter wanted a strawberry daquiri. she gave her card for the charge, the waiter came back and said she couldn't charge the drink to her card because she wasn't 21, and asked for my husbands card instead, and brought her the drink..

Robin

Just download print and sign the consent form that allows ages 18-20 to drink with parental consent

I think you can only get that at the reception desk. It is more of letting her have her 21 year old privledge that she has earned. What 21 year doesn't want to have their first " legal" drink on their birthday?:D

It took a bit of searching. My thinking is that it is in their best interest to sell MORE alcohol not less. Gee, where'd I get that idea:confused: So, if they can do this with kids, why not with 21 year olds? And it is fairly simple to get a new key card issued so.....

I just realized there is a third time passenger changing age on the cruise matters- when a 2 year old turns 3. I'd be willing to bet that the DSC is imposed on little one's birthday.

I just realized there is a third time passenger changing age on the cruise matters- when a 2 year old turns 3. I'd be willing to bet that the DSC is imposed on little one's birthday.

What if you turn 55? Do you get the balance of your cruise discounted?:D

I just realized there is a third time passenger changing age on the cruise matters- when a 2 year old turns 3. I'd be willing to bet that the DSC is imposed on little one's birthday.

What if you turn 55? Do you get the balance of your cruise discounted?:D

OMG, this is getting too complicated for me! :cool: