18-20yr olds. too old for O2, too young for bars. ???

[gospelle]

Is it just me or is there a bit of a gap in Carnival's offerings for guests 18-20 years old. What can they do at night if they can't hang out with other guests their age in club O2 and they can't hang out in the bars?

 

Shouldn't there be options for them?

 

Is there something I'm missing?

[ajtaylor29]

They can get in to the disco at 18, hopefully they can meet other 18's in there. I'll have that same issue next spring, our son and his friend will be 18.

[EmiGirl826]

The 18-20s are kind of in an odd place on every cruiseline unfortunately. Too old to be with the high schoolers but too young to drink.

[darlacat]

,.....we booked this cruise before realizing that our Canadian ADULT daughter is considered a little kid on a Carribean cruise. I realize that in the US, she is considered a kid and we know that - but it hadn't occurred to me that this asinine drinking age would be in force at sea. So, she can't have a late afternoon beer with us? Can't have a glass of wine with dinner? I hate puritanical laws! Only in American is she considered a child. Everywhere else, she is the adult that she is.

[darlacat]

....I do hope she makes friends on the cruise with other young adults stuck in the same boat - at least they have that to complain about and bond them!

[gospelle]

The 18-20s are kind of in an odd place on every cruiseline unfortunately. Too old to be with the high schoolers but too young to drink.

 

Agreed, but it doesn't have to be this way. Carnival or any cruise line could make a 18-20 lounge, or have parents sign a drinking is okay waiver when the ship sails in destinations where 18+ is legal such as Europe.

 

It's just so odd that they do nothing.

[Jruns]

I know that on the royal Caribbean you sign a waiver (only if the cruise originates in Europe) and you 18 and up "adult" can drink!! We are on carnival originating in Europe and were wondering if our 18 would be considered legal?

[gospelle]

,.....we booked this cruise before realizing that our Canadian ADULT daughter is considered a little kid on a Carribean cruise. I realize that in the US, she is considered a kid and we know that - but it hadn't occurred to me that this asinine drinking age would be in force at sea. So, she can't have a late afternoon beer with us? Can't have a glass of wine with dinner? I hate puritanical laws! Only in American is she considered a child. Everywhere else, she is the adult that she is.

 

Agreed. We're from Calgary so we're in exactly the same situation. Our daughter doesn't drink much but it would be nice for her to have a squishy drink on the pool deck at least.

[EmiGirl826]

Agreed. We're from Calgary so we're in exactly the same situation. Our daughter doesn't drink much but it would be nice for her to have a squishy drink on the pool deck at least.

 

Could you buy 2 and give one to her?

[gospelle]

I know that on the royal Caribbean you sign a waiver (only if the cruise originates in Europe) and you 18 and up "adult" can drink!! We are on carnival originating in Europe and were wondering if our 18 would be considered legal?

 

This is our situation too, 12 night venice to barcelona. My reading of Carnival policy is 21+ only. So because all countries on this trip are 18+ (or less) she can drink in port, just not on the ship. Stupid

[gospelle]

Could you buy 2 and give one to her?

 

Of course we could, but we like to follow the rules and so would not. I'm not wanting to risk our trip over something like that.

[Jruns]

I agree!! Especially since she will be the only one under 21 in our party!! She doesn't care about not being able to drink as much as she would like to be able to go everywhere we go and I thoughtbsincevshe was 18 she would be allowed?? Also, she can gamble but not drink - go figure!! I still wonder if the europeon cruises are not 18 and up for drinking? I know the site says 21 but they don't have that many cruises originating in Europe so maybe????

[darlacat]

....and I'd probably be totally stressed if I bought 2 drinks and gave her one. But, if I did - do they actively check IDs on board?

 

My daughter isn't a big drinker either, but she will join us for a beer on a sunny afternoon and have wine with dinner if we're having a nice meal. Perhaps a cocktail of sorts once in awhile. She's working 3 jobs this summer and will really NEED this holiday - so I'm thinking she'd probably enjoy being completely away from her hectic life, hence the choice of a cruise. Oh well, I am happy to see that others bring their adult kids with them too - perhaps she will make some friends on board. I sure hope so.

[Name Of The Game]

Your 18 year old daughter can go in the disco but it will be full of people old enough to be her parents (and grandparents).

[Jruns]

You can certainly buy her a drink for the room or in the jacuzzi or to share with you - my opinion - if she is with you I don't think they will say anything! Again, it's Europe I don't think it will be a big deal - again on royal in Europe it was no problem! Good luck!!

[DevCruise]

I know that on the royal Caribbean you sign a waiver (only if the cruise originates in Europe) and you 18 and up "adult" can drink!! We are on carnival originating in Europe and were wondering if our 18 would be considered legal?

 

NCL has a waiver with the exception of their Alaska and Hawaii itineraries. European sailings allowed without the waiver.

[Jruns]

We sailed princess last year (Greece) and my daughter was 17 - other daughter was over 21 so I never looked into it but my daughter just said she thinks it was 21!!!! :-((((((

[teringal]

I have the same problem. When we booked I didn't realise my 19yo son would be restricted especially when it comes to being in a room. He has to share with either his dad or I and of course I thought he'd be ok with his teenage brother and sister. Where we come from he is considered an adult at 18. I'm sure he'll meet others his age and have a great time anyway :)

[Kruise2013]

Based on our experience, the drinking age is not strictly enforced. We were on a family cruise with our children aged 22, 19, and 16 a few years ago. We were in MDR with our friends and they were ordering drinks with their dinner. Oddly enough, our 16 year old said with a laugh “I’ll take a Jack and coke”. We all laughed knowing he was just joking. When his drink arrived, he about fell over because it was a Jack and coke. We were shocked but realized she didn’t understand that he was only joking. When she brought his ticket she kneeled down and we could tell she wasn’t happy and was afraid she would get in trouble. I told her to charge it to me and not to worry about it and explained it was a misunderstanding. The next night she took our orders, looked at our son and laughingly asked if he wanted the same. He said “make it a double” and we all laughed. Of course you know what happened, she brought him a double. We then explained to her nicely that he was no longer permitted to order alcoholic beverages even if they were on my tab. Five years later, he still loves telling that story.

[mikel24m]

Is it just me or is there a bit of a gap in Carnival's offerings for guests 18-20 years old. What can they do at night if they can't hang out with other guests their age in club O2 and they can't hang out in the bars?

 

Shouldn't there be options for them?

 

Is there something I'm missing?

 

They should have better options for the 18-20 year olds but I think they shouldnt be drinking.I know they are allowed to be in our military and fight in wars but most 18-20 year olds unless they are taught are not educated drinkers ,if that makes sense

 

Most of the families in the US dont allow drinking I guess until its legal so if ones 18 and allowed to drink it may lead to serious issues onboard.

 

Not a glass of wine at dinner or a pina colada at the pool that some are taught but Jager bombs and long island ice teas

[Blurgh]

The drinking age is for "buying". I don't think they care if someone is consuming as long as they're not a child and they're not misbehaving. My first cruise I was 20. I drank. I just didn't buy anything. This was also when they let you bring beer on board, so I just bought the same beer they were selling on the ship (down to the place it was produced) and walked around with that.

 

I agree it's silly, but the great majority of Carnival cruises are out of the US, so they're going to follow US drinking policy. They do follow casino policy, technically as a "dry" casino can be 18+.

[Blurgh]

They should have better options for the 18-20 year olds but I think they shouldnt be drinking.I know they are allowed to be in our military and fight in wars but most 18-20 year olds unless they are taught are not educated drinkers ,if that makes sense

 

Most of the families in the US dont allow drinking I guess until its legal so if ones 18 and allowed to drink it may lead to serious issues onboard.

 

Not a glass of wine at dinner or a pina colada at the pool that some are taught but Jager bombs and long island ice teas

 

I don't know of anyone that didn't let someone drink until they turned 21. The whole situation is a farce out of an era where driving drunk was "okay".

 

The penalties for an "underage" driving while intoxicated now are so much stricter than first time adult DWI that there's really no reason for it still to be 21. Just leave the driving penalty the same. Let the establishments decide for themselves.

[bafinegan]

We enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. Our waiter told us he could not serve our son, but brought an extra wine glass so we could pour and hand to our 18 yr old son ourselves. We have wine with dinner on special occasions and holidays, so our son is used to this. He is allowed ONE glass, and only if he is not going out after dinner.

 

All the ships we have been on have said the same- they cannot serve to minors. As long as the 18-20 yr old is responsible, I do not think it will be an issue if you buy and give the OCCASIONAL glass of wine/fruity poolside cocktail to your 18-20 yr old.

 

baf

[DirtyDawg]

,.....we booked this cruise before realizing that our Canadian ADULT daughter is considered a little kid on a Carribean cruise. I realize that in the US, she is considered a kid and we know that - but it hadn't occurred to me that this asinine drinking age would be in force at sea. So, she can't have a late afternoon beer with us? Can't have a glass of wine with dinner? I hate puritanical laws! Only in American is she considered a child. Everywhere else, she is the adult that she is.

 

 

Are two eldest were in that age group a couple of years ago. Fortunately (but unfortunately for my pocket book) we let the kids decide the cruise line for a Caribbean cruise. They picked Norwegian. Norwegian lets 18 year olds and above drink with signed release from their parents. It was beer and wine only and the ship had to be in international waters but the kids could be treated as adults.

 

On a cruise when the kids were younger, if we bought a bucket of beer in the afternoon we would have plenty left over for the next day. On that Norwegian cruise those darn buckets lasted maybe 30 minutes. :eek:

[thomarvin]

I have the same problem. When we booked I didn't realise my 19yo son would be restricted especially when it comes to being in a room. He has to share with either his dad or I and of course I thought he'd be ok with his teenage brother and sister. Where we come from he is considered an adult at 18. I'm sure he'll meet others his age and have a great time anyway :)

 

 

That's not true. here is the policy:

 

Guests under the age of 13

• Minors must be booked in the same stateroom as the Parents/Grandparents.
  
• Do not suggest to the caller that they can switch staterooms once on board.
  
• If the Parents/Grandparents insist on being booked with the minors in separate staterooms, the booking must be documented with the following: "parents #_____”. Note: If booked in separate staterooms, the minors must either be directly across the hall or the stateroom next door.
  
• Minors may only be booked in a balcony stateroom with the Parents/Grandparents"; this also applies to connecting staterooms.
  

Guests 13 - 17 years of age

• Minors can be booked in separate staterooms, by up to 3 staterooms in between the minor stateroom and the Parents/Grandparents stateroom.
  
• Minors age 13 may only be booked in a balcony stateroom with the Parents/Grandparents; this also applies to connecting staterooms.
  

Guests 18 years of age and older

• Minors are not required to be booked within close proximity nor on the same deck as the Parents/Grandparents.
  
• We should make every effort to assign staterooms nearby.