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Taking 19 yr old. friend of the family - questions

teachkind1

By teachkind1,
in Royal Caribbean International

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teachkind1

teachkind1

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HI all!

 

This will be the first time we are taking a non-family member with us on a cruise and I have a few questions.

 

First, we are taking my daughter's 19 yr. old boyfriend with us. Since he is 19, will we still need a notarized letter giving us permission to take him on this cruise? In the US, he's considered an adult for everything except drinking alcohol, which leads to me second question.

 

I have a question about the beverage waiver. For him to drink beer or wine, will he have to have a notarized letter from at least one of his parents giving him permission? I'm thinking the answer is yes but I'm not sure. It's not very clear on the RCCL website.

 

Thanks for your help!

Rhea

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QuitMyDayJob

QuitMyDayJob

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Our TA advised us that we would have to have a notarized letter from our 19 year old daughter's boyfriend's parents (the boyfriend is 20). I don't completely understand it, because his parent's don't have the legal authority to give us permission to do anything, because he is over 18. But we'll comply. I hadn't even given the alcohol question a thought...I didn't realize it was a possibility. Is there such a waiver on the RCCL for a person's own children?

 

BTW, we were also told that the "children" (two cabins, two per cabin, all over 18) could not stay on a deck without an adult (over 24) in the party in a nearby cabin. I know there are "ways around this", but that's the official policy.

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PTarbay

PTarbay

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Last year when I brought my daughter's 19 year old friend I brought a notarized letter for the beer and wine.They never asked for it.I just had to sign for her.You do not need anything to take him since he's over 18.You may want to have someone sign a medical permission slip in case of an emergency and he is unable to make medical decisions and make sure he has all his insurance information with him.have a great cruise.

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Sheffie

Sheffie

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Last year when I brought my daughter's 19 year old friend I brought a notarized letter for the beer and wine.They never asked for it.I just had to sign for her.You do not need anything to take him since he's over 18.You may want to have someone sign a medical permission slip in case of an emergency and he is unable to make medical decisions and make sure he has all his insurance information with him.have a great cruise.

 

Since he is over 18, HE is the one who would have to sign a paper for you to make decisions. Our neighbor could not even talk to her 18 year old son's doctor's receptionist to see if he was put into the hospital since he hadn't signed anything giving her access to his records!

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teachkind1

teachkind1

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HurricaneSally - Not that it's anybody's business, and I'm pretty sure you were just trying to be funny but that possibility has already been taken care of, so no little "souvenir" for us (my husband isn't going due to last minute work obligations) lol

 

Thanks for all your input! I am getting a notarized letter from the boyfriend's mom basically for medical emergencies. As for the drinking, I am allowing both my daughter (who is 18) and her boyfriend to drink but believe me, they will be closely monitored. I have already lectured them on several occasions on appropriate behavior and both are very responsible young adults. Her boyfriend is in the Army reserves, and I feel if he can be sent overseas to die for our country, he should be allowed to have a beer on our cruise.

 

Thanks again,

Rhea

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Debbie does Disney

Debbie does Disney

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Last year when I brought my daughter's 19 year old friend I brought a notarized letter for the beer and wine.They never asked for it.I just had to sign for her.You do not need anything to take him since he's over 18.You may want to have someone sign a medical permission slip in case of an emergency and he is unable to make medical decisions and make sure he has all his insurance information with him.have a great cruise.

 

Ditto to the above. We took my DD's 20 year old BF with us last year and I had his Mother send a signed and notorized letter with us. Again with us... they never asked for it but just in case.

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Lokalona

Lokalona

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we always take extra kids on cruises, always have been under 18 and I have always had the notorized letter, NO ONE ever asked for the Minor child's letter!! So I would doubt they will ask for an 18 or older one. I would do the medical emergancy decision letter. I also feel if the 18 year old can elect a president, die for our country, and be tried as an adult, a beer is not a big deal. I have a daughter in the Military, she is 22. We took her to a casino on her 21st birthday and she said it was weird she had to be 21 to play a slot machine, but only 18 to use a machine gun! Kinda puts things in prospective.

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beachchick

beachchick

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I have to say that your best bet is to call RCI directly and ask for clarification. Just because US law says an 18-year old is of legal age, doesn't mean that RCI has to honor that. Just because someone else has never been asked for it, doesn't mean that you won't be. It would really stink to get that one staff member who insists that you have a release letter before allowing you to board--after you've decided not to bother with it because others have said you don't "need" it. (JMHO.) I have heard of people being asked for an authorization from an over 18-under 21 year old's parents--not just medical. I get why it seems illogical (and I agree), except that the parents (or other older adults) cruising are responsible for the behavior of any under 21 pax cruising with them. So, even though we may say, "but 18 is legal," RCI says that anyone under 21 must be travelling with someone older who will be responsible for them and their behavior.

 

As for the wine and beer, correct that it is you who will sign the waiver accepting responsibility. No problem--it's great that you trust them. However, please confirm with the BF's parents that it's okay with them. If they do not want him to have permission to drink, please honor that. I don't care that others will say, "but if he wants to, he'll get around it..." You still have the obligation to respect his family's wishes, IMO. If they are fine with him having beer and wine, then great.

 

In any case, I think it's smarter to take more documentation then you think you need to take--just in case. I mean, it's a couple of pieces of paper for you peace of mind.

 

beachchick

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aba555

aba555

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I absolutely agree with you about the drinking, but I would never let my 18 year old daughter sleep with her boyfriend right under my nose. But, I guess in this day and age, morals are old fashioned. Have a good time on your cruise.

 

No that it's anybody's business, but I got the impression that her DD was staying in the room with her, since she said DH couldn't go at the last minute.

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PTarbay

PTarbay

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Just book your daughter with you and the boyfriend with your husband and then switch. If your lucky maybe you will become a grandmom on this trip and have your own little souvenir, lol.

The OP's post was edited after I saw it and it questioned why the two weren't permitted to stay in the same room on a different floor and how could they get around the rule.

I also saw the original post.She stated they couldn't be in the same room and did not ask for ways around it.These were statements not questions.I'm sure she edited it because of the uncalled for post earlier that was not very nice and uncalled for.She asked a question to be answered not to be judged.

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GCBCKat57

GCBCKat57

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I just returned from the Explorer yesterday and traveled with my son's 19 year old best friend (and second cousin). We went ahead and got a notarized letter from his parents giving him permission to travel with us, but no one ever asked to see it.

Kathy

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HurricaneSally

HurricaneSally

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I think that's the problem with today's society. Everything is a go and nobody thinks anything is wrong with it. Remember when getting pregnant was a hushed about thing that nobody talked about? Nowadays, its cool. Maybe that's why there are so many unwed mothers, because we 're all so socially correct these days. We did all those unwanted babies a favor, didn't we? Growing up in poverty must be loads of fun.

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imsulin2

imsulin2

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Here's the scoop: You must be 21 or older to book by yourself on RCI. If you are taking a non-related passenger under 21, he must have a notarized letter signed by both parents giving him permission to cruise, and designating an "adult" guardian for the duration of the cruise (and permission to seek medical treatment). That "guardian" can sign the waiver for the wine and beer. If a passenger is under the age of 21, he cannot be booked into a cabin without an adult 25 or older. The age of 18 (as a legal adult) in the U.S. has nothing to do with the cruise line's age restrictions, as they will not be in the U.S. RCI and Carnival both have this policy (except that Carnival does not allow any drinking until age 21). The only cruise lines that will permit 18-20 year olds to book independently are Disney and Celebrity. (I think. I know Disney for sure, but it's either Celebrity or Princess). Anyway, for booking purposes, this is the way it has to be, and don't forget that notarized letter! You may not be asked for it, but if you are, and don't have it, he could be denied boarding, as he is not an adult according to RCI. Good luck!

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PTarbay

PTarbay

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This thread started out all about notarized letters and beverages............

 

You,my dear,have turned into a morals story...................give it up......

I agree.How did this go from a couple of simple questions to a scenario of the daughter becoming an unwed pregnant mother to be cool with an unwanted child raised in poverty?

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