Can our 13 year daughter go to the bars on the Mardi Gras

[pe4all]

On 3/21/2021 at 7:37 PM, MasterMason said:

Actually, no. I have seen them advise children that seating is for adults only. Also, they don't serve non-alcoholic drinks or even sodas there. Also, seating is ALWAYS limited at the Alchemy. I LIVE at the Alchemy bar every cruise. I've even taken the class 3 times!

We have gotten soda at the Alchemy bar every cruise that has one.  We stop there and get a caffeine-free diet on our way down to the dining room, as the stairs are right there on certain ships.  In fact, after the first 2 nights the bartender had our cans waiting!

[LandlockedCruiser01]

Theoretically, it's a hit or miss.  Poolside bars during the daytime may have bartenders who are more lenient with having a teenager sit there, provided that she doesn't drink alcohol.  With indoor bars and any bars at night, your odds are extremely low.  Just sit at a table together, with you drinking a beer or a cocktail, and her drinking a virgin drink; problem solved.  Unless she'll enjoy the taboo factor of herself sitting at a bar, I highly doubt she'll see the difference.

 

Practically, why would she want to?  When I was 13, I wanted to hang out with my peers.  Not sit at a bar with my parents and strangers twice my age.  (Who seem "young" to me now, at 37.)  Sitting with parents was well and good, but it had its time and place: at breakfast and dinner, when I specifically promised to join them, and maybe during shows, 

[ProgRockCruiser]

On 4/3/2021 at 9:16 AM, LandlockedCruiser01 said:

Practically, why would she want to?

We don't know why, but apparently she does want to, for pre-dinner/pre-show drinks.

[crewsweeper]

She probably likes being with her parents.  And with so many options on the Mardi Gras, that should not be a problem.  I would this the Grand Atrium with music and views would be an excellent choice, versus any smaller nightclub or sports bar venue.

[Djptcp]

Probably an important side question to this is whether or not 13 year olds will even be allowed on Carnival cruises in 2022 if they aren't vaccinated. I don't believe vaccinations are available yet for kids under either 16 or 18 years of age. I know there are some trials going on for kid vaccinations, but I don't believe there is anything definite yet but hope for older kids vaccinations later this year. When we cruise again, we want all passengers and crews fully vaccinated.

[MississippiMom]

On 3/23/2021 at 2:28 PM, jetsfan58 said:

Call me old fashioned. I am still perplexed at why we are "pushing" and/or "insisting" that these teen children accompany us to these adult based venues? Can someone please help me understand this? When we were teens we did teen things. Have times changed that much?     

When we multi-generational cruised over Spring Break 2019, it was fun for my (very under aged) nephews to go to the sports bar with their dad and watch tournament basketball games.  The rule was that families could sit in the booths, but no under age could sit at or order at the actual bar.  On that same cruise, my high school daughters were happy to sit with my parents and listen to a salsa band at a bar, and my youngest even got my dad to get up and dance with her.  

 

There are lots of opportunities to make family memories at the "bars," but it doesn't always mean that parents are exposing their kids to inappropriate things.

[MississippiMom]

On 4/1/2021 at 5:07 AM, pe4all said:

We have gotten soda at the Alchemy bar every cruise that has one.  We stop there and get a caffeine-free diet on our way down to the dining room, as the stairs are right there on certain ships.  In fact, after the first 2 nights the bartender had our cans waiting!

This must vary by ship. 

The Alchemy Bar on Glory did not stock any sodas at all in March 2019.  We loved Alchemy and tipped the bartenders WELL, but if my husband wanted a Diet Coke, we had to walk down to the casino bar for one.

[jetsfan58]

4 hours ago, MississippiMom said:

When we multi-generational cruised over Spring Break 2019, it was fun for my (very under aged) nephews to go to the sports bar with their dad and watch tournament basketball games.  The rule was that families could sit in the booths, but no under age could sit at or order at the actual bar.  On that same cruise, my high school daughters were happy to sit with my parents and listen to a salsa band at a bar, and my youngest even got my dad to get up and dance with her.  

 

There are lots of opportunities to make family memories at the "bars," but it doesn't always mean that parents are exposing their kids to inappropriate things.

Certainly understand and glad that everyone had fun. There is still an element "good or indifferent" that the children will/could be exposed to. May be outlandish swearing, may be someone getting a bit loud after having a few to many drinks, may be really unruly patrons during that time. They see enough via everyday life, via the internet and certainly on TV. This would be the one place that I would think we could leave all of that behind for at least a bit of "good old" time. 

 

I just feel that kids should remain innocent for as long as possible. Trust me the World will show them the difference in due time.  

[ProgRockCruiser]

14 hours ago, jetsfan58 said:

May be outlandish swearing, may be someone getting a bit loud after having a few to many drinks,

Well, better not let the kids near the pool on Lido in the afternoon then.  That is where I have seen the "worst" behavior (though I guess I have been lucky, not really seen/heard much at all in my cruises).

[d12j28]

21 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

Well, better not let the kids near the pool on Lido in the afternoon then.  That is where I have seen the "worst" behavior (though I guess I have been lucky, not really seen/heard much at all in my cruises).

I would agree. The pool in the afternoon is where I have seen the worst behavior (although not often). 

[jetsfan58]

3 hours ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

Well, better not let the kids near the pool on Lido in the afternoon then.  That is where I have seen the "worst" behavior (though I guess I have been lucky, not really seen/heard much at all in my cruises).

The pool areas are generally respectable; at least during our cruises. However I am not a community pool type of Cruise Nut so I don't spend much time there.  

[ColeThornton]

17 minutes ago, jetsfan58 said:

The pool areas are generally respectable;

 

 

As are bars during the day and around dinner time.   The OP's child is 13, they have been exposed to plenty in their life.   They aren't taking junior to Gomorrah.   Trust that parents are smart enough to know when it's okay for kids to be around and when it's time to leave venues.

 

 

Okay, this one is turning into a Dead Horse.   Next!

 

[MasterMason]

On 4/1/2021 at 6:07 AM, pe4all said:

We have gotten soda at the Alchemy bar every cruise that has one.  We stop there and get a caffeine-free diet on our way down to the dining room, as the stairs are right there on certain ships.  In fact, after the first 2 nights the bartender had our cans waiting!

That is really odd, because I've sat there and heard them tell people that they don't have sodas there. They don't even make any drinks that use soda so are you sure you're talking about the Alchemy Bar? I can't see them having sodas, and especially caffeine-free diet soda. I'm calling shenanigans on this one! 😂

[pe4all]

On 6/2/2021 at 11:27 PM, MasterMason said:

That is really odd, because I've sat there and heard them tell people that they don't have sodas there. They don't even make any drinks that use soda so are you sure you're talking about the Alchemy Bar? I can't see them having sodas, and especially caffeine-free diet soda. I'm calling shenanigans on this one! 😂

No shenanigans.  Got them on Magic and Conquest.  The bartender had cans of soda.  They sent someone to get caffeine-free Diet Coke for me, and after the first night she had a can waiting every night as I headed to dinner.

Edited June 4, 2021 by pe4all