Teen age restrictions

[azheartnurse]

:confused: Does anyone have any idea how tightly they monitor the age limits for teen activities? My two daughters are 16 and 19 and I am sure they are going to want to stick together most of the trip, unless they meet up with some new friends. My older daughter figures they won't let her into the teen disco, which means the younger one won't go on her own. Trying to keep the entire family happy seems a little tricky!

[PhoenixCruiser]

From what I've read on here they are really strict with the age categories.

 

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[cb at sea]

Don't worry--they will meet new friends if they go to the "opening day" activities! And, there's plenty to do that isn't age restricted. They will have a great time. They're lucky to be going on a cruise!!!!

[cmich068]

Depends if Security is carding at the door.

[christineann]

They are strict. My son was 18 on our cruise, and he doesn't drink, so he decided to check out the teen disco with his sister. They would not let him in.

[cruisin from florida]

I wish the 18 year olds didn't get booted out of the teen program completely. Really, many older teens (18,19) have a lot more in common with the 17 year olds than with 22, 23 year olds. I know that on our second cruise, my son, who had just turned 18, would probably have had more fun if he could have hung out with the older teens. When you consider that many 18 year olds are still in high school, it's a shame that they can't hang out with their (only slightly) younger siblings on a family cruise.

[parrotthead]

This is our situation on our upcomming Alaskan Cruise...DDs are 15 months apart...older one just turned 18 and younger one turns 17 the day before we dail...they are in the dame school, many of the same classes, hang out with the same friends at home, have many of the same intrests...are always together...neither ones idea of fun is NOT hanging out with their sister on vacation...they want to hang out together and are pretty shelthered at home...dont run the streets dont stay out late and are home when they are supposed to be (9pm) , dont drink, smoke etc...

so I agree, the teen activities should extend to include all teens if they want to join in...not ...well, your 18, go hang out in the 'real disco' with the men and booze....scarey.:eek:

[PAGA]

There is not a huge difference between a 17 and 18 year old's behavior/interests -- in fact, any HS senior class will have a mix of 17 & 18 year olds. But...the catch is that 18 year olds are allowed to purchase and consume alcohol on the ship -- so personally, I don't want my 16-year-old daughter to be mingling with the older kids who are drinking.

 

It makes you wonder though...couldn't RCCL adopt a policy where if the 18 or 19 year old *who doesn't have a alcohol waiver* would be allowed access to the teen club?? (And vice versa; only those with signed drinking waivers could be allowed access to the adult disco). They have all the deisgnations indicated on the SeaPass cards and the teen & adult discos already have ID checkers in place at the doors...in fact, with my daughter rapidly approaching the teen club cut-off, I think I might start putting this suggestion on my comment cards now...We actually discussed a potential big, extended-family cruise to celebrate her HS graduation and she said she doesn't think she'll be interested because she won't have kids her age to hang out with...

 

But, in answer to the OP's question, as previously stated they are very strict about access to the teen club. In fact, there are 2 teen age groups (12-14 and 15-17) and in the evenings they even card to make sure you are in the correct teen group for the scheduled activity...which can be a little awkward since all the teens co-mingle during the day, but if your 15 year old becomes friends with a 14 year old they can't hang out in the teen disco together at night...which is how they end up with teens wandering the ship...

[Bec]

AZHeartNurse--Hi again--we are traveling on the same cruise as you (we "met" on meet and mingle board) and I am concerned about the same thing. My daughter will be just shy of her 17th b-day and her friend is 18--almost 19 and just graduated high school. There will be no alchohol waiver for her either. I know they want to hang together at night and as a matter of fact, one of my requests, before you started this post, was that they stay together at all times. But now I see that it seems like they will have to be separated in the evenings. I wanted the girls to both go to the teen orientation at night, but it sounds like they may not even let her friend in and in that case my daughter may not want to go. sigh. I never thought I would hear myself say this but maybe they won't be as strict on this cruise?? Of course I want them to be strict about the alchohol thing tho. Any suggestions out there?

 

Thanks!

[cruisin from florida]

 

It makes you wonder though...couldn't RCCL adopt a policy where if the 18 or 19 year old *who doesn't have a alcohol waiver* would be allowed access to the teen club?? (And vice versa; only those with signed drinking waivers could be allowed access to the adult disco). They have all the deisgnations indicated on the SeaPass cards and the teen & adult discos already have ID checkers in place at the doors...in fact, with my daughter rapidly approaching the teen club cut-off, I think I might start putting this suggestion on my comment cards now...We actually discussed a potential big, extended-family cruise to celebrate her HS graduation and she said she doesn't think she'll be interested because she won't have kids her age to hang out with...

 

 

I think this is an EXCELLENT idea!!! I'll bet MANY 18 year olds would prefer to forgo the alcohol waiver (even if their parents were willing) to hang out with their 17 year old friends. Probably fewer 19 year olds, and so on. I am going on two cruises in the next few months, and I will definitely put this suggestion on my comment cards as well.

As the parent of a 15 and 17 year old, as well as a (now) almost 19 year old, I can say that I would NOT mind a few 18 and 19 year olds, who are not drinking on board, hanging out with my high schoolers.

[cmich068]

But really, what difference does it make if they have the waiver?

 

They wouldn't be allowed in if they were drunk, period, and they probably know somebody on board who does have the waiver signed.

[cruisin from florida]

I think having or not having the waiver is an indicator of the focus of their cruise. No-waiver - more teen focused. Waiver - indicates greater interest in "adult" activities/areas of the ship. Obviously this is not 100%, but if they were to open the teen area to older teens, I think that doing it for teens who CHOOSE a more teen-focused experience for the whole cruise would make it more acceptable to those parents of teens who, right now, are "protected" from all adults when they are in the teen area.

[Bec]

Well how does the waiver work. Does it show up on the sea pass? If so, and someone under 21 wants to come in, wouldn't the sea pass show that this person does NOT have a waiver. So if they aren't drinking, why can't they come in? Does it have more to do with people feeling its inappropriate for older "kids" to hang out with the younger, even if the older ones are not drinking? Just wondering.

It is kind of unfair to assume that all older kids drink. My son who is not coming on the cruise with us, but will be turning 20 in June doesn't drink either.

So anyway, what do you think the reason is for this strict rule? (understanding of course why its strict for the younger ones to not go in with the older ones).

[cruisin from florida]

I think the reason is that parents know that adults other than staff do not have access to their children when they are in teen-only areas. Period. The problem is that just-turned-18 year-olds are "adults" under this rule, and thus can not participate in the teen stuff that takes place in those areas.

It's not a drinking/non drinking thing. They won't let adults in, period. I just thought another category that would indicate, on the seapass, that a person was 18-19 and choosing to be considered a "teen" for the duration of the cruise, would be one way to handle the fact that many 18 year olds MISS the teen activities, and would participate, without causing any trouble, if they could.

[Clarkk W Griswald]

I also don't believe it's a "drinking/non-drinking" issue. In the US, 18 is considered an adult. My son turned 18 in Feb and was still a senior in high school. However, he is still considered an adult, i.e., can vote, can go to war, and even be charged as an adult if he is stupid enough to do something against the law. If he were to do something stupid, with his classmates who might not be 18 yet, he will still be charged as an adult, while his friends are juveniles. The law won't change just because he is an adult, who just happens to still be a senior in high school. I don't feel this 18-20 year olds belong in the teen club, however, they do need something in between for these young adults to do.

 

 

Bec: The waiver works as follows: for those 18-20 with waiver signed, one hole is punched in sea pass. 18-20 without waiver and all those under 18 have 2 holes punched in Sea Pass. I did sign the waiver for my kids, 18 and 20. They were asked to show photo ID along with their sea pass before being allowed in the disco.

[CRUSINGFAMILY]

We just came off Radiance of the Seas with our 18 year old son, they can tell the if the waiver has been signed by the punches in there sea pass card. There were only 28 kids on the cruise of varying ages. Our 14 year old son hung out with a friend and in the livingroom with the adventure ocean staff.

Our son doesnt reallly drink either, but we did sign the waiver, we are Diamond members so he gets consierge service if he wants. It is an ocward age to be traveling, our 18 year old spent most of the 14days in the Casino, and still came home with the money he brought so he was pretty happy. We are sailing to Alaska next may on Celebrity and we are worried that they will impose a 21 yr old age limit for the Casino and he won't be able to play.

[Clarkk W Griswald]

We are sailing to Alaska next may on Celebrity and we are worried that they will impose a 21 yr old age limit for the Casino and he won't be able to play.

 

They WILL impose the 21 yr age limit for the casino in Alaska. It is a United States law.

[Bec]

I think the reason is that parents know that adults other than staff do not have access to their children when they are in teen-only areas. Period. The problem is that just-turned-18 year-olds are "adults" under this rule, and thus can not participate in the teen stuff that takes place in those areas.

It's not a drinking/non drinking thing. They won't let adults in, period. I just thought another category that would indicate, on the seapass, that a person was 18-19 and choosing to be considered a "teen" for the duration of the cruise, would be one way to handle the fact that many 18 year olds MISS the teen activities, and would participate, without causing any trouble, if they could.

 

Thanks for clearing that up. I can understand their point (and parents) about not wanting random adults in where the teens are. but I also think you have a good idea about the 18-19 year olds.

 

 

Clark--also thanks to you for the explanation. Last time we cruised our kids were 13 and 16 and didn't know about how the seapas/waiver thing worked.

 

I'm sure the kids will have a great time no matter what. They usually adjust better than the adults wtih these things and figure it out. :)

[azheartnurse]

I'm hoping our girls will actually WANT to spend time with us too. If we keep busy enough during the day, with all of the fun and sun, by the time we eat dinner (late seating) and maybe catch a show, they will be ready to call it a night. The two girls will most likely want to grab a late snack, or maybe order room service, but hanging out in the disco(especially if they have to do it alone) will probably not be their first choice evening activity. How about the disco that is going to be set up by the pool at night? Will they restrict access to this as well?

[suezyq50]

So, if I my DS (17) to "hang out with us", I need to sign a waiver? If he wants to hang out at the teen disco, I don't sign the waiver, but than he can't go with us to the bars, etc. where alcohol is served?:confused:

[Bec]

AZNurse--I hear ya. I am pretty sure my daughter and friend will NOT want to spend time with us--lol. Of course they have to in port--they have no choice there. Just so you know tho, I believe for late seating the show in the main theater is before dinner. We are doing late too for the first time so I am not 100 per cent sure but thats how it always was before.

[cruisin from florida]

So, if I my DS (17) to "hang out with us", I need to sign a waiver? If he wants to hang out at the teen disco, I don't sign the waiver, but than he can't go with us to the bars, etc. where alcohol is served?:confused:

 

There's no waiver for 17 year olds. He can hang out with you just about anywhere except the casino. He can hang out at the teen disco. He can't drink alcohol, period.

 

Parents MAY sign a waiver for their 18-20 year olds, allowing them to purchase and consume beer and wine on board, if the wish. And, despite our discussion about what we would like to see, 18 year olds may not go into the supervised, "teen-only" areas.

[wrp96]

Your DS 17 can hang out with you all he wants. The waiver is for 18 to 20 years olds to be able to drink beer and wine.

[parrotthead]

And as mentioned before this wavier does NOT apply to Alaskan Itineraries.