Drinking Age on Crown Princess ( How do they enforce it) ?

[KShea]

Not to be nasty, but does the OP want his underage kid to be drinking??? Or is he concerned that there won't be any place fun for the younger one to go?

 

 

I don't see anything nasty in your post. Yes I would like my 20 year old to be able to purchase alcohol if he would like to. But...if the age is 21 I guess he will have to go along with that.

 

I understand why the cruise line has this policy. But I feel you should be able to drink beer at 20. I know...I know...I can go on a cruise that doesn't have that restriction.

 

I have tried RCCL and loved it...tried Carnival and hated it...would like to try Princess....

....thanks everyone for your responses....

[woodofpine]

First, I think this thread has remained quite civil given the topic. Kudos to all. :)

 

(You should have seen the Christian Temperance demonstration on the Carnival board [that's right Big C!] when this topic came up recently - albeit just a bit more provocatively.)

 

That said... and with no intent to stir the pot since intoxication is not a healthy thing at any age or in any location, but...

 

The PRIMARY reason for the USA raising its drinking age about 20 years back, the RATIONALE of the rule as it were, was to reduce the incidence of "drunk" driving car crashes among young drivers. Fine motor skills required for driving are impaired even at relatively low levels of drinking. The rule was implemented via the US Department of Transportation, and fortunately, statistics show the rationale of the rule has been achieved.

 

That said: On board a cruise ship, no passenger is operating a motor vehicle.

[PLHag]

We sailed the 7/1 CB with our two 18-year-old girls. Our sail cards were coded with an "A" in the bottom right corner next to the number of previous cruises w/Princess - the girls' cards had an "M". Being 18, the girls were allowed in Skywalkers, but had to show their driver's licenses everytime they went in and they went every night during the week (eventually the doorman recognized them but carded them for continuity). They were not allowed to purchase any alcohol on the ship, but they did share champagne with us in the dining room - we were at a very private table near the window. They had no problem buying or being served drinks in Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman or Cozumel (although they were carded in G/C). We saw youth security personnel everywhere (wearing yellow polos or jackets) and they seemed to learn quickly and remember which youths were under 18, or in our case, under 21.

[wineandbeach]

We were just on CB and my 17 year old son and 15 year old daughter were both offered wine in the dining room. My son also purchased a pina colada (non virgin)with no problem. It doesn't seem like it is strickly enforced to me. The main thing that stopped him was not Princess enforcing the rules, but him knowing everything he purchases will be viewed by me on the bill (which I checked throughout the cruise). They are strict about the clubs though. They had people outside Skywalkers checking ID and youth security was inside checking ID's.

[sunshine426]

We were on the Star in March. Our two daughter's were 21 and 24 and were asked for picture ID each time they purchsed alcoholic beverages, and they did not except my younger daughter's college ID. Had to show their driver's licences. They were not carded at dinner when we purchased wine, or when they were with us drinking from a bucket of beer,. Neither were they carded at Skywalkers, but again they were with their parents.

[OCNJ Cruiser]

pianoman- oops, sorry I misinterpeted your post.... not sure about Club Fusion, but all lounges except Skywalkers allow kids under 18. That means you'll have no problem watching Princess Idol and the rest of the shows. Oh I forgot- Participation in Karoke which is usually in Explorer's is adults only...over 18, but kids watching is fine!!

woodofpine- you crack me up!:D thanks for the upbeat posts in an otherwise non-PC thread!

kevin- hope your questions are answered!!

[pianoman24601]

pianoman- oops, sorry I misinterpeted your post.... not sure about Club Fusion, but all lounges except Skywalkers allow kids under 18. That means you'll have no problem watching Princess Idol and the rest of the shows. Oh I forgot- Participation in Karoke which is usually in Explorer's is adults only...over 18, but kids watching is fine!!

 

 

no harm, no foul. Thanks for the info!:)

[Colo Cruiser]

Once again it comes back on the parents, the age is 21 so dont let your kids drink unless they are 21. Everyone wants to circumvent the system somehow some way. :cool:

[chasetf]

Some of us, who came of age when the drinking age was 18 in the US, don't have a problem with our 18-20 year olds drinking. The drinkin age was lowered during the Vietnam war era, when an 18 year old could be sent to war to die for our country, but could not drink or vote. At least they can still vote.

Being a Vietnam era vetran, I am here to testify that at least in my state (Calif) the age was not lowered. It may have been in other states, but the statement is was lowered in the "entire" US is not accurate.

[Mississippian]

Being a Vietnam era vetran, I am here to testify that at least in my state (Calif) the age was not lowered. It may have been in other states, but the statement is was lowered in the "entire" US is not accurate.

Chasetf,

Did California allow 18-year-olds to drink beer? In many states, that was all they were allowed to drink.

 

I was in college in the late 1970s and early 1980s when the changes took effect, and it essentially drove the underage crowd to drinking hard liquor at parties, as it is easier to hide and carry. The change didn't reduce drinking much, as I could tell, but it increased immoderate drinking.

[woodofpine]

You're right - until the mid-1980's there was no uniformity among the states regarding drinking (and the Vietnam war didn't really include this topic among its many issues).

 

There was enormous variety of drinking ages between 18 and 21 and some hybrids too! Remember 3.2% beer! You could drink that in Ohio at 18 where I was raised (Colorado and few others) but nothing else until 21. Ohio - the original home of the Christian Temperance Union - still has several "dry" counties (no sales or consumption at any age anywhere!). Ask the alumni of Denison University - in a dry county east of Columbus. Then when I went to college in D.C., we could buy ANY alcohol% beer or wine at 18 but no hard spirits until 21... Then the Federal DOT weighed in... As a condition of road construction and maintenance funding the Feds mandated 21 across the board. NIHS/NTSB studies showed that even low levels of alcohol had a higher impairment factor on young drivers, premusably due to lack of driving experience and maturity...

 

The sole reasoning relating to the 21 standard was tied to motor vehicle highway safety (not applicable to cruise ships). But, of course, it pleased and reinforced certain puritan elements in American culture. The cruise lines have seen fit to adopt it for there own reasons; their ship, their rules. But the original legislative initiative was from DC tied to highway funding.

[OCNJ Cruiser]

Wow! Thanks for the history lesson! I can simpithize with the folks in Ohio. I live in a dry town- no drinking, no gambling! But alas, Atlantic City is only 20 minutes away....:)

[Druke I]

Chasetf is correct - California's drinking age has been 21 for both spirits and beer for eons.

 

I know I was not particularly happy that I could not legally buy a drink or beer after having been in the Army for 3 years, overseas for 2 1/2 years, in the mid-50s (Cold War vet!). I was 17 and three days out of high school when I enlisted, so I could have some choice (damn little) rather than take my chances with the draft later.

[danixbanani]

this rule really just drives me crazy because I am *this* close to my 21st birthday (four months) and I'm going to be considered a child on this cruise. I had no idea the drinking/gambling age was 21 on princess until it was too late. :( Not that I do much of either but I'd like to be able to have a glass of wine with dinner or a pina colada at the pool, or waste my money away in the casino...and I'm going to have to be sneaky and probably hassled by cruise staff because I'm 20 and 8 months :(

 

Thank goodness my boyfriend who is 21 is going to be with me and can buy me my drinks :) Do you think, though, that they will *really* grab a drink out of my hand? I really don't look that young. And I'm not a drunken hooligan lol :rolleyes:

[OCNJ Cruiser]

danix,

you'll be fine. Just be careful around the champagne waterfall, they will take the drink out of your hand there! And don't physically go up to the bar with your boyfriend because they may ask for your ID when he orders your drink. Other than that, you'll have no problem in the dining room and Skywalker's.

WOW- only three days to go!! I'm jealous:o Have fun and let us know how the new ship is-especially Club Fusion!

[danixbanani]

haha yeah i figured all that...i'll just drink my champagne quickly before they get to me lol!

 

and i'll do the lady-like thing and sit on my butt and send the bf to get my drinks lol

 

yes 3 days and i can hardly contain myself! i have to start packing :\ lol. thanks and i'll let ya kno how it is! :D

[KShea]

Yes...questions were answered...thanks so much. Looks like for the most part the rules would be strictly enforced. Not sure what we are going to do. We are going to have a few people in that age range. I'll have to see how they feel about it.

 

I know its not the end of the world and won't be for them either. Just for my two cents I think 18 is old enough to drink wine or beer on a ship, with that being said I can choose a ship that does that. You all have been so helpful. I have me some very nice people here on the Pricess board after spending much of the past 6 years roaming the RCCL boards.

 

I'm looking forward to sailing with Princess.....thanks again...Kevin

 

ps...I'm sure I'll have some more silly questions the next few months being new here....thanks in advance for your patience....Kevin

[Randycurit]

Hi all,

 

My 2 cruises with underage people.

 

1st time - my DD turned 18 on a RCCL cruise and she was able to drink on the ship and on land - that should open some discussion. YA HOOOO! We did have to remind her a few time that she was still with us and that she was still in high school and back in the US she couldn't drink. Daddy is such a hard butt!

 

2nd time - my sister inlaw went with us on Princess and she was 20y/o and her BF just turned 22 so she had him do all the buying on the ship. They had their fun but it was under control most of the time considering their ages. She never had a problem walking around with a drink or ordering one at dinnner they just put it on his card. Any time they were asked if they wanted a drink she just said yes and ordered it then put it on his card. She did get asked once by the pool for her ID and said it was in the room they still served her on his card. This may have been because they were with us old people ( Me 39, DW 34, M&F inlaw 50'S) and they assumed she was old enough.

 

Your son should be fine it may be just a little bit of a pain. As for the casino she never had a proble playing or drinking she just didn't use her card. She used cash for chips and again he ordered the drinks.

 

HAVE a great crusie

We love Princess - Hope to see you on the high seas sometime!

 

Randy

[woodofpine]

Pre-DOT/21 drinking ages among the states reflected cultural mores and legislative history in those jurisdictions. For those with a long memory, many states DID NOT like this issue being dictated to them from Washington! But the Feds stood pat and basically said, "No ticky [increased drinking age legislation], no washy [Fed Road $$]" the loud grumbling from a few state houses caused the age prohibitions to be phased in some places. New York went from 18 to 19 then to 21 with some improvidently birthdated young people going back and forth from legal to illegal to legal to illegal! Ahh, to be young...

 

RCI stands out among the USA based major lines to allow parents to sign off and opt out their 18+ year olds from the prohibition. I suspect that creates an overall more lax enforcement disposition on RCI ships. I imagine that lines that aren't USA market oriented (Fred Olsen, etc.) are bemused by the age prohibitions on the majors. I'd be curious about what Costa's policy is since it remains pretty heavily euro-oriented but is now part of Carnival Corp. Anyone know?

[jkrav]

just to add on to this whole thread involving alc....

 

Why do other cruise ships (companies) let you drink when ur 18+ as soon as you cross the border vs. Princess no under 21 drinking on the ship period?

[sixbirches]

Never cruised before, so here is a question we have.

:confused: :confused: I know that its allowed to bring wine and champagne on board, but I'm sure adults also bring other types of alcohol on board. What's the best way to try to do this? (Legal adults, not the kids). Bubblewrap??

[danixbanani]

i use bubble wrap to wrap up my bottles of wine bc of a mishap that happened on my cruise last year on RC. we were walking back from the muster station drill and noticed by the staff elevators that there was red liquid everywhere all over the floor and my uncle's bag. we realized that he hadn't packed his bottles of wine well enough and they broke during transport from the cruise terminal to our room. we use bubble wrap from now on! :)

 

as far as other liquor goes...i'm putting my vodka in water bottles simply bc i'm paranoid that they'll take it lol. :o