Legal Drinking Age

[ArtyFarty]

Our family will be taking a Caribbean cruise more than likely in September 2007.

We are Australians and our policy on the legal drinking age is 18 years onwards.

My question is what ships have the same legal drinking age as us that sail the Caribbean as we have several family members who are 18years old and onwards.

[wwinfl91]

You will have a shock or at least your 18 year old will. The drinking age on all cruise lines as far as I know is 21 years old. On the islands or in Mexico no one checks as long as you are tall enough to get to bar but on the ship they will check and will not serve anyone under 21.

 

Sorry for the bad news.

[nparmelee]

Check with the cruise lines you are looking at using, some of them will serve 18-21 year olds when at sea if the parents sign a waiver. The policies about this seem to vary from line to line and country/countries where the cruise is located.

[wrp96]

The only major US cruise line that might still allow 18-20 year olds to drink on their ships in the Caribbean is NCL and I'm not even sure about that. RCCL used to allow this but it changed this summer, and now they only allow 18-20 year olds to drink on sailings from Europe (and other non-North American ports). 18 year olds can drink in port while in the Caribbean.

[newmexicoNita]

Do check with the cruise lines: Celebrity allowed drinking at 18 last Dec when our granddaughter was married on the ship. The parents had to sign a release. NCL and some of the others allow beer and wine. It varies and the laws change from month to month. AS mentioned RCI/Celebrity did allow it and may switch back by next summer. NMnita

[hajekfam]

Do check with the cruise lines: Celebrity allowed drinking at 18 last Dec when our granddaughter was married on the ship. The parents had to sign a release. NCL and some of the others allow beer and wine. It varies and the laws change from month to month. AS mentioned RCI/Celebrity did allow it and may switch back by next summer. NMnita

Celebrity changed their policy this summer.

From their website:

Effective as of all sailings commencing on or after July 28, 2006, the minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on all Celebrity Cruises is 21.

[Cotton]

Carnival's age policy has been 21 for all types alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine, for a long time. Most other lines have recently begun establishing the same policy. Folks from other countries don't have to agree with it, but they do have to abide by it.:)

[FionaMG]

You could check out the European lines, such as Costa, P&O, MSC and RCI's latest acquisition, Pullmantur. There might not be much choice, though, as these lines keep the majority of their ships in Europe over the summer months.

[dateacher]

We picked NCL because they still allow beer and wine for 18-21 year olds.

[Cotton]

We picked NCL because they still allow beer and wine for 18-21 year olds.

 

You're correct, 18-20 on NCL - IF the parent signs a consent form; 21 for liquor.

 

RCCL had this same policy until just a few weeks ago. Now 21 across the board, no signing for underage.

[ArtyFarty]

Our family will be taking a Caribbean cruise more than likely in September 2007.

We are Australians and our policy on the legal drinking age is 18 years onwards.

My question is what ships have the same legal drinking age as us that sail the Caribbean as we have several family members who are 18years old and onwards.

Thanks for the quick repsonse. I have been in contact with MSC Cruises and they have informed me that as an Italian company they have the same legal drinking age of 18year olds as Australia, and as they are classed as adults they can enter the bars/nightclubs and casino on board.

I also contacted Costa Cruises and their policy is the same as MSC Cruises.

However, P & O in conjunction with Princess Cruises is American owned, and although 18year olds can drink on these cruises going to the South Pacific all other oversea cruises they cannot till they are 21 years old.

Don't get that one, one rule for one and another rule for another!!!!!!!

Hope more information is forthcoming

Cheers

[newmexicoNita]

Celebrity changed their policy this summer.

From their website:

Thanks, that is why I made the statement, each line changes from time to time. It is possible next summer will be very different from this summer. I have totally mixed feelings about the drinking and gambling age on ships.

 

NMNita

[newmexicoNita]

Celebrity changed their policy this summer.

From their website:

Thanks, that is why I made the statement, each line changes from time to time. It is possible next summer will be very different from this summer. I have totally mixed feelings about the drinking and gambling age on ships.

 

NMNita

[FionaMG]

I just find it strange that the legal drinking age in the US in 21 years. You can drive a car, watch adult movies, get married and have kids long before this but you have to wait until 21 before you can drink liquor. I'm not criticising or saying it's wrong or anything, I just can't understand the reasoning behind it.

[PJBUCHEIT]

I just find it strange that the legal drinking age in the US in 21 years. You can drive a car, watch adult movies, get married and have kids long before this but you have to wait until 21 before you can drink liquor. I'm not criticising or saying it's wrong or anything, I just can't understand the reasoning behind it.

Yes, it does seem strange that all that can be done at the young age of 18 and then have to wait until 21 to step foot into a bar, or into a store to purchase alcohol. Just think of what the death toll would be if it was 18.

[Cotton]

Don't get that one, one rule for one and another rule for another!!!!!!!

Hope more information is forthcoming.

 

In a fairly recent Carnival Corporation stockholder report, there was a blurb about all their lines and ships going to the 21 year age for any alcoholic beverages including beer and wine, and staying with the 18 year age for gambling.

 

That would include all Carnival Corporation-owned lines, which are:

 

Carnival

Costa

Cunard

Holland American

P&O

Princess

Windstar

Yachts of Seabourn

 

...and the other six obscure lines they own.

[newmexicoNita]

Yes, it does seem strange that all that can be done at the young age of 18 and then have to wait until 21 to step foot into a bar, or into a store to purchase alcohol. Just think of what the death toll would be if it was 18.

There was a time when the age was dropped to 18, remember the early 80s? At the time I saw nothing wrong with this, then I watched how easy it was for teens under 18 to get booze, including my own son, I may add. That is when I was glad to see it go back to 21. Does this mean teens don't get booze now? of course not, let's get real, but it would be even worse if the law was reduced. Yes, we all know and I understand the reasoning behind, fight for your country but can't buy a beer or go to a college party and can't even sip a glass of wine (actually I don't think college kids drink much wine; lol) but I still hope the laws stay the way they are. The exception would be when the kids are with their parents. NMNita

[Bonnie J.]

If someone 21 buys them a drink, don't think it wil be taken away from them. They will punch a hole in their sail 'n sign card to show bartenders they are not 21. Know some lines used to allow beer & wine if parents signed for them but don't know if that's still around. There have bee\n problems with very drunk teens and ships want to prevent this - can't blame them..............