Any possibility the cruise lines will start banning drunken spring breakers????

[greatam]

With two incidents within 2 weeks and both involving 20 something "spring breakers", what is the possibility that the cruise lines may take a serious, hard look into increasing the age limit for unescorted access to 25?

 

Lots of time and money wasted circling around looking for the pax. If it was my business, I would give a serious look to totally banning college kids. Just too much liability and bad press.

 

Leave spring break to families and ban the partying spring breaker college students????

[sexyaznboy]

With two incidents within 2 weeks and both involving 20 something "spring breakers", what is the possibility that the cruise lines may take a serious, hard look into increasing the age limit for unescorted access to 25?

 

Lots of time and money wasted circling around looking for the pax. If it was my business, I would give a serious look to totally banning college kids. Just too much liability and bad press.

 

Leave spring break to families and ban the partying spring breaker college students????

 

Interesting question. I don't know how they would accomplish this ban, I mean it would seriously eat into corporate profits and I'm sure they don't want to do that. I wonder how it affected the rest of the passengers when the ship is spending hours and hours searching for the overboard patrons. Did they miss a port? Were they late in getting back to the disembarkation? If so, would they compensate passengers? I'm sure that a lot of people don't book flights through the cruiseline and don't have travel delay insurance. I would be pissed if I were one of those passengers.

[Bonnie J.]

Best answer is for the ship not to allow passengers to get drunk. Security could walk passengers back to their cabins until they sober up or put them in the brig all ships have. And, it is NOT just college kids who get drunk!

[jtdl]

I'm sure this is why Carnival, as of earlier this week, has become extremely intolerant of any smuggled alcohol. Apparently they are going through checked luggage and confiscating any alcohol. They have also changed their wine policy to only one bottle per person to be brought on at embarcation only and are now not allowing nonalcoholic beveridges (pop or water) to be brought on ship as of last week. :(

[jonmar]

While I agree it isn't just college kids getting wasted, let's get serious for a moment. Take any holiday during spring break, and the majority of the demographic, that are drunk, loud, and generally unruly, are college kids. Nothing drives me crazier than trying to sit and have an enjoyable drink with my wife and a group of drunk punks are acting like yard apes. This is specifically why we chose the QM2 for our at sea holidays. Very few 20 somethings, quite unlike Carnival or RCI, which are over run with them. I would rather pay more and not have to deal with that crap on holiday. Sure the passengers on Cunard are a little older (we are in our mid 30s), but a civilized, relaxing holiday is worth the extra. Just my two cents.

[RuthlessBoss]

Best answer is for the ship not to allow passengers to get drunk. Security could walk passengers back to their cabins until they sober up or put them in the brig all ships have. And, it is NOT just college kids who get drunk!

How true! Upon booking a cruise the computer system can't weed out the drinkers. And what about the responable young people, can't ban them because of age and if they cruise accidentally or on purpose at that time?

[greatam]

How true! Upon booking a cruise the computer system can't weed out the drinkers. And what about the responable young people, can't ban them because of age and if they cruise accidentally or on purpose at that time?

 

Increase the "unescorted" age limit to 25 (and make an exception for weddings and honeymoons) and you would eliminate quite a few spring breakers. Sure, there are some responsible young people. But MOST college age pax during spring break are there to PAAAAARTY!!! Fort Lauderdale, home to the BEST Spring Break in the 60's/70's has almost totally eliminated paaaartying spring breakers by upscaling the entire experience and discouraging the paaaarty.

 

If you don't think I am correct that college kids go almost SPECIFICALLY to PAAAARTY, check out this thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=9544156#post9544156

[quikb18b]

I think the cruiselines should just monitor and increase the security. It usually seems to be nonexisistent. We both drink, well mainly me but I dont drink alot while I cruise. I want to remember my vacation so to speak. I would hate to see some people ruin it for the responsible. Honestly though by 25 alot of us still drink, but we dont drink like we did when we were 21, therefore I say if they made an age limit it should be 22-23,lol I am just saying this because my significant other is 23.

 

I've partied during spring break and if it I had a choice I would rather not spend mine on a cruise because of all the dangers, people falling off, getting left at a port, not to mention in College I would have never had the money to go on a cruise, but I guess its the parents paying for it. Glad I didnt have that luxury.

[cusyl]

It's not just cruise ships. A 20 year old, climbing between balconies at a hotel also fell and was killed.

I'ts really a shame these young people think they have to drink until they fall down. :(

[ancldaca]

Increase the "unescorted" age limit to 25 (and make an exception for weddings and honeymoons) and you would eliminate quite a few spring breakers. Sure, there are some responsible young people. But MOST college age pax during spring break are there to PAAAAARTY!!! Fort Lauderdale, home to the BEST Spring Break in the 60's/70's has almost totally eliminated paaaartying spring breakers by upscaling the entire experience and discouraging the paaaarty.

 

If you don't think I am correct that college kids go almost SPECIFICALLY to PAAAARTY, check out this thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=9544156#post9544156

 

Ha! Exceptions for weddings? It has been my experience when I worked in hotels that weddings, in general, produced the worst drunks of all. All of a sudden, you saw the old cooky uncle swilling everything down and doing the lambada...

 

A simple way to discourage the party crowd is, during certain holidays, to not to allow trips and quads bookings. This increases the average cost per person and might discourage the majority. However, the downside is that this would affect families.

[LiLBxQt]

Wasn't the guy that survived in the water for 8 hours 35 yrs old??? Last I checked, I don't think he could have been on spring break LOL

 

Anything that goes wrong, lets blame the 20 somethings... because I mean no 40 yr old could possibly act like a child!!! :rolleyes:

[Kurbanfan]

With two incidents within 2 weeks and both involving 20 something "spring breakers", what is the possibility that the cruise lines may take a serious, hard look into increasing the age limit for unescorted access to 25?

 

 

Two incidents within 2 weeks? Are you are talking about this Princess one and the one on Carnival. The one Carnival was in his 30's.

Already on Carnival you have to have someone 25 or older in a cabin.

But if you look at the statistics the average jumper is over 25.....

[BruceMuzz]

I personally do not support the idea of banning anyone from a cruise.

 

But if I follow your logic of banning people who cause the rest of us to miss ports and suffer inconvenience, then you need to look at banning older cruisers. Cruise Ships frequently have to divert to unexpected ports (missing scheduled ones), or go through airevac procedures (delaying or cancelling scheduled port calls) in order to medically disembark seriously ill passengers. Most of those ill passengers are elderly.

 

The old White Star Line (RMS Titanic) would not board any passengers who were "deaf, dumb, blind, insane, or over the age of 60 years".

 

Hopefully we have grown and advanced since that practice was in effect.

Let's just invite everyone onto the ships and hope we all get along.

[cruisinbuddy]

With two incidents within 2 weeks and both involving 20 something "spring breakers", what is the possibility that the cruise lines may take a serious, hard look into increasing the age limit for unescorted access to 25?

 

Lots of time and money wasted circling around looking for the pax. If it was my business, I would give a serious look to totally banning college kids. Just too much liability and bad press.

 

Leave spring break to families and ban the partying spring breaker college students????

And loose all that $$$$$$$$$$$? I've seen more drunks on Princess than CCL. Although I wouldn't be upset if they raised the age, after all i'm a responsable adult.

[Kurbanfan]

Wasn't the guy that survived in the water for 8 hours 35 yrs old??? Last I checked, I don't think he could have been on spring break LOL

 

Anything that goes wrong, lets blame the 20 somethings... because I mean no 40 yr old could possibly act like a child!!! :rolleyes:

 

Yep the guy on Carnival.......absolutely I agree!

[greatam]

And loose all that $$$$$$$$$$$? I've seen more drunks on Princess than CCL. Although I wouldn't be upset if they raised the age, after all i'm a responsable adult.

 

We will never be able to prove it, but I bet the same ship, same destination, same passenger count brings in MORE NET revenue with a pax demographic of 40-70 yo than 18-35 yo. The older demographic will spend $60.00 nightly for a bottle of wine, not counting all the foo foo drinks poolside (that equals 12 beers for the younger crowd).

Specialty extra fee restaurant-older crowd

Pictures-older crowd (the younger crowd will take their own cameras)

Casino is probably a toss up

Art Auctions-definitely the older crowd

Spa-the older crowd

Beauty salon-older crowd

 

And not to mention that the older crowd generally has more disposable income and higher credit card limits than the younger crowd, so spending may not be restrained.

 

Damage to the ship and wasted time spent with security, looking for people overboard-the younger crowd-Remember the "Brownie Riot" on a Princess ship-lots of damage and extra security.

[Seago2]

I agree- clearly the drinkers bring in major $$ for the cruise lines. But if cruising keeps getting bad press the lines may have a PR problem that they can't overcome. Let's not forget that bookings to the Caribbean were down just two months ago- way down.

 

What is needed is more security and very firm rules about what is and is not allowed. The same goes for out of control kiddos and parents who do nothing to control them. They need to be put off at the next port of call. That would be POSITIVE PR for the cruise lines!

[sharecruises]

I really like the idea of NO triples/quads during the spring break time

 

that would be a good way to thin out the "party herd"

 

Crazy incidents like the recent "overboard" ones plus complaints may make some of the cruiselines wake up. I would never cruise during this time of year, but I know some people have the sort of jobs where they have this time for their vacation. I feel especially sorry for teachers who go on a cruise to get away from kids only to be surrounded by older bad behaving childish drunken "kids" <grin>

[MitzSea]

My thoughts on all this "Falling Off" cruise ships. Number one you just do not "Fall" off a cruise ship. When reported that way, it just rubs me the wrong way.

If someone "JUMPS" off a ship I think there should be a automatic fine of maybe ten grand. [stated in all cruise lines documents,along with their important ifo. about Alchol.] Also you will be marked for [10] years that all cruise lines will ban you from boarding. [now that we all have to have a passport that would be easy to keep track.]

 

Now I will get off the soap box.

[MrsKinsey]

You know, I would be totally satisfied with cruiselines banning all alcohol onboard. I suppose the "responsible adults" could be allowed a maximum of two glasses of wine at dinner but that's it.

 

That would cure the problem of the young whipper snappers on board who are drinking too much and acting unruly, right?? :p

 

If it isn't complaining about this, it would be something else, I'm sure. And for the record, I'm 28 but even when I was 23 or so I wasn't a drinker. So why punish all for the sins of a few?

 

Celeste

[empress4bb]

Many resort hotels strictly enforce a "no spring breakers" restriction.

For every booking they loose they gain 2 more frome guests who book specifically for that reason.

 

Could work as well for certain ships,certain times.

[nickt41]

Already on Carnival you have to have someone 25 or older in a cabin.quote]

 

Thats if you are under 18. You must be 21 or older to travel with someone older than 18 or by yourself.

 

Personally, I think banning younger adults is a terrible idea. It is not always the younger adults who get drunk and in trouble and there are many mature younger adults who deserve to go on great vacations too. Many times its older people who get wasted and decide to do dumb things. The reason is because of price. You will find older people at higher priced lines because they can afford it. The cheaper cruise lines are affordable to all ages and that is why all ages cruise their ships. Security is key... perhaps bartenders should be more aware of how many drinks people are having?

[jbuch02]

Charge the jumpee/fallee the cost of the rescue and then ban them from cruising for a year. In my experience, you cannot "fall" off one of these cruise ships. There is a 99% chance you are drunk or under the influence and taking a stupid risk.

 

Punishing the transgressors, law breakers and the stupid produces astonishingly good results. Making excuses for them, enabling their behavior and/or punishing "someone else" by imposing far reaching restrictions or undue safety burderns on the curise lines is wrong.

 

Next thing we will see if the "stupid" cruisers are allowed to keep getting away with this without being held accountable for it is chain link fencing in all open, public areas on the cruise ships (think OSHA).

[Meig]

The only way it will happen is the ban drinking entirely. And that certainly won't happen.

 

So, to answer your question: no. There's too much money involved.

[Kurbanfan]

Already on Carnival you have to have someone 25 or older in a cabin.quote]

 

Thats if you are under 18. You must be 21 or older to travel with someone older than 18 or by yourself.

 

 

Nope, we booked a wedding cruise on Carnival and there is suppose to be someone 25 or older in each cabin.....

You cannot have two 21 year olds in one cabin.

Now I know people will switch once they are on board.......

They changed the age to 25 years ago because of the problems they were having with college kids....

I don't think this applies if you are traveling alone. I believe that age is 21