A teen that turns 18 10 days before the cruise

[Glassishalffull]

Does anyone know if a teen turns 18 a few days before the cruise will they still allow her in the teen clubs and activities? She is traveling with my daughter who will not be 18 until August. Has anyone out there experienced this scenario?

[fubarsbabe]

not a 100% sure and would love to know the answer but have a feeling it will be once 18 they're out regardless of how long they've been 18.

[cb at sea]

Probably not...whatever age you are when you board is the age you are! However, the 17 year olds don't really utilize the club like the younger kids do....they'll find plenty to keep busy!

[apk1389]

it matters a lot of the staff and the how many kids on board, i certainly know from my own expierence i did not want to be in a teens club because of the age difference.. a lot of maturity difference between a high school senior and a high school freshmen.. even some cases college freshmen to high school freshmen, there are plenty of kids out there to find.. There really is no definite answer. My expierences I was not even allowed in with a younger brother if he asked me, so Ill hope for the best for your situation

[printingchick]

I don't know the answer on RCL, but I took my daughter and her friend on a cruise for their HS graduation. My daughter was 18, her friend was 17. They utilized the teen group. My daughter explained the situation and they allowed her to participate with her friend. If you can't go to the teen dances/night club/karaoke etc. at age 18, what are you supposed to do to meet others on the ship? That 18-20 range is really not served on the cruise. Too young for the adult disco, too old for the teen disco.

 

I can't imagine they'd bar someone for the sake of a couple weeks, but who knows?

[Redheada]

I have done some research on this issue and actually at 18 they do have access to the casino, lounge and nightclub (but not drinking). The bigger issue may be for the 17 year old. I am leaving in a couple of weeks on the Voyager with 5 teens. 2 are already 18 and 3 are one month from 18 and we have all discussed it and likely they will hang together with whatever friends they meet and go from there (and not really participate in the AO activities). They dont seem too concerned. I will have a review when I get back right after easter.

[marci22]

I remember reading here that if 18yos wanted to go to the teen activities they would not be able to go to the casino. It probably varies between ships (like everything else) and it's best to talk to someone onboard. My older teens usually only go the first day to meet people, then arrange places to meet on their own.

[G'ma]

Adults are NOT permitted into the teen club or other teen activities. At 18, one is considered an adult.

 

There are really good reasons for this......

[FR8]

We faced this with Carnival last August, my son turned 18 just 3 days before we left. He had friends also cruising that weren't 18 yet. We, my wife, my son and I, spoke with the teen counselors and they allowed him to participate with the teen group, but they said if there was any inappropriate behavior they would have to ask him to leave. We all agreed and there was never an issue. We even checked with the counselors from time to time and they couldn't have been happier having him there.

[fleming4261]

We ran into the same situation last year. Two of our girls were still 17, and one was already 18. At first the teen club counselors said the older girl wasn't allowed in, but they soon let her come participate as long as she played nicely. The reality was that none of them really wanted to spend time with 14 years olds, so they quickly joined a group of older teens and kept busy with the pools, sports areas, shows, etc.

[marci22]

Adults are NOT permitted into the teen club or other teen activities. At 18' date=' one is considered an adult.

 

There are really good reasons for this......[/quote']

 

Here is an example: "They were allowing 18 yr olds, that had signed a waiver, into Fuel though the year before when we were on the same ship, all 18 yr olds were turned away." So, YMMV.

 

Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

[Havingfun2010]

I don't know the answer on RCL, but I took my daughter and her friend on a cruise for their HS graduation. My daughter was 18, her friend was 17. They utilized the teen group. My daughter explained the situation and they allowed her to participate with her friend. If you can't go to the teen dances/night club/karaoke etc. at age 18, what are you supposed to do to meet others on the ship? That 18-20 range is really not served on the cruise. Too young for the adult disco, too old for the teen disco.

 

I can't imagine they'd bar someone for the sake of a couple weeks, but who knows?

 

Actually, they are not too young for the "adult" disco, since they are "adults". Just can't partake in drinking anything other than soft drinks. Also, remember, they can gamble, do all the sports deck activities etc, and the ship is loaded with each age group. They will have plenty of people to meet.

[cruiseguy1016]

The rule is; 18 year olds are not allowed in the teen clubs. At 18 you are an adult. It is not appropriate (in some cases) for an 18 year old to be hanging out with 15 year olds. That being said, they do not always enforce the rules.

[galavant3]

When our daughter was 18 she was told if she gave up the casino and the disco she could join her brother and friend. She declined.

 

At 17 and 18 they probably will find a group their own age and organize their own activities. There are plenty of places that both age groups are allowed that it most likely won't be an issue.

 

I doubt any of them will want to hang with the younger teens.

 

They will have a blast!

[CruisinGerman]

Maybe it's a cultural difference that we don't understand here in Europe, but if you folks say that at age 18 you are an adult, why don't you folks let your adults drink until age 21?

 

Here in Europe, we've always thought it weird that in the U.S., you can join the Armed Forces at age 18 and get yourself killed in Iraq but you can't go to a bar or disco and have a few drinks.

 

We accept full adulthood (including drinking) here in Europe after age 18 (in many of the Southern Euroepan countries like here in Spain it used to be 16 but has been unified for all European Union countries) which is why the cruise lines sailing in Europe have a different drinking age over here during the European season.

 

In any case, I don't think most 18 year olds would probably want to go to the teen club on a cruise ship.

 

Kind regards,

 

Gunther and Uta

[SingingPixie]

Maybe it's a cultural difference that we don't understand here in Europe, but if you folks say that at age 18 you are an adult, why don't you folks let your adults drink until age 21?

 

Here in Europe, we've always thought it weird that in the U.S., you can join the Armed Forces at age 18 and get yourself killed in Iraq but you can't go to a bar or disco and have a few drinks.

 

We accept full adulthood (including drinking) here in Europe after age 18 (in many of the Southern Euroepan countries like here in Spain it used to be 16 but has been unified for all European Union countries) which is why the cruise lines sailing in Europe have a different drinking age over here during the European season.

 

In any case, I don't think most 18 year olds would probably want to go to the teen club on a cruise ship.

 

Kind regards,

 

Gunther and Uta

 

While I agree with you, I think I can explain partly why this happens in the States. It used to be that most kids graduated from high school at 17 or perhaps a few weeks/months after turning 18. They were then usually encouraged to move out of their parents' house and either to work or to go on to University. Now, it's more common for teens not to finish high school until they are 18 or 19, and often they will live at home (or at the very least, fully supported by parents through college) for a few more years. The age at which most teenagers actually take responsibility for their own lives has shifted to 21 or 22 for the most part around here- the age when most kids start graduating from college or university. Thus, many parents view their children as "kids" until their early 20s- until they start supporting themselves.

 

As far as the military issue goes, in my experience most families with a son/daughter in the military make the switch to viewing their child as an adult much earlier. I doubt many military families would have a problem with their 19-year-old soldier having a drink. In fact, if I recall correctly, those in the military can drink at 18 on many military bases. It's just a different mindset.

[Deblovesthesun]

The rule is; 18 year olds are not allowed in the teen clubs. At 18 you are an adult. It is not appropriate (in some cases) for an 18 year old to be hanging out with 15 year olds. That being said, they do not always enforce the rules.

 

I'm sorry, but this is just silly. In most cases, an 18 year old is still a high school student. They are quite often "hanging out" with 15 year olds on a regular basis. They are on the same school sports teams, in the same clubs (foreign language, math, chess etc...), student council, marching band, yearbook committee, even in some of the same classrooms. If you are are brilliant freshman (14 year old) you are quite often put into an honors class with seniors and juniors. A kid does not magically turn into a scary, inappropriate adult on their 18th birthday.

 

Just my opinion :D

[Mark_K]

Adults are NOT permitted into the teen club or other teen activities. At 18' date=' one is considered an adult.

 

There are really good reasons for this......[/quote']Makes one wonder why it's called a TEEN club if eighTEEN year olds aren't allowed in.

[gjkubel]

Maybe it's a cultural difference that we don't understand here in Europe, but if you folks say that at age 18 you are an adult, why don't you folks let your adults drink until age 21?

 

 

My understanding is that this is largely because studies showed that drunk driving incidents with this age group largely decreased with the higher drinking age. I think there were also studies of that age binge drinking. But, then again, studies these day have about the same credibility as Samuel Clemens would give to statistics.

 

I believe this age came about because the Federal Government in the USA forced this rule on the states through threatening to withhold highway funds if the states didn't adopt a drinking age of 21. For a period here, the age did vary from state to state. It's just another example of Big Brother Federal Government telling the states that it knows best (and the Federal Government knows best because it is told by the lobbyists).

 

Most Americans probably agree it is ridiculous that at 18 you can fight and die for the country, but not drink a beer, but alas, the way things are going it seems we may legally be smoking pot at 18 in this country before we are drinking...

[CruisinGerman]

Dear friends,

 

From reading your posts, especially Singing Dixie above, it appears that the U.S. drinking age is aimed at attempting to keep liquor out of the high schools and, to some extent, the universities.

 

It was amusing to listen to the commentary about when a U.S. youngster is expected to move out of the house and be on his or her own.

 

In that sense, I don't think we ever become adults here in Europe, because it is quite common for children to live with their parents until they marry (which nowadays can be in their 30's and 40's), and if they never marry, it is common for them to live with their parents forever.

 

But in other senses, European children, in my opinion, become adults much younger than American children, which is why from the perspective of this side of the ocean, I would find it unusual for a European 18-year-old to enjoy hanging out in the teen club on a cruise ship.

 

Kind regards,

 

Gunther and Uta

[silentbob007]

My understanding is that this is largely because studies showed that drunk driving incidents with this age group largely decreased with the higher drinking age. I think there were also studies of that age binge drinking. But, then again, studies these day have about the same credibility as Samuel Clemens would give to statistics.

 

I believe this age came about because the Federal Government in the USA forced this rule on the states through threatening to withhold highway funds if the states didn't adopt a drinking age of 21. For a period here, the age did vary from state to state. It's just another example of Big Brother Federal Government telling the states that it knows best (and the Federal Government knows best because it is told by the lobbyists).

 

Most Americans probably agree it is ridiculous that at 18 you can fight and die for the country, but not drink a beer, but alas, the way things are going it seems we may legally be smoking pot at 18 in this country before we are drinking...

 

I truly hate the "fight and die" argument for lowering the drinking age ... and to be honest, I have yet to hear it from someone who was 18, enlisted in the military, and in a war zone. I'm not saying they are not out there, but I reserve that argument specifically for them. As for the different state ages, it's true that there was coersion (heck, look at our education system for this happening on a yearly basis), but there were fact to support it. I'm from Indiana, which had a 21 age limit, and lived close to Ohio, which at one point had an 18 age limit. The number of arrests, accidents, and deaths for drunk driving from teenagers crossing state lines was pretty high.

[galavant3]

In Texas minors are allowed to drink as long as they are in the visible presence of and have the consent of their parents or guardians.

 

We learned this when our daughter was 20 and we were in a restaurant. It is my understanding that restaurants are not obliged to serve underage drinkers but they legally may do so.

 

I wish that cruise ships would allow those under 21, with written permission from their parents and in the presence of their parents to have a drink. We would love for our adult, but not yet 21 year old children, to be able to enjoy a glass of wine at dinner.

 

§ 106.04 – Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor

(a–b) A minor commits an offense if they consume alcohol unless they are in the visible presence of, and have the consent of their adult parent, legal guardian, or spouse.

[G'ma]

We faced this with Carnival last August, my son turned 18 just 3 days before we left. He had friends also cruising that weren't 18 yet. We, my wife, my son and I, spoke with the teen counselors and they allowed him to participate with the teen group, but they said if there was any inappropriate behavior they would have to ask him to leave. We all agreed and there was never an issue. We even checked with the counselors from time to time and they couldn't have been happier having him there.

 

If this is true, I'm sure the parents of those 15/16 year olds in the Club 02 would be upset that an 18 year old adult was hanging around. Sure would set me on my ear...for sure.

 

I find it hard to believe that a cruise line would accept the risk or the liability for such a lapse in judgement or rules.

 

What 18 year old wants to hang around with kids in their mid-teens anyway.

[akcruz]

If this is true' date=' I'm sure the parents of those 15/16 year olds in the Club 02 would be upset that an 18 year old adult was hanging around. Sure would set me on my ear...for sure.

 

I find it hard to believe that a cruise line would accept the risk or the liability for such a lapse in judgement or rules.

 

What 18 year old wants to hang around with kids in their mid-teens anyway.[/quote']

 

While I agree that an 18 year old probably does not want to hang out with the 15 year olds, come on many 18 year olds are still in high school and while legally they are an adult they are in reality still kids. My DD was young for her grade in school and was still 17 when she graduated. I took her on mother/daughter cruise for her high school graduation and she had no desire to go to the teen area. Her words, they are all kids I don't want to hang around with them. Personally I think she was more mature at that point then most of the 18 year olds that were probably on board!

 

I know it is probably impractical but what about a high school group? Go by grade in school rather than age?

[FR8]

If this is true' date=' I'm sure the parents of those 15/16 year olds in the Club 02 would be upset that an 18 year old adult was hanging around. Sure would set me on my ear...for sure.

 

I find it hard to believe that a cruise line would accept the risk or the liability for such a lapse in judgement or rules.

 

What 18 year old wants to hang around with kids in their mid-teens anyway.[/quote']

 

Better kick them all out of High School at 18 then also.....in classes, Gym...the LOCKER ROOM with those now ADULT 18yr olds. How dare they.....:eek:

 

Not that it is any of your business, but he had friends on that cruise with us that were not 18 yet (I think I said that) and had never been on a cruise before, so yes, he did want to hang out with them. In fact, the group he hung out with from the teen club were mostly 17yrs old, what a crime. Just because there are 14/15yr olds there, doesn't mean they were all hanging out together.

 

At Grand Turk, alot of them from the teen group were at Margaritaville, hanging out at the pool, right there next to us. We talked with alot of the parents, none seemed to be as UPTIGHT as you are. We had one couple asking us how our son had been able to start college at 16 and how great it was that he was half way to his bachelors degree already. He drove up to their place for their daughters 18th birthday in November. He has other friends that he met on that cruise and they still talk.