Rccl minor sailing potential issues?

[reallyitsmema]

Everyone keeps mention that younger people will be 'carded' by staff - what card are you referring to?!

 

I'm 26 but look quite young so at home I often get asked for ID when buying booze. As a result I always carry my driving licence with me for proof of age. But for Cruising purposes, do you just mean my Sea Pass, I assumed it would show my age? Or will I need my DL with me too? As I wasn't planning on taking this with me, it's just something else I could lose!

 

Thanks in advance...

Definitely carry your license if you look young for your age. Since your picture is not printed on your sea pass card and since not all areas have the ability to scan your card and pull up your picture, they will ask to see a picture ID if you look young. Much easier to have it with you instead of having to go back to your cabin to get it. If you find that you aren't being asked for it after the first day or so, then I would just leave it in my cabin.

[cw2go]

Everyone keeps mention that younger people will be 'carded' by staff - what card are you referring to?!

 

I'm 26 but look quite young so at home I often get asked for ID when buying booze. As a result I always carry my driving licence with me for proof of age. But for Cruising purposes, do you just mean my Sea Pass, I assumed it would show my age? Or will I need my DL with me too? As I wasn't planning on taking this with me, it's just something else I could lose!

 

Thanks in advance...

 

 

The sail n sign card will be noted with holes for the appropriate age. under 17 two holes under 18 one hole all others meaning above 18 NO hole at all. This then alerts the RCCL bar tenders and door-man to check.

[cw2go]

I've never sailed with RCI before but a quick question - do sea passes have photos? I know they have a photo which comes up when you swipe them for embarkation but is this photo checked by the security at the club?

 

If they don't couldn't your 18 year old friend enter and then another member of your party bring his sea pass back out to you to use to get in?

 

I struggle to understand why the cruise ship wouldn't make an exception and let you in. I guess the 18 year old door policy is to maintain an adult atmosphere and as you're only a month out surely management have some common sense. It isn't as if you're asking to drink ;) (which 18 year olds would be able to do on a European cruise anyway!).

 

 

Yes in Eurpoe you can drink under 18 but not on a RCCL cruise ship they abide by the legal 21 yr old drinking age.

 

Laws are black and white, if you starting bending them for here and there, than why bother putting them in place?

[reallyitsmema]

Yes in Eurpoe you can drink under 18 but not on a RCCL cruise ship they abide by the legal 21 yr old drinking age.

 

Laws are black and white, if you starting bending them for here and there, than why bother putting them in place?

There is an alcohol waiver that can be signed by a parent allowing their 18-20 year old to drink. This waiver is only available for sailings from Europe and South America.

[cw2go]

There is an alcohol waiver that can be signed by a parent allowing their 18-20 year old to drink. This waiver is only available for sailings from Europe and South America.

 

You're correct, that is true...:p

[akcruz]

The sail n sign card will be noted with holes for the appropriate age. under 17 two holes under 18 one hole all others meaning above 18 NO hole at all. This then alerts the RCCL bar tenders and door-man to check.

 

From my experience there has been 2 holes for those under 18 and 1 hole for those between 18 and 20. This let's them know who is under 21 but still able to go into certain places.

[reallyitsmema]

From my experience there has been 2 holes for those under 18 and 1 hole for those between 18 and 20. This let's them know who is under 21 but still able to go into certain places.

I agree with you. Two holes punched means no alcohol and no casino. One hole punched means no alcohol but has access to the casino. No holes punched means full access but they will still ask for picture ID if the card holder looks young for their age.

[6rugrats]

I certainly agree with all of the points you made here. I know that it will be EXTREMELY hard to get in but I'm gonna die trying (the first time haha). I am just trying to find a crafty way to enjoy time AFTER HOURS on the ship with my friends, something that you feel to just flat out deny. I am not pestering anybody, merely exploring the options that I have in order to get into the club. Your assurance that I belong in the "kiddie program" speaks volumes to the maturity level I am dealing with. Thanks for the help but I will look to other valued CC members for advice. Have a good day, Scottee.

 

But you have no options. You aren't old enough to enter this club. Your pass must be scanned upon entry, and it will show that you aren't eligible to go to the club.

 

After you are told this isn't allowed, you just keep asking how to get around it. How mature is that? You've also been told that your aunt will be responsible for your behavior. People are put off ships all the time when they break rules.

 

Why not just accept the fact you aren't old enough for some activities, and enjoy the ones you are allowed to do? That would be a mature decision, not trying to figure out how to game the system.

[cw2go]

I agree with you. Two holes punched means no alcohol and no casino. One hole punched means no alcohol but has access to the casino. No holes punched means full access but they will still ask for picture ID if the card holder looks young for their age.

 

 

OOPS!!! I stand corrected, multi tasking at the time I was typing that. Sorry, but either way "holes" are the indicator.

 

Hope everyone finds a place to dance and avoids breaking any rules.

 

Smiles,

Patty

[acethesuperhero]

Cruise Critic needs a facepalm smiley.

Good Lord, people. The kid's not interrupting your cruise, so bring the hostility down a notch. None of you know him personally and thus you have no right to speak on his maturity.

 

To the OP, don't try to sneak in. Really. It will just lead you down a road of sadness and next thing you know you'll be sobbing at a slots machine wondering what happened to your life. (Well, probably not but you might get kicked off the cruise.) They don't even have to scan the seapass, just take a glance at it, which they can do even if you sneak around the guards. Just go to one of the non-restricted clubs with your friends. It'll be easier and you'll dance plenty.

 

If you really, really need to go dancing specifically with adults, there's probably some club or another in port that will let you in. At least in the Caribbean, every Senor Frog's I have ever been to has tried to serve me alcohol - even when I specifically asked for non-alcoholic drinks!

 

As for the holes, I can confirm that it's 2 holes for under 18 and one hole for under 21. It would be nice if they had a printed indicator of age, I don't really like the holes in the SeaPass as I save mine, but I suppose it's easier for the crew to see.

[Scottee25]

None of you know him personally and thus you have no right to speak on his maturity.

Actually, it was the OP that brought up the matter of other poster's maturity (mine specifically). When he did that, he opened himself to having his own maturity questioned. Therefore, we do have the right to speak of his maturity.

[waterbug123]

I've never sailed with RCI before but a quick question - do sea passes have photos? I know they have a photo which comes up when you swipe them for embarkation but is this photo checked by the security at the club?

If they don't couldn't your 18 year old friend enter and then another member of your party bring his sea pass back out to you to use to get in?

I struggle to understand why the cruise ship wouldn't make an exception and let you in. I guess the 18 year old door policy is to maintain an adult atmosphere and as you're only a month out surely management have some common sense. It isn't as if you're asking to drink ;) (which 18 year olds would be able to do on a European cruise anyway!).

 

Your Seapass does not have a photo on the card itself. BUT, if the OP borrow's someone else's Seapass to enter the club, and the doorman thinks he looks too young, he can ask for a photo ID.

 

As for maintaining the adult atmosphere, yes, I'm sure that's a big part of it. If they make an exception and let a 17 year old in, then someone will say,

"my daughter is 16 but she'll be 17 next month; can't you make an exception and let her in? other 17 year olds are in there." Next thing you know, it's teen night in the club. And all the adults are looking around saying "great, now it's a kiddie party, we're out of here." Which means there is no one left in the club buying drinks, i.e. spending money. Ch-ching! There's your answer.

[wrp96]

One thing the OP needs to think about is there is also a curfew for teens. So even out and about on the ship he may get shooed back to his cabin after a certain time at night.

[Stags14]

Please keep in mind that your Aunt is legally responsible for anything that you do on this cruise. So if you deliberately crash the disco, and especially if you involve your 18 year old friend, your entire party could be put off the ship at the next port. That means being stranded with no airfare and no refund of the unused portion of your cruise. Is it really worth risking that just so that you can party? Seriously? Perhaps your group should have waited until you were a little bit more 'grown up'?

 

Kicked off the ship for trying to get into the night club? Or going in not knowing what the age was? I highly, highly doubt this would ever happen - you truly have to do something terribly wrong to get kicked off the ship. I do not believe going to the door of the night club and getting immediately turned away (which is the likely scenario) is goign to get them all kicked off the boat....

 

Someone in my party was under age at the time and in a night club onboard - they spotted her, asked her for ID and then just kindly asked her to leave. Nobody got kicked off, or thrown in jail and stranded at the next port. So, while I understand you're trying to make a point - I think it's a bit of an overkill. And it's not like the kid is 12 - he's going to be of age within a couple months and just wanted to know what to expect.

[amybear912]

Just a note about carding...

 

Depending on the time of year (spring break for instance) I have seen the bartenders ask for a photo ID IN ADDITION to the sea pass...

 

Plenty of irritated college kids on that cruise...:)

[cruise 4 fun]

I feel for you. RCCL really needs to come up with a venue for those exactly in your situation. We took my DS on a cruise for his HS graduation. He was 18, his friend was 17. They were never allowed in any venue together in the evenings. The 18 yr old couldn't go to the teen club and the 17 yr old wasn't allowed in the 18 and older clubs. Unfortunately this is really a "no man's land" age group. My DD now says she doesn't want to go on another cruise until she and her friend are both 18. I'm sure you will have a good time, it will just not be in any dance clubs. On the positive side, there is a lot to do on the ship that will keep you occupied.

[cello56]

Kicked off the ship for trying to get into the night club? Or going in not knowing what the age was? I highly, highly doubt this would ever happen - you truly have to do something terribly wrong to get kicked off the ship. I do not believe going to the door of the night club and getting immediately turned away (which is the likely scenario) is goign to get them all kicked off the boat....

 

Someone in my party was under age at the time and in a night club onboard - they spotted her, asked her for ID and then just kindly asked her to leave. Nobody got kicked off, or thrown in jail and stranded at the next port. So, while I understand you're trying to make a point - I think it's a bit of an overkill. And it's not like the kid is 12 - he's going to be of age within a couple months and just wanted to know what to expect.

 

Politely going to the club door and getting turned away once? No problem.

 

But this poster was talking about sneaking in back doors, and involving friends to distract the bouncers. That I think is a problem that might be dealt with by management.

[Sugar*Magnolia]

I have a 22yo and an 18yo. From experience I can tell you that security at the door of the clubs are vigilant in checking everyone's seapass for their age. I have seen security ask for photo ID's. My DS couldnt wait for our 12/2010 cruise b/c he had just turned 18 and could get into the club. Not to mention another cruise-buddy also from our home state was on the same cruise, so they took over the club and security knew them by the first night. They must have really liked this bunch, b/c security would stop and talk and laugh with them whenever they saw them on the ship.

 

There is a lot to do on board and if your friend is a friend, he wouldnt leave you to go into the club without you!! There are deck parties with dancing and like others said, check out Boleros or the other venues with music and just do your own thing! You will find others in your same age bracket looking to hang too!

[Marla07860]

Everyone keeps mention that younger people will be 'carded' by staff - what card are you referring to?!

 

I'm 26 but look quite young so at home I often get asked for ID when buying booze. As a result I always carry my driving licence with me for proof of age. But for Cruising purposes, do you just mean my Sea Pass, I assumed it would show my age? Or will I need my DL with me too? As I wasn't planning on taking this with me, it's just something else I could lose!

 

Thanks in advance...

 

I'm 23 years old ad look young for my age, so I always carrry my drivers licence with me just in case. Now I cruise Disney Cruise Line and have cruised 13 times and each time, but the last two times I've been carded, but I did get to know bartenders and cruise staff on the ship, so they usually all knew my name by the second day and that I was older enough to be there, don't know if they will be the same on RCCL, but I'd carry your Drivers Lience around just in case

[delboy1145]

Everyone keeps mention that younger people will be 'carded' by staff - what card are you referring to?!

 

As a result I always carry my driving licence with me for proof of age

Bear in mind if you go ashore and want to drink or use your credit card you will need I.D. The same as at home

[xmasteach]

I don't mean to sound rude, but I think they should be strict about age limits. They are there for a purpose. As far as being carded goes......58...yes and carded at Fridays. Thought it was a joke, or poor lighting. When they saw my age all they could say was oppps. Was with my 33 year old son. He got carded too.;)

[CoachMom76]

You mentioned you would "die trying" to get into the adult club. Really?? At the risk of getting your entire party thrown off of a ship?? That's just crazy.

 

I didn't read every reply here, so I may be repeating, but maybe your 18 year old friend can participate in some of the older teen activities, such as the dance parties and stuff like that? Also, I have been to deck parties with lots of dancing and activities at night. You would really enjoy it. These are family events, so you may even make some new friends your age and then you can do things with them and your 18 year old friend can spend some time in the adult club.

 

Don't risk ruining your vacay! There's so much to do on these ships legally!! Have fun!

[CI66774]

All of this discussion about sneaking into a nightclub had me reliving my own nightmare (30 years ago, mind you).....I used my friend's driver's license to enter a club and I was hauled off by the police and questioned. I had to sit in the back of a squad car with two other "liars". They confessed, I didn't and I was released...happy ending...no way...my friends saw me with the police and left me there with no transportation back home (couldn't call my friends - no cells phones back then). I had to take a cab about 40 miles home...cost me lots of money....tripped getting out of the cab and twisted my ankle......remembered my apartment keys were in my friend's car.....had to break a window to get in.....the moral of this story is.....bad things come from trying to sneak in nightclubs (true story!!!):)