Adult 18 or 21?

[HighlandGirlEB]

Hi there sailing on the Navigator of the Seas from Rome (east med) in June.

 

In the UK its pretty clear 18 = adult, however seems that USA rules vary and 21 = adult?

 

I know 18 year olds can now buy drink on the ships but can they gamble in the casino and are they allowed in the "adult" only pool areas etc?

 

Thanks

[Clarea]

Hi there sailing on the Navigator of the Seas from Rome (east med) in June.

 

In the UK its pretty clear 18 = adult, however seems that USA rules vary and 21 = adult?

 

I know 18 year olds can now buy drink on the ships but can they gamble in the casino and are they allowed in the "adult" only pool areas etc?

 

Thanks

Yes, anyone who is 18 or over can gamble in the casino. I believe the age to use the Solarium is 16 and over.

[spookwife]

ahh yes the age old question of why someone can be old enough to die for their country but not old enough to buy a beer. the drinking age in the US used to be 18, and then somebody decided that was silly and that raising it would halve the drunk driving accidents( no clue as to whether that hypothesis actually came true)

 

from ships leaving US ports, the on board drinking age is 21, period. all other venues and activities are available to 18 year olds. (except kids club programming)

 

from cruises leaving from NON US Ports, they may drink at 18 but some restrictions may apply, such as Mum and Dad have to sign a waiver giving permission.

[printingchick]

18-year-olds have all the same privileges as those 21 and above except for being able to consume alcohol. No curfew, they can go to the nightclub (but not drink), can gamble at the casino and, as HighlandGirlEB mentioned, the solarium is for those 16 and older.

[HighlandGirlEB]

Thank you :)

 

Traveling with my 21 DD and 18 DS and was going to feel bad at leaving him behind if we went to the solarium :)

[LA_CA_GAL]

ahh yes the age old question of why someone can be old enough to die for their country but not old enough to buy a beer. the drinking age in the US used to be 18,

 

Never was.

 

And it is not a federal law, but one delegated to the individual states, so in one state it can be 18 if the state so desires. For that matter, a state could determine that no alcohol could be sold whatsoever.

 

The Federal Government has nothing to do with it.

[Clarea]

Never was.

 

And it is not a federal law, but one delegated to the individual states, so in one state it can be 18 if the state so desires. For that matter, a state could determine that no alcohol could be sold whatsoever.

 

The Federal Government has nothing to do with it.

Well, strictly speaking, you are correct. However, the Federal Government has a way of "encouraging" states to do things that the Feds cannot do, such as withholding highway funds unless they implement a 55mph limit. That happened back in the 70's, and I don't remember if the Feds did something similar with the alcohol age too.

[orville99]

Never was.

 

And it is not a federal law, but one delegated to the individual states, so in one state it can be 18 if the state so desires. For that matter, a state could determine that no alcohol could be sold whatsoever.

 

The Federal Government has nothing to do with it.

 

 

Actually, the Feds have a lot to do with it, just not in the traditional sense of passing a law to mandate it. Just as with speed limits on highways, there is no federal law mandating a speed limit. However, there are these little "gotcha's" that the feds always use to get their way when they can't pass laws. They simply threaten to withhold federal funds from states if they don't tow the line.;)

[blueblock]

Well, strictly speaking, you are correct. However, the Federal Government has a way of "encouraging" states to do things that the Feds cannot do, such as withholding highway funds unless they implement a 55mph limit. That happened back in the 70's, and I don't remember if the Feds did something similar with the alcohol age too.

 

They did. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 tied drinking age to highway funding, and many states then raised the drinking age to 21. I remember it well because I was 22 at the time! You can read all about it on Wikipedia (can I post a link to that without breaking any rules?)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Minimum_Drinking_Age_Act

[time4u2go]

They did. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 tied drinking age to highway funding, and many states then raised the drinking age to 21. I remember it well because I was 22 at the time! You can read all about it on Wikipedia (can I post a link to that without breaking any rules?)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Minimum_Drinking_Age_Act

 

Technically, most states don't have a "drinking age" of 21. They have a minimum age of 21 to purchase or to publicly consume alcohol, but it can be consumed in private at ages under 21. In most states.

[kgully]

So is it super strictly enforced? Will I be marched to the brig for providing alcohol discretely to my 19 YO DS? ( He's legal up here....) I mean on a Royal Caribbean Ship- sailing out of USA.

[Familygoboston]

On US cruises:

16 + solarium/gym and other "adult only" areas

18+ casino/comedy clubs/disembark in port independently

21 + drinking alcohol/book a cabin w/o adult in cabin, nearby

 

I know in Europe the alcohol rules are different for certain itineraries and pax mixes.

[Familygoboston]

So is it super strictly enforced? Will I be marched to the brig for providing alcohol discretely to my 19 YO DS? ( He's legal up here....) I mean on a Royal Caribbean Ship- sailing out of USA.

 

Yup pretty much! You and your family can be put off the ship of you buy alcohol for your son in a US ported cruise.

[Langley Cruisers]

So is it super strictly enforced? Will I be marched to the brig for providing alcohol discretely to my 19 YO DS? ( He's legal up here....) I mean on a Royal Caribbean Ship- sailing out of USA.

 

It is not permitted in any way, shape, or form. Indeed he is of legal drinking age in your province but that doesn't make him legal drinking age on a cruise ship out of the U.S. As stated, you can all be put off at the next port - Captain's decision. We've heard of it happening, absolutely.

 

Perhaps he can drink in port(s), but not onboard the ship.

 

.

[jbond]

So is it super strictly enforced? Will I be marched to the brig for providing alcohol discretely to my 19 YO DS? ( He's legal up here....) I mean on a Royal Caribbean Ship- sailing out of USA.

Yes, it is strictly enforced, but I doubt that they will march you to the brig for a first time offense. They may take a hard line for persistent violations of the rule.

[juniorsmom]

So is it super strictly enforced? Will I be marched to the brig for providing alcohol discretely to my 19 YO DS? ( He's legal up here....) I mean on a Royal Caribbean Ship- sailing out of USA.

 

 

Yes you can. My twenty year old son was served in all the bars (when he was with us) and we used our seapass. He looks older than his age and was never questioned. Since we paid foir the drinks, we controlled his intake.

 

As long as it overly obvious you will be fine. BTW he is legal in Ontario too.

[littlesteelo]

Just thought I would mention that the need to sign a waiver doesn't exist any more; if they are 18+, they can purchase alcohol, gamble and go to the nightclub.

[setsail]

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/pdf/Guest_Conduct_Policy.pdf

[MrsPete]

Never was.

 

And it is not a federal law, but one delegated to the individual states, so in one state it can be 18 if the state so desires. For that matter, a state could determine that no alcohol could be sold whatsoever.

 

The Federal Government has nothing to do with it.

Yes and No. Each individual state does determine its own drinking age, BUT the federal government began a program in the early 80s that gave massive amounts of highway money to the states . . . IF they'd make 21 the drinking age. Hawaii, a state with few roads and many tourists, was the last to agree.

 

I remember this well because I graduated from high school in 1984; thus, my classmates and I were among the first affected by the new 21-year old drinking laws.

 

Was it effective at preventing teenaged drinking-and-driving accidents? In my own limited experience, yes. At my own high school the classes older than me typically had several students who were involved in drinking-and-driving accidents. In my high school, the class two years ahead of me had FIVE KIDS DIE IN ONE YEAR (this is in a school that graduated 130-something kids every year, so five was a huge number to die in one year) because of alcohol-involved accidents, and the community was split on whether the school should be providing more don't-drink-and-drive stuff at school vs. the idea that this should come from home. Admittedly, that was the worst year . . . probably ever. Most other classes weren't nearly that bad. My own grade lost no one, and my younger siblings' classes lost no one to an alcohol-involved car accident.

 

 

As for the solarium, the age is 16. I'm 100% certain because I have teenagers and checked to be sure we wouldn't be breaking the rules.

[HighlandGirlEB]

Wow what a lot of replies to this one , I already know my son will be able to drink on the boat because its a Europe cruise and they follow our rules when over here. ( I asked RCI when i booked )Just wanted to make sure he could come to the solarium etc too. :)

 

Thanks for all the views :)

[spookwife]

So is it super strictly enforced? Will I be marched to the brig for providing alcohol discretely to my 19 YO DS? ( He's legal up here....) I mean on a Royal Caribbean Ship- sailing out of USA.

 

you run the risk of being kicked off, period. the bartenders( and other crew) can get onto LOT of trouble if they see it/allow it and do not say anything to you.

 

the first time will be a warning. the second will be left behind at the port. they really don't care that you are Mum and think it's okay

[cruisnseas]

So is it super strictly enforced? Will I be marched to the brig for providing alcohol discretely to my 19 YO DS? ( He's legal up here....) I mean on a Royal Caribbean Ship- sailing out of USA.

 

Here's the thing...might you get away with it? Sure. But if you get caught, they will kick you and your son off the ship. No refund, no care to what the port is (hope you have a passport!), nothing. They very clearly state that 19 Y/Os cannot drink and it is violation of their alcohol policy to provide anyone under 21 with alcohol on their ships UNLESS that ship is sailing out of Europe.

 

So, when you do it...and you get caught (and you WILL most likely get caught) don't come here and complain that your vacation was ruined.

 

Wasn't there a thread awhile back about this very thing?

[Bobal]

So is it super strictly enforced? Will I be marched to the brig for providing alcohol discretely to my 19 YO DS? ( He's legal up here....) I mean on a Royal Caribbean Ship- sailing out of USA.

 

Whatever people on here say the real answer to this is yes, you can do it, if you are discreet about it and the best (most discreet) way would be to let him have a drink on your balcony/in your cabin rather than risking someone seeing him drink in the open

 

Having said that we have bought a bucket of beer in the past when one of our sons was of an age to drink and the other was just short of that age and he was able to subtly drink one bottle of beer on deck. Despite all the alarmists on these boards, I sincerely doubt whether we would have been thrown off the ship had someone spotted us allowing our son to drink one beer whilst in our presence. :rolleyes: Someone always thinks they've heard of someone who knew someone who's friend's brother had told them about a person being kicked off the ship for drinking one beer when they were under age - I've frequented these boards for a number of years, during most of which time I had two teenage boys and can assure you I have never seen any first hand evidence of this.

 

Obviously, if he gets drunk you are facing a problem

[juniorsmom]

Whatever people on here say the real answer to this is yes, you can do it, if you are discreet about it and the best (most discreet) way would be to let him have a drink on your balcony/in your cabin rather than risking someone seeing him drink in the open

 

Having said that we have bought a bucket of beer in the past when one of our sons was of an age to drink and the other was just short of that age and he was able to subtly drink one bottle of beer on deck. Despite all the alarmists on these boards, I sincerely doubt whether we would have been thrown off the ship had someone spotted us allowing our son to drink one beer whilst in our presence. :rolleyes: Someone always thinks they've heard of someone who knew someone who's friend's brother had told them about a person being kicked off the ship for drinking one beer when they were under age - I've frequented these boards for a number of years, during most of which time I had two teenage boys and can assure you I have never seen any first hand evidence of this.

 

Obviously, if he gets drunk you are facing a problem

 

 

From our experience, I agree with your statements. My twenty year old was served without any questions and he was not asked for ID. He did not get drunk and we were not thrown off the ship.

[MrsPete]

Can you get away with allowing your underage teens to drink?

 

Well, can you get away with speeding down the interstate today? Perhaps you'll do it every day for a month and get away with it . . . and then the next time you'll be caught. That's just the way things are: Today the authorities are a little distracted, or someone else is a little more "visible" than you are . . . and you get away with it. Doesn't mean you did the right thing. Tomorrow they could be a little more vigilant, you could be "the one" they choose to make into an example.

 

Be safe rather than sorry -- follow the rules.