18-20yr olds. too old for O2, too young for bars. ???

[teringal]

Thanks for that information thomarvin. The travel agent here has booked my husband in a room with my 19 and 17 year olds and me in a room with my 13 year old. She said that was carnivals rules. I will take the information you have given me to her :)

Thanks again

[pafam4]

Except for Serenity deck, your 18-20 yr old is allowed everywhere other adults are allowed on the ship: clubs, adult comedy shows, casino, etc. However, there is the alcohol restriction. My son was 18 when we last cruised, he had a great time. He met others with similar interests at karaoke, trivia, sports area etc and probably had the best cruise of his life. Alcohol is not something that important to our family, so whether he could drink or not had no impact on his vacation. He knows how to make his own fun, in whatever circumstances. If your son or daughter is outgoing and goes with the flow, they should have a wonderful time. Tell them to attend activities that they enjoy and be friendly and they will almost certainly meet new friends.

[thomarvin]

Is their cabin near you? If it is too late to change the names on the cabins dont worry, once onboard just go to guest services and get extra keys. It;s done all the time. FYI, when you are putting the luggage tags on, put them on where you actually want them to go, the stewards aren't looking at the name, just the cabin number.

 

Funny story: on our last cruise we were leaving our cabin and our 18 yo DS was walking toward us. Behind him was a ships officer. I stopped dead in my tracks and said "What did you do!!!!" Now he is a REALLY good kid. But still a kid all the same. He looked at me and said "Nothing. Why?" He had no idea the officer was behind him. It turned out the officer was just walking in the same direction. We are still laughing about it.

[DirtyDawg]

"What did you do!!!!"

 

If I only had a nickel for every time I had to ask this of my boys over the years..........

 

;)

[Karysa]

They should have better options for the 18-20 year olds but I think they shouldnt be drinking.I know they are allowed to be in our military and fight in wars but most 18-20 year olds unless they are taught are not educated drinkers ,if that makes sense

 

Most of the families in the US dont allow drinking I guess until its legal so if ones 18 and allowed to drink it may lead to serious issues onboard.

 

Not a glass of wine at dinner or a pina colada at the pool that some are taught but Jager bombs and long island ice teas

 

 

21 to have a glass of beer but 16 to drive a car just doesn't make sense to me.

 

I am 1000 percent against drinking and driving BTW and agree with strict parental laws as well as government laws surrounding that issue!

 

Since alcohol is not locked up at home a 16 year old who drives can still get drunk and be behind the wheel of a car. Education and harsh punishment is needed and warranted.

 

Regarding the 18-20 year olds having fun on the ship. I think that it depends on the individual whether a cruise is the right choice. If drinking is really important then maybe an AI vacation is a better choice.

[teringal]

They are on the same deck, not too far away. Thanks again so much for the info. :)

Love your story too, something I'd say.

I'm not worried about the being too young to drink, he only has the odd beer at home (our legal drinking age is 18) so if he wants a drink he can have one on the islands.

[Karysa]

They are on the same deck, not too far away. Thanks again so much for the info. :)

Love your story too, something I'd say.

I'm not worried about the being too young to drink, he only has the odd beer at home (our legal drinking age is 18) so if he wants a drink he can have one on the islands.

 

This is the rule we had with our DD at 18. At 19 ( legal drinking age) we signed the waiver and she had the odd drink on board. The prices killed her!

[teringal]

This is the rule we had with our DD at 18. At 19 ( legal drinking age) we signed the waiver and she had the odd drink on board. The prices killed her!

 

I love that idea! :)

[maggieworkman]

I don't know of anyone that didn't let someone drink until they turned 21. The whole situation is a farce out of an era where driving drunk was "okay".

 

 

We did not let our kids drink until 21.

 

I have a daughter who turned 21 in January and another daughter who is currently 18. They will both be cruising with us in June.

 

Except for Serenity deck, your 18-20 yr old is allowed everywhere other adults are allowed on the ship: clubs, adult comedy shows, casino, etc. However, there is the alcohol restriction. My son was 18 when we last cruised, he had a great time. He met others with similar interests at karaoke, trivia, sports area etc and probably had the best cruise of his life. Alcohol is not something that important to our family, so whether he could drink or not had no impact on his vacation. He knows how to make his own fun, in whatever circumstances. If your son or daughter is outgoing and goes with the flow, they should have a wonderful time. Tell them to attend activities that they enjoy and be friendly and they will almost certainly meet new friends.

 

This is exactly what our kids do on the cruise.

 

Maggie

[frayedend]

Based on our experience, the drinking age is not strictly enforced. We were on a family cruise with our children aged 22, 19, and 16 a few years ago. We were in MDR with our friends and they were ordering drinks with their dinner. Oddly enough, our 16 year old said with a laugh “I’ll take a Jack and coke”. We all laughed knowing he was just joking. When his drink arrived, he about fell over because it was a Jack and coke. We were shocked but realized she didn’t understand that he was only joking. When she brought his ticket she kneeled down and we could tell she wasn’t happy and was afraid she would get in trouble. I told her to charge it to me and not to worry about it and explained it was a misunderstanding. The next night she took our orders, looked at our son and laughingly asked if he wanted the same. He said “make it a double” and we all laughed. Of course you know what happened, she brought him a double. We then explained to her nicely that he was no longer permitted to order alcoholic beverages even if they were on my tab. Five years later, he still loves telling that story.

 

So they make a "double"? If so do you know what the price difference is? I hate having my rum and coke in a tiny glass.

[Jruns]

I thought you can be18 and over to go to the serenity deck?? Or the adult pool or whatever it is on each ship?? That I would care more about?? I really think its 18 and up???????? My daughter who will be almost 19 does not drink which is why we didn't really look into it but like I stated earlier my other daughter coming is 24 and we just wanted to all be together- I will have to look into the "adult pool" could swear it was 18? As for drinking, would not mind having a glass of wine at dinner with my daughter - she chooses not to! I think 21 is too old and seeing (hearing) how kids are in college well obviously 21 is not working - can you say binge drinking!! We have been to Europe a bit and they have a different "mindset" toward alcohol!!!! To each his own! Now back to that pool..................

[kml2000]

My DD was 20 on this past cruise. I very rarely drink, for many reasons, but did order a few and let her taste them. We have lots of conversations about drinking. It only takes one bad choice. We also went to the serenity deck. I think on our Legend cruise it was 18 and up (2 years ago). My DD acts more mature than some of the 21-22 year olds.

[Jruns]

I agree kml2000 - could not have said it better:-)))))). Thanks for pool info too!!!!!

[kml2000]

I forgot to add..... There was a meet and greet in the fun times for this age group, much like the singles meet and greet. My DD didn't go to this.

[Karysa]

I forgot to add..... There was a meet and greet in the fun times for this age group, much like the singles meet and greet. My DD didn't go to this.

 

But at least at the singles meet n greet you can have a drink to calm the nerves;)

[mlrm]

If any of your 18 to 20 year old kids are in college, they know all they need to know about drinking:eek: If our 19 yr. old wants a drink on our upcoming cruise I'll buy it for her. If I were to tell her that she could not have one, she would only want it more. I'm not going to kid myself. If she wanted one and I said no she find a way to get one. Since I am fairly certain the Captain is not going to let her drive the ship, she can have what ever she wants.

[Jruns]

Well said!!

[larkz]

Having worked -- in a past life many decades ago -- with troubled teens and their families, I don't think it would be wise for Carnival to make a drinking option available for the 18-20 group.

 

Criminal activity and recidivism, substance abuse and addiction, and really really bad life choices peak for people in their late teens and early 20s. (Look up average crime age in FBI statistics.) Part of it is due to the rapid changes in the brain at this age -- and that process seems to continue up to the age of 26 based on recent studies. That's why many young adults, not all, in this age group are utterly insufferable.

 

Add that to a party-time attitude associated with a vacation, and you have a recipe for disaster.

[Kruise2013]

So they make a "double"? If so do you know what the price difference is? I hate having my rum and coke in a tiny glass.

 

Too long ago and not something we typically order. I have no idea of what we paid. Sorry.

[Karysa]

Having worked -- in a past life many decades ago -- with troubled teens and their families, I don't think it would be wise for Carnival to make a drinking option available for the 18-20 group.

 

Criminal activity and recidivism, substance abuse and addiction, and really really bad life choices peak for people in their late teens and early 20s. (Look up average crime age in FBI statistics.) Part of it is due to the rapid changes in the brain at this age -- and that process seems to continue up to the age of 26 based on recent studies. That's why many young adults, not all, in this age group are utterly insufferable.

 

Add that to a party-time attitude associated with a vacation, and you have a recipe for disaster.

 

 

There is a huge difference from sending your 18-20 year old off to an AI in Mexico with their friends or bringing them on a family cruise. If your young adult can't behave on a family cruise being allowed the privellage of consuming alcoholic beverages, then I would suggest that they attend college near home.

[Jruns]

Dear larkz

You can get stats for any age group!! This is broad strokes your stating! This thread is about our particular kids who have involved loving parents who are actively involved in our kids lives! I take great offense to your "stats" my 26 - 24 - 18 yr old are amazing, educated, smart, and well spoken- your comments - wow ..... Now back to the great parents on this board who had great insight to their own kids.......

[larkz]

Dear larkz

You can get stats for any age group!! This is broad strokes your stating! This thread is about our particular kids who have involved loving parents who are actively involved in our kids lives! I take great offense to your "stats" my 26 - 24 - 18 yr old are amazing, educated, smart, and well spoken- your comments - wow ..... Now back to the great parents on this board who had great insight to their own kids.......

 

Ah, yes. Well mine was an honor student who earned her scholarships and received a masters, never got in trouble, didn't abuse substances, etc., and I wouldn't have had a second thought about letting her have a glass of wine or a banana daiquiri on vacation. I could write all day about how wonderful she is, and you could do the same about yours.

 

The stats are stone cold accurate. (Doesn't science suck!)

 

This is the reason the drinking age was dropped in the U.S.

[Karysa]

Ah, yes. Well mine was an honor student who earned her scholarships and received a masters, never got in trouble, didn't abuse substances, etc., and I wouldn't have had a second thought about letting her have a glass of wine or a banana daiquiri on vacation. I could write all day about how wonderful she is, and you could do the same about yours.

 

The stats are stone cold accurate. (Doesn't science suck!)

 

This is the reason the drinking age was dropped in the U.S.

 

The drinking age was increased from 18-21 in the US years ago. When did they drop it altogether?

[larkz]

The drinking age was increased from 18-21 in the US years ago. When did they drop it altogether?

 

Excuse me, term I should have used is "increased".

[bobsfamily]

 

"The stats are stone cold accurate. (Doesn't science suck!)"

 

This is the reason the drinking age was increased in the U.S.

 

Not quite... the reason was because the federal government enacted a law in 1984 that made the Federal age at 21 but left it up to states to raise the state law... with a rather large nudge. IF they did not raise the age to 21 then the state would lose all federal highway dollars. In many states you can "buy" your 18-20 a drink in your presence, others allow the 18-20 yo to buy a drink as long as one parent is in the same establishment, not right with them.

http://alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/state_profiles_of_underage_drinking_laws.html

The above website shows what each state does or does not allow. SC for example allows you as the parent to allow your child to have spirits in your home BUT not someone else's child, even if the parent of the other child is in the house. FL does not allow it for any reason.