New to cruising and many questions

[adventuredancer]

i've seen them card more lately for the adult shows because of people complaining (& i have seen someone pull their over 18 year old child out of an adult show because of the topics/jokes/language/etc). and groups that are there during the family shows and stay for the adult shows, they will walk around and if they think you are under 18, i have seen them ask. i've never seen them ask people who are obviously adults, but anyone who was questionable, they have asked them to leave. there are many comedy shows that they turn away people & those adults will complain if they see a bunch of kids (even the ones who are 18-because they won't think they are 18) sitting in there. yes by the time they are 17, most kids have already been exposed to curse words and all sorts of stuff, but i have seen some adult shows that made me blush. and i'm a paramedic and almost 40.

i've seen under 21 in Serenity. as long as they aren't loud and obnoxious (which to be fair also applies to adults), usually nothing is done. i've seen carnival kick out a group who had a 10 year old with them, but never seen them do it to 17-21 (not saying they won't especially if you are taking up a large amount of space and other adults figure that if they can get you kicked out then they will get your space).

book asap.

i agree with getting written info from other parents for your protection. (and most of mexico/carribean wou'dnt bat an eye at the 17 year old ordering a beer)

i never take my passport with me when i get off the ship. i do have a passport card and take that. i know i can't use it for a flight home, but it makes me feel better to have that. (we cruise with both the passport and the card when we go).

i've seen people with dr notes that have allowed them to take stuff on board and i've seen people with dr notes and printed confirmations from carnival that it is ok, but when they tried to board, it was not allowed. i'm not saying they won't allow it on. but you might want to have the powder as a backup.

and with a group of that size, the earlier you book then the better chance you have of getting the dinner time you want. (whenever i have cruised with kids, the later time always works better for some reason). and rooms that you want. (you have never cruised before and interior rooms are pitch black 24/7.

[coevan]

yes I do, maybe I am misunderstanding, who is receiving the permission slip? 

[grandmarnnurse]

15 minutes ago, coevan said:

yes I do, maybe I am misunderstanding, who is receiving the permission slip? 

The permission slip is for you to allow the teen to drink. Without it, the parents could press charges against you for allowing their child to drink without their permission, god forbid if anything happened as a result of that teen drinking. Although it is legal in Mexico, it is not in the states, and not all parents would be so accepting of them doing so. 

[pacruise804]

As grandmarnnurse stated, the OP who is taking teen friends of her children should have written permission/consent from the absent parents for their underage child to drink.  It is not for the bartender who won't ask/care, but rather to avoid any potential ugliness if the absent parent doesn't want their child drinking (especially the 17 year old).  I don't know as anyone would or even could press charges, but it would be respectful to communicate and avoid possible issues.

 

 

[purplephenom]

I think the piano bar is also 18+ after a certain time.  But, I don't think they card there- just announce/ask if people are 18.

 

It really depends what your group wants to do at night.  If the 18 year olds really want to go to the night club/casino/comedy, and one of the group isn't allowed, it could cause some issues among your group.  If they're likely to end up at the pool, wandering the ship, eating pizza, and just fooling around, that's probably less of an issue for you. 

[WashCoCruisers]

On 11/3/2019 at 3:06 PM, grandmarnnurse said:

Oops, forgot about adult comedy shows. I doubt they would “card” your 17 year old at the door. I’m sure there won’t be a problem at that area getting in.

Yes, they will usually scan cards at the door.  They did on the Horizon in April.  

[eileen2664]

Boy this took a turn.  I have no intention of getting written permission from each parent for their ADULT children to drink somewhere where it's LEGAL to do so.  I will make it clear to the parents that we will be at locations where the drinking age is 18, if they have concerns about that they should talk to their children.  We will be nearby (at the same excursion) and help keep an eye on things but our concern is safety, not micromanaging them.  We won't knowingly allow them to get plastered, we won't buy drinks for them or encourage them to drink or do anything they're uncomfortable with. I'm sure that some (if not all) of these kids have drank before.....not in excess to my knowledge but knowing their parents and knowing the kids I'd say it's pretty likely they've had a beer or two in their lives.  These kids are mere months away from launching into adulthood; be it college or full-time employment; they deserve a little trust on vacation.

 

The only written permission I'll be getting will be to take the 17yo out of the country and to allow emergency medical consent if necessary.

[eileen2664]

3 hours ago, purplephenom said:

I think the piano bar is also 18+ after a certain time.  But, I don't think they card there- just announce/ask if people are 18.

 

It really depends what your group wants to do at night.  If the 18 year olds really want to go to the night club/casino/comedy, and one of the group isn't allowed, it could cause some issues among your group.  If they're likely to end up at the pool, wandering the ship, eating pizza, and just fooling around, that's probably less of an issue for you. 

I"m told she'll be fine if she can't do the night stuff; while some of the others might want to do it a couple won't so she won't be alone regardless.

[pacruise804]

13 hours ago, eileen2664 said:

Boy this took a turn.  I have no intention of getting written permission from each parent for their ADULT children to drink somewhere where it's LEGAL to do so.  I will make it clear to the parents that we will be at locations where the drinking age is 18, if they have concerns about that they should talk to their children.  We will be nearby (at the same excursion) and help keep an eye on things but our concern is safety, not micromanaging them.  We won't knowingly allow them to get plastered, we won't buy drinks for them or encourage them to drink or do anything they're uncomfortable with. I'm sure that some (if not all) of these kids have drank before.....not in excess to my knowledge but knowing their parents and knowing the kids I'd say it's pretty likely they've had a beer or two in their lives.  These kids are mere months away from launching into adulthood; be it college or full-time employment; they deserve a little trust on vacation.

 

The only written permission I'll be getting will be to take the 17yo out of the country and to allow emergency medical consent if necessary.

 

You obviously know everyone involved better than any of us strangers on a forum 🙂 Clear communication would be my biggest concern, which it sounds like you are addressing.

 

Your statement about adulthood is tricky.  My daughter turned 18 early in her senior year of high school.  I still had to sign permission/excuses for anything school related.  Yet she was an adult and treated as such for background checks to serve with children, or any medical appointments.

 

We are "adult" at 18 for most things (gambling, voting, signing contracts), but not until 21 and sometimes older (drinking, renting car, booking own cruise 😉 ).  Biologically we are adult after puberty (which seems to be starting younger and younger), but science also says we aren't mentally adults until late 20's.  Yes the "kids" deserve trust, but they also should have guidance.  Reminders that any pictures posted of them drinking (or whatever) can last forever and have consequences.  Depending on the college or employment, they can be refused and/or disciplined even though they did something legal if it was against policy.

 

I do hope you and your crew have a great cruise with a fun, relaxing time for all 😄 

[grandmarnnurse]

14 hours ago, eileen2664 said:

Boy this took a turn.  I have no intention of getting written permission from each parent for their ADULT children to drink somewhere where it's LEGAL to do so.  I will make it clear to the parents that we will be at locations where the drinking age is 18, if they have concerns about that they should talk to their children.  We will be nearby (at the same excursion) and help keep an eye on things but our concern is safety, not micromanaging them.  We won't knowingly allow them to get plastered, we won't buy drinks for them or encourage them to drink or do anything they're uncomfortable with. I'm sure that some (if not all) of these kids have drank before.....not in excess to my knowledge but knowing their parents and knowing the kids I'd say it's pretty likely they've had a beer or two in their lives.  These kids are mere months away from launching into adulthood; be it college or full-time employment; they deserve a little trust on vacation.

 

The only written permission I'll be getting will be to take the 17yo out of the country and to allow emergency medical consent if necessary.

I understand how you feel, but as a mom who raised 5 children, I know how other parents can get if they don’t think their children “protected” from harm. Kids, and their parents, today are way different than my generation. An 18 year old was definitely considered an adult, and was totally responsible for their actions. Hell, the drinking age when I was in High School in the 60s WAS only 18. My classmates routinely met at a local bar. And nobody thought anything of it. Times are different now. I see it in my own 5 children with their children (15 grandchildren), and other parents that you thought were friends may try to eat you alive if any harm comes to their little darling. And anytime alcohol comes into play, the risk of something happening is there. I don’t believe you will be with them 24/7 to supervise, so just protect yourself. Yes, tell the parents that the kids are traveling to areas where they can legally drink, and get their views, and very possibly, the previous stated permission slips, FOR YOUR PROTECTION. Let me say in closing that that one cruise we sailed with a granddaughter and her boyfriend was very stressful, as they WERE heavy drinkers on and off the ship, and we worried constantly. Yes, she and he were adults, but we all read about people going overboard because of intoxication, so the worry was real. And then the near abduction of my beautiful granddaughter because her BF was too intoxicated to prevent it, just topped it off. Kids have no fear that any danger can happen to them. Just go in with eyes wide open, and be prepared for anything. 

[trummy]

On 11/4/2019 at 2:07 PM, coevan said:

 

 

Leave your passport in your safe. We never take it off the ship until we debark.

If you miss your ship in a non U.S. port without a passport, it will be expensive and perhaps take days to get an emergency passport from the embassy in that country. Without that emergency passport you will not be able to travel back to the U.S. or your next Port of Call. 

 

 

[JaxsMama]

2 minutes ago, trummy said:

If you miss your ship in a non U.S. port without a passport, it will be expensive and perhaps take days to get an emergency passport from the embassy in that country. Without that emergency passport you will not be able to travel back to the U.S. or your next Port of Call. 

 

 

If you miss the ship Carnival will retrieve your passport from your safe and leave it at the dock for you. 

[trummy]

1 minute ago, JaxsMama said:

If you miss the ship Carnival will retrieve your passport from your safe and leave it at the dock for you. 

Really, that is good to know. Thank you.