Inside Edition - Story on Cruise Ship Drinking

[praline3001]

IMO i blame the parents, they need to be controlling their kids and watching for this sort of thing, is RCCL some what responsible, yes they are, but is this by any means 100% their fault........NO, parents need to be held responsible for this sort of behavior.

 

I see your point but being a mom to 2 teens I can tell you many times its not the parents' fault. I used to think the same way before teens. LOL

I know many great parents with rotten teenagers :p

 

Its a crap shoot when it comes to teens really. Some like to experiment and are more curious about the darker side of adulthood. Others just don't have an interest in stuff like that.

 

I think back on my own teen years and the stuff I did that I hid from my parents .. WOW. Teens are amazing at using their brain power to get around the parental units. It is extremely difficult to stay 2 steps ahead of them. My oldest drives. He dates. He has his own life to some extent.

I can't ensure he isn't drinking when he goes out with his buddies. Peer pressure is a mighty big thing to compete against. Does this make me a bad parent? NOPE.

 

My 2 boys are extremely different as well. Its hard to see they came from the same womb ha ha my oldest is an introvert, quiet, bookworm type. He is not the party/drinking/ crazy type of teen. My 15 year old is a wild child! I have been challenged more then 100 times in the past year trying to stay 2 steps ahead of him. He is a good kid ~ he is just very much an extrovert and will try anything at least once. He is an adrenaline junkie who can't wait until his 16th birthday so he can go sky diving with his dad. The law here is 16. My oldest would rather fall over dead then go sky diving!

 

If a teenager REALLY wants to do something, they are going to find a way to do it and there is really not a whole lot parents can do to prevent it. Of course the after affect can be extremely strict and lectures but the fact is they accomplished what they wanted.

 

Yes, parents must monitor their teens. They also have to give them a lot of freedom. My oldest will be going off to college here soon. Should I still hold his hand when we cross the street? I am sure many of the "kids" on the story were that in between stage. They are no longer kids and are legal adults at 18 but they can't drink. Are parents supposed to ground their 18 year old adult child?

 

ETA: Will Smith said something that has stuck with me while we are going through the high school teen years. I am not a huge fan of Will Smith but I loved his quote and think its the secret in keeping sanity while raising teens. He told his own kids "We will give you all the freedom you can handle." This might not be the best for young kids but for teens this is WONDERFUL. They get it. No curfews/ nagging/ and they are treated like an adult as long as they can handle it. If they can't then they lose those rights until they are mature enough to handle them. The teen can have all the freedoms he craves until he screws up. It makes the "taking away" of privileges so much harder for them to endure.

[bucsat1]

yeah.......what CruisinMike said!!!

 

Vacation, spring break, a cruise, etc. are not valid excuses to say that anything goes for kids and drinking. I'm amazed that people try to justify it.

 

What you said! I suppose when parents have this attitude, they probably don't have very high expectations and deserve the results they get. If I catch my underage children drinking on a ship, it will be the last cruise they take with me until they can pay for it themselves.

[tlund]

What really aggravates me is that my original thread posted yesterday was merged with a thread started six years ago referencing a totally different story that was aired. Thanks Cruise Critic.

[amyd]

I believe that there are two parties at fault. The bartenders for serving anyone under 18 (I believe 18 is the international age for drinking) and being aware that they are sharing the drinks with others underage. Bartenders know what they are doing and there really needs to be a way to moniter that on the ship. AND the parents. It's our job to teach our kids right from wrong and how to behave in public in any scenario. If that was my 13 year old daughter, she would be sitting in the room for the rest of the cruise. I know its vacation but as a parent you still teach how to behave and how not to behave. That is also taught by example. My 15 year old has seen me throw back a few. But he'll never see me drive a vehicle afterwards or be beligerant and stupid. It's our job as parents to parent them, on vacation or off. THAT being said.....the bartenders are also responsible to say no and ask for a parent.

[ksuds]

On RCI, if you are under age for drinking. They give you a seapass card that looks different than the others when you check in. I have been on a cruise that a 20 year old girl tried to get a drink. Her 21st birthday was in 2 days and they would not serve her.

 

Drinks are big revenue for ships. I was just on the Monarch a couple weeks ago. They used to have the 70's dance party in the centrum. It is now moved to Bolaros. When we asked the cruise director, Drew, why, he said because alcohol sales fell during that time so they needed to move it to a location that had a bar.

[fred20155]

My hubby and I just watched the same show. We just got back from a cruise last week. When we were on Coco Cay, they would ask whether or not we wanted alcohol in our drinks on the beach. Only then, did they pour the rum into the drink.

 

Also, whenever we told the servers we weren't interested in having a drink, they just said okay and walked away. We were NEVER pressured into having a drink. With the high cost of drinks on the ships, if THAT doesn't slow people down on drinking, NOTHING WILL!

 

Because there is a lawsuit from that young man's family, we believe the story was played in the media to "help" the family win the lawsuit with the bad publicity.

 

I've never felt pressured into having a drink at a show. Yes, they come around and ask but I just say no and they walk away. I get to the shows early and don't really think I was solicited more than twice at a given show. The drink solicitation happens anywhere you go where alcohol is served, sporting events for example. I don't really see the problem with this.

 

I have intentionally cruised during times where most schools would be in session, so haven't witnessed any drunk underage drinkers. The worst I saw were several fairly drunk people at the Quest show, one woman in particularly who could not really stand up straight and had to have people helping her get around. But those were few and far between, and in general did not see that many falling down drunk people.

[jnojr]

Just saw an Inside Edition story that was, to say the least, very unflattering for Royal Caribbean. The expose showed excessive and underage drinking on one of it's ships. The point of the story was that the cruise line did nothing to control the situation but willingly continued to serve people and allow 14 and 16 year olds to drink until they passed out.

 

Comments?

 

Don't really care. If the parents are good with their kids drinking, who am I to argue with them?

[jnojr]

I've never felt pressured into having a drink at a show. Yes, they come around and ask but I just say no and they walk away.

 

Man, I should have been on that cruise. I got tired of the very large gentlemen holding funnels and lengths of tubing "suggesting" that I have another drink. I didn't really want one, but I saw what happened to some other poor SOB who declined, so I just went along. It was miserable :(

[samiii]

One method of controlling it is for the Cruise Line to issue under age photo ID's to anyone under 18. This doesn't eliminate the problem, but it should minimize it. You can always get someone "legal" to order drinks, but Bartenders and Servers should be more alert. samiii

[MAHA]

Most, if not all cruise ships have their drinking age set to 21 now. There needs to be a better way to enforce the no drinking policy than what they currently have. It does come down to parents, though. They need to monitor their teens on a cruise and be role models for them. how many of these teens parents are drinking throughout the day and night at the pool, the bars, dinner, the shows, etc. I know from reading the threads about the drink packages, that the majority of respondants said that they would definately get their money's worth and more out of one of those packages. That's a lot of drinking in one day! Their teens see that and figure they can do the same.

[akcruz]

A few comments -

 

The drinking age for cruises beginning in the US is 21. Most cruises started in other ports, the drinking age is 18. Regardless of where you are from these are the rules.

 

There have been posts on here, mostly during high volume times, where those who were 21 or over were asked for photo id. It always surprises me when people are horrified that RC was doing this. Here is the reason why!

 

My DD sailed at 19 and was carded going into the nightclub as she looked about 15 at that point. Wasn't looking for drinks, just a place to hang out which she was allowed to do since the age allowed is 18. On the same cruise we met some parents who actually gave their 17 year old the fathers sea pass so he could get into the clubs with his older siblings. Shameful to me.

 

Personally I have never felt forced to purchase a drink. During most of the shows, they only ask before the show starts so depending on when you get there you may be asked once or multiple times. Once the show starts they usually disappear.

 

As others have said personal responsiblity is what is needed here, but unfortunately in the world today that is something most have no idea about :(.

[Big_G]

Two things I've rarely seen if not ever on a cruise ship, underage drinking... rarely and falling down drunk...never. Having cruised for a few years now, I've also noticed that there are less waiters on the pool decks and they are less pushy. Trying to get a drink before the show is not as easy as it use to be. I think while the cruise lines know they need to sell the drinks, they've pulled back a bit. I haven't seen the Inside Edition episode because that's just what you get from them...crap so called journalism.:rolleyes:

[Motleu]

How do people know the age of these kids??? My 23 year old daughter can easily pass for 16 years old.

 

 

She said they were 13 not that they looked like they were 13. Your daughter at 23 is still of legal age no matter what she looks like. The issue is with truly underage kids drinking not those that look like they are underage.

[cropping cruiser]

I have not watched the show but have read some articles and a lot of the posts.

 

Just a few quick points:

Doesn't matter what you think about underage drinking and/or what the legal age is, 18 or 21 yoa, whatever the age , the law is the law we don't get to pick what laws we choose to follow or break. You break the law you pay the price the penalty if caught. Same applies to all other laws. That is what the court system is for. Juveniles (and unruly adults) need to be held accountable for their actions as do their parents. And I'm in college so it's my right just did not cut it in our home. If on a cruise ship you just be escorted off as soon as possible.

 

As for the whole cruise line pushing alcohol, we have cruised 50 nights so far and have never felt forced, coerced or pressured into buying a drink anywhere on the ship. As opposed to any bar/restaurant where we have lingered to watch a ballgame or listen to music. At the ball park is the worst. You cannot go 10 minutes w/o a beer hawker going past your seat. They bring it to you and gouge you doing so. Ever been to a football game ? Ever been to an all-inclusive ??? They are the worst. They already paid for their alcohol.

I buy a soda package any DH drinks water in the lounges on board. Almost all employees on a cruise ship rely on the guests' tips for their livelihood. So I don't think the bartenders are very different in that respect.

 

Cruise ships could use more security when at capacity especially with a younger crowd on board. My understanding is that if a crew member observes a problem they need to call security and are not supposed to intervene. Just like at home, if you need law enforcement, the trash man isn't likely to help you with an out of control drunk.

If a crew staff served underage passengers they should be fired. That's a given.

Smuggling alcohol aboard is a problem. Just check out the boards and it is not limited to young cruisers.

I object to the elitist attitude of some cruisers who want to blame any and all problems on more affordable cruise fares. Not all of us on budgets are bottom feeders, low lifes and trouble makers. Get over yourselves. Those fares allow many of us on budgets and many seniors to enjoy a luxury type vacation b/c we save and carefully budget and perhaps do without excessive alcoholic beverages to enable us to have a wonderful vacation.

And yes, I do have two adult children who have done dumb things during their growing up years. We are fortunate that we escaped with very minor problems. And I enjoy a drink occasionally and like to party.

Lets allow the cruise lines a chance for their rebuttal. Two sides to every story.

I don't think this is a problem restricted to just one cruise line.

[cropping cruiser]

Two things I've rarely seen if not ever on a cruise ship, underage drinking... rarely and falling down drunk...never. Having cruised for a few years now, I've also noticed that there are less waiters on the pool decks and they are less pushy. Trying to get a drink before the show is not as easy as it use to be. I think while the cruise lines know they need to sell the drinks, they've pulled back a bit. I haven't seen the Inside Edition episode because that's just what you get from them...crap so called journalism.:rolleyes:

 

I agree.

[Jaime Hill]

If I catch my underage children drinking on a ship, it will be the last cruise they take with me until they can pay for it themselves.

 

Same here! Drinking alcohol is dangerous for children. Alcohol is a social drug, and you can get addicted to it.

 

For parents who find their teens experimenting with alcohol, it's important to nip the habit in the bud while it's still early. Too much experimentation may lead to alcohol abuse.

 

There are few tips here that can help you deal with teenage drinking.

[johneeo]

Kids haven't changed, parents have changed. They don't want to parent they want to be friends to their kids. Kids are overindulged today because their parents make too much money and want to give them everything. We are doing the wrong thing by our kids. We are raising a generation of drugged and alcohol induced brats who know that when they do the wrong thing we will stick up for them.

 

Aren't we proud of ourselves?

 

Speaking for yourself?

 

Nothing remotely like that in our family.

[Motorman23]

Edited out...

I sat in the promanade and watched as a 13 yr old bought drink after drink from the bartender until she had to be carried by to boys to her cabin as the parents laughed it off.

 

Sadly as an EMS Provider, I will most likely at some time be called to her home at 2am for either a very sick child at best, or at worse a barely breathing child. I have not witnessed this behavior on a ship but see it all the time in my community.

 

Mike

[johneeo]

I can say that I have never seen problems with underage drinking while cruising on RCI.

 

I have seen every person getting carded going into the disco, and if you were not 18 you did not get in.

 

I also do not see how a minor can purchase a drink without having an adult Seapass. Sure, they somehow get an adult's Seapass and use it, but that blame falls on the adult that provides it. And I have heard of those that have done this were booted off the ship at the next port.

 

In the event my teen used his Seapass to purchase alcohol, it would be so noted on his account and it would show up on the TV account which gets reviewed regularly. Also, such a transaction should show red flags to RCI management that a certain bar allowed a minor to purchase a drink.

[Mimajo]

Did anyone notice that this thread is from 2006?

 

Old news people!!

[lori450]

How hysterical!!!!:eek::D:D

[akcruz]

Did anyone notice that this thread is from 2006?

 

Old news people!!

 

Yes and no, there were actually two times that RC was portrayed on Inside Edition. Yes, the first was from 2006, but it also just happened again last week. For some reason the mods decided to merge the 2 threads which makes absolutely no sense because the first is so old.

 

If you look you will see where the new threads started from last week and while the stories both revolve around alcohol are somewhat different!