RCI's New Alcohol Policy effective 7/28/06? (merged)

[Broch]

 

And that makes me irresponsible how?

 

It is the attitude of I don't care and I will do it if I want too, and to heck with consequences. That In my book is irresponsible but that is my opinion. What do others think.

[spectatorsports]

 

It is the attitude of I don't care and I will do it if I want too, and to heck with consequences. That In my book is irresponsible but that is my opinion. What do others think.

 

Then everyone who smuggles on alcohol is just as irresponsible as I am.

[isujim]

I think Immaturity is trying to converse........and we are falling for it........so let's stop and move on..........we can find threads with adults.

[droseball]

I don't know if this has anything to do with this topic or not, but I was on Mariner this past week (the week that the policy supposedly changed) with two 18-20 year olds who were allowed to use the waiver (we sailed on the 23rd). On Friday, I started to order some room service, and couldn't find the big blue guest information book that was in our room that had policies and menus and other stuff in it. I knew it was there that morning so I called my stateroom attendant and they told me that they had taken them up to "put something else in them". They were back in our rooms late Saturday night and although I didn't get to look through well, it may very well have been this new policy. Just a guess but the timing is right, since Friday was the 28th.

 

Also, I know this policy is going to cause problems for those passengers who are from other countries like spectatorsports. Most of them are allowed to drink at 18 and it is weird for them to have to accept that they can't when in the US or on cruises. We had a young lady last year stay with us from England and she thought it was strange but just dealt with it since it was the law here.

 

Denise

[Broch]

I think Immaturity is trying to converse........and we are falling for it........so let's stop and move on..........we can find threads with adults.

 

Could not agree more

[spectatorsports]

The 21 drinking age doesn't bother me at all. I don't know a whole lot about the culture over there when it comes to alcohol but from what I have seen it seems to me like 21 seems to fit well. It's also the law regardless of what I think. I'd never go there expecting to be able to drink when I am not 21 except in this situation when I was originally told otherwise and I don't think it is unreasonable that I drink anyway because of that.

[mkg]

As far as I know, even if someone else purchases the drink for you, if a crew member asks to see your seapass and you can't produce it, they might go as far as to take away the drink, they will not accept your license.

Until we have confirmation from newbee travelers with this new rule, we will not know what the crew members are likely to do. All I can say is if you are asked and you don't show the seapass or refuse to or make a big deal out of the whole issue, then you and your group might likely be thrown off.

[spectatorsports]

As far as I know, even if someone else purchases the drink for you, if a crew member asks to see your seapass and you can't produce it, they might go as far as to take away the drink, they will not accept your license.

Until we have confirmation from newbee travelers with this new rule, we will not know what the crew members are likely to do. All I can say is if you are asked and you don't show the seapass or refuse to or make a big deal out of the whole issue, then you and your group might likely be thrown off.

 

I doubt they would go that far. If you play it cool you don't get bothered. It's the people who act nervous and like they are doing something wrong that get hassled.

 

I don't understand why all of a sudden people think the new policy will be so strongly enforced when in the past the it wasn't. It is a reasonable assumption that they will enforce the new policy to the same extent that they enforced the old one. It seems to me like people think they are going to have an alcohol police or something.

[wraithe]

No one is going to serve me. They are going to serve an adult who is buying a round of drinks for the group I am with. They aren't going to notice that one of them is for me. They will have no choice to accept my drivers license if I don't have my Seapass with me.

 

With all due respect, and all the connotations that phrase brings with it, do you think you're the first to come up with these "methods" of gaming the system? Do you really think they have no choice but to accept your altered drivers license? You're on their vessel, you will have a Sea Pass issued, and if they ask for it and want it, you will produce it, even if that means for security. A ship at sea is the last absolute monarchy left on the Earth. You're right about one thing, it isn't likely they'll care, but if they do, then it will get very ugly, very fast, with you and all your friends escorted off the ship at the first port as a possible result. I don't know you, and I'm not passing judgement, but you come across as very self centered and immature in your writing, and that doesn't mean you are, it is just how your writing sounds. If this is what you want to do (blow off the drinking rule), fine, go ahead and do it, but please don't come across with the insinuation that the other posters here are the ones that are wrong. If you want to drink, and drink legally, then cruise from Europe, vice coming to the States, problem solved, no one gets in trouble, no falsified government documents (altered drivers license) in a 9/11 world that could potentially get you confined (read thrown in jail) while they try to figure out who you really are. Just a thought. I know you'll have a good cruise, and when all is said and done, I would bet you come back here and crow loud and long how you pulled this one off, drank all day, every day on your cruise. It's all good, just be ready for the consequences if it doesn't work out. It won't be RCL's fault, it will be all your fault, and your friends for serving you. Thanks for listening, have a great day. As far as alcohol police are concerned, RCL has hired a new security director, FBI trained, and my understanding about as flexible as a glass brick, I think they may be very serious with the "new" rules about underage drinking.

[Catnip]

I don't care. I booked with the understanding that I could drink and that is exactly what I am going to do.

 

DId you know that you can drink all you want while on shore? Drink all day long and get sick and pass out and whatever else you think might be fun! :cool:

[Straughn]

In the past, I recall being able to order liquor packages for your cabin thru room service. They consisted of several bottles of bar or premium brand scotch, boubon, vodka, gin, etc-the quality depended on what package you ordered and how much you wanted to pay. Has RCCL done away with this? Can you not order any alcohol other than wine/champagne thru Room Service? I guess where I am confused about all this is what difference does it make whether you drink your RCCL purchased alcohol in your cabin or in the bars? The revenue all ends up in RCCL's bank account.

 

As for inspecting luggage for smuggled booze-they are going to need to triple, no quadruple their security staff. A lot of passengers pack bottles of non-alcoholic things in their checked luggage. If RCCL inspects every checked bag with something suspicous inside, based on the what the scanners show, they will need to start processing luggage at 6 AM and maybe we will be able to sail by mid-night. Can you image trying to track down passengers to get them to unlock their luggage to discover the offending item is a bottle of mouthwash. Talk about ticking someone off before the ship ever sails and a lot of negative PR....

 

Maybe we need police dogs trained to differentiate between the smell of alcohol and mouthwash so they can sniff all the bags ;)

[spectatorsports]

I think you might have the wrong idea about my 'friends' who will be buying me alcohol. These are not 21 and 22 year olds these are my parents, relatives and family friends all of whom are over 50. Responsible looking adults. No questions will be asked.

They will accept my license as a proof of age because there is no reason to doubt it.

 

And for the 15th time the cruise is final I can't cancel and go somewhere else I can legally drink. That is why I am so determined to drink anyway. They changed the rules after I booked and I never would have booked in the first place if I had known this.

 

I am very self centered when it comes to this because I want to enjoy my holiday which I think I have the right to do, regardless of whether I am 21 or not.

[sas80]

it never fails.... these booze threads always break down into the "do gooders" who absolutely MUST put down and judge those who choose to continue to drink (in whatever capacity pertains to the original theme of the thread) and the "nay sayers" whom are determined to defend and continue whatever behavior they want...

 

I'm surprised people dont get bored of partaking in threads like these...

 

Then again, everyone loves a good fight....!

[TravelTammy]

Well guys it's a sad day when you focus all your "family" vacation around drinking alcohol. What kind of message are we sending our next generation. Sorry if I offend anyone on this board, or actually I'm not sorry.

Shame on the parents that can't travel without letting their under age kids to drink.

Such as the Mom who is allowing her 18 yr old daughter to smuggle on a 12 pack of beer. Hmmmm makes you wonder how these kids behave when back home. Don't think they will only drink onboard a ship if you allow it and show them how to break the rules.

I was just on the Mariner and witnessed an 18 yr old girl sitting at the pool bar with her mother. They each had a drink in front of them and the girl's eyes were very glazed over, half open and she her eyebrows were furrowed as she was trying to stay awake. (Middle of the day mind you) Then she commented to her mother, "I think this is my favorite drink so far, Mom"

How sad..................

[sas80]

Well guys it's a sad day when you focus all your "family" vacation around drinking alcohol. What kind of message are we sending our next generation. Sorry if I offend anyone on this board, or actually I'm not sorry.

Shame on the parents that can't travel without letting their under age kids to drink.

Such as the Mom who is allowing her 18 yr old daughter to smuggle on a 12 pack of beer. Hmmmm makes you wonder how these kids behave when back home. Don't think they will only drink onboard a ship if you allow it and show them how to break the rules.

I was just on the Mariner and witnessed an 18 yr old girl sitting at the pool bar with her mother. They each had a drink in front of them and the girl's eyes were very glazed over, half open and she her eyebrows were furrowed as she was trying to stay awake. (Middle of the day mind you) Then she commented to her mother, "I think this is my favorite drink so far, Mom"

How sad..................

 

Lot's of judgement there!

[caviargal]

I think you might have the wrong idea about my 'friends' who will be buying me alcohol. These are not 21 and 22 year olds these are my parents, relatives and family friends all of whom are over 50. Responsible looking adults. No questions will be asked.

They will accept my license as a proof of age because there is no reason to doubt it.

 

Personally, I could care less whether you drink or not. But, a license is not accepted as ID on an RCI ship. I have cruised with them 47 times and seen it all and this is exactly why they use Seapass cards as the only acceptable form of ID aboard.

 

"No questions will be asked" sounds pretty smug to me. I believe you are underestimating the impact of the new chief of security who was hired to clean up RCI' act in this and other areas.

 

RCI has experienced financial loss and challenges to its image over the past few years, and bottom line is that their safety record is not good for business and that alcohol has been directly linked to several of these events. They happen to be taking this seriously, whether you choose to or not.

[spectatorsports]

Well I'll find out in December but I am sure I won't have any problems.

 

As for these people falling overboard; alcohol may be involved but it is not the only factor. We have these cruises in Australia for 17 & 18 year olds who have just finished school. Basically the idea is to drink and party as much as possible. You would not find more drunk people on a cruise anywhere. I have never heard of anyone falling off one of these. Personally I could drink all the alcohol on the entire ship and I still wouldn't fall overboard.

 

So what is wrong with these people that have fallen overboard. I am leading towards stupidity as the main factor.

[gedam]

I you look at the statistics that I found on cruise bruise you will see that nearly all the missing passengers for what ever reason this has occurred, are over 21.

 

This has more to do with the recent bad publicity through the media regarding under age drinking.

 

Fortunately I am sailing from Europe and will have no hesitation in signing a waiver for my 18yr old

[Borat]

I doubt they would go that far. If you play it cool you don't get bothered. It's the people who act nervous and like they are doing something wrong that get hassled.

 

I don't understand why all of a sudden people think the new policy will be so strongly enforced when in the past the it wasn't. It is a reasonable assumption that they will enforce the new policy to the same extent that they enforced the old one. It seems to me like people think they are going to have an alcohol police or something.

 

hahha alcohol police thats sooooo funny. I actually laughed out loud...youre right though. Theres no way in the world you would get thrown off for ordering a drink lol thats the craziest thing ive ever heard. Although thank you to all of you who have said that, you have provided me with some pretty stellar comedy. Those bartenders are nice people, they dont want to ruin your vacation..worst case scenerio is they say sorry man i cant do that..they WILL NOT throw you off..that is crazy talk. Its the same in the states...if you go to a bar and try to order something and they ID you and you are underage, they wont serve you...its not like they will get the handcuffs out and tie you down. I am almost positive the people on this board are making a bigger deal of this than the actual crew members. Ive spoken to a crew member that i know onboard and she said its basically the same old thing.

[peterv]

I always find these sort of topics amusing, with such animosity and holier than thou attitudes regarding something that is only against the law in your own country. Most of you I suppose do realise that there are other countries in the world that do not have the same laws as in the US, or do you pre-suppose that because that is the way it is done in the US than all other countries do it as well?

 

If someone is of legal age to consume alcohol in their own country I can understand the frustration that they feel when they encounter rules like this on a ship that IS NOT US territory or subject to US laws. They are also at sea visiting places that also allow you to consume alcohol, but for whatever reason are denied doing this when on the ship at sea.

 

It makes no sense to me whatsoever.

 

To the poster spectatorsports, since the other posters here seem to point out the need to have a seapass card, get a duplicate of one from one of the other travelers who is of age and carry that around.

 

Cheers,

Peter

[caviargal]

 

To the poster spectatorsports, since the other posters here seem to point out the need to have a seapass card, get a duplicate of one from one of the other travelers who is of age and carry that around.

 

Cheers,

Peter

 

Those cards access one's cabin and are also a shipboard credit card so finding someone willing to let someone else "carry it around" would be a challenge, IMO.:cool:

[peterv]

Since he stated that he was travelling with a group, I would assume that they would trust him, be related to them, or good mates. :D

 

Cheers,

Peter

[seamama1]

Not to me, but then I have a problem with putting someone elses vacation on the line. The new policy holds them responsible for buying your drinks and can result in action being taken against them. IMO, that is selfish and irresponsible behavior.

 

I agree! However, anyone who would actually buy this guy (or anyone underage) a drink would pretty much deserve what they get. I just tried to imagine what I would do if someone approached me to purchase alcohol for them - and I almost fell off the chair laughing!:D Probably the best laugh I will have today!:D

 

Well, maybe not - I have to check the Carnival board due to my upcoming cruises and sometime I can find a real hoot there too!

 

Happy sails to you!:D

[seamama1]

 

Then everyone who smuggles on alcohol is just as irresponsible as I am.

 

You are too funny! Certainly can tell you haven't reached maturity yet!:D And - the alcohol smuggling has pretty much come to an end. New era for you. Don't worry, when you grow up you can drink all you want - on your own.:D

[CaesarsNcruisin4me]

I agree! However, anyone who would actually buy this guy (or anyone underage) a drink would pretty much deserve what they get. I just tried to imagine what I would do if someone approached me to purchase alcohol for them - and I almost fell off the chair laughing!:D Probably the best laugh I will have today!:D

 

Well, maybe not - I have to check the Carnival board due to my upcoming cruises and sometime I can find a real hoot there too!

 

Happy sails to you!:D

Did you even read his posts?:confused: Hes already stated that hes travelling with his parents and their friends..........hes not planning on approaching strangers to buy him drinks. Besides the US is the only Country in the world that has a drinking age of 21. If you look at the statistics of the unfortunate "incidents" that happen when people go overboard and theres speculation of excessive drinking they all involve people over the age of 21. Sorry but IMO this is a matter of a few right wingers with the power of making the rules imposing their beliefs and not what the majority want. It'll be interesting to see that if the cruiseline loses revenue to people changing to other lines if these "new" rules will be around for long!

 

Sandie