Curfew question concerning older teens...

[stargate fan]

We will be sailing with family and friends. There are five teens amongst our group.

How serious are the ships' personnel with curfews for older teens? I am only concerned because all the teens will be 18 or older, except for one, who will be two months shy of 18 at sailing time. (Right now we are considering larger Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships.)

I am not really bothered that he can't go into the clubs but I think it would be difficult if all the kids want to hang out late but the one has to be in the cabin by whatever time.

This will be their fourth cruise and we have never had any problems with discipline from any of the kids. (No, no elevator button pushing, no rudeness to other passengers, no theft, etc.) In fact, we have all received compliments on our offspring.

So, are there any ships which might be a little more forgiving for this young man?

Thanks.

[johnql]

I've never heard of any cruise ship having a curfew regardless of age. The younger teen will have no problem staying up with his older friends. Any curfew would have to be imposed and enforced by the parents.

[janetz]

They are considered adults at 18. There are no curfews for any age onboard. So the younger one will have the same run of the ship as the others. The older kids tend to hang out by the pool later in the evening. The curfew is between them and the parents. My only issue is I can't get to sleep till my girl is in the cabin and she is 19. :)

[caviargal]

RCI does have a curfew for those under 18 and it was very much enforced in the clubs on my past three sailings (since the drinking rules got more strict). The lights are turned on in the disco at 10 pr 11, I forget which, and personell walks through and checks ID. The kids that are not supposed to be there are escorted out.

 

There were two follow up checks to pick up the repeat offenders.

 

Those who say there is no enforced curfew is not correct. The 18 and under crowd have their own club, Fuel:

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/experiencetypes/experiencetype/experience/home.do;jsessionid=0000IVHCtnIPNF8I4OVDDspn7hv:10ktmeu5p?exCode=69

 

From their website:

 

A guest must be at least 18 years of age to purchase, possess or use tobacco onboard. Curfews Ship's management reserves the right to enact curfews on an individual, group, or ship-wide basis, if in the sole judgment of the ship's Captain, such steps become necessary to ensure guest or crew safety. Disembarking a Ship Parents or guardians must not permit any guest in their care under age 18 from leaving a ship in any port without responsible adult supervision.

[janetz]

RCI does have a curfew for those under 18 and it was very much enforced in the clubs on my past three sailings (since the drinking rules got more strict). The lights are turned on in the disco at 10 pr 11, I forget which, and personell walks through and checks ID. The kids that are not supposed to be there are escorted out.

 

There were two follow up checks to pick up the repeat offenders.

 

Those who say there is no enforced curfew is not correct. The 18 and under crowd have their own club, Fuel:

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/experiencetypes/experiencetype/experience/home.do;jsessionid=0000IVHCtnIPNF8I4OVDDspn7hv:10ktmeu5p?exCode=69

 

From their website:

 

A guest must be at least 18 years of age to purchase, possess or use tobacco onboard. Curfews Ship's management reserves the right to enact curfews on an individual, group, or ship-wide basis, if in the sole judgment of the ship's Captain, such steps become necessary to ensure guest or crew safety. Disembarking a Ship Parents or guardians must not permit any guest in their care under age 18 from leaving a ship in any port without responsible adult supervision.

 

Yes, it is known that the kids under 18 can not be in the adult disco. The lights are turned on at 11pm. This is their cue to leave. However, curfews are NOT the norm but can be enacted if needed. For instance, for a group of rowdy teens....:) The op is asking about a regular everynight curfew for those under 18. There is none unless ENACTED :):)

[reallyitsmema]

Yes, it is known that the kids under 18 can not be in the adult disco. The lights are turned on at 11pm. This is their cue to leave. However, curfews are NOT the norm but can be enacted if needed. For instance, for a group of rowdy teens....:) The op is asking about a regular everynight curfew for those under 18. There is none unless ENACTED :):)

RCL does have a curfew of 1AM for all under 18 who are not in ship sponsored activities. Fuel is open for 15-17 yr olds exclusively from 11pm on. They kick the 14 and unders out then.

[hammybee]

The adult clubs kick out anyone under 18 out after 10:00PM, even if they are with their parents.

 

While RCL does sometimes have a curfew, most older teens, under 18 ignore it and are out and about, well into the wee hours. Pulling " all nighters" is an RCL tradition, one that I am not comfortable with. ( Can you tell I have a daughter?)

[Sally Forth]

My nieces and the kids they were hanging out with were sent to their cabins at curfew every night by security.

 

Viv

[stargate fan]

The op is asking about a regular everynight curfew for those under 18. There is none unless ENACTED :):)

 

Exactly. I know our group of kids likes to go to little out-of-the-way corners and talk, hang by the pool and hot tubs, or eat themselves silly in one of the food venues well into the night. I am hoping that this young man will be able to enjoy himself.

Again, I am not worried about the club scene as there is so much else to do on a ship. (Our oldest son will be 20 at sailing time and we will not sign the form to allow him to drink.)

Thanks to all who responded.

[cavkc]

We sailed on RCI last year with our teenage sons and the curfew was very much in evidence and totally enforced. It was in the dailies that under 18's MUST be in their cabins by 1am. This wasn't a case of 'we'll use the rule if we need to', it was strictly enforced for ALL under 18's without their parents in a public area of the ship after 1am. Even at 12.30 they were starting to round them up.

 

I didn't have a problem with that at all and my boys always adhered to the ships rules.

[caviargal]

 

Again, I am not worried about the club scene as there is so much else to do on a ship. (Our oldest son will be 20 at sailing time and we will not sign the form to allow him to drink.)

 

Thanks to all who responded.

 

As of July, 2006, parents can no longer sign a waiver. RCI will not serve any alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine, to anyone under 21.

 

And the 1am curfew was enforced on my last three RCI sailings for all under 18.

[isujim]

I agree with Caviargirl............our last 2 cruises on RC it APPEARS they are enforcing a curfew........I can't specifically say so because I'm always in my cabin asleep by 1am........but from what others on our last two cruises have said, they did indeed enforce a curfew......I'm not debating good or bad, but if a curfew is or isn't important to you, just letting you know so you can make your cruiseline decision..........

[reallyitsmema]

As of July, 2006, parents can no longer sign a waiver. RCI will not serve any alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine, to anyone under 21.

 

And the 1am curfew was enforced on my last three RCI sailings for all under 18.

You actually can still sign a waiver for 18-20 year olds to drink on cruises from European or South American ports.

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/beforeyouboard/whatToKnow/topTenFAQs/detail.do;jsessionid=0000cLi0X7Vp38vcbhQcs3XMfrU:10ktmer4a?pagename=top_10_faqs&pnav=4&snav=2&faqId=309&faqSubjectName=Top+10+FAQ%27s

[caviargal]

You actually can still sign a waiver for 18-20 year olds to drink on cruises from European or South American ports.

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/beforeyouboard/whatToKnow/topTenFAQs/detail.do;jsessionid=0000cLi0X7Vp38vcbhQcs3XMfrU:10ktmer4a?pagename=top_10_faqs&pnav=4&snav=2&faqId=309&faqSubjectName=Top+10+FAQ%27s

 

 

 

That is true on RCI. I did not get the impression the OP was inquiring about a foreign port for embarkation.

[stargate fan]

I agree with Caviargirl............our last 2 cruises on RC it APPEARS they are enforcing a curfew........I can't specifically say so because I'm always in my cabin asleep by 1am........but from what others on our last two cruises have said, they did indeed enforce a curfew......I'm not debating good or bad, but if a curfew is or isn't important to you, just letting you know so you can make your cruiseline decision..........

 

Thanks for the (non-judegmental) info. It was just what I was looking for.

On our last RC cruise, security was out and about, but I am not sure if it was the particular ship or the cruise line as a whole.

Has anyone experinced or heard about Carnival lately?

[stargate fan]

That is true on RCI. I did not get the impression the OP was inquiring about a foreign port for embarkation.

 

Nope. We love the Caribbean too much to venture elsewhere just yet.

[Tikuiaku]

Royal Caribbean does have a 1:00 AM curfew for anyone under 18 unless they are participating in a late-night event in Fuel, are under the supervision of the Adventure Ocean/Fuel staff, or unless they are with a parent or guardian.

[cruzincurt]

??? Isn't that what parents are for??? Is someone else responsible for when and where your kids are?

[stargate fan]

??? Isn't that what parents are for??? Is someone else responsible for when and where your kids are?

 

That may be how you raise your kids, but we feel that, at 45 days shy of 18, he does not need to be tied to us.

In fact, he will still be just 17 when he starts college. Should we go with him there too to "be responsible for when and where" he is?

Our sons have been on three cruises, in their own cabins, with no curfew from us. We have never had a negative comment from any security officer nor from any passenger. Our sons know the rules. They know our expectations. One son graduated from high school as valedictorian and is on full tuition academic scholarship to college. The other son is a straight A student starting his senior year in high school in the top 4% of his class. Both have all positive comments from teachers and professors on behavior as well as academics.

I don't think we need parenting tips, thank you.

Now, to get back on topic...

We are leaning towards Carnival.

Has anyone with older teens cruised the larger Carnival ships lately? I just received the latest issue of Cruise Travel magazine and Carnival Liberty looks quite enchanting.

[cruzincurt]

My apology. I think I misunderstood your original question. What you want to know is if there are curfews enforced that will affect your teens and will they give them any slack.

 

Since you brought it up, and I know you are proud of their accompolishments, but scholastic achievement is no quarantee of not doing something dumb. Just look at some of our present and past politicians. What does GPA have to do with laws, rules and curfews?

 

We were just on the Carnival Liberty in May and everyone was everywhere 24/7.

[stargate fan]

My apology. I think I misunderstood your original question. What you want to know is if there are curfews enforced that will affect your teens and will they give them any slack.

 

We were just on the Carnival Liberty in May and everyone was everywhere 24/7.

 

Apology accepted. :D

What you wrote above is exactly what I want to know, but for only the one teen who will not yet be 18. (The other kids will range from 18-20.) Will he get a little slack because he is so close to 18 and because he is hanging out with the other kids?

We are very close to deciding that Liberty is the cruise for us. How did you like the ship? What was the itnerary?

[cruzincurt]

We did the 8 day down to Colon. There was a bit older crowd than typical which was fine for us.

 

The ship was typical Carnival otherwise. Like the Glory, it too has those greasy, dirty rope pulls on all the drawers and closets. Yuch!

[stargate fan]

We did the 8 day down to Colon. There was a bit older crowd than typical which was fine for us.

 

The ship was typical Carnival otherwise. Like the Glory, it too has those greasy, dirty rope pulls on all the drawers and closets. Yuch!

 

You mean vs. knobs and handles?

[PrettyLA]

I've been under 18 on all of my cruises and have never been told to go back to my room. Just don't be stupid and you won't get caught.

[cruzincurt]

Just carry a copy of your report card with you to show how smart you really are.

 

Yes, the Carnival Glory and Liberty do not have knobs, just greasy, dirty little loops of rope.