Know of a Cruise Line with the Following Policies?

[cbw13868]

My family and I want to go on a cruise, perhaps around the '08 holidays, and we're looking for the cruise line with the policies that match our needs the most closely. Here's what we're looking for:

* No smoking in the casino, or at least a few smoke-free nights

* Gambling age is 18

* Drinking age is 18, at least for beer/wine (it's okay if parental permission is required, i.e., parents sign a waiver allowing 18-year-old to buy beer/wine)

* At least one heated fresh water (NOT salt water) pool

* Reasonable prices (a maximum of perhaps $2000 a person [not including airfare or anything extra] for a mini-suite-type room with balcony)

* Itineraries that include the Caribbean - preferably the southern Caribbean

 

If you know of a cruise line that meets all or even most of these requirements, please post. Thank you!

-Chris

[paul929207]

I believe all the US oriented lines (Carnival, Princess, HAL, RCCL, NCL, etc) have a minimum drinking and gambling age of 21. You might want to investigate European oriented lines. However, they are likely to allow smoking in more places.

[wrp96]

NCL might still allow 18-20 to year olds to drink beer and wine with the permission of a parent or guardian that is sailing with you.

 

But I don't know if they have any freshwater pools.

 

Also, I don't know what their smoking policies are.

[cbw13868]

Paul, do you know of any European-oriented lines that might leave from U.S. ports / Puerto Rico?

[lovesublime]

NCL does allow 18 y/o to drink alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately, they also allow smoking in the casinos. Both NCL Jewel and NCL Pearl have heated fresh water pools. The Jewel has a nice itinerary which includes Barbados, Antigua and Tortola. The Pearl has a less appealing itinerary (to me) which includes Belize and Cozumel. Right now I'm seeing that the Jewel has a minisuite going for $1349 pp (first two guests) Each additional guest is $199. That's for December this year.

[seabrookcruiser]

Carnival Cruise Lines has a Southern Caribbean itinerary. The minimum gambling age on Carnival is 18, but the drinking age is 21. I am not aware of any Carnival ships that have non-smoking in the casino at this time.

[firefly333]

Im not aware of any ships other than the new cruiseline Azamara that has a policy to cut down on smoking, not sure about in the casino and Azamara is more expensive than the standard cruiselines.

 

RCL doesnt allow smoking in the cabins, you have to get a balcony and go out on the balcony to smoke.

 

I doubt any cruiseline would have no smoking in the casino because those who are smoking and drinking spend more gambling. Maybe in another 5 years?

 

Disney doesnt have smoking in the casino.....no, wait...they dont have a casino!!!

[paul929207]

Chris,

 

Sorry I am not familiar with European cruise lines. I would suggest you check with a TA. He/she might be able to find a cruise meeting most/all your preferences.

[spirit rev]

NCL does allow 18 - 21 year olds to drink with parental permission.

 

NCL allows smoking in the casino. I was on the Gem in early January and when I walked through it in the evening (after 9:30 PM) I didn't notice a smokey cloud in there. I also didn't hear any smoke-free nights in the Casino announced.

 

NCL has reduced where you can smoke significantly in the public spaces. You cannot smoke in any restaurant and even in some of the bars.

[lovesublime]

I just read over on the RCI forum that RCI does allow 18 year olds to purchase and drink alcohol on their ships. Apparently they just changed their policy on drinking ages.

[firefly333]

I just read over on the RCI forum that RCI does allow 18 year olds to purchase and drink alcohol on their ships. Apparently they just changed their policy on drinking ages.

 

I went to see which post you were referring to and the first age post I see is this one.

 

 

Also do no forget that RCI recently changed its drinking age from 18 to 21 years old------I think you'll see more of the mass market cruise lines changing in this direction----the negative publicity and liability are just to great for any cruise line that wants to mass market to families

 

Paul

 

One of us is confused anyway.

[lovesublime]

I went to see which post you were referring to and the first age post I see is this one.

 

 

 

 

One of us is confused anyway.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=700084&page=8

 

Post #146

[lovesublime]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=700084&page=8

 

Post #146

 

Oh shoot! I read that wrong. I thought it said changed from 21 to 18. I'm the confused one :confused: or rather I'm tired.

[kitty9]

There's not one cruise line that will meet those needs. Every line allows smoking in the casino, the US based lines have a drinking age of 21 with the exception of NCL that will allow beer and wine when the parents sign a waiver, and some casinos allow 18 year olds to gamble but not every casino has that age limit. If you can change one requirement as to the location of your cruise, that could lower the drinking age to 18 as some lines do lower the age when they cruise Europe. Oceania and Azamara do have the most restrictive smoking policies, but they are much more costly and they aren't for teens or kids of any age.

[daiB]

My family and I want to go on a cruise, perhaps around the '08 holidays, and we're looking for the cruise line with the policies that match our needs the most closely. Here's what we're looking for:

* No smoking in the casino, or at least a few smoke-free nights

* Gambling age is 18

* Drinking age is 18, at least for beer/wine (it's okay if parental permission is required, i.e., parents sign a waiver allowing 18-year-old to buy beer/wine)

* At least one heated fresh water (NOT salt water) pool

* Reasonable prices (a maximum of perhaps $2000 a person [not including airfare or anything extra] for a mini-suite-type room with balcony)

* Itineraries that include the Caribbean - preferably the southern Caribbean

 

If you know of a cruise line that meets all or even most of these requirements, please post. Thank you!

-Chris

 

 

Hi Chris,

 

Some good news for you P&O cruises UK meet all your criteria except one.

 

Drinking age is 18

 

Casino age is 18

 

The casino is non smoking

 

Fresh water pools

 

Caribbean itineraries from end of October to March sailing from Barbados

 

 

Now the bad news

 

UK based cruises are expensive. A minisuite for a 14 night cruise is about £2400 or $4800, you can get a stateroom for about £1600 or $3200.

 

P&O only do 14 night cruises in the Carribean as it is not worth crossing the Atlantic for 1 week.

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

 

:cool:

 

Dai

[cbw13868]

Dai, you're a life-saver. Originally we were planning on a less-expensive, 7-or-so-night cruise, but the other policies I listed are pretty important to us, so I think we can spend a little more money and cruise with P&O. Thank you so much for the info!

[daiB]

Dai, you're a life-saver. Originally we were planning on a less-expensive, 7-or-so-night cruise, but the other policies I listed are pretty important to us, so I think we can spend a little more money and cruise with P&O. Thank you so much for the info!

 

 

Hi Chris,

 

If you follow this link you may get what you want.

 

 

http://www.pocruises.com/pocruising/ships.aspx

 

You should look at Oceana and Ventura for winter 2008/9

 

I am not sure how you would book, you can do that direct but you can get further discounts by going through a British TA. Remember the system is not the same as in the US. The board rules stop me recommending a TA but I am sure with a little work with google you can find them.

 

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

:cool:

 

 

Dai

[winnyd]

Chris .I'd be a bit Leary of booking any UK boats .Unless money is no object. Weve booked a couple .A P&O & Sun Ships What I found was hard was every thing was priced in UK Pounds Which is worth twice as much as mine & your currency . CDN & US So that bottle of water in your cabin at 4 pounds $8 our price for eg ,seemed a bit high to me & same with the drinks etc. Other than that they were OK PS those prices Diab showed you just double to get your price. Which means you can pick a high value cruise in US $ for that kind of money

[daiB]

Chris .I'd be a bit Leary of booking any UK boats .Unless money is no object. Weve booked a couple .A P&O & Sun Ships What I found was hard was every thing was priced in UK Pounds Which is worth twice as much as mine & your currency . CDN & US So that bottle of water in your cabin at 4 pounds $8 our price for eg ,seemed a bit high to me & same with the drinks etc. Other than that they were OK PS those prices Diab showed you just double to get your price. Which means you can pick a high value cruise in US $ for that kind of money

 

Hi winnyd,

 

We have never paid £4 for a bottle of water on P&O more like $4 or less a litre bottle of Gin is only £10.00 or $20.00. The prices for booze etc in the bars on the ships are in line with normal pubs in the UK.

 

Rember also that you can take wines or spirits on board with you and drink them in your cabin, I understand this can not be done on most other lines.

 

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

 

:cool:

 

 

Dai

[EatonDoolittle]

Im not aware of any ships other than the new cruiseline Azamara that has a policy to cut down on smoking, not sure about in the casino and Azamara is more expensive than the standard cruiselines.

 

RCL doesnt allow smoking in the cabins, you have to get a balcony and go out on the balcony to smoke.

 

I doubt any cruiseline would have no smoking in the casino because those who are smoking and drinking spend more gambling. Maybe in another 5 years?

 

Disney doesnt have smoking in the casino.....no, wait...they dont have a casino!!!

 

 

On a recent HAL 14 day cruise, the casino was non-smoking on alternate nights.

However, not sure this is the answer for the OP, as it their sailngs are ususlly more expensive, and also attract a more seasoned crowd - not kid "unfriendly", they just don't seem tro offer as much for them as other lines.

[winnyd]

Diab.Regarding your reply to my post . I have cruised on P&O, Sun Ships ,Holland America , Royal Caribbean,Norweigan, Princess & Celebrity .Most of them as a Past Passenger . The only two I have not repeated are the 1st two on my list because untill recently our Cdn $ was third world currency .but at the moment it is above the US $ . So the exchange rate has always played a big factor.So Ships that use US currency have far surpassed the others I've sailed on in my humble experience. Also most Ships will allow you to bring a couple of bottles of wine aboard Definitly Celebrity & Princess It's written in their contracts

[daiB]

Diab.Regarding your reply to my post . I have cruised on P&O, Sun Ships ,Holland America , Royal Caribbean,Norweigan, Princess & Celebrity .Most of them as a Past Passenger . The only two I have not repeated are the 1st two on my list because untill recently our Cdn $ was third world currency .but at the moment it is above the US $ . So the exchange rate has always played a big factor.So Ships that use US currency have far surpassed the others I've sailed on in my humble experience. Also most Ships will allow you to bring a couple of bottles of wine aboard Definitly Celebrity & Princess It's written in their contracts

 

 

 

Hi winnyd,

 

My information comes from these boards as I have stayed with P&O and everyone is saying that the US carriers are stopping people taking their own booze on board. It has been the topic of a number of threads on different parts of this board.

 

I also get the impression that in general we in this country are better off financially than our friends in the US. Cruising is booming and the cost although coming down, to an extent is far more than you would pay out of Miami, for example.

 

I am just thankful that we are in a position to be able to cruise up to twice a year.

 

 

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

 

:cool:

 

Dai

[winnyd]

Diab .Re U.K being better off financialy than U.S.Thats a tough one to answer. As every thing costs more than twice as much in your Country especialy food & Fuel (not sure about clothing ) But your Cruise fares you quoted are double & so are your Hotels & places to stay.& cars. Yet your wages could be twice as much so everything is relative. Where the States have a good advantage is, they have departure Ports all around the Coast.We have sailed from Boston NewYork & Phillidelphia.All within a 6 hour drive from Canada. Also When I get visitors from Yorkshire They always go . across to the States & when they come back they say " I'ts Magic ".Thats because their Hotels, Restaurants, entertainment Is less & better(or different)Also I Know quite a bit Lad about your Country . I used to to keep a sailing Boat in Bridlington Harbour in 1960 .I also followed Captain Cooks Travels around the world.As you probably Know He used two Whitby Coal boats. I'm related to Fletcher Christian Who pinched Blighs boat in Tahiti He was there when Cook was killed in Hawaii (Bligh)He got his hands & Thigh back (they ate the rest.) PS .F Christian left Pitcairn Island on a Boston Whaler & finished up in the IOM.Was seen numerous times, on record.

[GORDONCHICK]

If a casino offered a few non-smoking nights, wouldn't it still reek of smoke? I don't even walk through them when they're closed because of the stench.

[winnyd]

Diab Re your comments you have read "Ships from US have stopped passengers taking booze on board. They have tightened up a bit since 911 also a few younger passengers have fell overboard in recent years .& found to be Drink related .They have also done some amazing rescues. Just last year The Captain ordered all the passengers to their State rooms turned the ship around then listened The crew heard the over board passengers shouting & rescued one either side of the ship. Recently on the Tahtian Princess they allowed us to bring local beer (Hino) as they don't sell it on board plus your own wine.There is a corkage fee though, Even flowers for the Cabin.So I think it depends on which port you sail from .SJ has a liquor store on both docks for passengers to pass through before boarding like duty free. New york & Miami probably different . I only remember when we left NY last year .We were escorted down the Hudson to the Atlantic By three armed Gun ships for about 12 miles