First and Ten

thank you. Too much "privilege" going around.

 

But the thing to ask is: "how am i going to handle it when my underage daughter gets hit up by drunken, semi-drunken men looking to score?"

 

many men don't ask age when they see an attractive female in an adults only area. They move in for the prowl. And so what if they see the same female later or the next day in a different area, all they remember is that she was adult enough to be in the bar the night before. Enter the stalker stage.

 

To avoid all of this, just keep the underage people in the underage areas, ie; follow the rules!

she told me she was 25!!!!

Serenity has been full of middle aged or older people very inebriated and being anything but serene. I wouldn't want to bring someone under age there to begin with in MY experience.

I take offense to that Nomad, I was not that inebriated!!!! :p

How about this...I post a picture of my daughter at 17, 18, and now 21. You tell me which picture she is old enough to go into the Serenity area. I bet you couldn't. Hints why if Carnival really wanted to ensure only 21 and up they would have a sign and sail scan like when you buy a drink. Or a wristband to identify you can go to the Havana pool. I need not say more, Carnival obviously isn't taking the "rule" too seriously themselves.

So your expectation is Carnival put in stopgaps and checks in essence to lockdown and enforce the rules as opposed to people being mature adults and just following the rules....and if you get away with breaking the rule, its on Carnival for not "catching" you....C'monnnnnnnn, seriously?

And just because one may not be able to follow a rule 100% of the time, it can still be that the RULE is black and white. Difficulty in compliance does not create a gray area.

 

A young adult either is, or is not, 18 or older. S/he either is, or is not, 21 or older. Either/or. Yes/No. Black/White. On/Off. one/zero. However you want to describe it. (Unless you want to call it gray)

 

Are the ages of 18 and 21 arbitrary? Heaven's yes! Maybe that's the takeaway. Sometimes rules are arbitrary.

Good post....question if I may....if you deem a rule arbitrary, does that give you justification for not following it? (just looking for your opinion)

But why not? I don't understand this statement. The rules aren't that difficult to follow - why couldn't they be followed 100% of the time?

Here it comes....someone going to call you out and ask "duhhhhh, do you follow the speed limit 100% of the time"....I just feel it coming :')....that is the typical response when you call out someone for breaking the rules

Until Carnival puts in machines that dispense soda the kids have to go to a bar to get a soft drink. I mean you don't see the waiter coming up to the kids very often asking if they want a soft drink.

Luv, there is a difference between walking up to the bar to get a soft drink and leaving as opposed to SITTING AT THE BAR....My opinion, no one under 21 should be at the bar. I get some "bars" have seating areas to eat, that is fine, but right at the bar, no way

Now before anyone starts going off on me, I realize kids in most bars on Carnival (and other ships) is allowed. Again, their ship, there rules and its my pet peeve to carry and these parents aren't breaking the rules. No accusation there. What bothers me is when something is over 21, you still have parents who have the selfish entitled mindset of "well I don't have to follow that rule because I don't want to and it MY vacation"....I don't blame the kid, they are getting approval from the parent to do this and that's all most kids need, their parents approval. I do blame the parent. They are the ones being selfish and entitled because the parent doesn't want to miss the show, or the parent doesn't want to miss out on the good seat in the Serenity area. Unfortunately, that mindset is out there. Some people have no issue inconveniencing others rather than themselves, even if it means breaking the rules

We can disagree that is fine. And if you ever see my older children in one of these areas and you want to question it you can. But I doubt anyone does because no one has so far again because they will be behaving like an adult and won't be causing any issues for anyone.

I wasn't trying to imply that your child was causing issues....I thought FBW brought up a very good point as it applies to the comedy show. Those shows are typically held in a smaller venue where seating is limited. Many times people cant get in and its SRO. I have no idea what the capacity of the venue is....300? so if 60 "mature" 15-17 yr olds are there, that takes up spots for the true over 18

Lets talk about the Serenity area....many times those seats/chairs are in demand....what if there are 30 "mature" teenagers there, that takes up spots for those over 21. You mentioned before that you don't want to be around the splashing loud kids in the main pool. Why don't you go up a level or in the shade at those outlier chairs that may be by the ping pong table. I would argue that you are the one that should be inconvenienced, not someone who qualifies based on the rules set forth by Carnival

I don't mind a good healthy debate once in a while in case you haven't noticed.

I would suggest though if you don't want to be around any children LOL a carnival cruise is not the right place for you.

Personally a sleeping baby or a 10 year old who is being quiet laying out wouldn't bother me , but in all honesty the likelihood that either of those scenarios happens over a larger time frame is next to zero.

I respectfully disagree....There are certain areas of the ship that are deemed 21+....I don't want to misread what you are saying, but it seems to me you are at least implying "Yeah, i know what the rules state, but If I don't agree with it, I will do what I want to do". Just because Carnival caters to families, doenst mean that every activity/area of the ship has to be for everyone

Hard to "fish for an argument" and "stalk your post" when you seem to troll every thread. I wasn't trying to argue, wasn't trying to be rude, and wasn't being mean. I was just curious.

So on one hand you call me a "troll", but on the other you say you weren't trying to be rude....lol, you failed.

There are people on both sides of the fence regarding this topic,very civil debate I may add, yet you only called me out and asked me a "speed limit" question (which is well regarded as the goto response when you get into a rule/law debate :rolleyes:, very weak I may add) You didn't ask this of anyone else, just me....but you aren't "stalking" my posts....Hey, whatever winds your watch, have at it

My phone sent that before I was done :D In response to it is your comment that it is your vacation too, I totally agree, which is why I said if someone is under 18 and acts appropriately it shouldn't be an issue. I wouldn't have taken my kids at 16/17 into the serenity area or comedy club if they weren't going to behave in a way that would not negatively affect someone else's vacation.

 

Being it is my vacation I don't want to sit by the loud, party area pool with children splashing everywhere. Therefore I'm going to go to the serenity area and I would take my well behaved older children with me again.

Using that reasoning, if I have a quiet 10 yr old who will just sit in his/her chair and not "disturb" anyone, that's ok for the Serenity Area....right? I have seen parents with newborns in a stroller who basically slept the entire time....That's ok too? I don't agree. Some people don't want to be around kids, it doesn't have to be logical, its their right (don't make the assumption I hate kids, I have a few beasts who are now older)....Not trying to be rude, just direct, so I will apologize upfront, but I think its a bit selfish for KC to determine what he/she thinks is appropriate behavior for me. That being said, I respect your honesty and the civil back and forth

Totally unrelated to the topic but just judging on your other posts I have to ask and again, it's just for my own curiosity... How fast do you typically drive on the highway, let's say I-40 or I-95. If the posted speed limit is 70mph, how fast would you drive?

 

Again, not related to this topic at all, I'm just curious.

You are fishing for an argument as you just singled me out....nobody else mind you, just me....you seem to enjoy stalking my posts. Hey, I will play along....I have a chauffeur, but I will ask her how fast she drives and get back to you....that work? ;)

thank you for the responses. I didn't intend to start a discussion on the morals of it. We are just looking at vacation options. My daughter is 17 and will be 1 week removed from being 18 like most of her friends will be. For something like the comedy club or other areas that say 18+ was my main concern. And many places we travel (Florida) for example) will allow kids in the bars but they obviously cant drink alcohol. Just trying to get a feeling of how strict they might be.

I appreciate the response and sounds like should have a problem.

Bill

Hoosier, I purposely prefaced my initial comment with I am not calling anyones parenting into question....I should have extended that to morals. I wasn't questioning yours or anyone elses moral compass. If you took it that way, I apologize. I shared my opinion and gave reasons why. If we disagree on that point, we can agree to disagree and that's cool

 

And a little agreement of the other reply; it's my vacation so I'm going to do things I wouldn't do at home. I don't think it seems unreasonable that on a family vacation you would want all of your family to be together. I don't know if you've ever had a teenage daughter, but I can tell you I didn't allow my 17 year old daughter to go on the boat anywhere alone.

KC, nobody said/claimed its unreasonable for a family to spend time together on a family vacation. I don't think any reasonable person would argue otherwise, so we all can agree on that. If you are somehow suggesting tho that since its a family vacation and you have to do EVERYTHING together, because you want to enter a 21+ club and your children aren't at the age, they should be allowed to....No, I don't agree with that mindset....If its so important that you do EVERYTHING together, then you and your family can miss the 21+ party and do something else. I get the fact it is YOUR vacation, but its MY vacation too

If we are sticking to your example of the comedy club (and not extending it to bending the rules regarding underage drinking for which I'm not in favor of), I do have some thoughts on why a parent may opt to "disregard" the 18+ guideline (because unlike the drinking age, which is a law, the age restrictions on the comedy club are a guideline): parents differ in the content that they allow/prefer their children to be exposed to. I'm thankful that there is an 18+ callout on the comedy clubs as I take it to mean that there will be adult content/language and that gives me, as the parent, the ability to make my own decision about whether my child should stay to hear it or not. However, I take it as little more than a heads up vs. a "rule" or a "law". Granted, my son is only 12 now so he would never be allowed (by me or anyone else) to be in an environment where adult language/content was being presented at this age. However, at 16 or 17 depending on his maturity and ability to handle it at that time, I may allow him to stay if he wishes and his presence is such that he's not standing out as being obviously underage. Afterall, I am his parent and I know better than anyone what content he should/has been exposed to and is able to handle. With that being said, if he were ever asked to leave, we would not resist.

 

Part of my perspective on this is how I was raised. I was always a bit more mature than my numerical age. I graduated high school, started college, and moved onto campus when I was 16 years old. Were my parents completely on board with that, eh. . .they weren't entirely sure about it but they supported me in my decision that I felt ready. Yes, there were experiences that first year of college that were. . .interesting as a 16 year old but most people had no idea that I was so much younger as I didn't stand out like I was still a kid. Whereas, there are PLENTY of 20 or 21 year olds who still act like they are 15. My point is that age really is sometimes just a number and it's more in the maturity and way one presents themselves that should be judged vs. their numerical age.

 

Again, the legal drinking age is 21 and I'm not in favor of bending that as it's a law. And this is coming from the girl who couldn't even legally drink until over a year AFTER she graduated college!

Tylerzmommy, well said....I am not trying to argue a "rule" should be a "law". I realize the entry into a venue is a ship rule as opposed to law, where consuming alcohol is a "law" issue....That being said, then why even post an age limit? Instead of the sign reading 18+, should it read "we will let parents use their own discretion". I am not saying a 16 yr old cant be as mature as some 21 yr olds, but the grey area to that could be never ending....This club in the OP is 21+....It isn't "21, but if you have a really mature 18 yr old, then can hang out to" ;)....If you are 21 or older, you get to come in, if you are not 21, please do something else. Now applying my personal opinion to the situation, if I go to an adult venue, I want to hang out with adults. I don't want it to be a teen club. They have those on board and the children in the OP's post qualify for that. Do that, they don't need to be in a 21+ club if they haven't reached that age

Let me just add, what about the Serenity Deck....The "rule" for the Serenity deck is 21+....I hate the line "well its MY vacation" (not claiming you said that, I am saying that is the mindset of some)....So if you deem your mature 16 yr old is mature enough, they should be able to come onto the Serenity deck? (not singling you out to argue, just putting it out there for others to comment as well)

Let me just add....I get cruise ships allow children in a bars (I personally don't like it, but hey, their ship, their rules....it is what it is)....they are not allowed to drink, but they are allowed to hang out there. I am taking the OP's post that there is a certain venue that is 21+ at night, am I correct? If so, no, they don't belong there. There are other bars/venues they are allowed in that you all can hang out in, why to you have to try and get underage kids into a spot specifically reserved for 21+....If the adults just have to go into that venue, have at it....Cant the 17 and 18 yr olds hang out in the teen club while the parents are at the 21+ club?

I don't mean this to insult anyone, its just an observation (altho I will probably get flamed....lol, oh well). Why do people even consider its ok to just disregard the age rule? The "R" rated comedy show is 18+....it says it on Fun Times, they make announcement before the show. If you are in the comedy show with your under 18 child, they have to leave....If its necessary that you all have to stay together, you all need to leave and go to something else that is "family friendly"....Why is this even a question? I think this just as much, if not more to any ship club that is deemed 21+. I would ask people if they would take their under age kid into a club meant for adults (21 and over) on land? If not, why would you do it on the ship. Don't they have "teen clubs" up to 18 yrs old? My personal opinion, if I go to an adult event, I want to hang out with adults, not kids. So before people start taking my post to an extreme and twisting it where you are going to accuse me of calling your parenting skills into question, I am not doing that. I am just stating that if there is an age restriction at a certain venue, why cant we just follow that instead of looking for a loophole?

They don't have the kitchen setup to make steaks like Berns. Personally, I don't think it's worth a $35 up charge for slightly better than MDR. If I want a special dinner dining experience beyond MDR, a cruise ship doesn't have it. I would consider upcharge restaurants in certain situations like Sabor on Royal for lunch, Johnny Rockets, Vintages, and we have purchased some sushi as well. But a "fancy steakhouse" for dinner, for $35pp extra? Lol, no.

 

Flew over to Berns a few months ago with some friends. That was worth the upcharge :)

Berns is awesome. Hands down best wine selection of any restaurant out there....If I was forced to pick one steakhouse for my best steak ever....I would have to go with Lugers....Berns is easily top 5 steak houses

Or the best sushi or best steak. Lol. Cruise ship food, in general, is more Olive Garden than Scarpetta.

You had to have been there on the "Steakhouse" threads....a poster was asking about the Steakhouses and I chimed in, being to many cruise ship steakhouses, that it is more than worth the $35 upcharge since the ambiance is very nice. While the steaks are "good", please don't mistake a steak on a cruise ship for something you would get at Berns, M&M, or Lugers. I compared it to an Outback or Longhorns (quality) in a nicer setting....just trying to set the proper expectation with the poster....Well, you would have thought I insulted someones wife or mother. People flipped out. "It is probably the best steak I ever had" were some of the responses. Yes, if all you ever had was an Outback or Longhorn steak, then I could see a cruise ship steak being the best you ever had. It is not comparable to a steak in a fine steakhouse

Or the best sushi or best steak. Lol. Cruise ship food, in general, is more Olive Garden than Scarpetta.

Uh-oh....look out BNBR, we may be agreeing on something....Did the world stop spinning? We better hold on!!!! :o

That may have been just a perception. On the Gem we ate in Il Adagio for dinner one night and ordered the chicken parmesan. The spaghetti was overcooked and the sauce tasted like tomato soup. Did they actually use tomato soup? I have no way of knowing, but that is certainly what it tasted like to me. Fortunately the chicken itself was excellent, but the spaghetti certainly was a jarring note to the meal. You can say that every meal that you've ever eaten on NCL was superb but that doesn't change the PP's experience.

Being from an Italian upbringing, I get I am biased....Having gone to Italian restaurants on various cruise lines, the food is decent (think Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill). I sort of pity when posters say "its the best Italian food I ever had" :eek:

I don't know this for certain, but I believe they may change their minimums depending on the population in the casino....My last cruise, I walked thru the casino must have been around 11 am on a Sea day. Casino was not that crowded and I saw 4 people sitting around playing BJ at a $2 minimum.....Come back at 7 pm at night and I didn't see any BJ tables under $5 minimum (Casino was a lot more crowded at 7 pm). I think if you figure on $5 minimums, you will be safe (those tables tend to fill up faster as well)

Reservations is one of my favorite things on Oasis class ships also. Just book the comedy and headlining shows, then show up and walk in with great seating. No lines, no stress. We walked into kind of late on the Glory to the family comedy show and found seats near the bar. But they made a note about how big the line will be for the next show, we passed. No interest in waiting in lines wrapping around the ship.

I was on the Epic and they used the in room reservation system for the headline shows....it has its plusses and minuses. If you like to be spur of the moment, that isn't for you. We got on board and I tried to reserve seats for my party and the first night we got to see the headline show was night 3 (there are 2 shows per night mind you). What I didn't like about the Epic cruise, was they didn't have a lot of Headline shows. It was the same show night after night. I believe the 2nd half of the cruise they changed it, but again, there were only 2 Headline shows for the entire 7 nights. I like Carnival where there is a different show every night (I get the same performers, but different theme if you will) The Epic had hands down the best buffet on a cruise ship. We only ate in the MDR 1 night, the buffet was that good

This comment further exemplifies the rhetoric that your age group uses.

 

Think about it. Self reflection is always a good thing imo

Ahhhhhh, not good form. For you to take a post from one poster and generalize that across an entire group of people is being close minded....Is it fair to say all Millennials are entitled? Of course not

i have my first on board credit of 50.00

since we are also getting the Cheer's package which includes all kinds of drinks.....

 

what would spend the 50.00 bucks on?? i'm not into jewerly or things that have the ship logo on it so what are some ideas i could use it for?

Did you prepay the gratuity? If not, it will hit your account I believe the 2nd or 3rd to last night

Do you have to get it for both cabins? If you got it for one you could still leave your bags and one parent board with the youngest child while other parent boards with the masses. I've never noticed much difference really with boarding times.

 

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Its per cabin....so if you have people traveling in 2,3,4 cabins, one can get it and throw all the carryons in 1 room. Keep in mind tho that the only cabin will be able to board with the FTTF'ers, so for example you get on and drop your bags, you may have to wait for the people in the other cabin to board and you will have to meet them in a common area as they wont be able to access the hallway to the cabins....unless you all decide to board together in general boarding