20yr old college student, am I stuck in the in-between??

[Ry253]

First post! In a few weeks my family and I will be taking our first cruise of Western Caribbean on the Independence of the Seas. Looking into the amenities, I noticed activities and clubs for kids, teens, and then adults. As a 20 year old female, where do I fall in?

Any advice or tips on having the best trip as a college student?

 

Also, everyone I am with is above the US drinking age, being in international waters can I buy drinks on the ship or in port?

If not, can drinks be purchased for me? :)

[trtrguy]

The minimum drinking age on the ship is 21, however you may be able to drink while ashore in port since the legal drinking age in the Cayman Islands and Jamaica is 18. Going to say no with Labadee, since it is Royal's Private Destination

Edited December 28, 2014 by trtrguy

[dirtgirl]

If you cruise in Europe - yes you can drink on the ship. On a Caribbean cruise out of the US, not. The drinking age in BC is 19. My daughter was thrilled to be able to drink on our Baltic cruise, as she was legal at home. ;)

[mechcc]

Won't be able to drink onboard.

 

Have to say that the 18 to 21 year age group is the most ignored on the major lines. Suggest that you place a meeting card at guest services and ask that it be published in the daily bulletin.

[reedprincess]

Basically, you just can't drink on the ship. On ports, no problem as the entire Caribbean is 18 and over, with exception of US territories, and perhaps RCI private ports such as Labadee and Coco Cay.

As far as onboard, at 20, you're of age to particulate in everything. Casino is 18 and over, clubs are.18 and over after hours, activities are basically 18 and over, unless otherwise specified (and none come to mind where a 20 year old would not be allowed).

Aside from being able to buy alcoholic beverages, the zip is all open to you. In ports, outside US territory and private islands, in the Caribbean, drinking age is 18.

Enjoy your cruise!

[BekkaW]

I have seen organized activities for 18-20, such as dance parties. Keep a look out in the compass.

[Lionesss]

The first night on the ship our then 19 y/o DD attended a gathering for all 18-20 y/o. This was posted in the cruise compass.

 

The group planned and did everything together, there were about 26 of them to start and as the week when by they split off into smaller groups.

 

She had soooo much fun she is cruising again with us this upcoming year when she is 20.

 

Enjoy

She did.

 

Sea Ya

[gerif]

To answer one of your questions, your over 21 friends absolutely may not purchase drinks for you. If caught, you will both be finding your way home from the next port. You can participate in all adult activities except drinking alcohol so I really don't understand why the ship needs to provide special activities for this age group. There are people over 21 who don't drink alcohol for one reason or another and still manage to have fun. Order a foo foo drink without the alcohol.

[mpoole3]

It's always a hard age when you are stuck between. I'm 29 now, but when I was 18-20 you could drink onboard. (I sound like an old man, when I was a kid). You can make all the donations to the casino you want!

 

Just as other's have posted when in port you can drink (not in Labadee). Also, just get the parents to buy a bucket of beers and enjoy them in the room, if you have a balcony?

 

You (parents) can also take on 2 bottles of wine, per cabin. Maybe they will let you enjoy the vino.

 

Hope you have a great time on the Indy, she is a beauty.

[ehfl]

Keep an eye on the Compass. They usually have a mixer for those between 18 and 21 early in the cruise so that you will have a chance to meet others in your age range. Also, feel free to post your own mixer times/locations on the bulletin board.

 

You won't be able to buy alcohol (or have someone else buy it for you) aboard or at private islands (Labadee), but will be able to in most Caribbean ports.

[reallyhooked]

You don't have to drink to have a good time on a cruise.

[Garavar]

When did they change it to 21 years no matter what?

And is there marking on your card that indicate you are under 21 now?

 

I cruised on RCI when I was 20 (in 2004) and it was beer and wine 18, liquor 21+. If you were 18 to 20 you had a single hole punched in your card. If you were under 18 you had 2 holes punched in your card and if you were 21+ you card was intacted

 

It was alright being 20 with this policy cause you could sit at the bars, pubs etc. enjoy a beer and chat with fellow cruisers that were 21+

[Starry Eyes]

As others have said you can't buy alcohol on the ship. Please do your friends and yourself a favor; do not let them buy you an alcoholic drink or let you sip a bit of thiers while on the ship. If caught, the consequences for you and for them are far too great. I admit you are unlikely to be caught if they bring one drink to your cabin for you to consume in privacy without getting drunk (as there are no cameras, obviously, in cabins). There are cameras aimed at balconies, hallways, decks, bars, etc.

 

I think you'll be able to go to the clubs with your friends, order nonalcoholic drinks, and enjoy the fun.

 

If you let loose ashore, remember to watch the time. Some people out drinking lose track of ship's all aboard time:eek:

 

Do not be at all bummed about teen club; like young adults, the older teens often meet friends aboard outside the designated venue.

 

Have a great time.

Edited December 28, 2014 by Starry Eyes

[babyblue78]

When did they change it to 21 years no matter what?

And is there marking on your card that indicate you are under 21 now?

 

I cruised on RCI when I was 20 (in 2004) and it was beer and wine 18, liquor 21+. If you were 18 to 20 you had a single hole punched in your card. If you were under 18 you had 2 holes punched in your card and if you were 21+ you card was intacted

 

It was alright being 20 with this policy cause you could sit at the bars, pubs etc. enjoy a beer and chat with fellow cruisers that were 21+

 

When you swipe the cards through the system, cards for underage passengers are kicked out and won't work on transactions including alcohol. No need for a hole punch, the system has all of the information imbedded.

 

Here is the alcohol policy listed on Royal's website. Everyone is correct that it is not allowed for under-21 on your cruise. It also does specify that private destinations (Labadee) it is not allowed for under-21 crowd. So, would plan to enjoy a few beverages in the ports where you can:

 

ALCOHOL POLICY

Effective immediatly on all sailings, the minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on all Royal Caribbean International is as follows.

The minimum age to consume alcohol on Royal Caribbean International ships on sailings originating in North America is twenty-one (21).

The minimum age to consume alcohol on Royal Caribbean International ships on sailings from South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand is eighteen (18). The minimum age to consume alcohol at all private destinations remains twenty-one (21) without regard to where the sailing originated. The Company retains the right, on rare occasions, to raise the minimum age of alcohol consumption on any sailing when local laws require or permit such a modification.

 

Guests may bring personal wine and champagne onboard only on boarding day, limited to two (2) 750 ml bottles per stateroom. When consumed in any public area, each bottle shall be subject to a corkage fee of $25.00. Alcoholic beverages that are purchased in ports of call or from onboard shops will be stored by the ship and delivered to guest staterooms on the last day of the sailing. Security may inspect containers (water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage etc.) and will dispose of containers holding alcohol. Royal Caribbean's Guest Conduct Policy may be enforced, up to and including disembarkation, if a guest violates any alcohol policy. Guests under the age of 21 will not have alcohol returned to them.

Guests who violate any alcohol policies, (over consume, provide alcohol to people under age 21, demonstrate irresponsible behavior, or attempt to conceal alcoholic items at security and or luggage check points or any other time), may be disembarked or not allowed to board, at their own expense, in accordance with our Guest Conduct Policy.

 

All guests must comply with TSA guidelines for transporting liquids.

 

Royal Caribbean reserves the right to revoke or otherwise restrict drinking privileges of any guest, regardless of age.

[Garavar]

I am surpised they changed policy from 18 to drink beer and wine to 21. I always thought it was a nice option. Wonder why it changed.

[reallyitsmema]

When did they change it to 21 years no matter what?

And is there marking on your card that indicate you are under 21 now?

 

I cruised on RCI when I was 20 (in 2004) and it was beer and wine 18, liquor 21+. If you were 18 to 20 you had a single hole punched in your card. If you were under 18 you had 2 holes punched in your card and if you were 21+ you card was intacted

 

It was alright being 20 with this policy cause you could sit at the bars, pubs etc. enjoy a beer and chat with fellow cruisers that were 21+

 

I am surpised they changed policy from 18 to drink beer and wine to 21. I always thought it was a nice option. Wonder why it changed.

 

The alcohol policy has changed multiple times since 2004. The current policy has the drinking age on the ship coinciding with the drinking age of the country the ship is sailing from so that is why it is 21 from US ports.

 

As far as sea pass cards, they hole punched in the past but now the orientation of the card is different for someone who is underage.

 

The OP is welcome to hangout in bars with their 21 yr old friends but just can't drink alcohol. Same thing as if they were to go to a bar in the US.

[bigairboarder44]

Last spring break (the week following THE spring break cruise), we had one guy in our group that was 20 and while in the club he grabbed a drink off the table (dumb, I know) and got caught by security. They asked who supplied the drink and since he took it off a table, nobody was coming forward so I decided to take the hit and said I gave it to him. Security gave us a talk about how we could get kicked off the ship and the drinking age is 21 and it's for our safety as guests that we abide by these rules. They said we would be called the next day to talk to the head of security and the captain.

 

Next day, a few people in our group heard my name get called over the intercom to go to guest services so we ventured down there and then talked to the head of security and someone else (not the captain :( ) and they asked what happened, I told them and then they said the same thing as the crew the night before.

 

I got a call from Royal a few weeks before our last cruise about the incident and the representative wanted to make sure I knew their policies and why they're in place. I said yes, it was a misunderstanding, it's not going to happen again.

 

The security guards told us at the time of the incident that they had to disembark three passengers the following week for either underage drinking or being too rowdy. I believe they were just cracking down since that week was insane (there's a youtube video of it if you're curious; search spring break enchantment) and they wanted to scare everyone into submission. I don't disagree with the way they handled it, but while the guy was a member of my party, we weren't in the same room and security told me that he was my responsibility. I didn't agree with that. But whatever, water under the bridge now.

 

Bottom line - if you choose to drink on the ship, be careful about it and while the possibility is there for you to get kicked off the ship, it's doubtful on an assumingly first-time offense (I'm not condoning underage drinking, however). If you have any more questions, feel free to contact me.

[cb at sea]

At 20 years old, you're an adult, and aside from drinking, you can do whatever any adult would do!

[trev71]

At 20 years old, you're an adult, and aside from drinking, you can do whatever any adult would do!

 

 

Well said, Just wait til you go ashore. You can always ask for Virgin cocktails and you still can look cool, nobody would be the wiser. I wouldn't risk getting kicked off the ship just to have a drink.

[OCruisers]

Unfortunately, you are "stuck in between" ... but, hopefully, you will still enjoy your cruise.

LuLu