"How Do They Know You're 21?"

[me-shel]

We're planning a cruise for my DD's 21st birthday this fall and she asked me last night, "If you go to the bar to buy a drink, how do they know you're 21?"

 

I'd honestly never thought about it, so I can only guess. They obviously have your ID/birth date confirmed at check-in. Does your picture pop up at the bars when they scan your S&S card? I can't imagine you have to carry additional ID around with you, do you? I was already in my mid-30's on my first cruise, so it never occurred to me to wonder about this.

[NOLALADY]

Yes, your picture shows up.

 

On a couple of cruises, when my twin boys, who were over 18, were in the casino (allowed for 18+) they were repeatedly asked to show their ID's to prove their were over 18. This happened on Carnival and RCCL.

[Schoifmom]

We're planning a cruise for my DD's 21st birthday this fall and she asked me last night, "If you go to the bar to buy a drink, how do they know you're 21?"

 

I'd honestly never thought about it, so I can only guess. They obviously have your ID/birth date confirmed at check-in. Does your picture pop up at the bars when they scan your S&S card? I can't imagine you have to carry additional ID around with you, do you? I was already in my mid-30's on my first cruise, so it never occurred to me to wonder about this.

 

As I understand it, when they swipe the S&S card to purchase liquor it will notify them if you are under 21. And, yes, you picture pops up.

Edited June 29, 2016 by Schoifmom

[poz222]

You s&s is flagged in the system as under 21... It will not allow any charges of alcoholic beverages...

[SadieN]

Only bring you'll need to show ID is at the entrance of the disco.

 

 

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[CGinMTL]

I believe it was carnival that cuts the corner of the card when you are "under aged" to drink.

.

They have your ID to board.

and then they each have a method to flag it.

.

[chengkp75]

I think most lines use the color of the background in your photo. This is digitally changed for various types of age groups, etc. So, when your card is swiped, your photo shows up, and the bartender sees the color of the background to know whether to serve you or not.

[Sparky2]

We're planning a cruise for my DD's 21st birthday this fall and she asked me last night, "If you go to the bar to buy a drink, how do they know you're 21?"

 

I'd honestly never thought about it, so I can only guess. They obviously have your ID/birth date confirmed at check-in. Does your picture pop up at the bars when they scan your S&S card? I can't imagine you have to carry additional ID around with you, do you? I was already in my mid-30's on my first cruise, so it never occurred to me to wonder about this.

 

Will your daughter be 21 when you board the ship? If not but turns 21 part way through, you could go to CS to request new photo to allow her to drink.

[me-shel]

Will your daughter be 21 when you board the ship? If not but turns 21 part way through, you could go to CS to request new photo to allow her to drink.

 

Yep, her birthday is actually mid-September two weeks before sailing. She's always been a huge rule follower and is really scared of any kind of confrontation if she tries to get a slushy, fruity blended drink - and I don't want to spend the trip escorting her when I finally have a fully independent "grown up" on my hands. ;)

Edited June 29, 2016 by me-shel

[MCFTJCH2V]

We're planning a cruise for my DD's 21st birthday this fall and she asked me last night, "If you go to the bar to buy a drink, how do they know you're 21?"

 

I'd honestly never thought about it, so I can only guess. They obviously have your ID/birth date confirmed at check-in. Does your picture pop up at the bars when they scan your S&S card? I can't imagine you have to carry additional ID around with you, do you? I was already in my mid-30's on my first cruise, so it never occurred to me to wonder about this.

 

Yes.

[Kamloops50]

The S&S card is also coded if they are 21 .A waiter can tell just by looking at the card . If your DD has a drink package then it is definately flagged as under 21.

If she turns 21 during the cruise. She still will be considered as 21 for the whole cruise.:mad:

[RWolver672]

If your DD has a drink package then it is definately flagged as under 21.

If she turns 21 during the cruise. She still will be considered as 21 for the whole cruise.:mad:

 

Would you explain that a little better. Are you referring to the bottomless bubbles drink package. Our sons were both over 21 and had the bottomless bubbles stickers and they had no trouble buying liquor.

[firemanbobswife]

Would you explain that a little better. Are you referring to the bottomless bubbles drink package. Our sons were both over 21 and had the bottomless bubbles stickers and they had no trouble buying liquor.

 

 

Bottomless Bubbles is for soda, Cheers is for alcohol amongst other things.

[Kamloops50]

Would you explain that a little better. Are you referring to the bottomless bubbles drink package. Our sons were both over 21 and had the bottomless bubbles stickers and they had no trouble buying liquor.

 

Princess marks all adult cards with letter A after the number of cruises done. Other cruise lines probably similiar codes on their cards . This makes it easy for the staff to see under age people.

[MCFTJCH2V]

Bottomless Bubbles is for soda, Cheers is for alcohol amongst other things.

 

One can have Bottomless Bubbles, be over 21 and buy alcohol without having the Cheers program.

[firemanbobswife]

One can have Bottomless Bubbles, be over 21 and buy alcohol without having the Cheers program.

 

 

Yes that is true. I get BB every cruise and order an alcoholic drink or 2 no problem.

[firemanbobswife]

Princess marks all adult cards with letter A after the number of cruises done. Other cruise lines probably similiar codes on their cards . This makes it easy for the staff to see under age people.

 

 

But just because you buy BB doesn't mean you are under 21. I have to say I am thoroughly confused by your posts. Carnival does no such thing.

[memoak]

Only bring you'll need to show ID is at the entrance of the disco.

 

 

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And in the casino - on many different lines I have seen people asked for ID.

[CountryCruiser]

Do they make you walk the plank if you are 19 and get caught with a beer? But seriously, what are the consequences of being caught?

[memoak]

Do they make you walk the plank if you are 19 and get caught with a beer? But seriously, what are the consequences of being caught?

 

There may well be consequences - especially if an adult purchased the beer and then passed it to the youth.

[ryano]

Do they make you walk the plank if you are 19 and get caught with a beer? But seriously, what are the consequences of being caught?

 

I cant speak for Carnival. Royal throws them and their family off the ship at the next port. Period. Ive been on two different Royal cruises were older teens were caught underage drinking. They were disembarked from the ship.

[jimbo5544]

Do they make you walk the plank if you are 19 and get caught with a beer? But seriously, what are the consequences of being caught?

 

 

While one or two might walk by, we have seen enough instances where a drunk kid vomits in the pool. The mother actually replied that it was part of growing up. Turns out it was the second occurrence. They were on the pier with packed bags the next port.

[hftmrock]

Do they make you walk the plank if you are 19 and get caught with a beer? But seriously, what are the consequences of being caught?

 

 

not walk the plank but probably put off at the next port. they take underage drinking seriously

[me-shel]

Wow, I wouldn't have expected people would actually be thrown off the ship, but it looks like they establish that in the contract:

 

Guest acknowledges that the minimum age permitted for the purchase, possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages aboard Carnival’s vessels is twenty-one (21). Guest agrees to supervise all persons under age twenty-one (21) under Guest’s charge to insure that they do not violate this, or any other, shipboard regulation. Guests who attempt to purchase alcohol by using false identification or the Sail & Sign card of a Guest who is twenty-one or older will be deemed in violation of this policy. Any Guest twenty-one or older who attempts to or purchases alcohol for any guest under twenty-one will also be deemed in violation of this policy. Guest agrees that Carnival has the right to disembark any guest who violates this policy and as well as any adults traveling with minors who violate this policy or any other shipboard regulation.

[NightOne]

I don't know all the facts on this but I am reasonably certain that I saw in a cruise video I watched that a parent can go to guest services and give permission to their "child" over 18 but under 21 to consume at least beer (and maybe other alcohol) while on board. If this is your desire, you may want to check into it further.