Young adults in adult areas

[MareQ]

Has anybody had any experience with young adults being questioned about their age in adult only areas? My oldest is 18. He is a Cognitively impaired child that is very small for his age. He is just 5ft tall and weight 85 lbs. he does not look 18, he looks more like my 13 yo.

 

He's sensitive about his age and gets very upset when he's questioned. Just wondering what we are going to encounter. He's too old for the teen club so while the other three kids will be there we thought he'd get a kick out of going to the casino and other adult only areas that my other kids cannot go to but wondering how we may be approached and how we prove his age without having to carry his passport or state I'd around the boat.

[AdoraBelle]

Not a parent, but it seems like it would be best to prepare him for the possibility that someone WILL "card" him, if you're going to take him to 18+ areas. I don't see any way to guarantee it won't happen, so better to hope for best but prepare for worst.

[triptolemus]

He will very likely be approached and asked for ID. They will say "hello, can I see some ID, please?" Your son (not you) hands the ID. If you hand over the ID, it will create more confusion and draw more attention to the situation than your son may like.

 

Your son may be sensitive and I understand that. But the reality is that if he "looks" to be 13, he will be asked for identification in the casino.

[Two Wheels Only]

If he goes to those areas enough times, the crew will remember him and it probably won't be an issue for the remainder of the cruise.

[Victorious8]

Another idea could be to preemptively show IDs (all of you) to the casino manager etc. When you arrive at the venue, more like being carded at the door so it doesn't feel as though he is singled out. Also just explain to him that it is common (which is very true) that almost everywhere it is industry standard to card someone until they look over 30 (older in some areas).

I still get carded regularly and I will be 28 in a few weeks and definitely look to be at least in my mid 20's.

[punkincc]

I think the suggestion to speak with the Casino manager is a good one as they can clue in the staff. NCL staff are great at remembering faces and names. They will soon be greeting him like an old friend every time he comes in.

Edited July 20, 2016 by punkincc

[Jeff&Pam]

I feel he will be carded. I am 41 and was recently carded at a casino. I am a short woman, (5'1") and apparently I do not look my age.

 

I think the advice of others is perfect...

 

 

just know sometimes it can happen at the worst moments, like walking through an adult only area to get someplace else.

 

(When I was carded my hubby did not realize and kept walking without me...we were headed to dinner...it took us a few moments to find each other.)

 

Make sure he has his ID in hand or easy accessible, this way you won't get separated, and it can be just casual and not embarrassing!

 

I was not expecting to be carded and had to spend a few minutes fishing for my ID...who cards 40plus?? I had a few people staring at me when I was fishing for my ID, and if he is sensitive, it could cause him to be upset. Have it ready and it will be easy!

[Pens fan]

Related question:

 

Do the NCL key cards have anything on them to indicate age? We have sailed on Disney in the past and they had a code on them that identified which age group a passenger fell in (under 18, 18-20, or over 21). Does NCL have anything like that or will my 19 year old need to carry his license or passport with him while on the ship if he goes in any of the adult areas?

 

Thanks

Edited July 21, 2016 by Pens fan

[pterp]

Related question:

 

Do the NCL key cards have anything on them to indicate age? We have sailed on Disney in the past and they had a code on them that identified which age group a passenger fell in (under 18, 18-20, or over 21). Does NCL have anything like that or will my 19 year old need to carry his license or passport with him while on the ship if he goes in any of the adult areas?

 

Thanks

 

If NCL doesn't have it on the key card, you might want to try asking the Customer Relations desk on board if they have something they can provide, like a sticker or wristband. Hopefully they have something which makes it easier for your son. Enjoy the trip!

[fireofficer5]

OP, its a new world for your son.

He's 18, looks much younger, wait until he's 21 and wants a cocktail.

[jmcookiemonster25]

Related question:

 

Do the NCL key cards have anything on them to indicate age? We have sailed on Disney in the past and they had a code on them that identified which age group a passenger fell in (under 18, 18-20, or over 21). Does NCL have anything like that or will my 19 year old need to carry his license or passport with him while on the ship if he goes in any of the adult areas?

 

Thanks

 

They clip the corners of cards for passengers 20 and younger. And somehow they can tell how old you are after that. I was 18 in the 18 and over dance club, and a security person asked for my card. I showed it to him and he immediately knew I was 18-20 then though my card was clipped. So they know. No need to carry around a license or passport, your stateroom card is enough.

[Shawnino]

Another idea could be to preemptively show IDs (all of you) to the casino manager etc. When you arrive at the venue, more like being carded at the door so it doesn't feel as though he is singled out. Also just explain to him that it is common (which is very true) that almost everywhere it is industry standard to card someone until they look over 30 (older in some areas).

I still get carded regularly and I will be 28 in a few weeks and definitely look to be at least in my mid 20's.

 

Great idea.

This kind of thinking could save a lot of stress.

[Mr Six]

Related question:

 

Do the NCL key cards have anything on them to indicate age? We have sailed on Disney in the past and they had a code on them that identified which age group a passenger fell in (under 18, 18-20, or over 21). Does NCL have anything like that or will my 19 year old need to carry his license or passport with him while on the ship if he goes in any of the adult areas?

 

Thanks

 

My 8 year old has the corner of his ship card cut off. I am pretty sure that all under 21 were like this. So if this young adult is 18 the will probably mark his card the same way as my 8 year old.

[boatseller]

There must be something on the card that indicates which side of 18 the passenger falls. They have to frequently check in The Sky Bar on Escape and I don't recall seeing any handhelds.

 

You're just going to have to explain that this will happen. And he really won't be 'singled out'. They check lot's of people well over 18.

 

BTW, which ship?

[blackwing]

I do agree that you could speak to the casino manager in advance. But there are probably many employees that work in the casino... the manager might not always be there and I could envision a scenario where he still gets asked for ID. I am not sure if the manager would go as far as to show a picture of your son to everyone and tell them not to card him because he is sensitive.

 

Unfortunately, my feeling is that instead of trying to shelter and coddle his sensitivity, you just need to sit him down and explain to him that this is life. Some people look old for their age, some look young for their age. At 16 I had a friend who looked 25 and was going to bars. Whereas I got carded well into my mid to late 30s and still do.

 

It's not a reflection on your son whether he gets carded or not. If he gets upset every time someone asks him his age, he's going to spend half his life getting upset. It's not worth the stress or the anxiety.

[mitsugirly]

I'm with everyone else in thinking he will be carded. My daughter in law (who was 22 on our last cruise) was carded in adult areas because she's very short and looks pretty young.

[GUT2407]

I think it's good if they card him, how does he get on at home.

 

Mrs Gut was getting carded into her 30s, me not since I was about 13.

[mamasue]

Reassure your son .... lots of older people get carded. My daughter and her friend often do, and they're in their mid-30's.

Daughter even got refused admission to a casino in Tennessee, she was with myself and my husband, because her ID was a UK driving licence... because in the UK, the date is written the other way round (day, month, year)

She was 34 at the time.

[sparks1093]

We were in the casino on the Gem and my 18 year old had to go back to the cabin to get his ID.

[srlafleur]

While I understand your son being sensitive about it, you can assure him that many people, even folks twice his age, will get carded in casinos, bars, liquor stores, etc. It's very common, and even if he looked his age or older, it would likely still happen.

 

I was carded buying beer at a grocery store just the other day. :eek: I'm 62, and while I might look a little younger than my age, I don't look THAT much younger! Their policy is to card everyone.

Edited July 22, 2016 by srlafleur

[sparks1093]

While I understand your son being sensitive about it, you can assure him that many people, even folks twice his age, will get carded in casinos, bars, liquor stores, etc. It's very common, and even if he looked his age or older, it would likely still happen.

 

I was carded buying beer at a grocery store just the other day. :eek: I'm 62, and while I might look a little younger than my age, I don't look THAT much younger! Their policy is to card everyone.

 

A lot of stores and venues have that policy since the cost of non-compliance with the liquor laws can be quite high.

[luckyinpa]

While I understand your son being sensitive about it, you can assure him that many people, even folks twice his age, will get carded in casinos, bars, liquor stores, etc. It's very common, and even if he looked his age or older, it would likely still happen.

 

I was carded buying beer at a grocery store just the other day. :eek: I'm 62, and while I might look a little younger than my age, I don't look THAT much younger! Their policy is to card everyone.

 

 

at the York PA minor league baseball park they even carded a guy who was well over 70, maybe 80. they just card everyone to be universal and i do find that to be less offensive and more fair.

[df5250]

Unless NCL has changed something in recent years, he will most likely get asked for ID. My niece, who was 23 at the time, was asked for her license several times on the Dawn back in 2013 when entering the club during adult times. The first time she had to go back to the room to get her ID, but carried it from that point forward.

 

 

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[sparks1093]

at the York PA minor league baseball park they even carded a guy who was well over 70, maybe 80. they just card everyone to be universal and i do find that to be less offensive and more fair.

 

At the concert venue we frequent they will card you at the entrance and give you a bracelet and they make it clear that if you want to purchase alcohol it is the only way to do it. Speeds up service at the bars since you only need to show the bracelet.

[bnorris10]

Has anybody had any experience with young adults being questioned about their age in adult only areas? My oldest is 18. He is a Cognitively impaired child that is very small for his age. He is just 5ft tall and weight 85 lbs. he does not look 18, he looks more like my 13 yo.

 

He's sensitive about his age and gets very upset when he's questioned. Just wondering what we are going to encounter. He's too old for the teen club so while the other three kids will be there we thought he'd get a kick out of going to the casino and other adult only areas that my other kids cannot go to but wondering how we may be approached and how we prove his age without having to carry his passport or state I'd around the boat.

 

My friends son has this exact same problem he is 13 years old and literally weighs 50 lbs - he models/acts and is constantly being invited to auditions for parts younger than him and when I say younger I mean the last audition he went to he only went to because it was a disney show and well if you have opportunity to work with the disney network that was great anyways the point was the part was for a 5 year old in kindergarten which he could pass for

 

We took him to the gym with us one day and the night people were fine with him as we assured him he was 13 and the next day the manager stopped us on the way out and said we had to bring his birth certificate back for him to come in to the gym

 

 

 

Unfortunately, my feeling is that instead of trying to shelter and coddle his sensitivity, you just need to sit him down and explain to him that this is life. Some people look old for their age, some look young for their age. At 16 I had a friend who looked 25 and was going to bars. Whereas I got carded well into my mid to late 30s and still do.

 

It's not a reflection on your son whether he gets carded or not. If he gets upset every time someone asks him his age, he's going to spend half his life getting upset. It's not worth the stress or the anxiety.

 

My point exactly

 

Sadly its something he just has to get used to as does your son - I understand its sensitive but you should explain to him the consequences others suffer if they are caught doing certain things for minors and hopefully he understands people are just doing his job

 

I would suggest him just carrying his ID with him because even if they see his card unless it has his picture on him they may still require photo ID