Can 18 year old's order beer & wine?

[hot cookie]

All I know is, that on several cruises the past few years, there have been a group of "minors" (and I use that term loosely, as they were 13, 14, and 15 yo kids) highly intoxicated every night on board. They were readily served by the bartenders, and stayed up into the wee hours of the night bothering (and throwing up in the elevators) all the other cruisers. Apparently. their parents had bought their drinks/signed waivers/what ever..... and they were all very obnoxious teenagers.

 

I'm just glad I didn't visit the hot tub late at night! ;) No way was I heading in that direction!!!

[Lizzybell]

I wasnt picking apart a topic, though i wasnt able to answer the OPs question, i wanted to state my opinion on the alcohol subject. As stated

by several posters, I was not condoning serving alcohol to "minors". As I

stated, old enough to marry, enlist or be drafted and die for your county, drive a car etc etc etc I feel you should be able to legally order alcohol.

 

chasetf-were those 19-20 year old GIs who abused alcohol mature enough to go to war to defend their county in your opinion? Liz

[adgtravel]

Does anyone know if you can gamble on board the ship at 18?

[nycqueen]

I guess I don’t understand why someone would want a minor to have alcohol on a ship (or in a bar or restaurant) when it’s either against the law or against the cruise line’s guidelines? I don’t get it and don’t know what kind of example it sets for the minor.

 

I was allowed to drink alcohol (wine when I was younger, hard liquor when I was 16) but only in my parents home and it was clearly understood that it was only allowed there.

16?? Is this not condoning a minor to drink? Is this not against the law because YOUR parents did so?? I don't understand how allowing a minor to drink at home sets a good example. These are the parents that should be questioned for their ethics.

[spongerob]

Does anyone know if you can gamble on board the ship at 18?

 

It's 21 for the casino, too. And yes, they check!

 

This whole discussion serves only to remind me that cruising might not be a great choice of vacation for those in the 18-21 age group, particularly if they are accustomed to somewhat more relaxed laws concerning the sale of adult beverages. Personally, I think sales of alcohol should be permitted for anyone tall enough to see over the bar, and drivers' licences restricted to the age of 21.

[bdjam]

16?? Is this not condoning a minor to drink? Is this not against the law because YOUR parents did so?? I don't understand how allowing a minor to drink at home sets a good example. These are the parents that should be questioned for their ethics.

I see no reason to question my parent’s ethics or the way I was raised on this board, and neither should you, especially since you know nothing of me except that you have a chance to take a shot at me and my posts. I guess I should expect this kind of response – it seems when I post honestly on this board, I always get into trouble. I was allowed to drink in the privacy of my parent’s home and under their supervision. I never drank anywhere else until I was 21 – the legal age here - because I was taught that it was improper. I was taught to understand what the dangers of alcohol are and how to avoid those dangers. And I am now totally responsible in my alcohol use and have helped a number of people who have slipped, unfortunately, because of the evils of its influence. I have never used alcohol to the point where I was out of control.

 

You may think my parents unethical, but you weren’t there and I will tell you the bar wasn’t left open for me to do as I wished as is the practice for other parents. And as I posted above, while some of my classmates were out drinking and driving and getting killed in car accidents, I was safely at home learning how to be responsible. Unethical? Maybe in your eyes, certainly not mine. Beside that, what goes on in the privacy of one’s home that harms no one is no one else’s business – wait, that’s not the thought in this country any more is it?

 

By insulting my parents and the way they chose to raise me, you've overstepped the boundaries of a cruise discussion board.

[Opinions]

Beside that, what goes on in the privacy of one’s home that harms no one is no one else’s business – wait, that’s not the thought in this country any more is it?

 

]

 

If one believes what goes on in the privacy of one's home is no one else's business than don't post it on a public message board...What ever is posted here is open to comment pro or con...

[bdjam]

If one believes what goes on in the privacy of one's home is no one else's business than don't post it on a public message board...What ever is posted here is open to comment pro or con...

Obviously so – however there is a difference in debating a point and making personal attacks. I take calling my parents and their method of raising their children unethical as a personal attack on myself and my family. If you’d like to debate the merits of teaching children about the responsible use of alcohol in the home as opposed to letting them go out and recklessly discover the dangers alcohol use presents, I’d be more than happy to have a go at it with you. In the meantime, calling people unethical in this forum is not justifiable. Perhaps if more parents were as ethical as were mine, there wouldn’t be so much alcohol abuse in this country – I’m not quite sure why parents think their children can raise themselves.

[banditmag]

Without getting into the debate about parents and the choices they make in regards to their teens and alcohol I will say this - I was on a Christmas cruise with my 16 year old daughter who looks 14, and if she had wanted to drink it would have been no problem. I was with her several times when she was offered alcohol by the waitstaff.

[devinc]

Some folks need to take their "attitudes" to the other board they frequent. Obviously, there are those that have too much time on their hands...

 

This site is great if you have the time to weed through the immaturity of some...

[bdjam]

Some folks need to take their "attitudes" to the other board they frequent. Obviously, there are those that have too much time on their hands...

 

This site is great if you have the time to weed through the immaturity of some...

Can you help me, I’m confused – which folks and what other boards? :confused:

[gooselace]

But, first, I agree with you on the learning at home issue. My highly ethical mother occasionally served wine and weak mixed drinks to my brother and me , mostly on special occasions as a learning experience. Like you we have never abused alcohol, unlike many friends who were brought up in more restrictive environments.

 

But OT, I see that you have cruised on both the Star and on the Westerdam. Do you have any know how the double balcony (veranda) staterooms compare? The diagrams make the Star's appear very "tight" compared to the Westerdam's, which were more like the Star's mini-suites, according to the pictures. I'm try to decide whether to pony up the difference or resign myself to becoming much closer to my cruise roommate.

[bdjam]

But OT, I see that you have cruised on both the Star and on the Westerdam. Do you have any know how the double balcony (veranda) staterooms compare? The diagrams make the Star's appear very "tight" compared to the Westerdam's, which were more like the Star's mini-suites, according to the pictures. I'm try to decide whether to pony up the difference or resign myself to becoming much closer to my cruise roommate.

I welcome the opportunity to go off topic on this one! But I don’t know that I can help you. My sailing on Westerdam was the OLD Westerdam which is no longer in the HAL fleet. I unfortunately have not sailed on the new Westerdam which just came out about a year and a half ago. I do know that for the size of ship, Westerdam is fairly roomy – I believe there are less than 1900 passengers, double occupancy, on Westerdam on a ship that’s only about 20000 GRT less than Star Princess (which holds 2600, double occupancy). I would guess that the minis on Star Princess have more extensive balconies than Westerdam, but that’s about as far as I can guess (that’s from seeing Ooosterdam, which is the sister ship to Westerdam).

You might be able to get square footage from the respective cruise line’s websites?

[gooselace]

Should have realized from the year that was the Old Westerdam.

 

As to finding the square footage on the web sites, so far no luck. Just the diagrams, but no dimensions.

 

Thanks anyway.

[wrecks]

Alright, I'm ok with minors, if drafted for war or in the service during a war, are allowed to drink while on-board. All other minors can not.

[bdjam]

Should have realized from the year that was the Old Westerdam.

 

As to finding the square footage on the web sites, so far no luck. Just the diagrams, but no dimensions.

 

Thanks anyway.

You might try posting your query again on a new thread. There is a website out there somewhere that details cabin layouts and dimensions for many different ships and cruise lines – I don’t know what the URL is, but I’m sure someone here would be able to help you…

[steve20832]

I think this topic has been beaten up enough. The bottom line is you need to be 21 to order it. The cruise line personel will not sell you any drink that has alcohol in it. If someone over 21 gives an underage person an alcoholic drink then it falls on that persons shoulders.

BTW, Cruise lines will fire an employee and escort them off the ship if do anything illegal so don't even ask them to break a rule. They are closely watched.

[VanDyklings]

16?? Is this not condoning a minor to drink? Is this not against the law because YOUR parents did so?? I don't understand how allowing a minor to drink at home sets a good example. These are the parents that should be questioned for their ethics.

 

"Ethics", as they apply to alcohol consumption, might be a bit subjective. After all, here in Canada the legal drinking age is 18. I don't think that speaks to a lack of parental ethics.

 

And so, while YOUR laws are not MY laws, I will respect the laws of the ship. But not for "ethical" reasons.

[nycqueen]

The OP was only asking to no what the rules are prior to cruising, it wasn't a question based on what's most important or bending rules and once again it turns into a big debate. This is why many people get turned off this board, they ask a simple question for whatever reason they have and their ethics gets questioned!

Exactly,cjs. The self-righteous can question the principles of others yet dislikes to be questioned themselves.

Van-you may have misunderstood. I respect the legal drinking age law, whether in U.S, Canada or on board a ship.

[obnurse]

I'd be furious if anyone served either of my minor children beer, wine or mixed drinks. It's stricly an "on board revenue" issue for the cruiselines. They'll have to make their $$ serving them soda....the legal drink of choice.

[bdjam]

Exactly,cjs. The self-righteous can question the principles of others yet dislikes to be questioned themselves.

Van-you may have misunderstood. I respect the legal drinking age law, whether in U.S, Canada or on board a ship.

I’m sorry, I’ve debated the topic of this thread, and I’ve not called anyone in this discussion unethical. You may choose to do so and call it questioning principles – that’s your choice, but the bottom line is instead of submitting a valid point of debate, you’ve descended to name calling. I’m sorry, but from my viewpoint, that does nothing to advance your opinion in this matter. If you'd like to debate the merits of the way my parents raised their child, please let me know - I'll give you my email address and we can take it offline.

[flypaper]

When I read the first post I understood the question to be whether this cruiseline allowed 18 year olds and older to partake in the consumption of beer and wine or not. I did not read into it whether it was right or wrong, whether an adult is someone who has made it to 18 or 21, whether some people can tolerate it or not, whether other cultures allow certain ages to consume alcohol or not, whether it is profitable or not, etc etc.

 

I am the child of two "adults" who consume a lot of alcohol (read into that whatever you want). I've bailed them out of jail, visited them after auto accidents, I've supported them in intervention and I've watched it fail. I was just a teenager who witnessed what adults can do in excess. The key word in that line is "ADULTS". Hey they are over 21 so it must be OK. Sheesh.

 

Live my life for a while and see how magic it is to be over 21 and allowed to drink.

[Drumbum1977]

I have been ordering beer since i was 15....just act like you've been there 100 times before and nobody will bother you.

[usgoobers5]

[

I know I said I was done with this topic, but here goes.

 

I would also be furious if someone served my minor child alcohol.

Though the question was in regard to an eighteen year old and alcohol being served. Most of the posts included opinions regarding eighteen year olds.

So here is what I have to remind some people, AN EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD IS CONSIDERED AN ADULT not a minor. They are responsible for there own actions and can even go to a real prison for breaking the law. If they lied while on board (I don't know how they could) or in a bar in order to be served alcohol. Then they would have to be responsible for the consequences.

Just something to think about. Hope I didn't add fuel to the already burning out of control fire.

:)

[usgoobers5]

When I read the first post I understood the question to be whether this cruiseline allowed 18 year olds and older to partake in the consumption of beer and wine or not. I did not read into it whether it was right or wrong, whether an adult is someone who has made it to 18 or 21, whether some people can tolerate it or not, whether other cultures allow certain ages to consume alcohol or not, whether it is profitable or not, etc etc.

 

I am the child of two "adults" who consume a lot of alcohol (read into that whatever you want). I've bailed them out of jail, visited them after auto accidents, I've supported them in intervention and I've watched it fail. I was just a teenager who witnessed what adults can do in excess. The key word in that line is "ADULTS". Hey they are over 21 so it must be OK. Sheesh.

 

Live my life for a while and see how magic it is to be over 21 and allowed to drink.

 

Flypaper,

Spoken like a champ. Although your post made me a bit sad. You seem to have overcome the parent obstacle. :)