Can our 13 year daughter go to the bars on the Mardi Gras

[ninjacat123]

I don't think there are any special happy hour prices for non-alcoholic drinks at Alchemy but the first night (and maybe other nights) there is a martini tasting, four small martinis of different flavors that you pick out.  It's fun to watch the mixologist put it all together then pour into 4 glasses.  Your 13 year old might find that fun to watch! Plus there is usually a special for the night, one Alchemy drink that is a dollar off.

My teenage daughters would sit at the window ledge and enjoy a virgin drink.  Now my oldest is almost legal🙈yikes!

[simplelife]

On 3/18/2021 at 9:56 AM, Bobster17 said:

Thank you everyone. 

We wont be going to nightclubs, it was just the alchemy bar and the fortune teller and a few of the others I was concerned about as they look pretty cool. Do these bars offer drink deals such as happy hour throughout the cruise? We aren't going to do the drink package. We are new to Carnival and I assume there will be a lot going on during the At Seas Days to keep us busy. Any tips or suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

One "special" always available to those who do not have Cheers is that you can get a "double" of traditional cocktails for a reasonable upcharge. The last time  I sailed without Cheers I got doubles of my favorite gin  & tonic for just $3 more than a single. 

 

[MasterMason]

On 3/16/2021 at 11:26 AM, ProgRockCruiser said:

Just to circle back:

 

Any of the bars open pre-dinner or pre-theater are not typically access-controlled, so just like the Red Frog Pub has games for kids of all ages, your daughter could sit at the Alchemy bar and have a non-alcoholic drink (for example).

Actually, no. I have seen them advise children that seating is for adults only. Also, they don't serve non-alcoholic drinks or even sodas there. Also, seating is ALWAYS limited at the Alchemy. I LIVE at the Alchemy bar every cruise. I've even taken the class 3 times!

[ProgRockCruiser]

15 hours ago, MasterMason said:

Actually, no. I have seen them advise children that seating is for adults only. Also, they don't serve non-alcoholic drinks or even sodas there. Also, seating is ALWAYS limited at the Alchemy. I LIVE at the Alchemy bar every cruise. I've even taken the class 3 times!

Well, OK, to be precise: sit in the Alchemy bar area (one of the tables served by the Alchemy Bar), but not at the bar itself.

[sanmarcosman]

1 hour ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

Well, OK, to be precise: sit in the Alchemy bar area (one of the tables served by the Alchemy Bar), but not at the bar itself.

The procedure for seating the underaged is the same on Carnival as for the state of California. I guess we're used to it but Alchemy tables have a good view of the alchemists for the small fry who want to learn the trade 🙂 

Edited March 22, 2021 by sanmarcosman

[Jenjer]

I know for a fact on Horizon 2019 they made non alcoholic drinks for my teens. It was not your basic soda but something fun the kids had drinks with and without my hubby and I there. Now I can not remember for 100% sure that the kids sat down maybe they stood.  But my DD (17 at the time) spent her "cruise allowance" (we give them a flat amount for the cruise to buy drinks, stuff, video games, ect they have cruised since they where 6 and 4 it works for us) at alchemy. 

[jetsfan58]

Call me old fashioned. I am still perplexed at why we are "pushing" and/or "insisting" that these teen children accompany us to these adult based venues? Can someone please help me understand this? When we were teens we did teen things. Have times changed that much?     

[ProgRockCruiser]

45 minutes ago, jetsfan58 said:

Call me old fashioned. I am still perplexed at why we are "pushing" and/or "insisting" that these teen children accompany us to these adult based venues?

"We" aren't pushing or insisting on anything.  Read the OP.  It is the kid's preference to accompany the adults, not the adults insisting the kid tag along.

[ColeThornton]

57 minutes ago, jetsfan58 said:

Call me old fashioned. I am still perplexed at why we are "pushing" and/or "insisting" that these teen children accompany us to these adult based venues? Can someone please help me understand this? When we were teens we did teen things. Have times changed that much?     

 

 

Teens learn to become young adults by interacting with adults in social settings.  It is nothing neither new nor dramatic.

[mredandchis]

1 hour ago, jetsfan58 said:

Call me old fashioned. I am still perplexed at why we are "pushing" and/or "insisting" that these teen children accompany us to these adult based venues? Can someone please help me understand this? When we were teens we did teen things. Have times changed that much?     

I don't know about "old Fashioned" because better than 50 years ago my dad would stop into a beer garden with me to have one.  It was semi common, in fact he took my son once  sometime in the 70's , no one thought twice about it.  

[kwokpot]

5 hours ago, mredandchis said:

I don't know about "old Fashioned" because better than 50 years ago my dad would stop into a beer garden with me to have one.  It was semi common, in fact he took my son once  sometime in the 70's , no one thought twice about it.  

Where was this? 

[mredandchis]

Pennsylvania

 

[crewsweeper]

Please note that the configuration of the Mardi Gras is totally different from any other Carnival ship.

There will be plenty of places on the Mardi Gras for parents to enjoy an "adult" beverage in the evening while children are present with pout having to go to the Alchemy or a nightclub. See my post #17 above.

[Jenjer]

On 3/23/2021 at 3:28 PM, jetsfan58 said:

Call me old fashioned. I am still perplexed at why we are "pushing" and/or "insisting" that these teen children accompany us to these adult based venues? Can someone please help me understand this? When we were teens we did teen things. Have times changed that much?     

For our teens we had/have a always dinner with mom and dad rule. They can do whatever before and after, unless mom wants family pictures. They tend to spend some time with us but not every minute, unless its a port day. My daughter always makes friends but my son more quiet would choose to hang out with us and go to the shows after dinner. We encouraged him to go with his sister and make friends but being super social is just not his personality and being on a vacation doesn't change who someone is. Next time we cruise they will have aged out of teen club so who knows what that will look like. 

 

This is what makes cruising the perfect family vacation because there is something for everyone to do. Be that water slides, trivia, ropes course, or just lay by the pool. 

 

The highest participation teen activities are at night, generally the day time activities are not super popular, unless its a scavenger hunt or a trade up game. 

 

I like my teens (most of the time) I enjoy talking with them and spending time with them. They are good people. We never push or insist that they spend all of their vacation time with us but we always let them know what we are doing and they are welcome to join. Except dinner, dinner is important and at home we don't get many dinners together, even fewer as my oldest is off at college. 

[ninjacat123]

That is pretty much the same dinner situation for us @Jenjer.  My youngest DD is the social butterfly while my oldest DD is happy to read a book lounging on the pool deck.  We look forward to dinner not only to hang out together but to also hang out with our MDR staff.  Since my DDs were 7 & 9, they loved getting to know our wait staff.  By the end of our cruise we were takin pics with the wait staff and my DDs were hoping we would see them on another cruise. That's one reason I like Carnival, because they hire people who are caring and care about their work.☺️

[gtalum]

21 hours ago, kwokpot said:

Where was this? 

 

I grew up in Ohio in the 70's and 80's, and sat with my dad at the bar many times.

[Doggielover68]

On 3/15/2021 at 8:15 PM, Bobster17 said:

We are booked for 2022 and I have just noticed scrolling thru the bars on board that some of them say 21+. Our daughter does not attend the kids clubs and has always enjoyed coming with us for a pre dinner or theatre drink. Is this age restriction after a certain time of night or all day would anyone know? 

Please don't. Adults go to adults only areas for a reason. If you want to grab a pre dinner drink, I'd suggest taking them outside of the bar area. There are plenty of family friendly areas to lounge and very few adults only spaces.

[jetsfan58]

3 hours ago, ColeThornton said:

 

Not sure why you are being so dramatic about this.  What is so unsafe about a teen sitting with their parents in a place that happens to serve alcohol?

When we are transparent in nature we sometimes get labeled as being "Dramatic", "Rigid", and/or overly "Responsive". Fortunately I am neither of those individuals. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the differing parenting styles that accompany each of us. Our historical upbringing will dictate the majority of how we parent. There are certainly many books written regarding parenting; none to date that have influenced me and/or changed my parenting style. 

 

There is absolutely nothing "unsafe" about a teen sitting with parents in a secured bar setting. The aspect and images of "Way Too Early" exposure is the unsafe portion of the action. What will the teen do when the parents are not around and not on a Cruise after being exposed to the Bar scene? I just feel that introducing teens too early will place a "stamped reminder" on their brains allowing for them to continue to seek and replicate the "Adult" solution to many issues: Drinking.    

 

Sea You On The Seas Cruise Nuts.

[Sagittarius traveler]

You two will enjoy your mommy and daughter time because there is places on the ship that is quiet and you can just sip amd she have her virgin drink ...I do that with my toddler she loves it you have all day and night on the ship especially on sea day to bond.

 

 

The bars doesnt matter it is just the adult comedy and club she will not be able to sit with you.

[geckoaz]

On carnival a common complaint is that kids with bottomless soda had to go to a bar to get soda. There were no juice bars for them to go to. Might change.

[theckenlady]

On 3/22/2021 at 10:20 AM, ProgRockCruiser said:

Well, OK, to be precise: sit in the Alchemy bar area (one of the tables served by the Alchemy Bar), but not at the bar itself.

Its already crowded at the Alchemy bar. I go there to get away from children, and if they are taking up seats in an adult bar...yes I have a problem with that! 

[evandbob]

When I was in my teens in da Bronx, I wouldn't want my parents around me when I was drinking or smoking, I wanted my own vibe and counter culture.

[ProgRockCruiser]

1 hour ago, theckenlady said:

Its already crowded at the Alchemy bar. I go there to get away from children, and if they are taking up seats in an adult bar...yes I have a problem with that! 

Every Alchemy Bar I have visited or seen pictures of (e.g. Mardi Gras) has tables well away from the actual bar, as the seating starts to fade into the other nearby activity areas - e.g. the Alchemy Bar on Breeze is right beside Ocean Plaza, on Liberty the Alchemy Bar blends into the seating down the Promenade.  Those are the areas I was referring to.

[d12j28]

On 3/25/2021 at 5:03 PM, jetsfan58 said:

When we are transparent in nature we sometimes get labeled as being "Dramatic", "Rigid", and/or overly "Responsive". Fortunately I am neither of those individuals. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the differing parenting styles that accompany each of us. Our historical upbringing will dictate the majority of how we parent. There are certainly many books written regarding parenting; none to date that have influenced me and/or changed my parenting style. 

 

There is absolutely nothing "unsafe" about a teen sitting with parents in a secured bar setting. The aspect and images of "Way Too Early" exposure is the unsafe portion of the action. What will the teen do when the parents are not around and not on a Cruise after being exposed to the Bar scene? I just feel that introducing teens too early will place a "stamped reminder" on their brains allowing for them to continue to seek and replicate the "Adult" solution to many issues: Drinking.    

 

Sea You On The Seas Cruise Nuts.

Or the parents could teach the teen how to be responsible around alcohol. Not everyone drinks because they have "issue's". I'd rather have kids learn from being around parents (most of the time, some parents are just bad parents) than learn at some teen party having never been exposed to it.

[Jasonsterling]

At the standard  pre-dinner, early/mid evening places you'll be fine and some places like the lobby bar even fairly late. The entire lobby is essentially a bar, lol and you have to pass through the Casino a lot so the rules are different on board than in many states in the U.S. My son sat at the bar with me many times and ordered cokes and mocktails like Pina Coladas, out around the pool as well. The dance club though is adults only.