What's the Drinking Age?

[Matt2000]

I'm just wondering what the drinking age is on Carnival? Is it 21 like all of the U.S. or can the rules change once in International waters? Do they enforce the age? My cousin, who is 20, is going on a cruise soon and asked me. I honestly didn't know the answer. I know that on my senior class cruise(NCL from San Juan) we were allowed to drink like fishes. Most of us were 18, but there were some 17 year olds also(I was one of them). The bartenders and waitresses all knew we were high school seniors, but it didn't seem to matter. A lot of us even had a contest to see who would have the highest bar tab at the end of the cruise. The winner had racked up a $1200 tab. Our chaperones(teachers & principal) had passed the rule that we could drink anything we wanted, but NO SHOTS. They figured that we were safe in a contained enviroment and it's not like any of us were gonna drive home.

Anyway, my cousin does drink beer(he's a college student), so he was wondering if he'd be allowed to. His parents will be with him and they condone it, but I don't know if having a legal guardian will help any.

[KenMo]

21 on the ship.

 

I don't know where you're going, but I believe it is 18 in Mexico. Not sure about any other ports.

[GoinCruisin]

Drinking age is 21 on Carnival and yes, it is enforced. Having a legal guardian won't change things. He won't be able to buy drinks, his card will be coded. What his parents do is up to them, but if they are caught, they can be put off the ship at the next port. We saw this happen once... it was very sad.

[salty dingo]

Drinking age is 21 onboard, but there will be little difficulty in some unsupervised teen getting liquored up. Plenty of opportunity to find loopholes... so parents keep a watch on the young 'uns.

 

In Mexico, the bars rarely ask for ID. Maybe they will in the big name-brand places next to the port, but a few blocks away they may not care.

[RatherBFishin]

I'm just wondering what the drinking age is on Carnival? Is it 21 like all of the U.S. or can the rules change once in International waters? Do they enforce the age? ...

 

Drinking age is definitely 21:

 

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/Age_Restrictions_on_Board.aspx

 

I can't comment on how strictly it's enforced. They definitely know each passenger's age, since you have to provide DOB as part of getting on the cruise manifest. I assume it's embedded in the S&S card.

[anneep]

Drinking age is 21 on Carnival and yes, it is enforced. Having a legal guardian won't change things. He won't be able to buy drinks, his card will be coded. What his parents do is up to them, but if they are caught, they can be put off the ship at the next port. We saw this happen once... it was very sad.

 

 

My nephew and his friend, 17 and 18, ordered alcohol through room service..it was delivered and the card it was charged to was my 12 year old nephew! About an hour after that my daughter and her friend along with my nephew and his friend got caught with beer by the pool. It was taken from them, and they took the names of the 4 of them..but they did not do anything other than confiscate the beer. I was very upset all the way around..with the kids for ordering beer, and with Carnival for serving it and letting a 12 year old's card be used to buy it.

[GoinCruisin]

My nephew and his friend, 17 and 18, ordered alcohol through room service..it was delivered and the card it was charged to was my 12 year old nephew! About an hour after that my daughter and her friend along with my nephew and his friend got caught with beer by the pool. It was taken from them, and they took the names of the 4 of them..but they did not do anything other than confiscate the beer. I was very upset all the way around..with the kids for ordering beer, and with Carnival for serving it and letting a 12 year old's card be used to buy it.

 

That's insane! I would be livid as well... most of the time, it is enforced, but I guess some kids can try to buck the system (one of the reasons that teens shouldn't be allowed to stay by themselves, LOL!!!!) I wonder what happened when they went back and ran it through? The age is embedded in the card... was this a long time ago?? We've seen a family put off for their 2nd warning of providing minors alcohol... and I know one in our group was denied when he tried to get a drink for his mom :rolleyes: (not the wisest move, LOL), and they are strict about the entrance into the disco... so hopefully they are enforcing it, but that sounds like the ship from hell... unbelievable!! I bet you WERE upset... WOW!!

[RatherBFishin]

My nephew and his friend, 17 and 18, ordered alcohol through room service..it was delivered and the card it was charged to was my 12 year old nephew! ... I was very upset all the way around..with the kids for ordering beer, and with Carnival for serving it and letting a 12 year old's card be used to buy it.

 

WoW... I'm not showing this post to my 14 y/o !

 

However, unless you request a "key only" card, aren't the S&S cards linked to some adults credit card? Seems like they found a loophole, as the staff delivering the room service weren't charged with the responsiblity of verifying ages.

 

I can understand your frustration, but honestly I have to give props for the kids thinking "out of the box". Also, as much as I keep an very watchful eye on my own teens, I have to admit that I got drunk for the first time at 14 at summer camp back in 1978. I know it's probably not funny to you, but there are some things that never change.

[anneep]

That's insane! I would be livid as well... most of the time, it is enforced, but I guess some kids can try to buck the system (one of the reasons that teens shouldn't be allowed to stay by themselves, LOL!!!!) I wonder what happened when they went back and ran it through? The age is embedded in the card... was this a long time ago?? We've seen a family put off for their 2nd warning of providing minors alcohol... and I know one in our group was denied when he tried to get a drink for his mom :rolleyes: (not the wisest move, LOL), and they are strict about the entrance into the disco... so hopefully they are enforcing it, but that sounds like the ship from hell... unbelievable!! I bet you WERE upset... WOW!!

 

It was just last week..July 19th on the Elation! The room they were in when they ordered the beer was next door to my sister, and it was my 12 year old and 10 year old nephew's room. The 17 year old brother and his friend were in there while the two other boys were at the arcade.

[GoinCruisin]

It was just last week..July 19th on the Elation! The room they were in when they ordered the beer was next door to my sister, and it was my 12 year old and 10 year old nephew's room. The 17 year old brother and his friend were in there while the two other boys were at the arcade.

 

Well surely the kids will never make THAT mistake again :eek: And hopefully the staff on the ship is getting reprimanded... unbelievable.

[anneep]

WoW... I'm not showing this post to my 14 y/o !

 

However, unless you request a "key only" card, aren't the S&S cards linked to some adults credit card? Seems like they found a loophole, as the staff delivering the room service weren't charged with the responsiblity of verifying ages.

 

I can understand your frustration, but honestly I have to give props for the kids thinking "out of the box". Also, as much as I keep an very watchful eye on my own teens, I have to admit that I got drunk for the first time at 14 at summer camp back in 1978. I know it's probably not funny to you, but there are some things that never change.

 

I was upset..but I do understand that kids will pretty much never change..I had my first baby when I was 16:D

[Matt2000]

I'll let my cousin know about the 21 age, but hopefully if his parents buy him a beer they won't get in trouble. He's 20 year's old, not 14. He's an adult IMO, but I'll give them a head's up and let them know the situation.

 

I do believe the story about the kids though. On one of my first cruises(RCCL), when I was about 12, I used to like going to the Crown & Anchor bar and I'd order virgin daiquiri's. The bartender, and I still remember his name, a Jamaican who went by Cool Breeze, used to tease me and tell me to stop with the virgins(he meant it sexually). He then gave me an alcoholic daiquiri. I was upset, only b/c I didn't like the taste of rum back then and I thought he had ruined my drink. When I look back on it now however, I think it was HIGHLY inappropriate for an older man to tease a 12 year old boy with sexual innuendo and then serve him an alcoholic beverage.

[RatherBFishin]

I was upset..but I do understand that kids will pretty much never change..I had my first baby when I was 16:D

 

:) ... you got me beat there.

[RatherBFishin]

I'll let my cousin know about the 21 age, but hopefully if his parents buy him a beer they won't get in trouble. He's 20 year's old, not 14. He's an adult IMO, but I'll give them a head's up and let them know the situation.

 

I can't beleive I'm actually helping contribute to the deliquency of a minor, but what his parents should do is order beer, wine (or even liquor) from Cranival's Bon Voyage Department. Then they could tell their son it's ok to drink in the cabin, but not around the ship. At least then they are not circumventing Carnival's rules, and are taking direct responsibility for the action.

[NolaGuy]

The drinking age is 21 but unless you look like you're 12, I've never seen anyone get carded and in my own experience, I was never carded as a teenager on cruises. Of course, I'm from New Orleans and could handle my liquor at 15 :D so I didn't act like a complete moron when drunk like I've seen some kids doing on recent cruises. From what you're saying though, this is for a 20 year old who wants a beer now and then. I don't think it'll be a problem.

[GoinCruisin]

The drinking age is 21 but unless you look like you're 12, I've never seen anyone get carded and in my own experience, I was never carded as a teenager on cruises. Of course, I'm from New Orleans and could handle my liquor at 15 :D so I didn't act like a complete moron when drunk like I've seen some kids doing on recent cruises. From what you're saying though, this is for a 20 year old who wants a beer now and then. I don't think it'll be a problem.

 

On Carnival, they don't have to card you... your age is embedded into your S&S card. As soon as you go to pay for the drink, your account is flagged as underage.

[NolaGuy]

On Carnival, they don't have to card you... your age is embedded into your S&S card. As soon as you go to pay for the drink, your account is flagged as underage.

 

I personally purchased, on more than one occasion, Jack & Coke, on a Carnival ship with my S&S card. Now this was years ago, so maybe it is different now, but I was sold alcohol when I was underage.

 

As far as being flagged, maybe some of the servers are lax about this b/c I've seen obviously under 21 kids, a group of them, drinking on deck and HAMMERED! They were acting like fools and by the end of the night while I was up on deck getting pizza, a few of them were puking. I didn't see any parents or chaperones around, but these kids were definitely drunk.

[ManyMore]

This is how some get away with getting alcoholic drinks even though their card is embedded with their age... they order drinks from waiters that only write the polio number down so the card itself isn't swiped. Or at least that is what I saw some "kids" doing on one of our cruises.

[GoinCruisin]

This is how some get away with getting alcoholic drinks even though their card is embedded with their age... they order drinks from waiters that only write the polio number down so the card itself isn't swiped. Or at least that is what I saw some "kids" doing on one of our cruises.

 

But if they use THEIR folio, when they enter it into the system it still shows them underage... now, I've seen people purchase drinks for underage young adults... but Carnivals system (at least over the last several years) does flag a minors account.

 

And just because one sees drunks kids onboard, doesn't mean they purchased the alcohol themselves onboard ;)

[dan40]

RE: the kids ordering room service, 1. the card was not run thru the puter and I'm sure there was an adult name listed on the cabin. But its similar to what my boys told me after [long after] they were of legal age. We had a large party room off the garage in the lower level of the house. They would call a taxi and order booze. When the taxi driver delivered, they'd catch him at the curb. Tell him they would take the booze to their parents and tip him well.

nuthin to it.

We were upstairs, fat, dumb, n' happy.

They also told me some real scary stories.:D

 

Dan

[roswellmom]

If 21 is the drinking age on board, what is the casino age? My 18 yo son was looking forward to his first casino experience.

[big_duck]

If 21 is the drinking age on board, what is the casino age? My 18 yo son was looking forward to his first casino experience.

 

The Casino is 18. Prolly better not to gamble and drink anyway. ;)

[GoinCruisin]

If 21 is the drinking age on board, what is the casino age? My 18 yo son was looking forward to his first casino experience.

 

18 in the casino...

[crimmper]

What I find amazing is an 18 yr. old can go to the casino.

 

Whats amazing in our society is an 18yr. old can gamble and has to register for selective service and can vote, but has to be 21 to drink. Something wrong with this. Just my opinion but it should be 1 set age.

[big_duck]

What I find amazing is an 18 yr. old can go to the casino.

 

Whats amazing in our society is an 18yr. old can gamble and has to register for selective service and can vote, but has to be 21 to drink. Something wrong with this. Just my opinion but it should be 1 set age.

 

There is no selective service or elections on foreign flagged ships in international waters.

 

Carnival's drinking age has nothing to do with law and everything to do with maintains some control on youth drinking.