Can my 20 year old drink?

[Dr_DNA]

I find it very strange here that there seems to be such strong condemnations of drinking alcohol wile being under 21 but such accepted tolerance against smuggling alcohol onboard, which is also against the rules.

 

I have seen in many posts that one should not pick and follow the rules one like but follow all, does that only applies to people under 21 and its ok for an older person to choose?

 

Hypocrisy never ceases to amaze me, especially in the "me generation" of today.

[jules815]

Can and will RCI charge a minor if they drink in port and come back on the ship obviously a bit trashed?

 

Last June we sailed on Mariner with 3 other families. We did the western itinerary. On our excursion in Cozumel, which was booked thru RC, (I think it was called "Afternoon Beach Bash") liquor was included, and there were several bars on the beach. They never did any type of wrist band thing to identify who was of legal age, and my friend's 16 year old son was served twice before his mother caught him.

 

There were obviously other teens drinking, because on the bus ride back to port, a teenager that was sitting behind another one of my friends, threw up and most of it landed on the back of my friend's hair! She was completely disgusted, and when we got back to the ship, she showered and went straight to the RC desk on board to complain. (Do you realize this is happening on a RC excursion?, etc...) She was comped big time with obc, chocolate covered strawberries and wine started showing up to their room, RC items (beach towels, bags, etc.) for them and their kids.

[Micki Dee]

Having cruised during spring break with my 21 yr old DD and her 22 yr BF, I can tell you that the crew is EXTRA vigilant about checking ID's of everyone they're serving. My kids were checked every time they ordered a drink and the crew were occasionally spot checking around the pool area. This was on the Sovereign last year. You can buy a drink for her, but does she really need to, when she can drink at most ports legally and have a great time doing it. If not drinking on the cruise is going to ruin her vacation, then you have a much bigger problem...

[Sugar*Magnolia]

Read the first page+, sorry if this was mentioned- in December on Explorer of the seas, our friend-bar tender Chris was telling us how over 100 extra cameras had been recently installed to monitor all the bar areas- so now the bar tenders themselves are being 'monitored'. We can also vouch that they REALLY do look at your Seapass card- under 21 has a hole punch, under 18 has 2.

[emjsea]

I hope that everyone who thinks this rule is SO important, follows every other rule on the ship. I wonder how many posters think it's ok to smuggle alcohol on board or to reserve your deck chairs for more than a half hour while you go off somewhere... or let your under 16 year old kids in the adults only hottub because they're really well behaved and i'm here and it's just this once....

 

Thought so.

 

Anyway, I'd like to clear up a few misconceptions.

1) In many states it's illegal for minors to purchase alcohol. It's not illegal for minors to consume alcohol given to them by their parents in the privacy of their own home. And as long as they aren't disrupting your cruise, I don't see how it could possibly be ANY of your business.

2) RCCL can't "charge" you with anything. They aren't a government body. They have rules, they aren't laws. Yes, they can detain you in the brig and put you off, but it's not an arrest or a charge of a crime. Geez, sheeple.

 

3) I think as long as you are discrete and your daughter doesn't get drunk you will be just fine. Just follow the advice of those who read your question. Don't do it near the Casino or other "red flag" spots.

 

The best drinks are those that look like regular drinks. Rum and coke or Long Island Ice Tea. Just switch glasses at the dinner table. No one is going to care unless she's acting crazy. Waiters won't risk their tip and security doesn't hang out in the dining room.

 

Finally, I think it's everyone's right and obligation to go ahead and break silly laws they think are stupid as long as they're willing to accept the consequences. We need fewer laws, not more.

[MilliesMom]

Q: Why do I need a beverage waiver?

 

A: Effective as of all sailings commencing on or after July 28, 2006, the minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on all Royal Caribbean International ships is 21.

 

On cruises departing from European and South American countries, where the legal drinking age is typically lower than 21, a parent who is sailing with his or her son(s) and/or daughter(s) who is between the ages of 18 to 20, may sign a waiver (download the PDF form) allowing the 18 to 20 year old to consume alcoholic beverages.

 

The 18- to 20 year-old must agree to comply with Royal Caribbean's policies, including among other things, agreeing to not provide alcoholic beverages to any other person, regardless of age. Restrictions apply, and this policy is subject to change without notice.

 

(FAQ ... RCCL website)

[El Mono]

 

The best drinks are those that look like regular drinks. Rum and coke or Long Island Ice Tea. Just switch glasses at the dinner table. No one is going to care unless she's acting crazy. Waiters won't risk their tip and security doesn't hang out in the dining room.

 

Finally, I think it's everyone's right and obligation to go ahead and break silly laws they think are stupid as long as they're willing to accept the consequences. We need fewer laws, not more.

 

Amen to that!

Regarding following laws and rules.

I'll never forget this story my friend told me.

My friends grandmother worked as a librarian in Berlin before and during WW2, one day GESTAPO came and took her away for some very threatenening interogation, what was her crime? She did not follow official rules from the library, which were laws in Germany at that time to NOT lend books to people of jewish origin.

Her life was spared ONLY because she was German, but told that if she repeated the crime the consequenses would be worse than she would ever recover from. Her punishment was 3 months without pay for this "horrific crime"

[MakinGold]

Amen to that!

Regarding following laws and rules.

I'll never forget this story my friend told me.

My friends grandmother worked as a librarian in Berlin before and during WW2, one day GESTAPO came and took her away for some very threatenening interogation, what was her crime? She did not follow official rules from the library, which were laws in Germany at that time to NOT lend books to people of jewish origin.

Her life was spared ONLY because she was German, but told that if she repeated the crime the consequenses would be worse than she would ever recover from. Her punishment was 3 months without pay for this "horrific crime"

 

Thank you. That's a good example of what I was talking about. Those are the kind of rules that you have somewhat of a moral obligation to challenge. It has to go somewhat beyond just what you think is silly or stupid.

[deltadarlin]

So I have a question, hows does this sailing pass work that I have to show when I want to drink? I'm asking because I am 20 and have a friend's ID. Is it possible to check in with this ID, or go back later claiming to have lost the card, and get a new one using this ID. I'm going on a cruise in 2 weeks, and my birthday is just in a couple of months. Yes I know having an ID is illegal, but I like to go out with my friends and many of them are older. No I am not a crazy drunk, I'm very responsible and i don't go over the top. But I want to be able to go to the bars with my cousin who is going to be there. I'm just asking, if this isn't possible than I will survive obviously, but it would be nice to be able to go out with her. And no, I don't have a concern of getting caught, the ID looks very much like me and I've never even been questioned at "strict" places downtown. Any feedback is appreciated!

[MakinGold]

So I have a question, hows does this sailing pass work that I have to show when I want to drink? I'm asking because I am 20 and have a friend's ID. Is it possible to check in with this ID, or go back later claiming to have lost the card, and get a new one using this ID. I'm going on a cruise in 2 weeks, and my birthday is just in a couple of months. Yes I know having an ID is illegal, but I like to go out with my friends and many of them are older. No I am not a crazy drunk, I'm very responsible and i don't go over the top. But I want to be able to go to the bars with my cousin who is going to be there. I'm just asking, if this isn't possible than I will survive obviously, but it would be nice to be able to go out with her. And no, I don't have a concern of getting caught, the ID looks very much like me and I've never even been questioned at "strict" places downtown. Any feedback is appreciated!

 

On the ship, a SeaPass card is required, and unless you're boarding the ship under false ID, your card will indicate that you're under 21. It serves not only as your ID on the ship, but also as your form of payment. A fake ID will be of no use. If you want to drink anyway, see all the suggestions above about getting someone else to buy the drink for you, but you do put the person buying the drinks in some risk of trouble that way.

[Gonzo70]

So I have a question, hows does this sailing pass work that I have to show when I want to drink? I'm asking because I am 20 and have a friend's ID. Is it possible to check in with this ID, or go back later claiming to have lost the card, and get a new one using this ID. I'm going on a cruise in 2 weeks, and my birthday is just in a couple of months. Yes I know having an ID is illegal, but I like to go out with my friends and many of them are older. No I am not a crazy drunk, I'm very responsible and i don't go over the top. But I want to be able to go to the bars with my cousin who is going to be there. I'm just asking, if this isn't possible than I will survive obviously, but it would be nice to be able to go out with her. And no, I don't have a concern of getting caught, the ID looks very much like me and I've never even been questioned at "strict" places downtown. Any feedback is appreciated!

 

You need a birth certificate or passport for your ID when your seapass is created. If you use fake documents for this, I believe you would be comitting a rather serious felony (with potentially far worse consequences than using a fake ID at a land based bar). If you claim you've lost your sepass once on board, they would have your Date of Birth pop up on the computer. In many (if not all) of the bars and lounges on board you can get in if you are 20 years old, you just can't buy or consume alcohol. You likely can purchase alcohol while at ports, so enjoy some beers/drinks while out on port, but you may want to avoid the booze while on board; plenty of other fun things to do on board and in a few months you'll have the rest of your life to drink.

[wingnutphl]

You can't use the fake ID because you need to show a BC with that ID and they won't match up. Unless you faked the BC as well.

[deltadarlin]

actually i went online this morning to see what the deal with drinking is while on cruises, because i'm going on one in two weeks, and I've never been on a cruise. So I guess you'd lose money on that one....

 

Anyways, thanks for the responses, I figured I'd at least ask... :) Like I said, I'll survive

[MissKise]

why would you encourage under age drinking?

 

No, the age of alcohol consumption on RCCL is 21.

 

We are leaving on Adventure of the Seas this Sunday. We will be traveling as a family with my 20 and 23 year old daughters. How difficult will it be for my 20 year old to drink? Will it be a problem? How is it accomplished? Any info will be appreciated.

[Host Karen]

I see this thread has run its useful course and the OP has acknoweldged receiving enough information. This thread is closed.

 

Karen

HostKaren@CruiseCritic.com