From your experience how strict are the cruise lines on underage drinking?

Question

Me and a buddy of mine will be going on a cruise later this year although we are not sure which cruise line yet. I will be a few months shy of being 21. Will they really be that strict on me having a few drinks aboard the ship? Could you tell me from your own experience which lines are pretty strict and which lines aren't. Thanks

Answer 1

They make it nearly impossible for anyone under the age of 21, even if it's a few days, to get drinks.  Instead of cash, checks, or credit cards, you set up an account with the cruise line and pay with their credit card.  When you buy something, your information comes up and they'll see that you're under 21 and refuse to sell you any alcohol.

Answer 2

VERY strict....  When you receive your card upon checkin - the one you use to pay for everything and sometimes serves as your door key, it will have all your information imprinted on the magnetic strip - including your age.  It's an insurance thing for them.  If you get drunk and get stupid and they have served you alcohol, they can be sued...

If anyone supplies you alcohol - like a friend or relative, the entire party can be taken off the ship at the next port and you will pay for your own way home.

Answer 3

depends on which one. most are strict but i kno that norweigin lets people 18 or older drink. if your under 21 but over 18, then you have to get a legal guardinan's signature and they'll let you dring.

Answer 4

Unfortunately your seapass, which is basically your onboard id card, cabin key and credit card rolled into one, this card is issued to you when you arrive onboard and its your only method for paying for things onboard, the bar staff will know u are under age when they swipe your card thru the card reader and sometimes there is a tag placed on your card. I cant name a cruise line that doesnt follow this proceedure because of maritime laws. If you are with someone of age then u may get away with it by them buying drinks for u and them at the same time. However when you get into ports you can drink all you want at the bars, on the beach etc, they defo dont check your i.d on the islands unless u ar really unfortunate, I started going when I was 20 and never been checked in all these years, plus I think u can buy your alcohol ashore and take it onboard, they may take it from you on the gangway and give it back to u later in the cruise sorry I cant remember the rule on that one, but worse case scenario u can make up a batch of what I like to call "Swedish Evian" which is basically ur alcohol of choice in an Water bottle, Then u r good to go.

Happy Cruisin

Answer 5

You would be better off booking an all inclusive holiday , cruises are strict, and your alcohol is not included so it's monitored.

GO all inclusive you'll have a better chance not having a problem not that I'm saying it's right...just giving you feedback on your question.

=)

Answer 6

they will be el strict!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i drank when i was 1 day short of beibg 21 and they got on my nerves.  really badly.  good luck..

Answer 7

log on to link to get ur ans

Answer 8

Since your passport is what you check in with, that is your identification.  No faking that and security will be alerted and you key has that information encoded.

When I turned 21 I could not wait to indulge in my newly achieved privilege of being served alcohol.  It was fun too, because nobody got hurt.  If you are going on a "I am 21 drinking binge" do it in an appropriate environment.  On a cruise ship security will throw you in the brig if you become drunk and disorderly, to protect you and other's around you.  There have been cases reported that people that have gotten drunk, because they don't know their limits, have fallen overboard.  It is rare, but known to happen.

I am a travel agent, I have people that come into my office and book their dream vacations.  It breaks my heart when I hear from clients, the trip, the father worked overtime to book for his family was disturbed by the drunks in the next cabin partying all night.  This is an excerpt from a letter of a client: "... by the time security arrived the children heard more obscene language and sexual innuendos they were in tears and afraid to go to sleep.  As you know we are a conservative family and have and would never knowingly expose our children to such graphic behavior.  I am happy to say they were taken out of the cabin and set to shore the next day.  But still even with the children seeing 'the bad boys were gone' they didn't sleep well the last four nights of the cruise.  (the letter continues and ends with) It was truly the worst experience of our lives."

So if you are going on a drinking celebration, do it in a fashion that will not disturb others.  Discover your limits and stay with in them.  Have fun and show society that you can have fun and be responsible with your newly acquired milestone.

Bon Voyage,

E

Answer 9

Generally all the cruise lines cover themselves one way or another in regards to drinking...Royal Carib, Carnival, Celeb all require passengers under 21 to be with a passenger over 25...but on those lines you can drink and gamble at 18...Princess Line however lets you book at 18 years old but requires that you are 21 to drink and gamble on board.

Now to answer your question they are very strict with sticking to the drinking age. For example Princess makes you carry a photo ID with you along with your cruise card.

Little trick though when booking with Princess you can enter in any birth date you want into the "cruise personalizer"...so even if your under 21 enter in that you are over 21 and they will issue you an "over 21" cruise card.  I got away with it a few years ago so its worth a try.

Answer 10

Most cruise lines use a multi pass style card for your: room key, onboard payment card, and port pass. Most ships do not accept cash payment at any of their bars and the staff is not equipped to accept cash for anything including tips!

If you are under 21 and on a cruiseline that has a 21 and over drinking age, you are out of luck. They will be unable to charge alcohol on your card and will be unwilling to serve you. They do check ID's onboard as well.

All cruiselines are strict on their guidelines, the trick is to find a vacation or cruise where the guidelines meet your needs:

Go for an all inclusive resort or a cruiseline that is still 18+ for drinking age (I'm not sure which ones are, but I am sure there must be one or two) search for cruiselines and check out their websites - I would say the lesser known lines would be most likely to still have the lower drinking age.

Good Luck!