Hello everyone,
My friend and I (both 19) have decided to take a cruise together in August, 2006. Possibly Hawaii or the Carribean. But... easier said than done. The options are overwhelming. Any suggestions on a cruise line, length if trip, or destination? Also, I am interested in a cruise with an under-21 drinking age. We will be traveling by ourselves, will this be a problem or is anyone over 18 allowed to travel alone? As you can see, I'm lost ... Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Have a great day,
Katie

Katie,

Perhaps an agent with more knowledge will jump in here, but for the most part the mainstream cruise lines will not accept bookings from 19 year olds without someone older staying with them in the same cabin. This can be someone who is 21 or even 25. Look at Royal Caribbean's policy: RCCL booking policy

I agree with Dave, most cruiselines have a minimum age limit if not at least 21. An agent may be your best source. They can make the calls to various lines and verify age limits/restrictions. Also regarding the under 21 drinking age, from what I understand, all guests must be 21. Hope I helped.

Billy

And not that I would be against you cruising, but also don't "lie" about you age and book anyway expecting to be able get on the cruise. They will be checking your ID (passport and or birth certificate) when you embark. I'd hate to see you put money on a cruise and lose it because they won't let you on.

Any way to get a parent, relative, or friend (21 or over) go with you? That way you get to have fun as well as the person you talked into going...

Good point Jim. The cruise lines will refuse passage to anyone who isn't as old as they claim, and will say thank-you for the money you gave them since they will not refund a penny in that instance.

Like you, I have no problem with responsible singles under 21 cruising with me. But they need to do it by the rules.

hi
we just booked on rci with 2 teenagers..2 cabins ...at least one person in cabin must be 21...also that person must sign waiver for 18-20 year olds to drink beer or wine on ship...no liquor

The ships generally are 21 and over to drink. However, if you cruise to Mexico, it is only 18 in town.

A bigger problem is going to be booking the cruise since you must be 21. Do you have a friend that is 21 that can go with you??

I love how people can bring <expletive deleted> infants on board but an 18 yr old cant get on the ship without someone 21? So LAME. Kids under 15 should be banned!

<edited by Dave to remove inappropriate word>

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dave Beers,

lbt43,

Let's not start up with this kids age thing again, okay?

Dave, With all do respect, I will start whatever I please.

quote:

Originally posted by lbt43:
Dave, With all do respect, I will start whatever I please.

First of all it is "due" not "do". Second of all, yes, you can start a topic or respond to one as you please. But you need to keep it civil. And you need to understand that the forum staff can and will keep things in order. As I recall, things got a little carried away the last time you went off about children on cruises. It is not something that you are going to change so there is nothing to gain by coming on this forum and ranting about it. Kids will be on cruises and people under 21 will typically not be allowed to buy drinks. Cased closed. Get over it.

I am starting the no kids movement.

quote:

Originally posted by lbt43:
I am starting the no kids movement.

Whatever.

Katie:

First of all, obviously do not book a cruise unless you two are old enough to. At the very least you can call the 1-800 phone number each cruiseline has and talk to a customer service rep. regarding minimum age limitations they have to book a cruise.

As for the legal drinking age aboard the ships. First of all, during embarking (boarding the ship for the first time on the first day) while the ship is still docked in a US port: the drinking age must be 21 or older, no exceptions: required by law . You will also notice the casino is closed during that time as well.

Then, when the ship leaves port and enters international waters, they have the right to abide by their own drinking policies(you will also notice the casino opening at that time too)Almost all cruiselines have the same drinking age limits as the US mainland (21 or older only). the only exception I know of is with Royal Caribbean. RC has a interesting staggered drinking policy (no pun intended ) Here it is:

• If you are 18: your only choice of alcoholic beverages can be beer.
  [*}If you are 19: your only choices of alcoholic beverages can be beer and wine
  
• If you are 21 and older: no restrictions on alcohol.

I wish it was that way too on the US mainland. I think many of the problems of young adults abusing alcohol stem from the fact that on their 20th year and 364th day of life, they can not drink any alcohol at all. The next day they can drink all the alcohol they want.

Anyway, the cruise lines have drinking policies and other alcoholic beverage restrictions onboard for very good reasons. Apparently, they must have had serious problems with rampant drunkeness among passengers in the past. You have heard the stories recently of passengers dissappearing during their cruise. I am willing to bet a good many of them were drunk at the time, acting foolishly, and they simply fell overboard.

Anyway, getting back to the subject, if you are too young to book a cruise and you can not find someone older, don't dispair. The cruiselines will be around for allot longer. It will be worth the wait. Good luck on booking a cruise.

With regard to other questions asked:
Katie007 said:

quote:

Any suggestions on a cruise line, length if trip, or destination? Also, I am interested in a cruise with an under-21 drinking age. We will be traveling by ourselves, will this be a problem or is anyone over 18 allowed to travel alone?

• When I took my first cruise I started with the shortest length of cruise (3 or 4 days).That way I could start out small and see if I liked cruising to begin with. I think that was the right choice.
  
• As for a cruiseline. I have only sailed with Carnival and Royal Caribbean. I sort of liked Carnival a little better, although that is a personal opinion that others may disagree with.
  
• Carnival and RC are so-called "Mass-market" cruiselines and therefore more affordable than others. Perhaps one would have a more enjoyable cruise expierience if they sailed on "premium" cruise lines. If one has enough money to go "all-out", perhaps a "luxury" cruise line would be the best choice. On www.cruisereviews.com they have a listing on what cruise lines are considered mass market, premium, luxury or even "niche".
  
• As for itenerary (destinations), I have cruised to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean so far. My favorite port so far was Cozumel. I am sure there are other very nice places in the Caribbean as well. I heard allot of wonderful things said about Alaska/glacier cruises. I would like to go as soon as I can afford to. The same goes for Hawaii and the other South Pacific islands.
  

Before you take any cruise in the future, I would highly reccomend visiting this website, cruisereviews.com and other similar ones. That way you can learn as much as you can and make informed decisions on cruising. So, good luck and have a good time on your cruise (whenever it happens).

Response to the no kids--just think how lucky--if your parents had decided no kids.....does this change anything?

I am not positive but I think I read on RCCL website that you have to be 21 or accompanied by someone who is 21.

We are taking our first cruise in Jan. out of Galveston, it is a 7 night cruise. Someone told me to start out on a short one, heck if I am gonna pay ang go to all the trouble of flying somewhere I want to at least go for a week.

As for kids, we have 2. They are 2 and 10 and YES, we will be taking them. They are very well behaved and I am sure they will absolutley enjoy themselves.
Good luck, hope you find a line that you can go on.

HemiGRL-

Yes your kids should have fun.. Just be sure to go to the kid bon voyage party on the first day, they can meet kids their own age that they can bond with for the cruise. The only issue you may have is that being 2 and 10, they will be in different Camp Carnival age groups that will be doing different things. So they will not be together in Camp Carnival. If they are ok with that, then no problem...