Royal Caribbean Raises Minimum Drinking Age to 21

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Mbandy

Guest
From "Modern Agent dot com"

Royal Caribbean International, which amended its alcohol policy in late summer, announced that the minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on all Royal Caribbean International ships is 21. However, 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 sons or daughters age 18-20 years can sign a waiver allowing them to consume alcoholic beverages. The 18- to 20-year-olds must agree to comply with Royal Caribbean's policies, including not providing alcoholic beverages to any other person, regardless of age. Passengers are not allowed to bring alcoholic beverages onboard. Alcoholic beverages purchased ashore or from onboard shops will be stored and delivered to staterooms on the last day of the sailing. Security may inspect containers (such as water or soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage, etc.) and will dispose of containers holding alcohol. Royal Caribbean's guest vacation policy says any guest who violates the alcohol policy may be disembarked or not allowed to board, at their own expense. Violations include over consuming alcohol, providing alcohol to people under age 21, irresponsible behavior, or attempting to conceal alcoholic items at security and or luggage check points. As far as the line's gambling policy, passengers age 18 years and older can in the ships' casinos. However, on Alaska sailings, guests must be 21 years of age to gamble on the ships.
 
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gregsmom

Guest
I am very glad to see this and will be elated if they enforce it. We have seen and experienced far too many youngsters drinking/drunk on ships.........many obnoxious and unruly....several losing their drinks in the halls and elevators.
 
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Libby

Guest
Good for RCCL!!! And as another post mentions - I sure hope they enforce the rule. If it's done similar to chair saving at the pools, I doubt they'll be successful in curbing the problems with the underage drinking - but it appears they're willing to try. That's a good start. And yep! I do have a problem with someone who puts four towels on four chairs prior to breakfast, and as various family members get up leisurely, had a bite to eat ..... the come to use the chairs about lunch time. I wish they would do a better job. Sorry to go O.T.
 
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Mbandy

Guest
I agree Libby...the chair hogs irritate me too. They were enforcing it pretty well when we were on Century back in March.

As I mentioned in another post I hope that RCCL will add internal policies for their bartenders and servers to follow along with this new policy for guests.
 
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lindajeff

Guest
Someone needs to explain to me why a lot of folks feel the urge to cheat the system. Whether it is booze or jeans or trying to parlay an unmade bed into a suite upgrade, I just don't understand. If you don't like a ship's rules, find another one.
 
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Mbandy

Guest
Hi Linda and =welcome to Cruise @ddicts.

I don't think it is so much "cheating the system" as much as it is just convenience and maybe saving a little bit of money. I have brought bottles on board before just so we could have the convenience of having a cocktail in our cabin rather than going out to a bar. Sure, it saves me a few dollars here and there but I assure you the cruise lines gets more than enough of my money. If not in the bar, than at the photo gallery, specialty restaurant, spa etc. I would agree that bringing a suitcase full of booze is kind of extreme and people have gone missing from the ship after heavy drinking in their cabin. However, I don't think that the one bottle of rum in my cabin is going to bankrupt the cruise line :lol
 
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MortgageChick

Guest
Micheal do we know yet if they consider packing a bottle in its original container in checked luggage "an attempt to conceal" and worthy of refusing boarding or if attempting to conceal covers only things like Shampoo and mouthwash bottles???
Just for the record I personally draw the line at shampoo bottles, but many people have done it.

I assume they would have to reuse boarding to many passengers if the foremer were the case. From what i read on the CC board, seems to be busienss as usual for most passengers. We will definitely pack a bottle for convenience on our upcoming cruise and will let you know how it goes.
 
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Mbandy

Guest
Ya know M.C. I wouldn't think so. I have never put liquor in anything other than its own bottle except in Key west when we put some vodka in a water bottle. I have brought bottles on board in ports of call wrapped in a towel stashed in the bottom of my snorkel bag with my fins and mask and never given a second look. I think they're looking more for people who are trying to bring on mass quantities. I really have to doubt that security is going to spend a lot of time sniffing bottles. Can you imagine how it would slow the boarding process? I believe that the new regs are more designed to protect the cruise line from liability if somebody gets tanked on their own booze and then gets hurt or falls overboard. You really can't sue the cruise line if you were breaking their rules, I wouldn't think. I also think the bartenders and servers should be diciplined for serving someone who has obviously had to much just as bartenders in any town can be fined. It also makes me wonder about the policy of giving the "held" liquor to the passengers on the last night of the cruise. On Miracle back in August there was a girl (mid-20's I'd say) roaming around with a huge open bottle of Crown Royal. She wandered in to the piano bar and started pouring drinks for everybody! :cheers

By the way, if I were you I'd draw the line at mouthwash bottles. A few years ago a buddy of mine poured whiskey in an empty scope bottle. He wound up with mint flavored Canadian Club. Let me know if you notice anything different when you head out on Jewel of the Seas.

=funsign on your cruise.
 
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holiday

Guest
having read most of the comments about taking a bottle on board it seems to me the cruise line is saying its allright to drink if you are paying them ,but it is against the rules if youare drinking your own. travelled on various cruises before and never had any problems
 
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my3kids

Guest
So is this policy new, that you can't carry on a bottle of wine? I thought it might have been that way a year ago, but I don't recall them saying if you brought a bottle of wine they might send you home. Yikes.
 
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PH8

Guest
I really dont think they will send you home.............just confiscate the booze.........
 
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Redhead007

Guest
Well as I am new to this message board as well as new to cruising I am now a little worried. We are traveling with family for 11 days in February for the Southern Exotic Cruise from San Juan. I was under the impression that a tactfully packed bottle would be okay as long as excess was avoided. It seems so juvenile to have luggage searched for with the potential for seizure. Vacationers are paying big bucks to cruise and likely will not tolerate this type of treatment a second time. X(
 
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Mbandy

Guest
Hello Readhead and =welcome aboard.

I've never had a problem with just one bottle. If they were going to be militant about it the'd be instructing the stewards to confiscate bottles from rooms and that's never happened either.

I think the ones they're going to take a closer look at are the ones who come stumbling in from Carlos & Charlie's, already snockered. That would probably be more of a red flag.
 
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Redhead007

Guest
Thanks for the reassuring information, it does set my mind at ease a bit. I don't suspect we will be total boozehounds but likely will want to have a good time. So how do we purchase advance gifts of wine for embarkation for our family members? Also, where does a Cruise Critic member obtain the cruise countdown icon to add to thier post?

I really enjoy your website and hope to be proficient at using it soon.

Cheers...

:)-D:)
 
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tigirl1989

Guest
www.caribbeanmag.com is just one place of many to get gifs....that is what the countdowns are called (if you were not aware) As far as the wine....family members can't come with you past security...so not sure where you want to drink the wine??? At least in Philly they can't may be different elsewhere.

Welcome to Cruise @ddicts....glad to see you post!!!!! :)

Dana
 
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canuk

Guest
The best news is that when this new rule gets known, the sub-21 crowd are going to look elsewhere for their cruises, which means that the over-21 cruisers (of which there are many more) will be more likley to book with RCCL.
Shrewd move, RCCL.

Copy cat cruise lines: the line starts here.
 
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