Teen dies on a winter break cruise...

[slg]

I was on that NYE cruise on the Fantasy and there were lots of drunk youth. My dh saw a few kids throwing up. My ds told me that many of his pals from the vibe were drunk but he didn't drink.

Very hard to control the alcohol on deck that night. My only recommendation is that the parents check in with their kids. Also, kids were just grabbing half-empty champagne glasses that were left around the deck, so its not like they were necessarily being served.

Sometimes youth and even adults can get caught up in the party atmosphere and not realize how much they are drinking until they are completely hammered.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

ITA with this! It sounds like it would have been easy for a child to get a glass of alcohol without realizing what it was. Once it started affecting her, her reasoning would have been impaired. I am glad that your daughter is okay. As far as you knew, she was with the Vibe programing. I wouldn't have been concerned either as her parent. She was with the group. Glad that the officers were there and saw her as well instead of just escorting her to your room to sleep it off.

Good point. I already talked to my DD16 about what happened to this young man. We will be on the NYE cruise this year. I will definitely be on the lookout. I would not have been looking for signs of drinking, figuring she was in the programming and it not being available.

And PP- no flames here- I would've been that 16 year old girl! I have always loved champagne. I have great parents who were always "on"- but it definitely sounds like a stunt I would've tried. I'm really glad your DD was okay.

 

[crundell]

This is very sad to read, but aspiration of vomit is a very common - this should be a wake up call for parents. Aspiration of vomit, although it can cause death, also can cause a plethora of lung/breathing issues, infection, what-not. Please, please watch your kids this kind of thing happens at home all the time not just on a cruise. The person is severely intoxicated, passes out, vomits in the mouth and breaths the vomit into the lungs. Everyone seems to know about alcohol poisoning, but nobody seems to understand that this kind of stuff happens all the time but is far less talked about. Prayers to the family.

 

[pandgedwards]

This is very sad to read, but aspiration of vomit is a very common - this should be a wake up call for parents. Aspiration of vomit, although it can cause death, also can cause a plethora of lung/breathing issues, infection, what-not. Please, please watch your kids this kind of thing happens at home all the time not just on a cruise. The person is severely intoxicated, passes out, vomits in the mouth and breaths the vomit into the lungs. Everyone seems to know about alcohol poisoning, but nobody seems to understand that this kind of stuff happens all the time but is far less talked about. Prayers to the family.

Such a very sad thing.

 

[racingfandj]

Let me relay my story of DD16 on the Fantasy NYE cruise...

DD went to the Vibe on NYE and they all left for the fireworks on the top deck at midnight. At the same time, bar servers were walking around with trays of champagne and apple cider. They let anyone take the drink of their choice. In addition, after midnight the servers roamed around the top decks of the ship filling up champagne flutes as long as they were in a hand. Again, not checking any KTTW card. DD16 and her friends were served by DCL and got very drunk. DD puked on deck in front of the white suiters (officers) and they took her down to the medical center. An hour later, a liter of IV fluids and $1012 bill she returned to the cabin with DH. The Vibe counselors asked her the next day what happened to her that she didn't return to the Vibe. She was in the programming, they all went to watch the fireworks and continued to celebrate back in the Vibe.

I'm not saying that my DD should be held harmless in this incident, but I think that DCL should look at their policies on serving alcohol on NYE. I talked to Guest Services and they summoned a white suiter in beverage services and everyone passed the buck. It ended up that the beverage services manager said it was a security issue (several days later once I ran into him in the hall).

DD's friends were very drunk also and went to their room to get sick and pass out. The incident this young man experienced this week could have happened to one of her friends. Very scary....and I'm not quite as upset about the medical bill now.


Let the flames begin

Thank you for sharing! This is a great reminder for me to have a conversation with my nieces and nephews before we cruise this summer as they will be in the Vibe. We'll give them some freedom and we have rules, but I never thought "don't get drunk" needed to be one of them.

 

[Jendisney9]

We had our ds18 on a med cruise. The dining room servers would not serve him. We were going to let him share a glass of our wine. If I wanted him served, I had to sign a release at guest services. This would have given him complete privileges. We were not willing to do this. We would order drinks at a comedy club and allow him to have under our supervision and the revolving servers never had issue, but we ordered the drink.now I am nervous...we have NYE planned with my kids in a separate cabin. Need to rethink.

I have been worried about the kids in someone's room drinking.

 

[CatDenver]

I shared this tragic story with my 8 and 11 year olds to make them aware of what can happen when alcohol is abused, regardless of age. It might be a bit soon (I hope) but I told them the day will come when they may be tempted to drink or pressured to drink by friends to the point of getting drunk. Actions can have consequences, some far worse than others. I agree with what several people have already said. We need to educate our kids on these things and speak openly about potential dangers.

May this young man rest in peace and I pray his parents will find consolation in the days to come.

 

[crundell]

I shared this tragic story with my 8 and 11 year olds to make them aware of what can happen when alcohol is abused, regardless of age. It might be a bit soon (I hope) but I told them the day will come when they may be tempted to drink or pressured to drink by friends to the point of getting drunk. Actions can have consequences, some far worse than others. I agree with what several people have already said. We need to educate our kids on these things and speak openly about potential dangers.

May this young man rest in peace and I pray his parents will find consolation in the days to come.

I spoke with my son as well, I need him to understand that more than you are are deep doodoo with your mom can occur. Right or wrong I was fairly explicit as to what can happen. He rolled his eyes I was 12, 16, 18, 21, 30-something, etc once too. They don't get how much your understanding of things change. I just pray they get to keep counting too.

 

[Mom323]

More info from the family member.

Seths real Dad, (who wasnt on the cruise and lives out by Buffalo) Step Mom and little sister are now here in town. They are staying at my daughters house in South Glens Falls, making funeral arrangements tomorrow. Seths body is still in NYC and will be home sometime on Friday. It doesn't matter what happened, whos to blame.....the fact is he is gone now. Nothing else matters. The family knows no more than all of you do at this point. I'm sure by tomorrow, they will know more. I personally cant blame Carnival, the parents or anyone else for this tragedy. If indeed it WAS just alcohol poisoning, then the blame goes to inexperience. Period!
I want to thank you all for being so supportive, it means alot to me, even though i wanted to scream at some of the posters!! But people are human and i understand. Again, thank You on behalf of the Younes' RIP Seth... : (



The thread has been removed from cruise critic

 

[justmestace]

We had our ds18 on a med cruise. The dining room servers would not serve him. We were going to let him share a glass of our wine. If I wanted him served, I had to sign a release at guest services. This would have given him complete privileges. We were not willing to do this. We would order drinks at a comedy club and allow him to have under our supervision and the revolving servers never had issue, but we ordered the drink.now I am nervous...we have NYE planned with my kids in a separate cabin. Need to rethink.

I have been worried about the kids in someone's room drinking.

I was told that the young adults, ages 18-20, were only allowed to be given drinks by their parents on the Med cruises because of the lower legal age in Europe....so as not to alienate the European passengers. It won't be allowed on any other cruises, so that's at least one less worry. Unless they sneak it.

 

[lbgraves]

I spoke with both of my kids yesterday..12 & 14. They asked questions and I think listened. I wouldn't have thought to discuss this with them before, aside from just not drinking. Also reminded them to never accept an opened container from anyone, even if they are a friend. Had a "friend" try to slip me a drink in HS because they knew I didn't drink. Thankfully a real friend saw them and took the drink from me. I didn't drink until after I was 21 and don't drink often now, so can honestly tell them you can wait and be responsible. IMO if parents allow their underaged kids to drink occasionally, those kids aren't going to see the big deal about drinking at other times because it was okay with mom and dad before.

 

[justmestace]

I spoke with both of my kids yesterday..12 & 14. They asked questions and I think listened. I wouldn't have thought to discuss this with them before, aside from just not drinking. Also reminded them to never accept an opened container from anyone, even if they are a friend. Had a "friend" try to slip me a drink in HS because they knew I didn't drink. Thankfully a real friend saw them and took the drink from me. I didn't drink until after I was 21 and don't drink often now, so can honestly tell them you can wait and be responsible. IMO if parents allow their underaged kids to drink occasionally, those kids aren't going to see the big deal about drinking at other times because it was okay with mom and dad before.

I agree. These are the same things I talked to my kids about. And we rarely drink, also....and I do think it makes a difference. I've seen it happen with other kids as ours were all growing up.....with groups of friends who all met here, on the DIS, and cruised together.

 

[bahacca]

I spoke with my son as well, I need him to understand that more than you are are deep doodoo with your mom can occur. Right or wrong I was fairly explicit as to what can happen. He rolled his eyes I was 12, 16, 18, 21, 30-something, etc once too. They don't get how much your understanding of things change. I just pray they get to keep counting too.

If he rolled his eyes, at least he was LISTENING. My guess is if he is in this situation, your words will come back to haunt him.

 

[Kristen K]

What a sad an heart wrenching story to read. My heart and prayers go out to Seth's family in this difficult time. I wish them nothing but strength and peace as they take these days to celebrate Seth's life and lay him to rest. As the mother of older teens it is certainly going to be a point of conversation to help educate my own kids in being aware of what can happen when one over indulges.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

I was told that the young adults, ages 18-20, were only allowed to be given drinks by their parents on the Med cruises because of the lower legal age in Europe....so as not to alienate the European passengers. It won't be allowed on any other cruises, so that's at least one less worry. Unless they sneak it.

Some of the cruise lines allow the 18 to 21 crowd to order alcohol on board with their parents' permission. I know Carnival does not.

Even so, the legal age to purchase alcohol in many places is lower than 21, so young adults can purchase it legally while in port.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I have a son who is 21 now, and although he has many problems, alcohol has not been his drug of choice so to speak. However, he cruised with me on several different cruise lines over several years including Disney. He told me that the alcohol was slightly harder to get on Disney, but the teens did get it nonetheless. The other cruise lines, it was no problem at all. This is what he told me. I am sharing this because I want parents of other teens to be aware that drugs and alcohol are EVERYWHERE! This is scary, but reality.

On another note, other drugs such as pills and marijuana are also easily available on cruises including Disney. Usually it is brought onboard by another teen or obtained ashore. Once again. Just sharing what I have been told.

 

[ilovetexas]

I feel awful for the parents and the brother; how does a 14 year old recover from that experience? We all know that alcohol is available everywhere; kids have never had a problem getting their hands on it.

I've had servers try to sell drinks to my VERY underage daughter on two different cruise lines. Had they taken her stateroom card, that would have ended the transaction as all lines have some way of identifying underage passengers. However, on one when I went to the bar for a drink (DD was standing next to me), they asked if I wanted two and pointed to her. Luckily for me, she isn't interested....whether I'm there or not. She's always amused when it happens; I'm not. I'm just lucky it's her and not her brother who may not make as good a choice as she does.

I don't think there's a good answer for this one. Of course we should be educating our children, but there are TONS of adults who understand the risks and still make bad decisions about drinking. On a cruise ship, you can keep an eye on your kids....on land, good luck with that.

 

[thedonduck]

Some of the cruise lines allow the 18 to 21 crowd to order alcohol on board with their parents' permission. I know Carnival does not.

Even so, the legal age to purchase alcohol in many places is lower than 21, so young adults can purchase it legally while in port.

When we cruised on RCL in 2004 (I was 19 at the time) all my parents had to do was sign a paper that said we could drink. They purchased a beverage package that included beer so at any point I could get some. My parents did not need to be with me. I just got a special sticker placed on my key card and my cup. I literally could have drank all day if I wanted. Luckily (for myself and my parents) I did not like beer then, so I really just stuck with soda.

 

[justmestace]

When we cruised on RCL in 2004 (I was 19 at the time) all my parents had to do was sign a paper that said we could drink. They purchased a beverage package that included beer so at any point I could get some. My parents did not need to be with me. I just got a special sticker placed on my key card and my cup. I literally could have drank all day if I wanted. Luckily (for myself and my parents) I did not like beer then, so I really just stuck with soda.

I wonder if they have the same policy now? We've not been on RCCL.
I do know that Carnival and NCL don't do this.

But what TammyAlphabet said above is true. If they want it, they'll get it.

 

[ilovetexas]

I wonder if they have the same policy now? We've not been on RCCL.
I do know that Carnival and NCL don't do this.

But what TammyAlphabet said above is true. If they want it, they'll get it.

This is in RCCL FAQs:

ALCOHOL POLICY
Effective immediatly on all sailings, the minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on all Royal Caribbean International is as follows.
The minimum age to consume alcohol on Royal Caribbean International ships on sailings originating in North America is twenty-one (21).
The minimum age to consume alcohol on Royal Caribbean International ships on sailings from South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand is eighteen (18). The minimum age to consume alcohol at all private destinations remains twenty-one (21) without regard to where the sailing originated. The Company retains the right, on rare occasions, to raise the minimum age of alcohol consumption on any sailing when local laws require or permit such a modification.