Cove Adults only Area

[BlueBayou]

How do they make sure only people 18+ are in the adults only area?

We are traveling with a 18-year-old and a 21-year-old. My younger daughter looks particularly young. Like when she was lifeguarding at 17, she had a rude adult question her age and basically accuse her of lying. It went beyond "oh you look so young" into there is no way you are older than 13, how can you be a lifeguard.

I think she plans to hang by the pool and hot tub. Just wondering if she will be questioned by CMs.

 

[Mommb]

She might be questioned, in which case she will simply need to show her Key to the World card. Your daughters’ KTTW cards will have symbols indicated that your younger daughter is 18-20 (eligible to be in adult areas but not to order alcohol) and that your older daughter is at least 21 (eligible for both).

 

[JWelch62]

We had this happen when our daughter was 18 or so. Someone in the Cove Cafe complained to the CM who very politely explained to us Cove was an 18+ area. We showed him her KTTW card and he thanked us and apologized for the inconvenience. Never had an issue after that.

 

[BlueBayou]

Someone in the Cove Cafe complained to the CM who very politely explained to us Cove was an 18+ area. We showed him her KTTW card and he thanked us and apologized for the inconvenience. Never had an issue after that.

Wow. Someone complained? Yikes.

I’m glad to hear it is noted on the KTTW cards - so the issue is easily resolved.

After several summers lifeguarding at a large resort style pool with a water slide built into a hill, being at a pool with lots of kids is kind of work for her. It’s not that she minds kids, it is just that it is second nature to be “on” like a lifeguard.

 

[JWelch62]

Wow. Someone complained? Yikes.

On one hand I share that sentiment. But, I understand why someone might say something. It's "Adults Only" and folks might not want to be around other people's children. I thought the CM did a great job handling it.

 

[BlueBayou]

On one hand I share that sentiment. But, I understand why someone might say something. It's "Adults Only" and folks might not want to be around other people's children.

I do understand not wanting to be around other people's children in an adult only area. But was she behaving like a child?

But I guess I'm a little over sensitive because my daughter gets her under age looks from me (Not anymore - but up until my early 30s, basically before I had kids). You would be surprised at how some people look past you when they think you are a kid. People push past you in lines etc.

One of my annoying experiences was when being seated at a restaurant in the 70s, my family did not go to places with "kids menus." I was in 8th grade at the time. The hostess turned to my parents and asked if I could read of menu. Technically I was capable of getting pregnant. Yes, I could read a menu.

I never had issues on cruise ships though, but when I started cruising - there were times I was the only child on the ship and there was no kids programming. When I was in my early 20s - I was in a bar with my parents. It was a slow night - so the bartender was social with our table. I was just drinking a brandy alexander - so I assumed he figured he knew I was 21. Somehow the conversation turned to the music that was on. At the time I was a DJ at my college radio station which was a jazz format. We started comparing it to specific artists. And the bartender said "Wait, how OLD are you?" I answered 21. He laughed and said that he didn't think I was even 16, but since my father placed the drink order he was okay serving me.

 

[bigAWL]

I do understand not wanting to be around other people's children in an adult only area. But was she behaving like a child?

I tend to agree that over-policing of mature teens in the adult areas isn't always necessary, though I don't blame DCL for having zero-tolerance policies (even if they aren't always actually zero-tolerance). But certainly in busy times, the limited seats/loungers/etc. should be reserved for adults.

 

[n2mm]

I’ve seen younger looking cruisers politely approached by crew members often when lounging in the adult areas. every adult & teen should carry their room card.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

My kids, both over 18, have been very politely approach in the adult areas on several cruises. Not sure if there was a complaint or not, but a quick show of their KTTW card and all was well. I appreciate the fact they limit the adult areas to adults.

 

[owensjro]

I expect to have this problem with our daughter on our next cruise as well. She will be 20 but is only 4'10" and looks young. I'm hoping it is a one-and-done thing and once the CM in the area recognizes her it will be fine for the remainder of the cruise. Bad enough she is going to have to deal with being taken seriously as an adult in the "real world" but to also have it constantly questioned while on vacation is rough.

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

My DD was 20 at the time and they asked to see her KTTW card to go into the dining area at Serenity Bay.

 

[BlueBayou]

I expect to have this problem with our daughter on our next cruise as well. She will be 20 but is only 4'10" and looks young. I'm hoping it is a one-and-done thing and once the CM in the area recognizes her it will be fine for the remainder of the cruise. Bad enough she is going to have to deal with being taken seriously as an adult in the "real world" but to also have it constantly questioned while on vacation is rough.

I’m hopeful that time has changed this a little and she won’t have as much to overcome in the workplace. I did find the struggle to be real when I entered the world world 30+ years ago. You had to do double time to be taken seriously.

I can’t tell you how many times I was told - up until my mid 30s - “one day you will be happy you look so young.” That really never has happened- but I have never looked my age, so I may actually be appreciating it now. I had kids a little later in life - so my “mom” friends are 7 to 10 years younger than me. I do get a kick out of them learning I graduated from high school 10 years before them. It usually happens around music or some 70s reference. Or someone talking about their much older husband’s 50th birthday - And I mention that b-day has already come and gone for me.

 

[tinkerone]

I'm not sure if people actually complain (I'm sure some do) or if this is an excuse the CM's use to not seem like they are targeting people. I think they sometimes do this to get ahead of an issue. There was one week we sailed, it was that week early November that they call Jersey week, where the CM's were kept very busy shooing the non adults away. They just kept coming back and the area with the pool isn't all that big. There was another time that a father had his toddler at satellite falls playing and a CM asked him to please leave. He was angry and tried to argue that he should be allowed to be there and his child should be allowed to play in the falls.
Some can't take no for an answer. Expect to be asked once but don't let it bother you. They are only trying to do the best they can.

 

[Sleepyluke]

After several summers lifeguarding at a large resort style pool with a water slide built into a hill, being at a pool with lots of kids is kind of work for her. It’s not that she minds kids, it is just that it is second nature to be “on” like a lifeguard.

Off topic, but this won't ever go away. Spent 11 years as a lifeguard almost 20 years ago now, I have still never had a nap on the beach and still watch pools like a hawk because I know how little some parents are watching their kids.

 

[BlueBayou]

Expect to be asked once but don't let it bother you. They are only trying to do the best they can.

I’m just glad to learn from this thread that it is on the KTTW card. No need to carry other ID. That makes it easy and discreet.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

After several summers lifeguarding at a large resort style pool with a water slide built into a hill, being at a pool with lots of kids is kind of work for her. It’s not that she minds kids, it is just that it is second nature to be “on” like a lifeguard.

I was a lifeguard 30 years ago. I am still "on" when swimming around other people's children (or even other adults that have me concerned). It never goes away. TBH it never really should either. Never step on an active lifeguards toes if they are on the scene, but if you are closest, you may just save a life. But yeah, I get how she feels. It's just some switches don't come with an "off" setting.

I tend to agree that over-policing of mature teens in the adult areas isn't always necessary, though I don't blame DCL for having zero-tolerance policies (even if they aren't always actually zero-tolerance). But certainly in busy times, the limited seats/loungers/etc. should be reserved for adults.

Being older doesn't always mean being mature. My last cruise had an adult (I assume he was over 18 since he was in quiet cove) in the pool with I assume his brother. He had a mental handicap - i'm guessing on the spectrum, but sometimes that can overlap with drug overdose or other diseases. In any event, he was anything but quiet; or "mature". Of course he is just as welcome to cruise - I certainly didn't complain. I only saw him in the pool once or twice in any event. No big deal - just saying that sometimes over 18 doesn't mean quiet or mature.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

How do they make sure only people 18+ are in the adults only area?

We are traveling with a 18-year-old and a 21-year-old. My younger daughter looks particularly young. Like when she was lifeguarding at 17, she had a rude adult question her age and basically accuse her of lying. It went beyond "oh you look so young" into there is no way you are older than 13, how can you be a lifeguard.

I think she plans to hang by the pool and hot tub. Just wondering if she will be questioned by CMs.

If someone in the area looks to be under the age limit, they will be carded. So, tell her to keep her ship's card at hand. Our (then) 19 year old son was carded about 4-5 times in the Quiet Cove area before the CMs there got to know him.

 

[ImprovGal]

I got carded a few years ago at one of the cooking demos. They insisted on seeing my ID (not just just KTTW) before they would serve me the 1 oz shot of wine for the pairing. I was over twice the legal age by then.

 

[BlueBayou]

I got carded a few years ago at one of the cooking demos. They insisted on seeing my ID (not just just KTTW) before they would serve me the 1 oz shot of wine for the pairing. I was over twice the legal age by then.

^^^This^^^

Totally this in my non-vacation life. Sure I got carded at bars/clubs in my early 20s. But as I reached my 30s I got "carded harder" at grocery stores. Like they were carding me - expecting me to be 21 or 22. When I was a decade older than that - they were actually more suspicious. Holding the IDs up to the light etc. I've been carded three times in my 50s. One time at target I just busted out laughing (I was looking tired and my age). She said "We have to card anyone under 35." I was over 50.

 

[Boopuff]

I always wondered if they checked the adult areas and what they did with underage people