Interesting Experience Regarding Alcohol/Age Verification on the Fantasy

[PrincessShmoo]

Yes, it's the same on DCL as most other major cruise lines.

 

[Starwind]

I appreciate all of the detailed comments based on your past experiences! To clarify, our issue was not with being carded, but rather with the rude comments that followed. I was also curious on the policy of having government IDs for age verification versus the KTTW card (as I knew our photos popped up when they were scanned) and we heard conflicting information on the ship.

In addition, for both St. Maarten and St. Thomas we brought a photo ID off the ship, but we were never asked for a photo ID to get back on the ship, just for our KTTW. Having your KTTW card was drilled into our head. The mention of a photo ID wasn’t as explicit for Castaway (like it was for other ports), and coupling that with our experience of not being asked for it in the two ports prior, we were under the impression that a photo ID wasn’t necessary. We brought the photo ID after seeing the sign during the 5K checkin, but we were never asked for it again to get back on the ship.

We were not against showing our government ID when needed, we were just unsure of the official policy. We were more than willing to comply with the rules, and did as such, just not willing to deal with backlash/disrespect/belittling that we received.

Checking a selection of recent Personal Navigators, it is noted on each port day's Navigator that for 18-and-overs a photo ID in addition to the KTTW card is required. It is in the "Safety ashore information" section for non-CC ports, and the "Security Notice" section for CC.

SW

 

[CM Dad]

I find it somewhat amusing that at 62, I get asked for ID if I buy beer or wine at our Wegmans grocery store. I think Walmart here might also ask for ID

 

[ladyofthetramp]

No one should be rude. What is rude is asking someone if they are eligible for a senior citizen discount when they are not even close to that age... LOL. (disclaimer- no make up, and needed a trip to my colorist)-but really. How rude!

 

[cadien]

Isn't there still the Bahamian security check point before returning to the ship? That requires photo id for all over 18.

The only checkpoint we went through asked for one KTTW card per family and nothing else. We didn't have our ids on us so they definitely didn't ask for that.

 

[MomOTwins]

We definitely had to provide ID for the adults in our party to reboard at Castaway Cay in April this year.

I suspect the CM interactions you had were more flattery/banter falling flat than actual accusations that you were using your mother’s ID. I get similar comments a liquor store and just laugh and they laugh with me. On the cruise, I always carried my ID in a lanyard in case of carding. I don’t recall getting carded on board but I on the beach at did at CC

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

We definitely had to provide ID for the adults in our party to reboard at Castaway Cay in April this year.

I suspect the CM interactions you had were more flattery/banter falling flat than actual accusations that you were using your mother’s ID. I get similar comments a liquor store and just laugh and they laugh with me. On the cruise, I always carried my ID in a lanyard in case of carding. I don’t recall getting carded on board but I on the beach at did at CC

I agree that is likely the case, but as with any joke, it is only funny if the "audience" thinks it is. That is one of the hardest parts about being funny. You have to be able to "read the room." If anything, the CMs in question should have realized their "jokes" weren't funny, and apologized immediately.

Sorry you had a bad experience. Thanks for sharing! I hope the rest of your trip was excellent.

P.S. I too noticed that the only people who ever made sure I had my ID off the ship was the DCL CMs when I got off. Never was asked for it by the shore personnel coming back on. Nonetheless, it is good that DCL kept reminding me, because if a shore official did ask...

 

[hcox31]

I'm glad they're checking ID. That solves the problem of having drunk underage's sneaking drinks from the bar and making asses of themselves. You said you were 24 (and you admitted you looked young) so not sure why you're surprised you got IDd. The comments could have been left, I agree.

 

[Tinker-belle23]

As someone who is 26 and is forever being reminded I can pass for a 16 year old I 1000% understand your frustration. Yes I expect to be carded but the remarks are unnecessary especially after you provide proof you are indeed over 21. I was buying wine the other day at the grocery store the other day and actually was not carded for once when the lady behind me said to the cashier "She looks awfully young...you should ID her!" l felt so awkward....like mind your own business?!

 

[YawningDodo]

I'm kind of disappointed to see how many comments were left telling the OP not to be upset because she'll be flattered by it when she's older. I haven't had this issue to this degree--while I do still get carded pretty often at 30, I don't really get commentary about it and I don't get mistaken for a child. I had a friend, though, who was routinely mistaken for a twelve-year-old well into her twenties. It was not flattering for her to receive subpar service from people who assumed she was a child without clarifying the situation before acting on their assumptions, and now that she looks old enough to be mistaken for someone in her early twenties instead, I've still never heard her comment positively about it.

I'm sure plenty of people out there are flattered by it. I just don't think it's cool to tell someone else how to feel about their own life experiences.

I find it somewhat amusing that at 62, I get asked for ID if I buy beer or wine at our Wegmans grocery store. I think Walmart here might also ask for ID

I wonder if it's a matter of them carding everyone--the "everyone who looks 30 or younger" policy still requires some level of snap judgment on the part of whoever's doing the carding, and so many people get angry about getting carded that it becomes a needlessly tricky thing for retail workers to navigate. I'm pretty sure I'd heard that some stores do have a policy where they card everyone, every time, so employees can point to the policy and be off the hook if someone gets riled up about being asked for ID...and so employees don't let underage people slide because they didn't want to ask.

As to the original topic (finally), I'm surprised they carded you on the ship. I had commented on this board a while back that I'd found it a little weird that I wasn't carded at any point during my cruise, which was when I learned about the 'A' for adult thing and my photo popping up on their screens whenever they scanned my KTTW. With the photo being attached in the system like that, the KTTW is a photo ID, functionally speaking, so I don't know why they'd need anything additional (unless your photo was unclear? or they accidentally switched it with someone else's photo in the system? but I'd think that would create much bigger issues). I agree with a previous comment that the easiest solution while still on the cruise would have been to just start carrying your photo ID and handing it over with your KTTW every time, before they could ask--if it was a constant problem it'd be worth it to me to just carry the additional card and head the comments off. And if one of the bartenders asked why you did that, you could tell them that you were uncomfortable with the comments you'd been getting and maybe they'd tell the other bartenders to knock it off.

Regardless...whether or not one thinks it was a "big deal" in the grand scheme of things, it clearly bothered you. Whether or not they were joking, it bothered you. You're the guest in this situation, and it's not unreasonable to not want commentary on your age every time you try to enjoy the services you're paying to enjoy. I get carded all the time and I don't get commentary with it, so this would have weirded me out if it happened to me, especially multiple times on one trip. I'd send them that email.

 

[Dug720]

The only thing I can think regarding the picture is if they were ordering from a roaming server, that person would NOT immediately scan the card but would take it to the bar where it would be scanned.

Not excusing the comments. BUT if they were ordering from roaming servers on the pool deck and NOT the bartender directly, the server would not have immediate access to the picture.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I'm kind of disappointed to see how many comments were left telling the OP not to be upset because she'll be flattered by it when she's older.

I'm sure plenty of people out there are flattered by it. I just don't think it's cool to tell someone else how to feel about their own life experiences.

Regardless...whether or not one thinks it was a "big deal" in the grand scheme of things, it clearly bothered you. Whether or not they were joking, it bothered you.

I thought these were very insightful. I may print them out and glance at them before responding to posts on these boards. I mean that sincerely. (I realize it might sound like I'm being sarcastic.)

We often get asked on these boards for our experiences, our opinions, and our take on things. And that is great, and helpful.

But sometimes (text is SO HARD to convey emotion and intent) when we are trying to express our experiences or how we would feel in that situation, it comes across as if we are trying to tell another person how they should feel. (OK, some people do this flat out, intentionally. Not cool.) It can be a fine line, and sometimes be crossed without realizing it, certainly not intending it. So thanks for the points, and the helpful reminder!

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I'm 45 and was carded just this week while trying to buy alcohol.
Unless they were being overtly insulting, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Gigi22]

I really appreciate DCL's vigilance concerning the drinking age. A number of years ago, a clearly underaged young man approached my DH in a bar with the request that DH use the young man's cash to buy him a bottle of liquor. Uh. Not happening. I think that was also the cruise where some teenagers trashed the arcade...