Traveling with an almost 18 year old

[Mich123]

We will be taking a 4 night cruise on the Magic and February and our daughter will be 18 days shy of 18. I'm wondering if she will be "carded" in the adult only areas or if she'll be able to tag along with us to the Adult Pool and Serenity Bay. She is quiet and mature and often mistaken for an older kid. I don't want her to be kicked out for not being an adult, but I think she'd enjoy the quieter areas.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We will be taking a 4 night cruise on the Magic and February and our daughter will be 18 days shy of 18. I'm wondering if she will be "carded" in the adult only areas or if she'll be able to tag along with us to the Adult Pool and Serenity Bay. She is quiet and mature and often mistaken for an older kid. I don't want her to be kicked out for not being an adult, but I think she'd enjoy the quieter areas.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Yes, she might be carded. I know my 19 year son was carded at least 6-7 times before the people there got to know him.

The way it is - the adult areas are 18 and over. As a 17 year old she has access to Vibe (the teen club). But not the adult areas.

Do people try to get by? Yes. Should they? IMO, no.

 

[Mich123]

Thanks @PrincessShmoo!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks @PrincessShmoo!

You're welcome.

 

[SeaSpray]

Unless she tries to purchase a drink, the CMs won't see her card. I've personally witnessed an older-looking, mature 17 year old girl in the adult clubs at night with her family (her parents, aunts, etc), watching some of the live music and other acts. She just walked right in with her family and they sat down at a booth. Her presence didn't bother me, and if I hadn't known how old the girl was, I would've thought she was at least 18.

I know you didn't ask about Palo, but I've witnessed under-18's being turned away, even though the reservation was made by someone 18+. If they have any doubt they will card at the door to Palo; it's not the job of the waiters to card people during the meal. In 13 years I've not heard of Palo making allowances for anyone under the age of 18, at time of sailing. I don't know for sure about anyone who turns 18 while on the cruise.

You clearly know what the age policies are, so I wanted to answer your question since I've had personal experience, and I'm not going to judge.

 

[Mich123]

Thanks @SeaSpray! I appreciate your point of view--we definitely won't be trying to get into Palo, but it would be nice to hang out in some of the quieter areas with my quiet girl.

 

[GoofyNewfie]

To perhaps look at it another way, my DS was 17&3/4 when we last did a cruise. We saw him less than any other cruise as he wanted to spend all his time with kids his age at Vibe. He's very bummed that he's now aged out for our next cruise.

Good luck.

 

[DisneyNurse19]

We will be taking a 4 night cruise on the Magic and February and our daughter will be 18 days shy of 18. I'm wondering if she will be "carded" in the adult only areas or if she'll be able to tag along with us to the Adult Pool and Serenity Bay. She is quiet and mature and often mistaken for an older kid. I don't want her to be kicked out for not being an adult, but I think she'd enjoy the quieter areas.

Thanks in advance for your help!

My Daughter who is now 31 actually works on the ships and she has been asked for id when travelling as a guest

 

[Dug720]

Thanks @SeaSpray! I appreciate your point of view--we definitely won't be trying to get into Palo, but it would be nice to hang out in some of the quieter areas with my quiet girl.

I have always found plenty of "quiet areas" without isolating myself in the adult areas. (In fact, most of the time the adult areas are FAR from quiet - Cove Cafe being the exception.)

But yes. There is a possibility she will be carded and asked to leave if you are in adult areas. IMHO either plan to find the non-adult quiet areas or wait a few months until she is 18.

 

[CamColt]

Once when DH and I, and only 1 other family were in the Cadillac Lounge we saw a CM ask the other family's son to leave. He looked like he was probably close to 18 and he certainly wasn't bothering anyone, but the server (or bartender, I forget) went over and asked him to leave. We almost felt bad because it could have looked like we complained, but we didn't. The CM took it upon himself to verify his age and ask him to leave.

 

[Vijoge]

But yes. There is a possibility she will be carded and asked to leave if you are in adult areas. IMHO either plan to find the non-adult quiet areas or wait a few months until she is 18.

Agree. If it's important to you (or her) wait until after her birthday to go. Your daughter may very well be quiet, but a lot of kids aren't and the minute they start making exceptions for one. . . 18 really does mean 18, not almost to 18.

 

[Dug720]

Agree. If it's important to you (or her) wait until after her birthday to go. Your daughter may very well be quiet, but a lot of kids aren't and the minute they start making exceptions for one. . . 18 really does mean 18, not almost to 18.

That is the key. Especially in this electronic era once word gets out everyone starts demanding it. Exhibit A - no more dropping off things to be signed because word got out and more and more people demanded it. Exhibit B - word got out last summer that the first Brilliance of the Seas Med/Venice cruise there was no shuttle charge for Ravenna. By the second, the port/city changed its mind and there was a charge. Which rather than sucking it up and just paying it, RCCL created a lot of ill will by making us pay after word was out.