Many parents allow their teens a certain level of freedom while enjoying a family cruise vacation.
Determining just how much freedom and what’s age-appropriate for teens mostly falls to parents to decide, but it’s important to be aware of the rules your cruise line has around age restrictions for onboard activities.
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Sometimes, parents must sign a waiver if they want to bypass a cruise line rule for teens and young adults. For example, Norwegian Cruise Line gives parents on U.S. sailings the option to sign a waiver if they want to allow their 18- to 20-year-olds to consume beer and wine while sailing in international waters.
But policies vary by cruise line. Carnival Cruise Line doesn’t give parents the right to waive the minimum drinking age and also imposes rules that prevent teens from entering certain venues on board its ships.
Along with maintaining that passengers under 18 are not permitted in the onboard casino and cannot participate in gambling of any kind, Carnival enforces age restrictions for its lounges, comedy club shows, and dance club.
Although the cruise line permits teens to be in some adults-only areas of the ship when accompanied by an adult, Carnival won’t let parents bring their teens to one late-night show, even if they want to sign a waiver.
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Teens are not permitted to attend Carnival Cruise Line’s adults-only comedy shows.
Image source: Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival brand ambassador shuts down parental waiver rumor
A recent social media rumor suggested that Carnival would allow parents the right to waive a cruise line rule that bans anyone under 18 from attending its late-night comedy shows; but according to Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald, this is one rule the cruise line won’t let parents break.
No matter the circumstances, Carnival won’t allow anyone under 18 to attend late-night Punchliner Comedy Club shows that may be R-rated.
“I confirm that we do not (as being reported on one of the YouTube channels) have a waiver for 15-year-olds to watch the rated adults-only comedy shows,” Heald wrote in a post on his popular Facebook page.
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“This is not correct,” Heald emphasized. “So please do not ask on the ship for this waiver as it does not exist.”
The brand ambassador, who’s a parent of a teen himself, also shared his opinion on the matter.
“And I think we’re doing the right thing,” Heald noted. “I hope you do too.”
Most Carnival passengers agree with comedy show rule
In the comments on the post, many Carnival passengers expressed their agreement with the brand ambassador.
For many, the issue isn’t about whether parents should determine what’s appropriate for their teen, it’s about how having teens in the audience impacts others in the room.
“Just because some parent is ok with a minor behind in an R-rated comedy club doesn’t give them the right to interfere with my ability to relax and laugh with one of these kids sitting near me,” Eric Granger wrote.
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Another passenger pointed out how having teens in the audience can create a problem for the comedian too.
“I am told that waivers (in general) are about as sensible as sleeping pills on the ship’s bridge. They are rarely (legally) enforceable. Problem is that a comic who spots a child in his or her audience might consider [it] affecting their routine. Some have even refused to perform until the child is removed,” John Buccafusco pointed out. “Parents need to set aside their own need to circumvent a policy and to think of the many other guests in attendance (as well as the performer).”
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