Cruise lines tend have varying views of when a passenger is an adult.
For purposes of paying your cruise fare, once you're old enough to cruise, you're charged as a full person.
There are, of course, some kids-sail-free promotions, but those only apply to rooms that already have an adult paying full fare. Aside from those deals, babies are adults when it come to how many people are staying in your cabin.
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In other areas, 18 is a demarcation line. That's when a young person ages out of the teen clubs and can visit the casino on most cruise ships.
They can't, however, gain all of the perks of many casino programs because you have to be 21 to book a cruise. Generally, that means that anyone under 21 can't earn a free cruise while gambling on a ship.
In addition, any free drinks in the casino offers are limited to non-alcoholic options for anyone under the age of 21.
When it comes to specialty dining, however, cruise lines tend to consider a passenger an adult before they even reach their teens. That's a huge problem for one Carnival passenger which she brought to brand ambassador John Heald.
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Image source: Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line has a strange take on adults
It's worth noting that most cruise lines and all the major theme parks use ages under 18 to determine whether someone is an adult when it comes to dining.
"Good morning! I know a 12 year old is an adult in the steakhouse, but is there any way to have them order off the kids menu and for the kids prices? There’s no way she can eat $52 worth of food, and I don’t feel comfortable leaving her on her own for dinner. I was excited to try the steakhouse, but we will likely have to miss it! I know rules are rules so not asking for special treatment just wondering if it’s even a possibility," wrote Keri Maxfield
Heald was kind, but clear in his response
"Thank you, no, I’m afraid not, it sounds a bit harsh, but we have to be quite strict about this. However, if you do wish to ask the steakhouse manager, then he or she may give permission. It’s not something I can do I’m afraid but my advice would be to ask because perhaps there and then depending on how busy it is etc. that they will be able to help," he wrote.
It's not uncommon for certain rules to. be flexible based on conditions onboard.
Some Carnival passengers want less food
Carnival (CCL) does a wonderful job when it comes to managing food allergies. It has a tablet-based system that help passengers make choices, and its waitstaff has been trained to keep diners safe.
Crista Leigh Bishop, however, shared a situation where she finds the cruise line to be a bit lacking.
"I’d love to see the dining room staff receive information about the smaller portions needed by those who have had weight loss surgery. I like to eat in the dining room and need small portions, but the staff never seem to understand why when I ask for that, or it appears I didn’t like the meal if I didn’t eat much of it," she wrote.
Bishop also does not want to see food go to waste.
"I try to avoid wasting when I can. I do understand many items are probably pre-portioned and cannot be changed, but some things can probably be adjusted I would think," she added.
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Jacinta, Heald's associate, answered the question, without addressing the underlying complaint.
"Hello, I do believe most of the main courses can be ordered as appetizer size," she wrote.
One commenter pointed out that doing that doesn't really change anything.
"They can...but I have never actually noticed a difference in the size," Nancy Hargraves shared.
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