Drunk Dad on our Cruise (What he did with his kid made us Nervous)

[@christineshields1714]

Your instinct was that something was wrong or off. You didn't confront the man nor his son directly but followed a reasonable course of action by reporting your concerns to guest services. You did what you felt was right. Don't second guess yourself.

[@Stacia-ep9vr]

YES. Please let CPS or police know. They will get people to investigate. At least a report would be on file, if more takes place in future.

[@ellenb.1325]

I absolutely think that you did the right thing for a number of reasons. 1. How do you know that it was a father and son? I personally know of a situation on a cruise where someone was “grooming” a teenager while the parents were at the shows at night and offering the teenager alcohol. 2. What if the teen had been injured on the ship? You would always have questioned yourself for not reporting this. I reported the alcohol in the situation with my friends and that is how this person was finally stopped!!!!!! You did the right thing!!!!!

[@MelindaEvens]

You absolutely did the right thing! 6:49

[@texasgirl8446]

That’s good that you were looking out for the minor I’m glad you didn’t confront the dad because he was drunk i would of probably called or followed them to see what state room they were in even to make sure the kid was back in the room. Then I would have called but there are crew members around even at that time of night. God put you in that spot at that time. I sure this happens a lot on a ship. Thanks guys for putting out this video so people can be aware of this going on

[@joleighva]

I totally disagree with all the people saying it was none of your business. Being concerned about the safety of children is everyone’s business. Reporting this to the appropriate people who could choose to look into the video or not was completely appropriate. What a parent chooses to do with their child in their own cabin is up to them, but doing so in public is totally different. I don’t care if someone’s ‘culture’ allows it - the cruise line does not. Don’t like it? Don’t cruise! If you’re too drunk to carry your own drinks, you shouldn’t be having them. Don’t put your child in the position of being the parent EVER.

[@reenakemp9132]

I would have left it alone simply because I didn't know the whole story. My 22 year old daughter looks 15. So I don't judge based on what age I think they are. However, I also don't think you overstepped your bounds either. You were concerned and anytime there is one you have a right to voice it. The fact they were not violent and were smiling and happy, I would have left it alone.

[@reenakemp9132]

I just want to add, from my experience, if a cruise bartender was making 3 drinks, then she scanned 3 cards. I've never been allowed multiple drinks without each card getting scanned. I doubt he was being sneaky

[@JJCruise]

Thank you for this! I keep going back and wonder if this was just a really really young 21 year old 🥹

[@reenakemp9132]

@JJCruise i don't think you should wonder about it too much. You didn't do anything wrong. I love your guys channel. You all have am honesty to you, that shows in videos like this.

[@JJCruise]

@@reenakemp9132 we actually witnessed all being placed on the same card. Not stating that this was the cruise line, but…I can use my (1) card on (5) diamond drinks at once on Royal Caribbean.

[@JJCruise]

@reenakemp9132 thank you so much! What a sweet and kind message 🫶🏻🫶🏻

[@fairbankssheila]

I think it’s refreshing that you were both alarmed and addressed it in a calm and professional manner. So many people “think it’s none of my business “ and ignore potentially serious issues that we later wonder why did so many people see this and do nothing.

[@KathrynKelly-d3c]

I think this happens more often than you may think. I would probably mention it in the post cruise survey.

[@JJCruise]

We were wondering that too…

[@KathrynKelly-d3c]

@@JJCruise We are just finishing a wonderful cruise expect for the excess drinking we saw. One night we were driven from the aft bar by loud swearing and terrible behavior. Thankfully that’s not always the case.

[@devoeadvising]

ALWAYS make the call and let them decide and figure it out. If something gets out of hand you know you did what you could.

[@JJCruise]

Thank you! We agree.

[@vickigilligan8159]

Previous bartender here. Kids AT the bar not acceptable, serving someone visibly drunk. Not acceptable. U did fin

[@epicgameztv]

From my experience most people who drink are in good spirits and having fun, some though get ugly when they get drunk. we have a thing called "Serving it Right" which anyone working in a licensed establishment must have. Talks about over service and the liability on the business and a lot more. As for the kid getting a drink.. im pretty neutral on the subject.. I've let my son taste a drink. I think thats a parent choice.. most dads have had that conversation with thier kids, and in Canada drinking age is 18/19 depending on where you live. So me myself i wouldnt be to nervous for the kid, I'd just want to make sure the Dad gets to his room and is safe. Cruise ships should have limits on drinks and learn how to slow someone down or just cut them off. Im a bit surprised none of these cruise companies havent been sued for over service, or injuries/deaths caused by over service.

[@joannmay-anthony1076]

You did the right thing. Guest services was the correct thing.

[@dianstreeter3163]

There was to many what if's involved in this senerio. I would have minded my own business ,as it looks as if there was no harm . We witnessed a near drowning of a 6 year old when his dad who was clearly drunk holding his boys head under the water in the pool . In this case we reported him immediately .BTW, love your channel

[@JJCruise]

Thank you so much for chiming in! That sounds horrible- sorry you had to witness that, but so thankful you were there!

[@annekirkman6709]

Aging someone is difficult, my eldest daughter is in her 40's and still gets asked to provide proof of age because she looks so young, and we are in the UK where the legal age is 18.

[@marjoriemurch1142]

U did the right thing. If it had occurred at the pool, there may have been more concern for safety.

[@joanneshiels9189]

I always go with my gut. So you did what is right for you ! I imagine the drunk dad didn’t want to spill any and had his son carry it, But ya never know. It puts them on the dad’s radar.

[@EllHun]

Maybe the kid was 18 in international waters? I am not really a drinker (like I’ll maybe have a glass of wine one or two nights on a cruise). But, I’ll buy my son a drink when he’s 18- I’d rather he try one with me than be stupid with his friends at home because they think they’re being cool (or whatever their slang is for that). It’s sweet of you guys to worry.

[@Wrthy1]

I would have minded my own business unless the kid was in noticeable danger. I give my grandkids Virgin Kiss on the Lips multiple times during the cruise, so it could be misinterpreted easily as me giving them alcoholic drinks. They do not use their own cards, because I set their spending limit to a minimum and the arcade usually takes it by the first day. I would be upset if I got called out by Staff or anyone else accusing me of providing the kids alcohol.

[@randijaffe-7665]

Are they allowed to serve 2 alcoholic beverages to 1 person at the same time? Bartender needs to be monitored!

[@cheryladamic4773]

My 32 year old daughter looks like she is underage. She always gets carded on the ship when she is drinking alone, but when she is with me she does not. Now I am wondering if people think I am letting my "underage" daughter drink. Yes, sometimes I do buy her a drink since I do not drink except for pop and coffee and I let her use my drinks. The difference here is that I am never drunk, but now I wonder what others see. Great page BTW

[@JJCruise]

That’s a totally interesting perspective- i think from our perspective we just wanted to make sure everyone was safe. Thank you so much for watching!

[@JJCruise]

Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts! We wouldn’t have questioned this at all if the boy purchased the drink, but the secrecy of the dad purchasing two drinks after downing one of them and then handing the second to his son once out of sight of the bartender gave us pause as to what was really going on. We just want to ensure they were both safe onboard and let the crew watch out for their safety from there. ☺️

[@eriksmith2567]

The irony was my daughter was getting offered to be served on the NCL Sun when she was like 16/17. It was open bar but they notched the corner of the ship card to indicate under 21. However the bartenders dont even ask to see the cards since it was open bar. My daughter doesnt like alcohol so we were pretty safe. Imagine a kid who isnt adverse and has poor self control. Risking alcohol poisoning.

[@elnamayberry]

I think you did the right thing by not confronting the man directly but contacting Guest Services to alert them and let them decide if they wanted to look into it further. If he did give his underage son a drink, the cruise ship needs to know as under their rules, it's illegal. Might "not be a big deal" if they were in their own home, but they were in a public place and the laws apply and the cruise line has their licences to worry about. Especially if it may concern a minor child, it is everyone's business. When I am wondering if I should let someone know about a possible dangerous situation, I ask myself how bad would I feel if it was the worst possible scenario and I had not let anyone know.

[@JJCruise]

This is a great point! We were definitely nervous on their safety since the dad was so drunk.

[@sometimessuitesisters8661]

As a mother of a very young looking son, I'm sure I received some raised eyebrows, so my thoughts are quite different from yours. The first time we took my now 40 year old son to Vegas, we were approached so often about his age that they finally gave him an identifying stamp in the casino. I have also had all my kids help carry drinks for me. Like everything in life, it depends on your personal experiences and perspectives.

[@samanthagowanlock5877]

It's definitely tacky. If there was verbal and physical abuse then I would be making a complaint. Also, it is difficult to determine someone's age just by appearance. My 13 year old daughter is 5'9'' and looks of drinking age here in Alberta, Canada (18). She was told she was too old to be trick or treating at age 11. My son on the other hand, is short and most people think he is a lot younger than he really is.

[@JJCruise]

All we did was alert guest services about the state of the dad. We didn’t say anything about the possibility of a minor drinking. We feel as though safety at sea for everyone is #1.

[@samanthagowanlock5877]

​@@JJCruise It sounds like it came of genuine concern. It's better to call guest services than confront someone who has been drinking.

[@404goldie7]

I cruised in 1974 at 14, with my friend and his mom. Drinking age was 18. My parents allowed me to drink at home on certain occasions, responsibly. There were no rules on ships in international waters. I had no trouble being served alcohol. My friend's mom got plastered! No one even raised an eyebrow, and somehow we all survived. In my opinion, unless you witnessed child abuse, you should mind your own business. A parent does what they see fit concerning their own children. I do understand that your generation has a different perspective.

[@jl2144]

I would mind my own business. And never would call guest services.

[@JJCruise]

We weren’t trying to pry or be nosey- we were just going with our gut and letting the crew decide if they wanted to check-in on the man discretely. While out to sea we believe safety should be everyone’s priority.

[@jl2144]

@JJCruise All well and good to do what you think is right. IMO, that was a busybody move. Staff can handle it. Bartender should have if they thought necessary.

[@JohnWarner-x4t]

While i understand your concern with a young person drinking that is not really the issue. Having been married to an alcoholic for over 30 years while raising our 2 children, the role model and behaviors are what lasts in their minds. One child of mine won't touch alcohol while the other was drinking every night until he was getting married and his wife told him she would leave so he was able to stop. One drink doesn't really make a difference. It's if the father always tries to have the son drink with him or is influencing the son in negative ways. I don't think you did anything wrong. I just would have focused on the father more than the son. Did you see him again on the cruise? Hope you get to 100k soon. I love your channel. I was going on an Alaskan cruise and started watching you guys and now watch all the time even though my cruise was in June😂

[@JJCruise]

Thank you so much for the perspective! We just wanted to make sure everyone in the scenario was safe. Safety at sea is priority #1. This was the last night of the cruise so we didn’t see them again.

[@lawrencesmith5263]

@@JJCruise What if you ruined that whole family's vacation on the last night because they are now banned from the cruise line or if the bartender supporting their whole family in the Philippines all because you read the situation wrong. However since there was a report made, the cruise line was obligated to investigate or be liable. If it was the last night of the cruise, all the more reason to mind your own business. More likely than not there was an innocent excuse. Also, unless you can say that before you were 21, that you never took a sip or had a drink, then unless there was harmful behavior or you were certain someone was in danger, mind your own business. Just a hypothetical question, I never would have heard about Ville Vie if it were not for this channel. I'm not a snitch but what if someone in August would have reported your channel to Guest Services (Homeland Security/FBI,) not because they had any proof or were connected in anyway to the people booked on Ville Vie, but just "had a bad feeling" because your channel was promoting Ville Vie last winter and the company smelled a little fishy because of all the delays. The lesson, mind your own business unless you actually have proof someone is being harmed or you are directly impacted. Please tell your audience which one of you two wanted to call guest services and which one wanted to enjoy the rest of your evening and stay out of it. I bet I'll guess right.

[@mickiesadventures]

A person who gets inebriated can not make sound decisions! I believe you guys did the right thing! If he is passing off drinks to the child, he will soon have one like him which is not the right way to be! I for once believe that is child abuse, or maltreatment. Minding my own business is one thing if I didn’t see the hand off, but the minute he did that I would be concerned for the child and ultimately for him, because he is not of sound mind at that point!

[@pattiheilman1630]

You guys did the right thing! Some people should not be parents.

[@JJCruise]

Thank you. We just care deeply about the safety of our fellow cruisers!

[@Juancarlo4342]

U gotta just mind your own business. Simple.

[@leasaswartz6879]

I think contacting guest services was the right thing to do. Doing that also let guest services know the father was probably over served.

[@DreamsSketcher]

Even though the father was drunk, if they were not causing trouble and perhaps going back to the room, and because you didn’t know for sure what was happening, I would’ve let it go. Now if you saw him hand it to his kid who’s 12 years old that’s something different. Especially to see the kid drinking, but even then I might let it go if the father is drunk but generally well behaved as well as the child. It is not ideal but I remember back in the 70s and 80s sometimes us kids would be given a sip or two at the family barbeque or at the wedding/ special occasion etc. I honestly thought it was going to be a lot worse than this. My sister saw a family in another country, of Eastern Asian persuasion, with a large family sitting and eating at a tourist site, haul off and not slap, but punch their baby. An infant. My sister just about jumped out of her skin! And her husband had to hold her back. And talk about feeling completely unsettled about what to do! My sister is a type to march in where angels fear to tread. Well, it would be hard not to in the situation. I can’t remember which country this was in because they traveled a lot. But her husband reminded her this is not Canada or the US. They do things differently here and they have different laws and customs. Or may not see things the same way. Or even feel she was prejudicial in saying anything against this group. Even though we would all agree that is a very disgusting and very scary/ harmful thing to do to a defenceless baby. I know my sister never felt comfortable with just walking away. But felt outnumbered. She was not sure if she had solid ground to stand on. Morally, she knew she was right. But she didn’t know where it would fall in another country. It bothered her so bad she was in tears for a few days thinking about it. Now THAT IS an issue. If the father had gotten drunk and was pushing his kids around or constantly feeding his kid to drink and you could see it, that would be different. Or if the father was so drunk, he couldn’t take care of his little kids and they could be in danger, that would be different. In Europe they let children drink wine at the table with meals like you say. If he’s trying to get the kid drunk, that would be more of a thing. I think this one should’ve been left alone. But I appreciate that you care. I suppose I would rather people air on caution though, and be considered a bit of a busybody rather than all those who don’t speak up when they clearly see or hear abuse. But I don’t think this was abuse.

[@kegarner1012]

Not everyone is mature enough to limit alcohol with children around. You cannot make the decision about someone else. Alcoholics will do just about anything for the drink. Also, I was carded into my 30's at bars.

[@eriksmith2567]

Unless the kid himself appeared drunk then I probably would have said nothing. Like you said, he could have had the kid hold it so he could push a button or fish something out of my pocket. “Here, hold my beer!” Sort of thing. Now if the kid was wasted, then my concern would have been like that last underage kid that went overboard after excessive drinking. In cozumel the drinking age is 18. In Nassau if youre old enough to walk up to the bar, they will serve you. Look on the upside. They aren’t driving the ship 😊

[@arlinebabka4327]

You aren’t the cruise police, you’re concerned adults! Considering that a drunk young man died on a cruise ship not very long ago you did the absolute right thing by alerting guest services so they can keep an eye out for any dangerous behavior. If this happened once then it would probably happen again so having the ship crew know to keep a watch out could avoid any future tragedy on that sailing.

[@TWSmith42]

Alcohol is just not good. Moderation is a huge part of using alcohol. High functioning alcoholics are hard to work with. As you say, there were so many variables, so if you don't see something concrete, there is really nothing you could do other than the quick call. You guys seem to be drinkers. How much do you drink on an evening during a cruise? How much during the day? For example: 2x mimosas for breakfast. 2x beers for lunch. 2x wine with dinner. 1x cocktail in the casino in the evening or at a show. 2x cocktails to end the day.

[@AS1Donna]

I would not have called guest services. There was no physical abuse, just a dad letting his underage son have a drink on vacation. Not my business.

[@JJCruise]

I think we just had a gut feeling and went with it. When alcohol is involved and we’re at sea, you can’t be too careful.

[@Stacia-ep9vr]

If the parent is allowing consumption of alcohol and then 20 years later the child realizes that they no longer want to drink but have an addiction, then parent was a contributing factor. Half a glass of wine or beer with dinner is not the same as recreational drinking. Many parents do pass on their genetic predilection for alcoholism.

[@palmersonholiday]

Where I am from legally this is allowed including giving (and supervising) someone under 18 a drink as a parent in non licensed premises.. I personally wouldn’t on a ship. However this would be a bar service and drink package issue - being served more than one at once.

[@JJCruise]

Very true! It may be more of a training and monitoring issue for some of the crew (maybe this is something the bartenders need to watch out for more carefully). We hope you all are well on the other side of the world! 🫶🏻

[@oliviabailey2234]

They normally don't give more than 1 alcoholic beverage at a time even with a drink package. It may not have been what you think it was. I would have minded mine and moved on

[@JJCruise]

Thank you for chiming in. On Royal they will give you multiple diamond drinks at once (we’ve gifted drinks to friends of age before). So we knew he was getting multiple drinks, but could have been for the spouse upstairs or someone else- you’re right.

[@christymurphy6571]

I wouldn't have done anything. If dad wasn't being abusive then let them be.

[@angelsmilkyway4352]

Sorry you were wrong. In many cultures, parents allow their children to drink before The States do. That's not a big deal. That wasn't your concern.

[@JJCruise]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@Ivehadenuff]

I just got back from my first cruise and was appalled by the amount some people drank. It’s weird and disturbing because drunk men can be very violent. I know from experience.

[@skeletor9121]

Personally I would have minded my own business unless there was physical abusive behavior. Not my business.

[@JJCruise]

I think just alerting someone was a happy medium. We tried to not pry too much, but also had some concern.

[@moiraw1111]

@@JJCruise You did the right thing. We don't know what goes on behind closed doors.

[@chrismoss2818]

There is no judgment here. However, one doesn't know what happened after the hand-off. Was the father handing it off to get something out of his pocket? Was there any other evidence that the son was consuming alcohol? In the end, you did what you thought was best. You have a good heart and care about your fellow cruisers, and no one can fault you for that. You left it for what you thought was right. Report it and allow the professionals to make the next move if they felt it was necessary.

[@pamcurtisdavey712]

I would not have done a thing. When I was growing up the legal age in NY was 18. Our parents let us have a cocktail with them at 16 so we could know our limits. My parents were always there….

[@lutonia]

Exactly

[@sandishull2378]

I wasn't there, so can't really tell you. If I see someone that's really showing they are drunk, and kids are involved I would keep an eye on them. If I think the staff should be involved yes I would speak to someone, otherwise I just let them be. If I see someone giving a kid a drink, just casually strike up a conversation with the kid and during the conversation ask the kids age. If underage and you for a fact it's not a mock tail then definitely report it.

[@vickipetilli2854]

In the privacy of one’s home, a parent is allowed to give an underage kid a drink. Unless you think the kid was downing a lot, it was likely just a treat, not a regular happenstance in this kid’s life. I would have let it go

[@patrickgrove7716]

I would mind my own business unless I witnessed something abusive...then alert security. Guest Service is handling other things.

[@changeworkssystem6024]

I would have minded my own business and allowed the ship's security team and security cameras to handle things if they felt it was warranted -- but I don't think you didn't anything inappropriate by alerting the crew if you felt that might be important. I do think it strange that the bartender served someone TWO drinks when the drinks packages on most cruise lines make it abundantly clear that you only get one drink at a time. Perhaps sticking to the rules would reduce the likelihood of a parent sharing booze with a minor child. That said, if a parent is comfortable offering their teenage child a taste of an alcoholic beverage, it's not my place to judge BUT it should be done in the privacy of the stateroom.

[@mickgaworecki8722]

There are happy drunks and there are violent drunks. If he was a happy drunk, he would be no harm to anyone. If he gave a drink to his son, that's their business,. not anyone else's.

[@Rockerfoxguber]

Hello Gentlemen, I honestly was thinking of what I would have done. Being a woman we can kinda “pretend” we’re lost. I would have followed him a little pretending to look for something to get a better perspective as to what was happening. I’ve done this a few times watching out for kiddos when my Spidey sense started.

[@lawrencesmith5263]

I agree with this lady. If you were truly worried about safety, you would have gathered more information, or followed from a distance to make sure they made it to their cabin safely. With all due respect, please tell us who was the one of your couple that wanted to stay out of it.

[@s.k.hofstadter4912]

In many European cultures it is perfectly normal for older teens to begin drinking wine or beer with meals at home. If handled correctly, this can be a good way to introduce them to the responsible consumption of alcohol. My parents, though American, followed this custom, and I, as an adult, am essentially a non-drinker (occasional glass of wine, plus one cocktail a night on vacation). So I’m not terribly bothered by teen drinking per se, if it’s supervised by responsible parents. In the situation you describe, however, the parent didn’t appear all that responsible, and the kid was given a cocktail that had been made extra strong at the parent’s request. I think you correctly drew the line between “mind your own business” and “see something, say something” by not intervening personally, but calling guest services with a heads-up. Intervening personally would clearly have been unwise; saying nothing to anyone would have been acceptable, but doing what you did, while not required, was entirely reasonable.

[@norinechang2564]

You'd have to let this one go...now if the guy with the drinks had started throwing and destroying items, or physically pushing or punching people, that's a different story. It sounded like he was being a poor role model for the kid, but there's no law against being a poor role model. Whether the guy is a danger to passengers is the crew's call to make when there is no direct evidence.

[@jorgeahued]

I think it was none of your business and you shouldn't have done anything, most innocent situations get blown out of proportion by nosey people who do not know the whole story and simply assume, stay in your lane and let others do their thing.

[@JJCruise]

We just felt in the moment that you can’t be too careful. Safety at sea is always priory #1 (especially when alcohol is involved).

[@lawrencesmith5263]

@@JJCruise Keep minding other people's business. Google the line F*ck around and Find out. One day, you will learn.

[@julieamos1633]

I don't get the drink package but aren't they only supposed to give u one drink at a time. I think the bar tender should have not served 2 drinks to a drunk person who just downed a drink

[@ShirleyMarie971]

Bravo to you both!! Also somebody who is so drunk is not safe for any passenger on board!

[@Rockerfoxguber]

@@ShirleyMarie971 I agree! It was brave to keep an eye and call the cruise line!

[@ricknolte6846]

You did what you thought was right and that is all that matters. I would go with sober decisions over inebriated ones anytime.

[@vickynardeBIV]

How did the man get two alcoholic drinks at once would be my first question ….

[@JJCruise]

He did pay, not use the package as she noted this and had him sign. But I agree, two drinks served at once is usually not allowed. (Maybe for this very reason 😅)

[@Lealelan]

@@JJCruise This is interesting. We were on a trans-pacific on RC last Spring and every afternoon, I'd go get 2 frozen drinks (so I could sit in my room, check email, then get ready for dinner). I didnt have the drink package and it was never a problem. My daughter who is 22, but looks like she's a teenager, would sometimes go with me and carry one of the drinks (as they were so full, they spilled easily). But now I'm wondering about the "more than one drink " thing? Do different ships have different policies maybe? hmmmm....I know you can't get more than one with the drink package.

[@mvsgeek]

You saw too much but you didn't see enough. The call to guest services was OK as long as you told them the story the same way you told it to us. Your concerns were valid. Your actions were good.

[@datavortex]

The American legal drinking age is based on nothing and is stupid. Getting drunk with your dad in the safety of a cruise ship sounds awesome. I would have loved that. I see zero problems with anything you saw except the rudeness to the staff.

[@debbief2882]

That's a tough call...

[@sarahrose3877]

I would have done nothing. It's up to the staff to police the drinkers.

[@Ivehadenuff]

If you see something, say something. It might save a life. Drunk people need help, but can be extremely dangerous.

[@kellyhenry8914]

As a parent who used to drink a lot of wine, mommy juice, whatever you want to call it, your kids start to look out for you. That kid was just supervising his dad and making sure he got back to the room okay. I know how bad that sounds but I used to be that parent. Hopefully that man wakes up and knocks it off. I would not have called if I was sure the kid was okay.

[@JJCruise]

That’s a good point, and you’re right. Kids look at everything their parents do!

[@kellyhenry8914]

@@JJCruise Little pictures have big eyes.

[@rank1839]

I probably would’ve just done nothing. Maybe the kid was a little older and his parents allow him to drink a little. Just as long as he wasn’t abusive or nasty I would’ve just done nothing.

[@JJCruise]

Thanks so much for chiming in and watching the video.

[@miltongee1627]

From this story I would do nothing and mind my own business. There was nothing major.

[@baysideharpy8350]

A drunk on a cruise? No way!

[@wallacehelin3384]

I would have done nothing.

[@JJCruise]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@JJCruise]

Thank you for sharing your opinion!

[@michaelwhite4686]

One question would be is the son actually underage where they are from. In Canada the legal drinking age is 18 or 19 depending on what province you are in. If the son was 18 and legal to drink at home in there province then is it really an issue to get involved in? The issue with not knowing the actual age and the legal age at home makes this a very difficult situation. The parent may have given the drink to their child who is of legal drinking age where they come from and if that is the case then I don’t see a problem with it. Where I live the legal drinking age is 18.

[@JJCruise]

This is true in some states in the U.S. as well when it comes to giving a drink to your kid in your own home. Our main concern was safety for them given the status of the dad and being onboard a cruise ship. 🚢

[@sallyscholl130]

My father was a highly intelligent functioning alcoholic. This wasn't your problem, since he didn't seem to be violent. When you interfere with a drunk you only make the situation worse! The drunk probably went back to the cabin and passed out! End of story.

[@Knightnurse90]

You had no real idea of the boys age. My daughter was 21’and looked 16. I would have let it alone unless he was stumbling or the son looked distressed

[@JoanBaranek]

i wouldn’t have done anything since no violence or altercations.

[@TheTellerwaescher]

It is completely incomprehensible why people under the age of 21 are not allowed to drink alcohol in the USA. In civilised countries, people have already experienced several major crashes before the age of 21. It is even less understandable why some people believe they have to interfere in the drinking behaviour of other guests when there is no particular danger. Why do you have to play the "Blockwart"?

[@SammieGarretson-lm4kc]

I would of done what you did. No harm in letting the cruise personnel know. They can make the decision to check or not.

[@sircharlesmormont9300]

I would have let it go. Even in the U.S., isn't it fairly commonly held that minors are allowed to drink with their parents? My state law has an exception stating that minors can drink on the advice of a doctor, for religious purposes, or if supervised by a parent, spouse who isn't a minor (eww), or a legal guardian. This kid was being supervised by a parent, so... meh. I'd figure it was the parent's business if he wanted to introduce his kid to alcohol. Many families do that intentionally - in the hope of teaching their kids to handle alcohol so they don't go hog wild when they turn 21. Even I remember bringing my high school boyfriend to Thanksgiving. The big family drama was not that a couple of high school seniors drank some wine, but that the nervous boyfriend... gasp... spilled wine on my grandmother's white tablecloth! It sounds like the father you saw may not have been teaching moderation, but... still, meh. I would have said it was none of my business.

[@mrlogboy]

As I was not there, I truly cannot comment and would be very bad hearsay type information. I can report from what I’ve seen went on a Disney cruise. Where people are on the deck I’ve seen kids come over to their parents, and the adult adults only area help them gather all their stuff, including drinks and head back to the room. So I’ve seen kids under. I will say 14 carry alcoholic drinks back to the room.

[@mrlogboy]

The reason why on the Disney Cruise you could save the parents had so many drinks as this was during certain celebrations. You’d be surprised how many free drinks you actually get on a Disney cruise if you go to adult only cooking events depending on the length of your cruise, you might have a couple meet and greets with the captain and senior crew as well as they have other celebrations where free alcohol is given out. So you will see a lot of people with two drinks in their hand and maybe one in the kids hand because it’s free. lol

[@mrlogboy]

IF NOW IF You saw the child, hold a drink look at it and maybe even take a sip then you might know that they were being allowed to use it or have a drink or have a sip of a drink. But if they’re just holding it then that would fall into the example I’ve seen on Disney cruise ships. lol keep up the good work

[@mrlogboy]

Parts of Canada the drinking age is 18 or 19 depends on the province

[@JJCruise]

Yes! We’ve been on DCL and totally see what you’re saying. They do have a lot of drinks passed around from time to time during certain events!

[@mollymitchell6242]

I really am not sure how I would have handle this?

[@TheJohnebey]

My thought is the 2nd drink was for himself. None of us can be sure, but if I saw a child in an unsafe situation, I would rather err on the side of caution; I totally agree to let the cruise line deal with it.

[@JJCruise]

Totally agree. We feel like when alcohol is involved, safety is priority #1.

[@MultiMattman68]

If it doesn't concern you or affect you both, myob. Its good you were concerned.

[@dorothygiunta8519]

I was wondering if a bartender can continue to serve drinks to someone who is already drunk? That would be my only question so far. Still, if you think you did the right thing then that's your call and no one else's. PS. Love you guys!!

[@JJCruise]

We wondered same thing… like this guy was obviously drunk… however, we know bartenders have a hard call to make as well.

[@barbarahallowell2613]

I would have left it alone completely. It's not even slightly a bit your business. If there was abuse or aggression, different story. You said they were happy. This is none of your business. 😊

[@cydneystephen2814]

Idk J. Too many unknowns. You say underage but he could’ve been 15,16 or a young 21? You didn’t see the boy drink. Only hold it. If he had the drink package there’s a wait between drinks. He had one and she made 2 more. They were probably headed to their room. Maybe both drinks for the dad or 1 for mum? What did guest services say to you or do? Did you see them again on the cruise. No physical or verbal behavior. Dad wasn’t cussing and falling all over the place. Think I would’ve left that alone.

[@Juancarlo4342]

I would have minded my own business.

[@AntoinetteHayes-z8w]

I would have minded my business, cause it was none of my business

[@glennw6013]

With all due respect, I would mind my own business unless it seemed either the father or the son would be in danger. It really is the job of the bartender to patrol over-served patrons.

[@dwill123]

With out any definite prof of to what happened after they entered the elevator, you should have ‘MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS’. Where I live you can lose your LIFE if you involve yourself into someone else’s affairs. Especially if you don’t know what is truly going one.

[@hollykimmey4809]

Possibly gone back to the bartender to have her watch out for this man in the future, or if guest services , question if the bar allows underage guests to be there in the bar in the first place.

[@JbRanch-l8d]

In some states long as the parent is present it's legal to serve minors alcohol. Whether you agree or not. I personally don't think that serving minors alcohol is appropriate.

[@tmgrbr67]

I wouldn't have said anything, but that just the way I am. My husband, however, would have told someone

[@lisaditoro3509]

At the very least I would have expressed concern to Guest Services that a bartender was over serving. Maybe it's none of my business, but considering the risk of him doing something less than smart and causing himself or another passenger bodily harm goes up the more drunk he is I would feel compelled to say something.

[@ruthhawkins26]

Trust your gut. Better to look after a minor’s best interest.

[@Michele-ot8bh]

Tough call. Perhaps I would have asked the son if everything was ok, discreetly

[@JJCruise]

That totally would have been another option here. Thanks for chiming in.

[@joshmetzger5031]

It’s none-ya business

[@kathycoutinho5665]

I think I would have observed the son to see if he looked like he had been drinking. That late at night if he had already had a drink I think it would have shown and if that was the case I would have called it in. Or if I saw him take a sip of the drink otherwise I would have let it go.

[@sherylvaillancourt446]

Personally, I wouldn't have done anything unless there was physical abuse taking place.

[@1486230]

Do you believe the son was over 18?

[@JJCruise]

No, we believe 15 or 16

[@tduck828]

I would have let them be if they weren't being truly obnoxious.

[@JJCruise]

I think overall we just wanted to make sure their safety was taking priority. Sometimes at sea we feel you can’t be too careful (especially when alcohol is involved).

[@tduck828]

I get that. Totally valid point!!

[@arleenwallace3550]

Wow 😮 I believe you did the right thing. I’m not sure if I would have been as aware as you were. If I had I might have said something to the bartender. Not 100% certain as experiencing the situation first hand is totally different than thinking about how I would have handled it.

[@JJCruise]

Thank you, we weren’t 100% certain of what we were seeing, and wanted to what feedback from our community. Appreciate you watching and commenting 🫶🏻

[@beckym3650]

I am so glad you talked about this. It’s important because this dad clearly needs some help if he’s having his young teen son help him and taking drinks from his dad. There’s more than one kind of abuse - physical abuse is only one form of abuse. I would say having your kid “babysit” you because you are so drunk you need assistance would qualify. I don’t understand the idea that if it’s not a 911 situation then it’s no one business. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors and that kid isn’t hanging out with his falling down drunk dad because it’s fun. He’s doing it because he’s seen things and/or experienced things that he likely felt like needed assistance or feared something happening. It’s incredibly sad. What if that was you as a kid or your grandchild, wouldn’t you want someone to try and help? Both of you are so kind and thoughtful to think about others and let others know that it’s ok to say something even if it’s not 911 worthy.

[@beverlylang3793]

They were on vacation. By rating them out you could have made thing difficult, did you see the boy drink it ?¿??

[@JJCruise]

We didn’t rat anyone out- all we did was make sure everyone in the scenario was being safe. We never said to guest services there was a guy buying minors drinks…when at sea you cannot be too careful (especially when alcohol is involved).

[@skeletor9121]

@@beverlylang3793 I have to agree. Everyone is assuming that the boy was given an alcoholic beverage. As it was explained, the father was entering the elevator and my guess would be that he had his son hold the drink while he needed his other hand to push the buttons. JMO

[@autobotdiva9268]

a child at the bar? not good

[@OneTuffSweetie78]

Honestly too much of the unknown here for you to know what was actually going on. I’m one to follow my gut, but without witnessing the kid actually drinking the drink, you just don’t know. I would have stayed out of it.

[@kbtravelingaround]

I say don’t get involved.