It's not like it's a new rule. Only RCI and Carnival make an exception for married people, and only Disney and Oceania allow other people 18-20 to cruise unaccompanied.

An overview of age restrictions for each cruise line: [www.cruisesavvy.com]

That said, I think HAL should add the married couple exception. Anybody who takes the big step of getting married AND booking a high-end cruise seems unlikely to get wild in the bars.

PJCS

coren

CatMoran

Sorry, just because you say some vows doesn't make you more responsible by default than any other 20 year old. What if, for instance an unmarried, mature 20 year old who had worked his or her ass off wanted to take a cruise? Somehow I don't think you would have half of society advocating on this person's behalf.

richcreamerybutter

Concerned_Citizen

I then proceeded with my more extreme version of the Consumerist ECB, which I refer to as the CEO Extortion Communique - in which I spelled out precisely how I would cost his company $10 million in bad publicity over the next decade if he didn't meet me half way. I got the check the next week...but if he hired people with common sense who gave a damn, I wouldn't have had to to that.

Consumer007

wildness

archer117

That agent would have my business for sure if only I knew who she was. Once again, a post about someone who did something good and their name and/or company info is left out. I find that to be a bit ungrateful on the poster's part. If an agent did something like this for me, I would be shouting their name from the rooftops so everyone would know exactly who she was and where to find her. Oh well.

And bravo to Holland America for ultimately doing the right thing. I understand the need for the age rule but it really should be waived for a married couple on their honeymoon. They aren't going cause trouble--if they even leave their cabin at all. ;-)

Lambasted

VikingP77

awolcfh5150

Toof_75_75

anonymousryan

Major-General

kathyl

Holland America knows that these two married tykes don't stand a chance--they're just being realistic. My suggestion is that before this couple goes on a honeymoon cruise, that they build up their systems by becoming Peace Corps volunteers, or maybe getting jobs changing diapers at a day-care for a few months.

ChuckECheese

They don't consider you a adult at 21? I'm glad I live in Ireland.

Anto103

We long-ago ditched Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz after a repeated and a consistent lack of service (many caused by the online booking agencies themselves!)

When you're in a bind (including a canceled flight), you can call a travel agent to help you out. Which is more than you'll get with the online travel sites.

Bad customer service at the online shops is resulting in a resurgence for real-life agents who are much more likely to help you out.

dugn

But isn't the mix up entirely the agent's fault? I mean, between the OP and the agent, who should know about Holland America's age restrictions?

jmuskratt

Breach

"As a side note, car rental places screw their young customers in a similar way - either you can't rent a car altogether if you're under 25, or you have to pay a bogus fee per day."

Uh... you do no they aren't actually being spiteful or greedy right? They won't rent because their insurance won't allow it or they pay increased premiums so that they can rent to you. You are currently paying "bogus" higher insurance rates because you are a higher risk until 25, when your rates will drop.

Thus the reason you get to have one age requirement milestone left after the big 21, being able to rent a car and lower insurance! Not as exciting as drinking but I'm looking forward to it!

Tmoney02

Holland America is a line oriented for older folks. They don't want us young-uns running around and upsetting the elders.

Our friend should have picked a different cruise line, or no cruise at all, since you couldn't get me to ever go on a such a regimented, crowded, and unrelaxing style of vacationing ever again.

Anyways, congrats to the newlyweds and I hope their honeymoon works out.

Byzantine

jimv2000

Canadian Impostor

marcduke

sublicon

Lucky225

rmz

Geekybiker

Not that I didn't indulge in some drunkenness later on, but it really took law school to drive me to it. :D

Eyebrows McGee

erratapage

Juggernaut

Agreed! And what better way to stop these kids from living more of their life than preventing them from experiencing... an enriching... vacation... wait.

InThrees

Good that they get to go, but they will be the youngest passengers on the entire ship, probably by about 40 years!

Maybe they will get lots of "adopted grandparent" wedding gifts?

TPK

Cruising with potential Pirates sounds exciting, THRILLING even. If I were to ever seek a thrill, it would have to be on a lawless ship where the rules could change at any time. That's just me. Or I could just be quiet and go to Six Flags, whatev.

smallestmills

I'm glad the couple in question was able to get this worked out - kudos to their travel agent. I guess this is one reason to still enlist their help, in this era of online booking sites. I feel sorry that they had to worry about this at all (yes, even though it was in the rules) - people already have enough going on just before a wedding.

Dervish

PicketFence

thirdbase

blackmage439

Kidding aside, I think you should really consider your "I only spend my money in America" stance, given that the profits of 90% of the products in your home go to places where "companies do not abide by the rules we enjoy in making the money".

Yeah.

aphex242

It turns he actually had a travel agent who I assume booked it for him. She should have known about the age restriction. I don't see how he could be held accountable for her oversight. She's supposed to be the professional. She's being paid to take care of these details.

hatrack

EliseMagooin

My travel agent drove over to tell me the news, because she was so excited and couldn't do it over the phone. She had got a call from her HAL rep at 8AM, 6AM Seattle time, who had been pushing this case with Holland America.

The HAL rep's name was Alicia and I want to give a big thanks to her for really sticking it out for us. I know she had to reopen our case and go above and beyond to find someone who would listen. She said she got a call at 1AM from her director who was told that we would be allowed to board. I am so excited!!!

I can't thank all of you enough, who kept posting all day yesterday and last night. There was so little hope because HAL had faxed over our cancellation notice yesterday afternoon and were only going to refund $400. But you guys kept talking and spurring debate on this arbitrary age requirement rule of being 25. I know they were listening to all of us, even if they didn't say so.

If we had gotten no response by this afternoon, I had planned to start using all of your great ideas out there. I'm just so happy it didn't have to make it to that stage. I've been on three HAL cruises with my family and always considered there service the best. That is why I selected them for my honeymoon. I'm so glad they didn't let me down.

Alicia said it had made her day being able to come in to work early and make that call. It is her birthday too, so an extra Happy Birthday to you and a big thanks from us Alicia. Enjoy the flowers!

And thanks again everyone for your support, ideas, and help in this matter!!!

Azzielucky13

Holland America: you have a putz policy; clean it up a bit.

NoWin

thrlsekr

Problem solved people, nothing to see here! Move along...

scoosdad

Thanks for the tip - I'm 23 and getting married this September. Rest assured that, at the very least, Holland America lost a potential customer.

As a side note, car rental places screw their young customers in a similar way - either you can't rent a car altogether if you're under 25, or you have to pay a bogus fee per day.

Sigh. At least we don't have wrinkles yet.

thenotwho

APIS (whose map it is, and what the key refers to) says:

"APIS codes two types of family member exceptions. First is an exception for consumption with parental/guardian consent and/or parental/guardian presence. Second is an exception for married minors. Like the parent/guardian exception, the spouse exception allows consumption when the minor's spouse is present and/or consents. Some States specify that the spouse must be of legal age, while others do not.

[...] Some jurisdictions limit family member exceptions to specific locations. For example, a minor might be allowed to consume alcohol with parental consent in their parents' residence, but not elsewhere.

Some States allow an exception for consumption on private property. States vary in the extent of the private property exception which may extend to all private locations, private residences only, or in the home of a parent or guardian only. In some jurisdictions, the location exception is conditional on the presence and/or consent of the parent, legal guardian, or spouse.

Some States also allow exceptions for educational purposes (e.g., students in culinary schools), religious purposes (e.g., sacramental use of alcoholic beverages), or medical purposes.

Finally, some States prohibit underage consumption only on licensed premises. Because the prohibitions are narrow, APIS codes such States as having no law prohibiting consumption."
[alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov]

Eyebrows McGee

Sockatume

Hanke

Eyebrows McGee

Hanke

PhiCancri

Buran

WayneK2

Eyebrows McGee

Eyebrows McGee

His best bet is to use the honey and forgo the vinegar. Try to work something out with the cruise line. Perhaps they'll allow him to reschedule his trip for when either he turns 25 or his wife turns 21. I know other items are already paid for, but they should have cancellation policies as well.

If the cruise line won't work with them, perhaps they can somehow, with the power of the interwebs, find another couple on the cruise who would be willing to act as chaperone. There may be legal implications to this, however, and may also not be a good idea. Should his wife get drunk underage, the 'chaperone' might be held responsible.

There is only one thing I can see that can help the guy...did he have to give his age and his wife's age when booking? If so, the agent should have made him aware of the policy.

Murph1908

Norcross

like 80% sure on this one.

graphikartistry

friendlynerd

Phenomenally stupid policy.

ThunderRoad

vllygrrl

ThunderRoad

gamehendge2000

[www.lonelyplanet.com]

jamesdenver

Then again, if I was dropping what I think you'd be dropping for a 20 day cruise, I would sure as heck get it on good authority from several people at Holland what the age restrictions were before booking.

HRHKingFriday

iEddie

iEddie

OP: Sorry about your luck, mate. I'd go with the plan to pay another passenger to be your "guardian". Hell, I'd do it for free.

Carso

parad0x360

RefinedbyFire

Talk to your travel agent.

Buran

If you can pay then you can play! G'luck!

graphikartistry

Jaysyn was banned for: http://consumerist.com/5032912/the-subprime-meltdown-will-be-nothing-compared-to-the-prime-meltdown#c7042646

masonreloaded

MumbletyEmma

What a stupid policy.

Megatenist

Later,
Chrome...

Chrome

B

SonicMan