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SEE IT: Video Shows Louisiana Teen Moments After Jumping from Cruise Ship, Search Called Off

A video has surfaced showing boat passengers in the Bahamas moments after an 18-year-old Louisiana star baseball player jumped off the ship in response to a dare, resulting in a fatal outcome.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Cameron Robbins, who had just graduated from University Laboratory School (U-High), jumped off the boat as a dare on May 24. A video obtained by DailyMail showed Robbins splashing in the water near the boat before he vanished.

At the time, Robbins and students from other schools were on a graduation trip at the Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau.

At 11:30 p.m. on May 24, Royal Bahamas Defence Force personnel contacted watchstanders from Coast Guard District Seven, informing them that someone had fallen off the Blackbeard’s Revenge sunset cruise ship.

According to a witness, crews made multiple unsuccessful attempts to locate Robbins as the boat, resembling a pirate ship, stayed in the area for several hours. On Friday, the U.S. Coast Guard called the search off , according to CBS 9.

#FinalUpdate press release: https://t.co/WyAamjsWl6 — USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) May 27, 2023

U-High baseball coach Justin Morgan issued a statement following the tragedy.

“Cameron is a kid who is truly loved by his teammates, teachers, and fellow classmates. He is a fierce competitor on the baseball field. He is a hard worker both on and off of the playing field. Our school community is struggling right now but hoping for the very best. Our thoughts and prayers have been and will remain with the Robbins family during this difficult time.”

Check back for updates.

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[Featured image: Cameron Robbins/U-High]

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Chilling last words shouted at missing teen after he jumped off cruise ship into shark-infested waters

Cameron robbins has been missing since 24 may when he went overboard a cruise ship.

A viral video of a teenager who has gone missing appearing to jump overboard from a cruise ship may contain the last words he heard.

18-year-old Cameron Robbins of Louisiana was celebrating his high school graduation on board the cruise ship in the Bahamas when he was filmed going overboard on 24 May.

In the video of the incident, which has been claimed to be a dare , it shows Cameron in the water after witnesses said he jumped overboard into the water at around 9:40pm local time.

He was last seen paddling around in the water before disappearing from view, with the boat staying in place for several hours in an attempt to find Robbins.

Official search attempts for the 18-year-old were called off on 27 May as the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the US Coast Guard Southeast were unable to locate him in the water.

The video of Cameron in the water has gone viral since his disappearance and some viewers believe they've spotted something moving in the water which could be a shark .

Whatever happened to Cameron, the former University Laboratory School student has not been seen since his fellow passengers on the cruise ship saw him disappear from view shortly after going overboard.

The footage also contains the last words that Cameron may have heard before going missing that night on 24 May.

One person can be heard shouting 'bye bye' to the 18-year-old as he's in the water, as several people on board the cruise ship attempt to get his attention as he swims.

Several others could be heard shouting to him that he's swimming away from a buoy which would have helped keep him afloat in the sea.

Shouts of 'grab the buoy' and 'hey the buoy' attempting to keep Cameron afloat and where they could see him appeared to be in vain as he didn't turn back round to grab the floating object.

He then vanished from the view of the panicked onlookers and has not been seen since, with the water he went into described as 'really shark infested' by Royal Bahamas Defense Force Commodore Raymond King.

Cameron's family released a statement following the announcement that the search for him had been called off.

They said: "The Bahamas government has called off the rescue for Cameron, and we are returning to Baton Rouge.

"We want to thank the Bahamas government, the U.S. Coast Guard, the United Cajun Navy and Congressman Garret Graves for everything they have done for us.

"In this time of grief, we thank our family, friends and well wishers for granting us the privacy we need to properly remember our son and mourn his loss."

Topics:  US News , World News , News

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

@ MrJoeHarker

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U.S. Coast Guard ends search for Louisiana teen who went overboard in the Bahamas

The U.S. Coast Guard has ended their search for a Louisiana teenager who went overboard during a sunset cruise in the Bahamas on Wednesday night.

The agency announced the conclusion of its search for 18-year-old Cameron Robbins, a recent high school graduate, on Saturday after a two-day effort led by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

The agency did not clarify if a body was found.

Robbins was in the Bahamas staying at the Atlantis Paradise resort in Nassau with other teenagers from Baton Rouge to mark their high school graduations, Louisiana State University confirmed Thursday.

Robbins graduated from the University Lab High School, which operates as part of LSU, on Sunday. The trip was not a school sanctioned event, according to LSU.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force contacted the Coast Guard for assistance on Wednesday at 11:30 p.m. after Robbins fell off the Blackbeard's Revenge sunset cruise ship, according to a news release .

"U.S. Coast Guard District Seven deployed multiple search and rescue assets in response to an agency assistance request from our partners in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force," said Lt. Commander Matthew Spado, Coast Guard liaison officer to the Bahamas. "Our Coast Guard command center and aircrews based in Miami supported RBDF search and rescue efforts since the initial report Wednesday evening, and continued through Friday evening."

Search and rescue crews searched more than 325 square miles looking for Robbins.

The active search was suspended by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force pending developments, according to the Coast Guard.

“We offer our sincerest condolences to Cameron Robbins’ family and friends," Spado said.

The agency is encouraging anyone with new information to contact the Coast Guard's District Seven.

Breaking news reporter

Michelle Acevedo is a New York-based senior editor for NBC News.

Shark Seen in Extended Video of HS Graduate Who Disappeared Jumping From Bahamas Ship

Eighteen-year-old high school graduate Cameron Robbins was on a celebratory trip in the Bahamas when he jumped off a ship on May 24, allegedly on a dare. The US Coast Guard called off the search after two days, but Robbins has still not been found. Blurry and dark videos have been circulating on social media, leading many to believe there may have been a shark in the water with the high school graduate from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Blackbeard’s Revenge sunset cruise was northeast of Nassau, near Athol Island, an area that is home to a lot of marine life, including sharks, experts told Fox News. Though these types of incidents occur for different reasons, an estimated one to two people go overboard on a cruise ship each month, a report from Cruise Lines International showed, reported The Points Guy .

More from CafeMom: Florida Girl Fights Off Bull Shark That Bit Her Repeatedly

Investigators are weighing in on reasons why Robbins has not been recovered yet. Some suspect he encountered a shark.

Chilling videos showing Robbins jumping off the ship have been circulating on various social media platforms. Some initially suspected a current could have pulled Robbins away from the ship and the life preserver that was thrown in the water. But others have pointed out a blurry shape in the dark waters that appears to look eerily like a shark, as seen in this video posted by Florida Boy on YouTube.

Royal Defense Force Commodore Raymond King said, “It’s an area that is really shark-infested,” reported Fox News . On the other hand, spokesperson for the United Cajun Navy, Brian Trascher, says nothing is certain at this point.

Trascher told Fox News: "We definitively don't have anything conclusive enough to determine if Cameron Robbins came in contact with any marine life. We are consulting with professors at the LSU Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences for expertise.”

Without a life vest, chances of survival are significantly lower.

King noted in an update that without a life vest, the odds of survival were slim. "The probability of survival decreases significantly, particularly if a person did not have on a life vest and particularly if a person is perceived to be intoxicated,” King said. "It is so unfortunate, but I don't want the family to lose hope.”

Trascher pointed out that the “inclement” weather conditions the night of the incident are another factor that has made it challenging to locate Robbins.

Cruise lines recommend following a few rules to stay safe.

Even though much of the news coverage about cruise ships tends to be negative, there are only rare tragic occurrences. It is reportedly one of the safest forms of travel, per Travel Pulse . But there are important rules to follow to increase your safety and limit accidents while aboard a ship.

The majority of cruise ship related injuries are due to falls, so passengers should use and respect handrails while aboard, advises cruiseline.com . Also, be careful of how much alcohol you consume as that can impair judgment as well as mental and physical abilities.

More from CafeMom: Parents of Girl Who Fell From Cruise Ship Speak Out for the First Time & Place Direct Blame

The teen’s local community is hoping for the best.

The school Robbins graduated from and attended for over 10 years has been holding prayer vigils since he disappeared and has offered counseling to the students at Baton Rouge’s University Laboratory School, per Fox News. A Facebook user who appeared to be a friend of the Robbins' family, Drew Sutton, also posted an update on Facebook asking for prayers for Robbins to be recovered.

Sutton wrote, “Please keep Cameron Robbins and his family in prayer. He's been missing since late Wednesday night in the Bahamas on his senior trip. May god's mercy and peace surround us in this time as we keep hoping Cameron will be found, soon!”

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Haunting image surfaces after cameron robbins jumped off ship into ‘shark-infested’ water.

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The Louisiana high school graduate who disappeared after leaping off a cruise ship into dark waters off the Bahamas last week may have met a grisly fate in the “shark-infested” area, a local official said.

The waters off Athol Island, where 18-year-old Cameron Robbins was last seen swimming after jumping off the Blackbeard’s Revenge sunset cruise on May 24, are “really shark-infested,” Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) Commodore Raymond King told the Daily Mail on Tuesday .

A chaotic video was taken moments after the jump also shows the Baton Rouge native ignoring onlookers’ pleas for him to grab a buoy and swimming in the opposite direction –prompting social media sleuths to suggest that a silvery reflection near the boat’s hull may have actually been a shark that scared him off.

“Haunting, but you can see the exact moment the shark gets him,” one Twitter user wrote alongside a screenshot of Robbins and the shadow just inches apart.

“Tragic & scary in every way.”

Another viewer argued that Robbins could be seen abandoning the life ring after he notices the shape nearby.

“He initially goes for the buoy but then turns around when he sees the shark, ultimately disappearing into the water, likely dragged down. Very sad,” they wrote .

The Blackbeard’s Revenge , which is designed to resemble a pirate ship, remained in the area for several hours while the crew attempted to look for Robbins.

The Coast Guard called off its own search two days later , after reportedly scouring over 325 square miles.

What to know about Cameron Robbins' disappearance

Cameron Robbins, 18, graduated from University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge in May and was on a trip to the Bahamas with students from several local high schools.

According to witnesses, the teen — who was apparently acting on a dare — took a plunge off a party cruise into the ocean near Athol Island at night.

Robbins was last seen splashing in the dark, “shark-infested” waters a few feet from the boat, before vanishing from view.

A chaotic video taken moments after the jump also shows the recent graduate ignoring onlookers’ pleas to grab a buoy.

The party ship remained in the area for several hours while the crew looked for Robbins.

The Coast Guard  called off its own search two days later , after reportedly scouring over 325 square miles.

Robbins disappeared three days after his graduation from University Laboratory School.

He was staying at Atlantis Paradise Island with a group of fellow seniors from other area high schools.

In the wake of the tragedy, University Lab School Director Kevin George described the former baseball star as a “great kid.”

“He’s an athlete … great smile, great head of hair,” he told WBRZ. 

“Just one of the kids you’re so proud of when they cross the stage.”

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Cameron Robbins’ parents break silence after 18-year-old jumps off Bahamas party boat

Online speculation has swirled over whether cameron was attacked by a shark in the water, article bookmarked.

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The parents of an 18-year-old high school graduate who fell overboard on a sunset cruise in the Bahamas have broken their silence.

Cameron Robbins went on a trip to the Bahamas to celebrate his graduation from the University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He and several friends were aboard the Blackbeard’s Revenge cruise on 24 May when Cameron allegedly jumped off the boat on a dare.

The US Coast Guard and Royal Bahamas Defence Force spent several days searching for Cameron before suspending their efforts on 27 May. Following his presumed death, a memorial was planned for the teenager on Sunday (4 June).

Speaking from their home ahead of the service, Cameron’s parents William and Shari Robbins, both 54, told The New York Post they were aware of the impact their “funny and kind-hearted” son had made on people following updates of the tragic incident believed to have cut his life short.

“We are just mourning our son right now,” Ms Robbins told the Post . “We appreciate you calling. Maybe we will be able to talk more later.”

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“We appreciate everyone’s support,” Mr Robbins also said.

The University Lab School Director Kevin George told WAFB that Cameron had attended the school for 13 years. The teen also played baseball for the school, which operates as part of Louisiana State University.

“Words fall short of expressing the worry our entire school community is feeling. Extra counselors will be available on campus to speak with students and faculty who are struggling to process this news. Our thoughts are with the Robbins family, and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts as well,” Mr George wrote.

The graduation trip was not organised by the school.

According to his obituary, Cameron was not only an accomplished athlete but also loved country music and was a “big star” in karaoke.

“He was a tough player, battling back from multiple injuries, known to pitch through separated shoulders and broken hands. He hoped to continue his baseball career at the college level,” the tribute read. “...Though he left this world far too soon, he lived a life full of good friends and family.”

In a statement provided to The Independent, Jonathan Chia, a representative for Pirates’ Revenge Ltd, the parent company of Blackbeard’s Revenge, said Cameron went overboard at approximately 9.40pm local time in Montagu Bay off Athol Island in the Bahamas.

Video captured in the moments after Cameron jumped into the water showed the 18-year-old swimming around the vessel as passengers on the sunset cruise yelled at him. In the footage, individuals can be heard urging Cameron to grab onto the buoy that they threw into the water for him.

“The crew executed the ‘man overboard’ protocol in line with all approved safety procedures and company policies to ensure the best chance of retrieving an individual who has gone overboard,” Mr Chia said.

After Coast Guard crews searched more than 325 square miles, they concluded their efforts with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force on 27 May. Although searches have ended, the US Coast Guard is asking anyone with new information to contact the District Seven watchstanders at 305-415-6800.

A GoFundMe has been started to benefit Cameron’s family as they deal with the aftermath of the difficult situation.

Meanwhile, online speculation has swirled over whether Cameron was attacked by a shark in the water.

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Missing 18-Year-Old Allegedly Jumped Off Cruise for a Dare

A tearful prayer vigil was held for a Louisiana high school baseball star who went overboard on a cruise. Eighteen-year-old Cameron Robbins was on a cruise to the Bahamas to celebrate graduating high school when he allegedly jumped overboard as part of a dare. The ship was off an uninhabited island when passengers say Robbins jumped. Now, there is speculation a shark may have taken down the 18-year-old. Inside Edition's Steven Fabian has more.

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Cruises for 18-Year-olds (With or Without Parents) 2024

As you may already know, many cruise lines stipulate that you must be 21 years or older to travel alone on a cruise ship.

Therefore, 18-20-year-olds can only go on a cruise with another adult aged over 21. Most often, this will be a parent or guardian.

However, this can be a tricky age because those over 17 are deemed too old for organized onboard teen activities, and those under 21 are too young to drink and enjoy the bars and nightclubs to the max.

It’s well worth looking into which cruise lines provide the best all-round activities and facilities to keep yourself or your 18-20 years sons and daughters entertained, even if they do have to go with parents.

We have also researched all the cruise lines on which you can travel solo at 18 years or with friends under 21.

Rest assured there are plenty of great options for the 18 to 20 age range.

Best Cruise for 18-Year-Olds

As a parent of an 18-year-old myself, it’s been worthwhile having a fresh look at the best options to keep all family members happy and entertained.

The best cruise lines for 18 to 20 years olds have a wide range of activities and lots of them.  

So no matter their interests, there will be something for them to do.  Even if it’s something new they have never tried before.

Many 18 to 20 years olds will enjoy the typical onboard activities, including:

• Deck parties
• Dance ClassesLounging in and around the pools
• Enjoying the water parks
• Entertainment shows (including all the adults-only shows)
• Playin ball games like basketball, tennis, golf
• Fitness Centers
• Spa treatments

Hopefully, the roundups below for the best cruise lines for 18-year-olds will help narrow your search.

You just then need to focus on the ideal ship with the activities you know most appeal to the 18-20 age groups.

Royal Caribbean for 18 to 20-year-olds

Royal Caribbean ships are some of the largest in the world, but even the smaller (but still large) ones are full of activities ideal for 18 to 20-year-olds.

Example activities on RCL include :

• Bumper Cars
• Ice Skating
• Indoor Sky diving
• Rock climbing Walls
• Surf simulators

Note: Not every activity listed above is on every ship in the fleet.

Water Features

Royal Caribbean ships have great water features on their cruises, but one that stands out, in particular, is the Perfect Storm, a megaplex of slides like no other, which is on about five of their ships.

Private Island

A stop-off at Royal Caribbean’s private island CocoCay will be a day to remember for any age, especially 18 to 20 years old. 

CocoCay offers another range of activities and pools, or you just relax on the beach.

Norwegian Cruise Line for 18 to 20 years olds

Norwegian Cruises have a range of sports activities onboard that are very popular with 18 to 20 years olds.

Example activities on NCL include:

• Climbing Wall
• Go Karting track
• Racing Simulators
• Rope courses 
• Virtual Reality

Dressing up for a theme can be lots of fun, especially when combined with great music.

Themed party nights popular with young adults on NCL include:

• White Hot Party (Glow Party on some ships)

Some NCL ships have awesome Aqua Parks with multiple pools, hot tubs, and some multi-level water slides, including one called Free Fall, which is claimed to be one of the fastest water slides on the seas.

Carnival Cruise Activities For 18-Year-Olds

Carnival Cruise brands itself as the “fun ship,” and that includes fun for 18 to 20-year-olds.

Carnival cruises are full of activities, examples including:

• Fitness Machines
• Mini Bowling
• Rope Courses
• Video Games

Carnival cruises tend to have great water play features, including at least one water slide.

If you’re single, Carnival is one of our top picks for 18 to 20-something singles cruises .

Disney Cruise Line for 18 to 20-year-olds

Everyone loves Disney or something Disney-related, right?  

Whether it’s still princesses or Marvel and Star Wars, there’s so much to entertain the 18 to 20 age range, even if its primarily targeted at children and families as a whole.

Bearing that in mind, if you’re thinking of taking an 18, 19 or 20 year old, probably best to check with them first.  It’s an age where they feel they might have outgrown Disney for now.

Disney Cruise line has a special meet-up for 18 to 20 years olds, called the “ 1820 Society ”.  This is to get as many in this age range together, break the ice and get them socializing and having fun as soon as possible.

The first meet-up is in the Cove Cafe, an adults-only coffee shop.

If you are or have a child in this age range, it’s worth making an extra effort to get them to go to the first meet-up, even if a little apprehensive, as the Disney crew will soon make them feel at ease.

If the club is successful, which is generally is, you might hardly see your 18-year-old for the rest of the vacation. They’ll be off having fun.

All 1820 Society arranged activities are free.

You can find more information about the Disney 1820 Society by DCLfan here .

What to Look For – For Good 18 to 20 year olds Cruise

Bars and nightclubs.

While they may not be able to drink alcohol until they are 21 (unless in international waters ), most cruise lines let 18-20 years into the nightclubs and surrounding bars.

If they are new to bars and nightclubs, they offer an enjoyable enough experience without alcohol.   

So whether it’s the disco or the Karaoke bar, there should be options for them to hang up and have fun.

An ideal cruise ship for some 18 to 20 years old is one with many different sports activities.

The more choice, the better, so they can participate in their favorite sports, whether it’s time on the basketball court or finding something new to try, like golf or rock climbing.

Some cruise ships will also run tournaments and competitions.  Ideal for those with a competitive streak.

Adult Only Time

Like some older adults, even younger adults 18 to 20 want the option to get away from younger kids running around screaming (in fun).

The above-listed cruise lines, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL, and  Disney, have spaces and decks restricted to 18s and over.

This also includes going to adults-only live shows, a comedy which is top-quality entertainment they can enjoy.

Depending on your views on gambling, 18-year-olds can test out the casinos and poker rooms onboard the ships. (Alaska sailings a minimum of 21 years of age).

Playing the casino responsibly or getting involved at the poker tables can be great fun.

(Assuming always you’re encouraging responsible gambling).

Bring a Friend

If your 18 to 20-year-old is an only child or there’s a big age difference between siblings, consider letting them bring a friend to hang out with. 

True, you might see less of them as a family overall, but that will only be because they are off enjoying themselves.

Choose Larger Ships

When it comes to choosing a specific ship from a cruise line with 18 to 20-year-olds in mind, the large the ship, the more activities you can expect to have onboard.  

Also, the newer or recently refurbed ships in the fleet of the cruise lines I’ve highlighted tend to be more suited to younger adults.

Mixer Events Specifically for 18-20 years olds

Whatever cruise ship you go on, see if the cruise line has any ice-breaker events specifically for 18-20 years olds.  

Ice-breakers are a great way to get them mixing and socializing as soon as possible, and they can discover the ship’s activities together and no doubt end up enjoying it all more together.

Disney Cruise Line: Offers the 1820 Society, as we covered above.

Other 18 to 20-Year-old Cruise Lines Activities

Some of the other cruise lines, which may not be as all-around fun and ideal as are best picks, also cater directly to the 18-20-year-old range in some ways.

Celebrity Cruises – Offers a  “Gen NXT” Meeting Hotspot for ages 18 – 21 to get to know each other a bit better from the first night.

Cruises For 18-Year-Olds Without Parents

The vast majority of cruise lines require 18 years olds to be traveling with an adult over the age of 21.

However, if traveling at 18 and as well as 19 and 20 is your goal, whether traveling solo or with friends, we have found the best options for you.

What Cruise Can You go on Alone at 18

We have found five cruise lines that allow 18-year-olds to travel alone or with friends under 21.

Although there are some conditions that may rule some options out for some people.

Five cruise lines you can go on alone at 18:

• MSC (excl. US ports)
• P&O Cruises
• Royal Caribbean (excl. US ports)

As you can see, if you are sailing from the US, your options are severely limited.

All the above cruise lines allow passengers of 18 to drink on a cruise if they depart from international waters (outside the US).

P&O for 18-year-olds

If you are in the UK, P&O cruises are a particularly good option for 18- to 20-year-olds.

They have a wide range of sports options, including

With some great entertainment on top. 

Also good for booking 3 to 5-night Sea Breaks getaways in and around Australia.

MSC Cruises for 18-year Olds

MSC cruises are an Italian cruise line that offers good value with lots of amenities and features.

There are bars, live music, and theater shows.

Enough to keep 18 years olds entertained for a great price which they might appreciate.

Related Posts:

• Can You Drink on a Cruise at 18? (which ones and when)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go on a cruise at 18.

You can go on a cruise at 18, but for the majority of cruise lines, particularly in the U.S, you will have to book a cabin with at least one adult over the age of 21.

How Old Do You Have to be to Go on a Cruise By Yourself?

For the majority of cruise lines from U.S ports, you will have to be 21 years of age to go on the cruise alone. If you are under 21 you will often have to travel with a parent of guardian over 21 on the day of embarkation.

If you are sailing outside of US ports you can go on Royal Caribbean.

Other options include British and European cruises lines outside of US ports:

• Marella Cruises

Depending on which cruise line you want to book, there may be higher age limits, for example some cruise lines have a minimum age of 50.

Related Posts

Can You Bring a Vape on a Cruise?  (2024)

Can You Bring Curling Irons On a Cruise Ship?

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• Ask a Cruise Question

Any Cruise line let 18 year olds cruise alone?

By Immisspriss , February 7, 2011 in Ask a Cruise Question

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Immisspriss

I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this (which is none) but on behalf of one of my Daughters friends who wants to go on a graduation cruise... does any line allow 18 year olds.

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None of the lines that cater to US passengers allow an 18 yo to travel without an adult. Maybe one of the European lines does. You could contact a TA they may have an idea.

Married young couples may cruise if they are below the "age" to cruise....I wouldn't want my 18 year old on a ship alone, tho!

Disney, Cunard and Crystal allow those 18 and older to cruise, but they are expensive and neither Crystal nor Cunard would appeal to teens, and I'm not sure Disney and all the families would appeal to teen girls. Why can't at least one parent go along? That would solve the problem. Oh, and I don't know if this would matter to the girls, but there's no underage drinking allowed on ships. And I would agree with others who say it's not a good idea to let 18 year old girls go on a cruise alone. Too much of a chance for trouble.

In addition to those listed above, I am nearly positive that Fred Olson and P&O also allow 18 and up to sail without someone older. I think Aida does as well--but the ships is heavily German--including most of the online info, etc so it may not work well for them (we have never sailed them--seems to be a party ship; like some Carnival only more so which is not our thing).

silentbob007

Out of the US, Disney is about the only viable option.

We had this issue when a young person in our family wanted to go on a cruise with a person being considered for marriage. A pre-engagement cruise! The young folks lost all interest when they found out they couldn't drink alcohol on the cruise ship (but could at some port stops).

The mother of the young woman was all for them making the trip but the parents of the young man didn't like the idea at all. They all argued about the possible cruise so much that the couple stopped dating.

Yes, the young people were old enough to join the military, but not old enough to cruise alone without benefit of being married.

I'm not aware of whether these ships have such rules or not, but in Europe, you become an adult at 18....so no-one can stop you doing anything (so long as it's legal!;)). Which law would someone use to stop you travelling/marrying/drinking etc? Adult is adult....but ship rules can be different to your home country.

I'm not aware of whether these ships have such rules or not, but in Europe, you become an adult at 18....so no-one can stop you doing anything (so long as it's legal!;)). Which law would someone use to stop you travelling/marrying/drinking etc? Adult is adult....but ship rules can be different to your home country. Jo.

Ships can have whatever rules they want - take it or leave it. Rules are very different than laws.

Contiki Tours specializes in travel for 18 to 35 year olds in group tours & cruises. They have cruises of the Greek Islands.

Barefoot Windjammer - Phantom ‘81

K&D German Rhine Line ‘84

NCL - Norway ’85, Pride of America ’05, Southward ’87, Star ’97 & ‘05, Starward ’92, Sun ’02 & Windward ’93

RCCL - Song of America ’89 & Oasis of the Seas ’10

American Hawaiian - Independence ‘98

HAL - Volendam ’99, Noordam ’06, Oosterdam ’07 & ‘09, Statendam ’02 & ‘08, Prinsendam ’03 & ’06, Westerdam ‘09 & Zuiderdam ’04, ’06 & ’07

Carnival - Spirit ‘05

Celebrity – Summit ‘05

Cruise West - Yorktown Clipper ‘06

Princess - Golden Princess ‘07

A & K - East Queen ‘07

Cunard - QM2 ’08

Crystal – Serenity ‘09

Lindblad Expeditions – Sea Bird ‘10

Future Cruises:

Paul Gauguin – February 9, 2011

In Australia the legal age for being considered an adult is 18. I went on a cruise at 18 without adult supervison.

I would suggest P&O out of Australia but the cost could be outragous

Traveller20074

18 is adult. I would sure think they could cruise. My daugher at 18 would have been mature enough to cruise with a couple of friends.

well...I was wrong...this is from the NCL website

Company policy dictates that a passenger under 21 years of age must be accompanied in the same or connecting stateroom by a passenger 21 years or older who expressly agrees to be responsible for the under 21 passenger throughout the cruise. This includes, but is not limited to, preventing under-age purchase or consumption of alcohol**, preventing under-age gaming activities and preventing violations of any ship's rules. Passengers must be age 21 to purchase or consume alcohol and age 18 to gamble on the ship. If the accompanying adult is not the minor's parent or legal guardian a Parent/Guardian Consent & Release Form (pdf) that authorizes the minor's travel and further authorizes medical treatment in case of an emergency must be delivered to an NCL representative at the pier. Failure to produce this letter at embarkation may result in boarding being denied, with no refund of cruise fare provided.

Please note that infants under six months of age are not eligible to travel on NCL ships.

I think Disney is your only option. I took my first cruise at 18, with another 18 year old (friend). At that time (in 2003), we were told that Disney and Princess were our only options, so we went with Princess. Neither one of us drink, so the drinking age didn't matter to us. Since then, Princess has changed the age limit, so I believe you're only left with Disney.

Cunard and Crystal DO cruise out of the US, but not as regularly as the mass markets.

18 is adult. I would sure think they could cruise. My daugher at 18 would have been mature enough to cruise with a couple of friends. well...I was wrong...this is from the NCL website     Company policy dictates that a passenger under 21 years of age must be accompanied in the same or connecting stateroom by a passenger 21 years or older who expressly agrees to be responsible for the under 21 passenger throughout the cruise. This includes, but is not limited to, preventing under-age purchase or consumption of alcohol**, preventing under-age gaming activities and preventing violations of any ship's rules. Passengers must be age 21 to purchase or consume alcohol and age 18 to gamble on the ship. If the accompanying adult is not the minor's parent or legal guardian a Parent/Guardian Consent & Release Form (pdf) that authorizes the minor's travel and further authorizes medical treatment in case of an emergency must be delivered to an NCL representative at the pier. Failure to produce this letter at embarkation may result in boarding being denied, with no refund of cruise fare provided.   Please note that infants under six months of age are not eligible to travel on NCL ships.

Unfortunately, it's young women like your daughter who have to pay the price (so to speak) for the many 18 year olds who are not even close to mature enough to cruise (and many other activities) without older adults around. I too would have been mature enough to cruise alone at 18. Our daughter might have been.

Keep in mind that the cruise lines did not come to their age restrictions lightly or without experience. Some used to allow 18 year olds to cruise alone. Then the "freshman in college spring break" mentality landed onboard with numerous and frequent instances of out of control behavior, damage to the ship, problems with other passengers, and so forth. Since most 18 year olds have never been on their own before, many develop the attitude of "I'm an adult; I can do whatever I want; you can't tell me how to behave; I'm going to drink until I puke, party loud and hard, disrupt everyone else, and I don't give a damn about the rest of you."

Parents such as you and I spend the time raising our children to become adults who have a sense of civility, propriety, and responsibility. Our daughter made a few small errors in judgment as a young adult, but then nearly all of us do and hers were nothing more than learning how to be independent. And sometimes even the best parenting doesn't guarantee that an 18 year old won't make serious errors in judgment along the way. Most of the cruise lines decided that they had participated in that learning experience enough.

For the most part any business has the right to refuse service so long as it's not descriminatory. Age discrimination according to the law does not protect the youth, but only the elderly. An example of this same type of policy is car rental agencies; you can leagally drive at 16, your a legal adult at 18, yet most agencies won't rent to anyone younger that 24 I believe.

Several agencies will rent vehicles to under 24, they just charge a premium. Our son needed to rent a car and we had to pay extra for him to rent a vehicle when he was 22.

I know this isn't the situation for the OP but some 18 year olds do not have parents (think accident after you are legal so no guardian).

Hi...I was answering a post that suggested Fred O, P&O and Aida allowed travellers at 18.....I do not know these lines' rules, but would be surprised if they did not allow a legal adult to travel. :)

True ... but those did not line up in my head with 18 year olds. :p

I never understand this argument ... and BTW ... if they DO join the military, some of these lines WILL let them cruise under 21. ;)

RoofingPrincess

Hi...I was answering a post that suggested Fred O, P&O and Aida allowed travellers at 18.....I do not know these lines' rules, but would be surprised if they did not allow a legal adult to travel. :) Jo.

Jo, it doesn't matter if they're legal adults. People become legal adults at 18 in the US as well (yet still cannot legally purchase alcoholic beverages). Businesses can make their own rules, and often have good reasons to do so, as noted above. Under-24s have a poorer driving history than folks over that age, so car rental companies either decline to do business with them or charge them a premium rate. Cruise lines got tired of the destruction of property and alienation of other customers caused by wild college kids, and made their policies accordingly - here it's a case of the minority spoiling it for the rest.

Costa Crociere in UK (and probably across Europe)....

2.6 A Passenger making a booking on behalf of othermembers of his/her party guarantees that he/she is at least 18years old and has the legal capacity and authority to make thebooking on behalf of all of the Passengers listed at the time ofbooking and that they are bound by and they shall complywith the Booking Conditions. Each and every person namedin the booking is a Passenger and all references in thesebooking conditions to Passengers will include everyone onthat booking.   2.7 The Company does not accept bookings from minors.Subject to clause 2.6 above, bookings for minors must bemade by their legal guardians and shall be accepted only if theminor travels with at least one of his/her parents or anotheradult person who undertakes all responsibility for the minor.

Since the US have differing rules about minimum age, I would imagine that the cruises running out of Miami would comply with US rules rather than European ones.

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

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Footage of an 18-Year-Old Jumping From Cruise Ship On a Dare

Cameron Robbins, an 18-year-old recent graduate from Louisiana was celebrating his high school graduation on a sunset cruise in the Bahamas when he jumped off the ship after allegedly being dared. 

The U.S. Coast Guard's multi-day search for Robbins has been called off and his family said they were returning to Baton Rouge. 

In a video shared on social media, Robbins can be seen swimming in the water while his friends record from the balcony above. It's hard to tell but the video appears to capture a shark following Robbins through the water. 

Robbin's family released a statement tanking "well-wishers for granting us the privacy we need to properly remember our son and mourn his loss."

An 18-year-old jumped off a cruise ship in the Bahamas as part of a dare and he hasn't been seen since. Cameron Robbins was staying at the Atlantis Paradise resort with his friends to celebrate their high school graduation. The US Coast Guard has ended their search. pic.twitter.com/kWeJSQAQQu — Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) May 30, 2023

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eBaum's Picks

Ukraine war latest: 'Undeclared Russian military intelligence officer' expelled from UK

The Home Office has expelled a Russian defence attaché as part of a series of measures against Moscow. James Cleverly said the attaché was an "undeclared military intelligence officer". Ask our military analysts or international correspondents a question in the box below.

Wednesday 8 May 2024 20:00, UK

• Home Office expels Russian diplomat who was 'undeclared military intelligence officer'
• Moscow 'developing nuclear power plant' for joint moon base with China
• Russia hits power facility and other energy infrastructure in massive overnight attack
• Dominic Waghorn: Russia may have crossed the line - but UK move to expel attache increases risk of dangerous escalation
• Ivor Bennett analysis: Painted as a modern-day Tsar, Putin seems more confident than ever
• Ed Conway : Russian oil still seeping into UK - the reasons why sanctions are not working
• Live reporting by  Ollie Cooper

Ask a question or make a comment

Thanks for following our live coverage, we'll be back soon with more live updates. 

Kosovo's foreign minister has said her country is convinced Russia must lose the war in Ukraine for conflict not to spread further in Europe.

Donika Gervalla-Schwarz said her young nation's support for Ukraine was unconditional - despite Kyiv not having recognised Kosovo's independence.

Ms Gervalla-Schwarzd her small Balkan nation, which declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, is repeatedly reminded of the aggressive intentions of both Serbia and its ally Russia.

"Ukraine hasn't recognised the Republic of Kosovo as a state, but we really believe that we know exactly what Ukraine is going through," she told The Associated Press in an interview.

"And we know that there is only one solution, not only for Ukraine, but for Europe," she said.

"It can only be Russia to lose the war and Ukraine to win this war. Otherwise, Europe should prepare for other conflicts in our continent."

The people of Kosovo were the targets of war crimes and other atrocities by Serbia's security forces in the 1990s, an experience that led Kosovo to seek independence.

"While Kosovo is a small state with very modest possibilities to help, we have tried to be very helpful with Ukraine and have not hesitated to show our unconditional support and sympathy to the people and to the state of Ukraine," Ms Gervalla-Schwarz said.

Lord Cameron has called the UK's measures on a Russian defence attache "an unequivocal message" to Moscow. 

The foreign secretary was replying to James Cleverly's post on X in which he said the Home Office expelled a Russian defence attache as part of a series of measures against the country.

Other measures in the package include removing the diplomatic premises status from several Russian owned properties in the UK and capping the amount of time Russian diplomats can spend in the UK.

Budapest is once again raising eyebrows across the world's biggest military alliance as it pledges to defy a NATO initiative. 

The alliance's long-term plan to support Ukraine militarily was agreed in April, but was dubbed a "crazy mission" by Hungary's foreign minister today. 

Under the plans, NATO would take over some coordination work from a US-led coalition known as the Ramstein group.

Discussing the plans today, Peter Szijjarto said: "Hungary will stay out of NATO's crazy mission despite all the pressure."

Relations between Budapest and NATO have soured because of Hungary's foot-dragging over the ratification of Sweden's NATO accession - finally passed by Budapest in March - and also over nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban's close ties with Moscow. 

The Russian embassy in London has said there will be "an appropriate response" after Britain expelled a Russian defence attache.

The embassy said the restrictions that had been imposed were done under a "groundless and ridiculous pretext", according to Russian state news agency TASS.

It comes after Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was reported as telling journalists that the Kremlin will respond appropriately following the expulsion.

Dominic Waghorn, international affairs editor

It's always assumed defence attaches play some kind of role gatherling intelligence and that is generally tolerated by their host countries. 

They could be gathering data about weapons production for instance or ship building but there is a line they are expected not to cross. 

The assumption here is that the Russians have broken the rules of the game.

But the British government will have thought long and hard before expelling the Russian. It doesn't come without cost.

In their day jobs defence attaches play a crucial role in liaising with their hosts.  That can be very important in terms of avoiding misunderstandings that could lead to unnecessary and dangerous escalation. 

Losing Russia’s defence attache in London deprives the UK of one more line of liaison at a time when clear understanding and clarification could be essential to avoiding deepening conflict.

That is not ideal at a time of war. 

What is not clear is how much these moves are connected specifically to the conduct of the Russians involved or should they actually be seen more as another chapter in the diplomatic war underway between Russia and the UK.

The UK has undoubtedly weakened Russia's ability to spy in the UK and gather intelligence but these measures will also affect Britain's ability to predict and avoid potential escalation. 

That will be made even worse if Russia, as may be expected, responds with like-for-like retaliation

Seven people have been injured by Russian shelling in eastern Kharkiv, according to the region's governor.

Oleg Synegubov said among those wounded was an eight-year-old girl and three boys, two aged 14 and the other 15. 

"Two [of the] boys are in serious condition, [the other] boy and [the] girl are in average condition," he said. 

One 55-year-old civilian of unspecified gender was also hospitalised. 

Two women had minor injuries. 

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has offered his thoughts on the expulsion of a Russian defence attache the government has accused of being an undeclared military intelligence officer. 

"Today we've expelled Russia's defence attache who has been working as an intelligence officer for Putin in the UK," he said on X. 

"We will not tolerate Putin’s efforts to undermine our nation and democracy and will continue to stand up for freedom here and in Ukraine."

Each week we ask readers for their questions on the war for our military analysts and international correspondents.

This week,  military analyst Sean Bell  answers:

Why is Ukraine focusing its drone attacks on oil refineries rather than near the front lines? Mike

Thanks, Mike, for this topical question.

Although the ultimate metric of success in this brutal war is territory gained, to achieve that outcome requires a more complex strategy than simply focusing on the frontline battle.

One of the reasons that the Royal Air Force was formed as an independent service was the recognition that greater impact could often be achieved by targeting enemy logistics and supply lines behind the frontline, rather than simply focusing effort on the "close battle".  

Military action is ultimately driven by political will to achieve a desired end-state; the military simply creates the conditions in which a political outcome can be achieved.  

At the tactical level of warfare, the focus is on the battles of individual soldiers and units prevailing against tactical targets.

However, at the other end of the spectrum, senior military strategists seek to attack the enemy's "centre of gravity" - the one thing that the enemy cannot afford to lose and thus must protect at all costs.

'Fight smarter'

In the Second World War, much of the Allied bombing effort was targeting German industrial capacity, as without the ability to regenerate military equipment and ammunition, the war would not be sustainable.  

Ukraine has a smaller army than Russia, and so any conventional attritional battle would favour Russia.

Therefore, Ukraine has to try to "fight smarter" and erode Russia's will - or capacity - to fight.  

A war on this scale consumes huge quantities of resource, which has to be funded in some way.  

Russia's oil exports fund Vladimir Putin's military campaign and also pay for imports of vital munitions from North Korea and Iran.  

By targeting the enemy's oil facilities Ukraine will be aiming to reduce Russia's export capacity, which in turn impacts Russia's ability to fund the war.  

That might not help the close battle, but could undermine Russia's commitment to a longer-duration conflict.

And, although drones are an "irritation" to the frontline forces, the quantity of explosives they are able to deliver is relatively small, so their effect is relatively limited.  

However, an oil facility is very vulnerable to a relatively small-scale explosion, which can spread swiftly to destroy a crucial part of Russia's critical national infrastructure - more bang per buck.

So, although Ukraine desperately needs to stop Russia from breaking through its frontlines, we can expect to see Ukraine continue to target energy infrastructure as part of a broader strategy in its war with Russia.

We now have more details regarding the freshly expelled Russian defence attache we reported on in our 1.10pm post. 

The attache accused by the Home Office of being an undeclared military intelligence officer spying for the Kremlin is Colonel Maxim Elovik. 

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