Key Aspects:
- A recent Carnival guest is mad that their teens were removed from the adults-only comedy.
- John Heald responded that this is the rule and guests are asked to follow the guideline.
- Other guests noted the comedians’ comfort and lack of seating as more reasons for the restriction.
Carnival Cruise Line seems to be cracking down a bit on the adults-only entertainment restrictions, but not all guests are happy with the enforcement. One guest, in fact, believes that a parent’s judgment should absolutely take precedence over the guidelines the cruise line has set forth.
The unhappy guest reached out to John Heald, Carnival’s brand ambassador, with their complaint.
“My older teens were stopped from seeing the comedy show. There is a difference between a R-rated movie with violence and R-rated Carnival comedians,” the guest contends. “My 14- and 15-year-old can handle R-rated comedians. I am the parent, it is my choice, my responsibility.”
At what age a teen is “older” is certainly debatable, but Carnival Cruise Line’s adults-only, R-rated comedy is restricted to guests 18 years and older. While different parents will have different thoughts on their own child’s maturity, 14- or 15-year-olds are not exactly “older” teens.
“To have them removed tonight from the R-rated show … was demeaning for them and disrespectful to me,” the guest continued. “Parents should have the choice not Carnival.”
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The guest does not provide any context for how being removed from the show was “demeaning” or “disrespectful.” They also did not clarify when the teens were removed, whether it was before the show began or after the comedian started their performance.
Many times, the comedy club manager or another crew member will be at the entrance to the Punchliner Comedy Club after the doors open, ensuring that all guests who enter the venue are of the appropriate age. It can be easy to slip by, however, particularly in a crowd or if more than one entrance is available.
Heald did respond to the guest’s complaint, but not perhaps in the way they had wished.
“I was going to talk about the differences between movies and real life comedy and how having children in the audience makes it so uncomfortable for the comedians performing adult material,” he explained. “However, I will say instead this time that these are our rules and like them or not, please do accept them.”
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It’s refreshing that Carnival Cruise Line is not adapting for parents’ discretion in these matters, particularly at a time when many cruise guests seem to be noting more and more unruly teens onboard.
Furthermore, to permit some teens in the adults-only comedy shows would be a slippery slope indeed. What about the “more mature” 13-year-old? Or the 12-year-old who is “so smart” and “deserves” to be there?
This would even open up exceptions to other adults-only areas, such as the Serenity Deck or other events that are restricted to those 18 (or 21) and older.
Guest Reactions Not Supportive
If the original poster was hoping to get support from other guests, they have been sorely disappointed. More than 900 comments on the post show that very few other Carnival guests agree with permitting 14- and 15-year-olds into the adults-only comedy shows.
“We just cruised a couple weeks ago with our teenage sons, newly turned 16 and a month shy of 18. Can my kids handle adult content? Oh sure. Did we put up a stink they couldn’t attend the later comedy shows? Nope!” another recent guest described. “We found other things to do and had a blast. People are so wildly entitled it’s mad.”
Other guests poked a bit of fun in their assessment of the comedy material and how age-appropriate it may or may not be.
“I am 56 and felt like I wasn’t old enough for some of the comedy shows. Or maybe I am too old,” one guest quipped.
“That’s like me complaining that they won’t let my 55-year-old self play in the kids club,” another noted.
Other Reasons Not to Permit Kids in R-Rated Comedy
It isn’t just for the R-rating that some guests note children are not permitted in the adults-only comedy shows.
These shows are outrageously popular, and many of the Punchliner venues are smaller and more intimate, which adds to the personalized vibe of the show.
Permitting children and teens into the show then fills seating that adults could otherwise have used, taking away an onboard experience specifically intended for adults.
Carnival Cruise Line does offer multiple PG-rated, family-friendly comedy shows on every cruise, often from the same comedians who offer the more mature shows. Regardless of age, all guests can enjoy the fun, so long as they do so as part of the appropriate show.
