Paying full for a 7 month baby?

Royal want us to pay a full cruise fare for a 7 month old baby. Are they kidding me?

Our TA called Royal twice and they told her the same thing both times.

Royal occasionally runs a kids free deal. If you are not stuck to one specific cruise or date you are looking at, wait for that. You would then only pay tax and port fees.

If you are not locked into Royal, MSC also does kids free. Ask your TA, they should now what lines offer that.

Unless they are running a promotion regarding children's fares, or 3rd & 4th passengers in the same stateroom at a discounted rates, all passengers are charged the same fare. This is typical of most mass market cruise lines. Have your TA check other lines for current rate offers as comparison for optional choices.

Also, any recommended gratuities for children are the same as with adults. Age makes no difference with this either.

A word of caution, while 7 months of age is a valid sailing age, 6 months of age is the minimum age for any RCI cruise and 12 months if the itinerary has more than 2 consecutive sea days.

Age does not matter...the only break is if the baby is a 3rd/4th in the stateroom and the rate is usually lower, or if a special 'kids sail free' deal.

This is the case on nearly all cruise lines...there may be one or more out there that don't charge for an infant, or charge a lower price, but I don't know of any. Whether 6 months, 6 years, 60 years...it is a person on board the vessel.

I agree with the other posters that this is industry practice. Cruise lines do sometimes offer reduced rates for 3rd passenger or kids sail free.

Only way to avoid this is to leave the baby with grandma, aunt, friend, etc. They still nap at that age. Will baby nap in the cabin with you or in a stroller on a deck with you, in a lounge at night with you? Will you get a crib that will barely fit in your cabin? Leave the baby at home if at all possible. Then you can really enjoy the cruise and won't worry about the baby's napping and bringing enough diapers, food, etc. !

Well they lost our money for the next coming years that's for sure.

Might try MSC instead, they have some new ships that look intressting.

OP,

Nearly all cruiselines charge "per soul". Any discounts are marketing only. Either book during a kids sail free or 3rd & 4th cruisers sail at a discount. Easy. To assail Royal for standard industry policy is a bit unfair. Safe journeys

On MSC, infants under the age of two years sail free, kids under 18 at reduced fares.

That's their standard policy, not confined to "special deals"

https://www.msccruises.co.uk/en-gb/Cruise-Deals/Our-Fares.aspx

JB :)

Lots of babies onboard Harmony currently. In all honesty they don't seem to be enjoying the cruise much, lots of crying during shows, dinner, muster drill, at beach - parents looks stressed. We didn't discover cruising until our youngest was 3, so I was never in the position to think about the fare when they were infants, but from what I am seeing (and have seen on past cruises over 12 years now) it's rough for both parents and little ones, my youngest is now 15, he's my current cruise mate, but when he was a toddler even I was more stressed than relaxed onboard. Hope you find a vacation that works for you all, have a great trip.

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The infant will be taking a lifeboat seat. So it costs them money if they were to give you a free pass.

They really don't care what age you are....you are considered a "soul"...and each "soul" pays, one way or another. Even those "kids sail free" or 3rd and 4th passenger offers up the price of the first 2 passengers.

The infant will be taking a lifeboat seat. So it costs them money if they were to give you a free pass.

Well they lost four adults paying for two balcony cabins. We won't pay 1250 $ for a 7 month old baby, others might but we don't. We sail twice every year and I guess that there's other companys that will be happy to take our money. I love cruising but to me this is just gready.

Well they lost our money for the next coming years that's for sure.

 

Might try MSC instead, they have some new ships that look intressting.

MSC would provide an option with this - just be sure to check the policies and guidelines regarding bookings with this program.

And to be clear it is not just RCI that charges for children - as indicated most mass market cruise lines do. So if it is greedy, it is pretty much industry wide greed. This has evolved over the years and all still offer promo's from time to time regarding this.

But MSC is the exception - for now.........

Well they lost four adults paying for two balcony cabins. We won't pay 1250 $ for a 7 month old baby, others might but we don't. We sail twice every year and I guess that there's other companys that will be happy to take our money. I love cruising but to me this is just gready.

That's the wonderful thing about competition, there is usually something for everyone. (And I remember what it was like just taking our little ones to visit Oma and Opa for a day or two, so you have my respect for taking yours on a cruise.)

The infant will be taking a lifeboat seat. So it costs them money if they were to give you a free pass.

They lose money on babies. The vast majority of profit comes from what folks purchase on the ships, alcohol, specialty dining, spa services, gift shop, casino - kids take up a lifeboat spot but don't add profit.

Well they lost our money for the next coming years that's for sure.

 

Might try MSC instead, they have some new ships that look intressting.

Well, they lost your money, but someone will be sailing in your place.

The infant will be taking a lifeboat seat. So it costs them money if they were to give you a free pass.

I don't think that is how fares are formulated (and I doubt a 7 month old would be sitting anywhere other than someone's lap:)).

A passenger is a passenger - each one brings the ship closer to a full load, which keeps the line from selling any more berths; and babies do not buy drinks, so they do not contribute to profits.

But to pursue OP's thoughts: if a six month-old goes free, how much should a line charge for a one year old, a three year old, a five year old, a twelve year old, etc.?

Perhaps the line made the right decision - they have driven away a possible passenger who wants to be able to limit the line's profitability --- by having non fare-paying, non on-board spenders take up slots they could much more profitably sell.

Your child is a person, are they not? Why is it crazy to you that they might have to pay?

and that's why we now sail on Princess. We catch a $99 sale for the 3rd and 4th passenger every time. Royal Caribbean has had the most unreasonable prices for a few years now. I recently looked up a cruise with them, and it seems like a reasonable $699 pp, until I got to adding a 3rd passenger - $800 for the kiddo. He can't even eat this much! Even when RC is running their 50% off the second passenger, their prices are unreasonable.

So, Princess it is for us.

Your child is a person, are they not? Why is it crazy to you that they might have to pay?

So, paying $800+ for a 7 month old kiddo doesn't sound reasonable.

Baby will eat, drink, sleep and bath. Fresh towels and bedding will need to be supplied by the cabin steward. Parents will want baby food or pureed food for baby. A baby high chair will be needed in the dining room or buffet. Parents will also want to use any child care or babysitting services available. And baby must be supplied with an appropriately sized life jacket.

Baby won't be spending money in the bar, spa, casino or shops. So it's no cheaper for a "greedy" cruise line to transport a baby then it is a third adult and they don't get any on board spending revenue from baby. And as others have mentioned a baby has to be counted as a "soul on board" for lifeboat capacity.

You might look at "kids sale free" promotions, but these are usually offered only during off peak months.

probably, because a 7 month old is not going to fully partake in the buffet, MDR, excursions, or kid's club. :)

So, paying $800+ for a 7 month old kiddo doesn't sound reasonable.

But they are taking up a space on the ship that could be occupied by someone who buys a drinks package, gambles, and pays to eat at specialty restaurants.

I know that it sounds unreasonable, but to the cruise line a person is a person no matter how small :)

Each person takes up a berth and is charged the same. If we were not in a time where most ships sail full, it would be more probable that cruise lines would provide incentives for families; however, right now, that berth would be filled even if you decide not to fill it with your 7 month old.