ToddlerMom Posted June 18, 2012 #1 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Starting to think about next year's spring break. Was leaning towards NCL Pearl but 3rd passenger costs than the first 2. Which is basically NCL's way of saying they don't want families on a very family friendly ship during Spring Break (don't you think the majority of passengers sailing during Spring Break are bringing extra people in their cabin - who sails, by themselves, during Spring Break????). So considering other options. DD will 3 and 4 months during next year's spring break. I'd say she's about 95% potty trained. I'm worried about accidents and don't want to have to worry that DD will get kicked out of the program halfway through the week. I know RCCL has a 3 strikes policy. Anyone know about HAL? Looks like Princess would allow us to send DD in pull-ups. So if HAL has a such a policy, it will come down to Carnival or Princess. Because of the higher cost during Spring Break, we'll probably end up on Carnival again. (again really hoping NCL changes its pricing. The Pearl would be a perfect ship for our family otherwise.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebeccalouiseagain Posted June 18, 2012 #2 Share Posted June 18, 2012 I just read about this on a recent post. There is a thread about this- yes, Holland has the same policy. With my own son- who was nearly three when he was fully potty trained- I found that you have to put them in clothes that are easy to operate. Elastic shorts or dresses and panties for little girls work the best. Don't put them in pants that zip and button. Make sure you know where the bathroom is and take your child in there so that they are familiar. One of the things kids are VERY afraid of is the sound of the toilets on cruise ships. This is why they wait so long. That loud vacuum noise is frightening to little ones. Make sure your child goes to the bathroom before going to the youth program and limit beverages before they go. Also- make sure to check on your child every two hours. This way they are less apt to have an accident. If you have concern- don't plan on doing an excursion and leaving your child onboard. It sounds like your child isn't ready for a full day in the youth program. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjkacmom Posted June 18, 2012 #3 Share Posted June 18, 2012 I just want to mention that we're booked on our third NCL cruise, and it's VERY family friendly. I'm assuming the 3rd passenger price is high because it's a very popular line for families, and they can afford to charge more, knowing the product will sell. There were close to 900 kids on our last cruise (out of 2000), and it was only a school holiday in NJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6rugrats Posted June 18, 2012 #4 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Which is basically NCL's way of saying they don't want families on a very family friendly ship during Spring Break ( I know RCCL has a 3 strikes policy. Anyone know about HAL? This has nothing to do with saying they don't want families; it's simply a pricing decision. I just read about this on a recent post. There is a thread about this- yes, Holland has the same policy. Agree, HAL has a "three strikes" policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToddlerMom Posted June 18, 2012 Author #5 Share Posted June 18, 2012 This has nothing to do with saying they don't want families; it's simply a pricing decision. Agree, HAL has a "three strikes" policy. Well obviously it's a pricing decision. First, who but a family with kids in school would book at that time of year? I would certainly never go on vacation in March if I wasn't trying to schedule around DD's school schedule. So, given that the logical customers for a cruise in that time period are families who would have more than 2 people in the cabin, why would they price that way? What family would book that when there are so many other options available? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjkacmom Posted June 18, 2012 #6 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Well obviously it's a pricing decision. First, who but a family with kids in school would book at that time of year? I would certainly never go on vacation in March if I wasn't trying to schedule around DD's school schedule. So, given that the logical customers for a cruise in that time period are families who would have more than 2 people in the cabin, why would they price that way? What family would book that when there are so many other options available? Obviously they've been able to fill up the ship in the past with those prices (ships sail full). Our spring break is typically the third week in April, never in March. When I think of March spring break, I think college spring break (and you couldn't pay me to cruise with a bunch of college students, even though I'll have one in a couple of years). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToddlerMom Posted June 18, 2012 Author #7 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Obviously they've been able to fill up the ship in the past with those prices (ships sail full). Our spring break is typically the third week in April, never in March. When I think of March spring break, I think college spring break (and you couldn't pay me to cruise with a bunch of college students, even though I'll have one in a couple of years). We priced this cruise last year and it was cheaper and the 3rd passenger price wasn't more. I wonder if next year's spring break cruises will become more reasonably priced in the fall when many families start making their spring break plans. It's a little bit early now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
higgib Posted June 18, 2012 #8 Share Posted June 18, 2012 At nearly 3 and a half, I would say that she will be pretty much toilet trained, so bar the odd accident that all kids will have up until about age 5 or 6, I don't think you need worry on that count. The staff will expect some damp underwear with this young age group! As for the pricing, yes, it drives me mad, not only with cruising, but with ALL holidays, that you can look through the list of dates and prices and instantly pick out the school holidays, because the price literally doubles or more :eek:. And for those high prices you get overcrowding, queues etc:( Very frustrating! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailinglisa Posted June 19, 2012 #9 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Well obviously it's a pricing decision. First, who but a family with kids in school would book at that time of year? I would certainly never go on vacation in March if I wasn't trying to schedule around DD's school schedule. So, given that the logical customers for a cruise in that time period are families who would have more than 2 people in the cabin, why would they price that way? What family would book that when there are so many other options available? It's called "supply and demand". If people are willing to pay the listed prices, there is no incentive for the supplier (NCL) to drop their third/fourth person pricing. They are in the business to make money. If enough people would not pay the price they are asking, then the price will come down. And BTW - I may not have kids of my own (but I am an auntie and the greatest godmomma in the world according to my goddaughter), but if the gang wanted to cruise during this time, I would suck it up and pay for fare for the ship/line that best suits the needs of our gang.....it may mean I eat mac and cheese or hotdogs for a few dinners to save the extra money, but that is what I would do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrowe70 Posted June 19, 2012 #10 Share Posted June 19, 2012 She's already 95% potty trained. You've got 9 months, don't you think you'll have that last 5% by then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prinycesa07 Posted June 19, 2012 #11 Share Posted June 19, 2012 I Just wanted to add a point here. I cruised in march for spring break in college. The very VERY high majority of the ship was college spring breakers. People were drunk all day, there were beer bottles floating in the kiddie pool (i have a pic of this), a lot of marijuana being smoked. It was nuts. I will NEVER sail with my kids in March. THere were a very small handful of families on there and they were very upset. We heard them complaining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebeccalouiseagain Posted June 19, 2012 #12 Share Posted June 19, 2012 We did a cruise over Easter one year and apparently the previous week was spring break for the colleges and they were doing the same thing on Independence of the Seas. I guess the cruise line won't boot them off because they are probably spending alot on drinks and in the Casino. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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