Kids don't really cruise free

[kcb203]

The "kids cruise free" offer is a joke. It's not available on the cheapest price. I don't recall the exact prices, but these are approximate for the one week Venice/Greece Fantasia cruise I booked recently:

 

Cheapest adult fare: $800. Kids were at $300/each as the 3rd and 4th passengers in our cabin, so the total was $2200.

 

"Kids cruise free": Fare for the same cabin was $1050, so we paid $2100 for the two adults and nothing for the kids.

 

If kids truly cruised free, we would have paid $1600 instead of $2100. (My kids are 9 and 6.)

 

I booked anyway because the timing fit our vacation and the total price was still OK, but the kids definitely don't cruise free on MSC.

[sthelder]

It's not really free, as there will be taxes and port charges for kids. I find the choice available is more restrictive as frequently I have to go up a category or two (and pay more) than what I would prefer just to find a cabin with 3rd or 4th occupancy.

 

The question is whether the rate (same 3/4 occupancy cabin) for a family with 1/2 kids is really cheaper than the rate for 3/4 adults.

 

I don't really follow your math, so you are paying $2200 for a family of four, and the rate for two adults for the same cruise is $2100?

[sthelder]

I am planning for my family's 2014 cruise, MSC is not a choice currently, as they don't do Panama.

 

The on-line rates I could find for two different cruiselines (RCCL and Princess) are the same between 2 adults+1 kid and 3 adults. NCL also has a discount if the 3rd passenger is a kid.

 

When I made my booking for my coming April cruise on MSC Splendida, there was about $200 difference the rates for 2 adults+1 kid and 3 adults.

[shellmisi]

The "kids cruise free" offer is a joke. It's not available on the cheapest price. I don't recall the exact prices, but these are approximate for the one week Venice/Greece Fantasia cruise I booked recently:

 

Cheapest adult fare: $800. Kids were at $300/each as the 3rd and 4th passengers in our cabin, so the total was $2200.

 

"Kids cruise free": Fare for the same cabin was $1050, so we paid $2100 for the two adults and nothing for the kids.

 

If kids truly cruised free, we would have paid $1600 instead of $2100. (My kids are 9 and 6.)

 

I booked anyway because the timing fit our vacation and the total price was still OK, but the kids definitely don't cruise free on MSC.

 

You are totally right - it's just another promotion and not combinable with the other deals. For our cruise, the kids sail free promo was better than the other deal, but only slightly. They wouldn't give us the other deal rates along with the kids being free.

 

 

It's not really free, as there will be taxes and port charges for kids. I find the choice available is more restrictive as frequently I have to go up a category or two (and pay more) than what I would prefer just to find a cabin with 3rd or 4th occupancy.

 

I think everyone understands that even with a kids sail free promotion, you still have to pay taxes and port charges. Well, at least I hope so.

[Alex71]

The "kids cruise free" offer is a joke.

 

I strongly disagree with this assessment. We cruised three thime with MSC over the past 12 months and each time our two kids benefitted from this offer.

 

Not all cabins are equiped to accomodate four people. Sometimes the ones for four will sell out in a particular category while cabins for two are still available. If one then moves up a category or two to find a cabin for four, the price per adult will naturally be higher.

 

Also, guarantee cabins, which often have a particularly low last minute price, are often not available for four people. Nevertheless, we managed twice to get one.

 

When booking through an American TA "free" means free + taxes and fees, when booking through a German TA, free means free and also no taxes and fees. Also keep in mind that MSC does not charge kids a service charge unlike some other lines.

[shellmisi]

Also keep in mind that MSC does not charge kids a service charge unlike some other lines.

 

Not completely true. It depends where you are cruising and your kids' ages. We will be paying a daily service charge for both our kids on the Poesia.

[earn]

Yes there is a charge, but even in the caribbean it is half the adult rate. Think our Poesia cruise is $12 per day for adults and $6 for kids.