Different pricing for one year old versus a child

[nyc12345]

In pricing out a cruise, I noticed that HAL charges $999 for a one year old (as a 3rd guest in the room), but $549 for a child over the age of 1 (as a 3rd guest in the room), why is that?

[HALrunner]

That is so weird. I didn't even know there were children's rates, I assumed just 3rd passenger. When our kiddo went on his first cruise at 10 months old, I remember the charge for him was just barely less than the charge for us, but I assumed it was that way for all 3rd/4th passengers on that sailing. Maybe you have discovered another glitch in pricing.

 

It would be worth a call to HAL to see if there is some way around this. If so, get it in writing. Depending on who you talk to you get different answers for some of these uncommon questions.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Is it possible that one price is listed under a special pricing for that cruise -- like a sale?

[sail7seas]

We can only guess. If you choose to call HAL, please let us know.

Thanks. :)

[1of4]

Sailing only in quad cabins, we have never been charged different rates for the 3rd and 4th passengers, our children. Sometimes they are free and we only pay the port charges and taxes, sometimes they are charged a reduced rate from the 1st and 2nd passengers. It just depends on the voyage or promotion.

[johbeaker]

I have definitely experienced the same phenomenon (adding under 2 yrs. old as 3rd passenger pricing more than adding 3-12 yr. old). I ended up using a travel agent who got the lower "child" rate for our 1 year old child. It was explained to me that there was a promotion for children at a reduced 3rd/4th passenger rate, but their definition of child is 3-18, whereas 2 and under years old is an infant. I might add that 3rd party internet travel agents show the same higher under 2 yr old pricing.

Edited May 28, 2015 by johbeaker

[1of4]

I have definitely experienced the same phenomenon (adding under 2 yrs. old as 3rd passenger pricing more than adding 3-12 yr. old). I ended up using a travel agent who got the lower "child" rate for our 1 year old child. It was explained to me that there was a promotion for children at a reduced 3rd/4th passenger rate, but their definition of child is 3-18, whereas 2 and under years old is an infant. I might add that 3rd party internet travel agents show the same higher under 2 yr old pricing.

 

Thanks for posting. Now I understand the distinction. I may not agree with the policy but I understand why it is happening.

 

We tried to book a Princess cruise when DS was an infant (under 1) but they wanted to charge full adult rate for him and DD (4 in the cabin). At the time they said they had no infant or child rates. I asked what ship resources would an 8 month old take as I would be bringing food, would not be allowed in the children's club or pool (not debating but just trying to understand the full adult pricing) etc. They had no answer but confirmed there were no rates for 3rd and 4th passengers and they paid full rate. That logic still fails me as if we had of decided to carry on with the reservation we would have booked adjoining cabins and had twice the space for the same rate.

[Homosassa]

The price difference between infants and children makes a lot of sense if you look at the prices as a way to control age demographics on the ship.

 

How many people would want to cruise with a ship load of crying infants and children.

 

By setting prices that are high enough to make a parent think twice about bringing a child or infant, the availability of space for the more profitable adult passenger increases.

 

Children sail free or special pricing for children usually occurs at times of the year when the ships might sail with more empty cabins unless families can be enticed on board.

[DaveOKC]

The price difference between infants and children makes a lot of sense if you look at the prices as a way to control age demographics on the ship.

 

How many people would want to cruise with a ship load of crying infants and children.

 

By setting prices that are high enough to make a parent think twice about bringing a child or infant, the availability of space for the more profitable adult passenger increases.

 

Children sail free or special pricing for children usually occurs at times of the year when the ships might sail with more empty cabins unless families can be enticed on board.

 

Good point about capacity issues. There are only so many people allowed per lifeboat, so that could come into play on popular cruises. Adults do tend to spend more in the bars, spa and casino than the children do (in most cases!) and thats where the profit is for the cruise line.

[Kay240]

We are about to take a Family Cruise (15 people including a 14, two 10, a 5 and a 2 year old) Unfortunately, it could not have been arranged with HAL, where I expected to pay low prices for the younger children. I was told (perhaps on CC) that (1) there is addditional work due to diapers, etc. and (2) the children take up the space of an adult who might be drinking and gambling and increasing profit from the cruise!

Edited May 28, 2015 by Kay240
Correct HTML

[POA1]

How many people would want to cruise with a ship load of crying infants and children.

 

Disney Cruise Line passengers. :)

[BlueRiband]

Thanks for posting. Now I understand the distinction. I may not agree with the policy but I understand why it is happening.

 

We tried to book a Princess cruise when DS was an infant (under 1) but they wanted to charge full adult rate for him and DD (4 in the cabin). At the time they said they had no infant or child rates. I asked what ship resources would an 8 month old take as I would be bringing food, would not be allowed in the children's club or pool (not debating but just trying to understand the full adult pricing) etc. They had no answer but confirmed there were no rates for 3rd and 4th passengers and they paid full rate. That logic still fails me as if we had of decided to carry on with the reservation we would have booked adjoining cabins and had twice the space for the same rate.

 

A couple of things are happening here. One, the time of the year and popularity of a particular sailing will affect 3rd/4th person rates. Even if you bring your 8-month old's own food your child will still sleep, bath, and use linens and towels. The cruise line must also provide a weight appropriate life jacket for your baby.

 

Second, other than Disney, cruise lines really don't want children.

 

Children don't order from the bar, shop, or book spa treatments so there is zero on board spending. Parents spend all of their money on their children and don't have money for their own discretionary on board spending. On the other hand people who have already raised their children, and do have money to spend, often want an adult atmosphere and the presence of a young child immediately changes that atmosphere.

 

It comes down to a revenue/capacity issue. If 50 non-spending children cause the ship to reach capacity that's 50 spending adults who won't be on board.

Edited May 28, 2015 by BlueRiband

[1of4]

We are about to take a Family Cruise (15 people including a 14, two 10, a 5 and a 2 year old) Unfortunately, it could not have been arranged with HAL, where I expected to pay low prices for the younger children. I was told (perhaps on CC) that (1) there is addditional work due to diapers, etc. and (2) the children take up the space of an adult who might be drinking and gambling and increasing profit from the cruise!

 

:confused: :confused:

 

Did you price it out? We have always paid less for DD and DS than we did for DH and I.

 

I don't buy the additional work gripe. Surely HAL doesn't count on every adult drinking and gambling; they certainly can not bank on it. There are not that many quad or adjoining cabins on HAL ships so that keeps the number of families low. Some adults take up more more resources than my two children.

 

Speaking for my family only, we do not make a lot of work routinely except for the two more beds to make. Our cabin is never messy and we do not make a mess when we eat. We are not noisy and we would spend more if HAL offered more things for sale/to do that included children. Funny how we spent $600 in 4 days on a Disney cruise! :eek:

 

Club HAL is amazing though so I don't mind. But the week befor our last cruise had over 300 kids on board so they must be sleeping somewhere!

[1of4]

A couple of things are happening here. One, the time of the year and popularity of a particular sailing will affect 3rd/4th person rates. Even if you bring your 8-month old's own food your child will still sleep, bath, and use linens and towels. The cruise line must also provide a weight appropriate life jacket for your baby.

 

Second, other than Disney, cruise lines really don't want children.

 

Children don't order from the bar, shop, or book spa treatments so there is zero on board spending. Parents spend all of their money on their children and don't have money for their own discretionary on board spending. On the other hand people who have already raised their children, and do have money to spend, often want an adult atmosphere and the presence of a young child immediately changes that atmosphere.

 

It comes down to a revenue/capacity issue. If 50 non-spending children cause the ship to reach capacity that's 50 spending adults who won't be on board.

 

Have you looked at the price of mocktails on the ship?? :eek: Smoothies too. So yes, children do order from the bar. They shop - I bought things for my children that I otherwise would not have. A watch and braclet come to mind..... And if the spa or gym came down to reality and allowed children 12 and older we would have spent money there too. Because they won't allow we avoided those areas so HAL lost money on us in that department.

 

It is all in your attitude. Of course they use linens and towels they do in hotels too and we are not charged for them. Not arguing just playing devils advocate. You have quite a leap of logic in the statement about spending. Unless you are in a position to review onboard accounts how would you know what we purchased and how much money we spent? Children raised or not? If adults do not wish to be around children then there are plenty of other cruise lines that do not have child and youth facilities. Logic would prevail that there are less children on those cruises.

 

Don't paint all parents and children with the same brush. If you were on a cruise with my family you would never know there were children on board. I am sure most adults that went on the 20 day repositioning cruise with us last month would attest to that fact.

[1of4]

Disney Cruise Line passengers. :)

 

Been there and done that....spent $600 in four days. Never doing it again. My children didn't even like the pushing and yelling.

[POA1]

Been there and done that....spent $600 in four days. Never doing it again. My children didn't even like the pushing and yelling.

But it was pushing, yelling, AND beloved cartoon characters. :D

 

Ever wonder why you don't see Winnie the Pooh on the Disney ships?

Edited May 28, 2015 by POA1

[Homosassa]

 

Don't paint all parents and children with the same brush. If you were on a cruise with my family you would never know there were children on board. I am sure most adults that went on the 20 day repositioning cruise with us last month would attest to that fact.

 

I absolutely agree. Years ago (30 to be exact), when we took our then 18 month old on a cruise, it was not common to have many children on board a cruise ship. The ones that were on board had parents who made sure their children were able to behave in the main dining room and elsewhere on the ship. There were either no children's programs or very limited programs so the children were not expected to be roaming free on board; they were directly under the parent's supervision.

 

At that time, children under the age of nine or so cruised for free. The only charges were for the port charges and taxes.

 

It was only when more and more free range children were on board and the ships were forced to start giving some type of in loco parentis supervision to the kids who were not trained to behave in social situations, that the high children prices were introduced. In addition, the availability of the children's fare was limited to only a certain number per cruise.

[sapper1]

Have you looked at the price of mocktails on the ship?? :eek: Smoothies too. So yes, children do order from the bar. They shop - I bought things for my children that I otherwise would not have. A watch and braclet come to mind..... And if the spa or gym came down to reality and allowed children 12 and older we would have spent money there too. Because they won't allow we avoided those areas so HAL lost money on us in that department.

 

It is all in your attitude. Of course they use linens and towels they do in hotels too and we are not charged for them. Not arguing just playing devils advocate. You have quite a leap of logic in the statement about spending. Unless you are in a position to review onboard accounts how would you know what we purchased and how much money we spent? Children raised or not? If adults do not wish to be around children then there are plenty of other cruise lines that do not have child and youth facilities. Logic would prevail that there are less children on those cruises.

 

Don't paint all parents and children with the same brush. If you were on a cruise with my family you would never know there were children on board. I am sure most adults that went on the 20 day repositioning cruise with us last month would attest to that fact.

1 of 4 speaks the truth. We just finished a 20 day cruise with her children as a part of our roll call group. Everyone found them delightful and enjoyed their company. They were very polite and better behaved than an adult or two I can think of.

It's not cruising with children that people object to--it's cruising with bratty children.