d4l Posted February 16, 2006 #1 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Me and my wife are planning our 2nd cruise(1st w/children). We have a 4 yr old and a 17 month old. We were told that the rate is the same regardless of age. How do they justify charging a 17 month old the same fare they would charge a grown man? Are there any cruises that have deals for children under a certain age? I just thought this was absurd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas_Diver Posted February 16, 2006 #2 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Me and my wife are planning our 2nd cruise(1st w/children). We have a 4 yr old and a 17 month old. We were told that the rate is the same regardless of age. How do they justify charging a 17 month old the same fare they would charge a grown man? Are there any cruises that have deals for children under a certain age? I just thought this was absurd. They don't charge more for 400 lb passengers than they do for 98 lb weaklings either. There is more to the fare than just the amount of space one occupies or the amount of food eaten. Ever thought of leaving the little ones at home? D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nliedel Posted February 16, 2006 #3 Share Posted February 16, 2006 I seem to remember that Disney may deep discount for small children under two. How do they justify it? It's their ship and they can make the rules. While there are many answers that is the truth. Small children still eat, they still have to be cleaned up after and in general do most of the things larger children do. Is it absurd? No, I do not think so and I am the mother of a 15 month old. He eats, makes messes and in general is just like the older kids in a smaller package (except for his annying habit of turning off my computer because he likes buttons). I would expect a cruise to charge me for him, but he does get a reduced fare if he is in my cabin. I always wonder why people think small children should be free? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d4l Posted February 16, 2006 Author #4 Share Posted February 16, 2006 I guess the idea of charging less for children would attract large family's. It gets very expensive when you start to plan for 4-5 or even 6 in some cases. What about those family's who have a newborn? Is it really fair to charge a 2 month old the same price as a 43 year old? The 2 month old is not gonna eat solid foods and could be traveling b/c the parents don't trust anyone with there small one. I realize it's there ship and they can do what they want but if they are after customer satisfaction then they need to reconsider they're policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas_Diver Posted February 16, 2006 #5 Share Posted February 16, 2006 I realize it's there ship and they can do what they want but if they are after customer satisfaction then they need to reconsider they're policy. You summed it up: It's their ship. They can set the rules! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pt in ct Posted February 16, 2006 #6 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Our deal on NCL Spirit for next month has our 2 kids (6 and 9) significantly discounted. Maybe search around for a good fare? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rada_CMH Posted February 16, 2006 #7 Share Posted February 16, 2006 I agree - check NCL. I think they don't charge young kids (less than 2 year olds) a 3rd/4th passenger rate - you will just have to pay the port fees for the 17 mo old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evy123 Posted February 16, 2006 #8 Share Posted February 16, 2006 I am currently booking a cruise on the Miracle for my husband, 2 1/2 year old, and me. I have been quoted a discounted (by half) 3rd/4th passenger rate for my son. It seems Carnival will extend a discount for certain sailings. However, that discounted reate would apply to adults as well as kids. Happy Cruising ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrp96 Posted February 16, 2006 #9 Share Posted February 16, 2006 What about those family's who have a newborn? Is it really fair to charge a 2 month old the same price as a 43 year old? The 2 month old is not gonna eat solid foods and could be traveling b/c the parents don't trust anyone with there small one. Well, since I don't think there are any cruiselines that would take a baby that young, I don't think that is going to be a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nliedel Posted February 16, 2006 #10 Share Posted February 16, 2006 2 months is too young and I don't think, as the above poster stated, anyone takes them. NCL, that's the line that does not charge for small ones. I love kids but remind me to never take NCL (actually the reason I don't do NCL is the dining thing. I don't like it. I am such a stupid purist). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike91911 Posted February 16, 2006 #11 Share Posted February 16, 2006 My 2 sons, 2 years old and 8 years old were both free on NCL. We are on the Spirit on March 19th. I believe it was a promotion. I had to tell my T/A about it. I had read about it on here. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas_Diver Posted February 16, 2006 #12 Share Posted February 16, 2006 2 months is too young and I don't think, as the above poster stated, anyone takes them. NCL, that's the line that does not charge for small ones. I love kids but remind me to never take NCL (actually the reason I don't do NCL is the dining thing. I don't like it. I am such a stupid purist). I agree. Taking a 2 month old on a cruise is just plain negligent. Their immune systems need a chance to strengthen before being exposed to the big, bad world. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigerr19 Posted February 16, 2006 #13 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Me and my wife are planning our 2nd cruise(1st w/children). We have a 4 yr old and a 17 month old. We were told that the rate is the same regardless of age. How do they justify charging a 17 month old the same fare they would charge a grown man? Are there any cruises that have deals for children under a certain age? I just thought this was absurd. We're taking our 6 month old son on Adventure of the Seas in May and are being charged the full 3rd passenger rate. I know there are port charges included in that fare, and I expect that, but it would be nice if RCCL offered some sort of discount for infants that obviously won't be using 99% of the amenities onboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macy2 Posted February 17, 2006 #14 Share Posted February 17, 2006 Costa Cruise Lines runs specials on kids rates. We are only paying port charges & taxes for our 15 month old, and our 5 year old's rate was greatly reduced as well. I agree w/ you, infants should not be charged the same rate as an older child or adult. They are too young to participate in the kids clubs on many ships, and can't use the pools even w/ swim diapers on some lines. I did confirm with Costa that our daughter will be able to use the kiddy pool with a swim diaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veromom Posted February 17, 2006 #15 Share Posted February 17, 2006 Definitely Costa - A lot of sailing have the Kids Free program. Our particular cruise did not (3/19 - Magica) but we paid 199.00 plus port fees for our 2 1/2 year old. I agree that their should be a discount for children. Most children do not eat any where near what one of these posting adults ( including Myself) would eat. Plus there are so many people that do not having the option of just leaving our children at home, or maybe we want to enjoy our vacations with our children and not just dump them at a relative or sitters home if we did have that option. I myself took a vacation to Vegas when my daughter was 15 mths old, mind you just for a weekend. But I can tell you most of my time was spent on wondering how she was! Anyhow just my 2 cents! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerif Posted February 17, 2006 #16 Share Posted February 17, 2006 You have to remember that, while infants and toddlers might not eat a lot, they also don't drink alcohol, gamble in the casino, play bingo or use the spa - all huge profit centers for the cruiseline. Even the smallest infant counts as a "body" and the line is only permitted so many "bodies" on each sailing, so that infant is taking a spot which could otherwise be sold to an adult who will add to the bottom line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerry's Girls Posted February 17, 2006 #17 Share Posted February 17, 2006 I just took my year old twins on a Princess Cruise, and even paying full price for them, we came out way ahead when measured against paying for a hotel, meals and activities. That's why our ship had hundreds of kids, even though we were all paying full price for them. I think the whole point of cruising is you pay one price - not a la carte. The ship had a huge kids area open all day with staff and activities just for them, so I completely see how the cruise line justifies it. My favorite part was that we could eat whenever we wanted without worrying that one of the babies would start crying and I would have to abandon an expensive restaurant meal. On the ship, if we had to leave suddenly, we could just go eat again later. For, me, not having to deal with car seats for an entire week was worth any price. I did choose Princess because the price for the 3rd passenger in a cabin was less than Royal Carib - and also because there are refrigerators in all of the cabins, which helped with bottles. Best, Mia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyeilis Posted February 19, 2006 #18 Share Posted February 19, 2006 On one hand I agree with you. The little kids don't eat as much, etc etc etc. But on the other hand, I see paying and tipping more b/c of my son being with us as giving me some leeway in not cleaning up as much as I usually do. When we go out to eat, I HATE tipping more b/c we've left a mess, so you'll find me bent over in my seat, picking up what he's dropped. The floor is sometimes cleaner than before he sat above it. (ew) But if I'm paying for his space and tipping the cabin steward more...I think I won't be doing as much of that, yeehaw. :) All that said, I don't think I'd cruise on a line that charged the same price. I'd go with one that does the 3rd/4th passenger thing...or the port charges thing.... Putting out some more thoughts...WE really do not need more beds in our room just b/c of DS, because we have a family bed and would not be using the pull out couch or bunk etc. So why do we have to pay for it? AND one thing that REALLY annoyed me on our honeymoon cruise (pre-DS)...the food...we're vegetarians, and therefore are NOT eating the filet mignon and lobster and whatnot. We're not eating the escargot for appetizers. (and yet we have to sit at tables with those things being eaten...after 20 odd years of veg-life, let me tell you, that's NOT pleasant) NO, we're eating goshdarnit EGGPLANT every other night. Bleah. Eggplant, fersnickety.... So vegetarian, co-sleeping families should DEFINITELY be charged less. OH and we use cloth diapers too, so we're not making lots of disposable and stinky garbage, either. :) Yet another thing the steward doesn't have to deal with! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas_Diver Posted February 19, 2006 #19 Share Posted February 19, 2006 So vegetarian, co-sleeping families should DEFINITELY be charged less. OH and we use cloth diapers too, so we're not making lots of disposable and stinky garbage, either. :) Yet another thing the steward doesn't have to deal with! I can only assume that you are joking. D. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitty9 Posted February 19, 2006 #20 Share Posted February 19, 2006 First of all, newborns and those under four months of age cannot cruise, so that's a moot point. When you're bringing a child of any age on board they take up a berth. Ships have a limited number of berths they can sell, due to Coast Guard restrictions and so on. A child takes up a berth space regardless if they eat the food, use the towels and sheets, dirty the dishes, use the water supply or sleep in a bed. When they take up a berth, they take revenue away from the cruise line in the form of tours, purchases, drinks and gambling. If they didn't allow infants to cruise, the cruise line could sell that berth space to an adult who's onboard purchases increase the bottom line. It's the same way for single cruisers. They have to pay double the fare, even though they only eat for one, make the dirt for one, use one set of towels and everything else. But because they are taking up two berths in one cabin, they pay double. Is that fair? No, but it's their ship and they make the rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigerr19 Posted February 20, 2006 #21 Share Posted February 20, 2006 First of all, newborns and those under four months of age cannot cruise, so that's a moot point. When you're bringing a child of any age on board they take up a berth. Ships have a limited number of berths they can sell, due to Coast Guard restrictions and so on. A child takes up a berth space regardless if they eat the food, use the towels and sheets, dirty the dishes, use the water supply or sleep in a bed. When they take up a berth, they take revenue away from the cruise line in the form of tours, purchases, drinks and gambling. If they didn't allow infants to cruise, the cruise line could sell that berth space to an adult who's onboard purchases increase the bottom line. It's the same way for single cruisers. They have to pay double the fare, even though they only eat for one, make the dirt for one, use one set of towels and everything else. But because they are taking up two berths in one cabin, they pay double. Is that fair? No, but it's their ship and they make the rules. Yes, ships have a limited number of berths, but our infant son is not taking up any space that an adult would otherwise occupy. He's staying in our room with us, not taking up a cabin for himself. If our son wasn't going with us, we certainly wouldn't "replace" him with a drinking, eating, gambling adult in our room. The cruise line is not losing out on anything at all by him being with us on the cruise, they've filled a cabin with two paying adults. The single cruiser situation is not relevant here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgnok Posted February 20, 2006 #22 Share Posted February 20, 2006 Yes, ships have a limited number of berths, but our infant son is not taking up any space that an adult would otherwise occupy. He's staying in our room with us, not taking up a cabin for himself. If our son wasn't going with us, we certainly wouldn't "replace" him with a drinking, eating, gambling adult in our room. The cruise line is not losing out on anything at all by him being with us on the cruise, they've filled a cabin with two paying adults. The single cruiser situation is not relevant here. Unfortunately, you're not exactly right. You see, Coast Guard regulations limit the total number of people that can be on the ship. There are many instances on almost every full sailing, of a cabin that COULD sleep 3 or 4 people being available only for two people - not because of how many can fit in THAT cabin, but because of the total number of people already booked on the ship. So your infant may, in fact, be taking up a space that could be occupied by another drinking, eating, gambling adult. Just because the adult wouldn't be in YOUR room doesn't matter. The fact that your infant IS ON THE SHIP might keep that other adult off because of total passenger limits. And understand, I am right there with you as we've got 6 and 2 year old daughters. In fact, that's why I understand the total passenger thing so well -- I was shopping prices a week before finalizing a cruise and picked out a particular cruise, right down to the cabin for the four of us. When I went to actually book it a week later, I was still able to book the cabin I had selected, but no longer able to book it for 4 people -- it wasn't that the cabin could hold fewer people than it did a week ago, but the total number of booked passengers had increased and, due to Coast Guard regulations, they could no longer book 4 people to a cabin. We ended up still booking that cabin for 2 plus booking an inside guarantee (cheapest thing available) for the other 2 and still actually had the 4 of us in the original cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitty9 Posted February 20, 2006 #23 Share Posted February 20, 2006 Bigerr19, what you say is not correct. The situation has nothing to do with your infant sharing your cabin. It has to do with Coast Guard regulations and the number of spaces in a lifeboat. Each ship has a limit to the number of passengers they can accept regardless of how many cabins they have, due to how many can fit in a lifeboat. For instance, if a family were allowed to book six in one cabin (lets say they have two sets of twins who are under age 4, plus the two adults), even though that cabin would usually hold a max of 4, the number of berths that ship could sell is reduced by 2 because there are two extra in a cabin that's meant for 4. Once a ship has reached it's maximum berth space, even if it has a lot of empty cabins, they can't book any more passengers. So even though your infant is sharing your cabin, the baby counts towards passenger berths and lifeboat space. So, if there are lots of infants, regardless if they are sharing cabins with the parents, once the max number of passengers are reached, and infants are passengers, the cruise line cannot legally sell to full fare passengers despite the fact that they could have 50 empty cabins. That's where the revenue is lost. My reference to single passengers is germane to this subject in the fact that I was trying to point out that the cruise lines can, and do, charge whatever they want, be it for kids or single passengers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitty9 Posted February 20, 2006 #24 Share Posted February 20, 2006 Double post, sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nliedel Posted February 20, 2006 #25 Share Posted February 20, 2006 What Kitty said, only a whole lot better than I would say it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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