Is Kids Sail Free a relatively new thing (post-covid)?

[Universe93B]

Did Royal Caribbean have Kids Sail Free promotions before the pandemic?  Or it was always there and are they just promoting that more often now to get people to cruise more with the lost revenue during covid?  

 

I understand it’s a numbers game and they just increase the first 2 guests’ prices, but for some select cruises, it does make a pretty nice savings.  Trying to figure out whether to pick a cruise for Kids Sail Free promotions in case in the future (in a year or 2), they don’t do this anymore.  

[Tree_skier]

Yes it was a regular thing before the shutdown.  

[topnole]

12 minutes ago, Universe93B said:

Did Royal Caribbean have Kids Sail Free promotions before the pandemic?  Or it was always there and are they just promoting that more often now to get people to cruise more with the lost revenue during covid?  

 

I understand it’s a numbers game and they just increase the first 2 guests’ prices, but for some select cruises, it does make a pretty nice savings.  Trying to figure out whether to pick a cruise for Kids Sail Free promotions in case in the future (in a year or 2), they don’t do this anymore.  

It isn’t new, but it is way more common now as in seemingly almost permanent.  Probably way more time with KSF sales going on than not.  As you mentioned with the pricing, they play games with the first two.  So, some of it is just marketing anyhow.  We’ve had pricing that was cheaper once the KSF went away.  So choose wisely. 

[RCCL Fan]

Ha. Yes & No

 

Yes in that KSF was definitely pre-pandemic and as a father of two AMAZING, it was the only time the sale was truly significant and made you want to run and book everything.

 

It only happened like twice a year but it was great.

 

Post pandemic you see KSF much more often, but the pricing doesn't change much.  Typical RCI claim of a sale but they twist the numbers around the the price is only a few bucks less than it was pre-sale.

[ONECRUISER]

Wish they'd had KSF back when my Kids were young. They didnt even have 5 passenger Cabins and unless you took 3/4 passenger off Season in Jan/Feb or Sep-Nov pricing was really high. Typical High Summer/Holiday Rate pass 1-2 $999ea, 3-4 $1099-1399ea. Off Season 1-2 $799ea, 3-4 $499ea. And this was a 7nite in an OV Cabin 25+ yrs ago. We did it few times packing 5 of us in a Vision Class OV Cabin. One Kid was assigned w/Grandparents but we all stayed in ours

[Engineroom Snipe]

 

There is a total reduced price compared to having all adults. The caveat is that you still are charged gratuities, taxes, port charges and a more expensive category of cabin must be purchased.

 

When I have priced them on many cruises for other people in mock bookings. The extra cost is about 1/2 fare of an adult at the end per child.

 

One cabin of two adults and two qualifying children is about equal to one cabin of three adults.

 

There are savings but RCI really stretches the "Kids Sail Free" quote with many caveats.

 

As others have stated, the final numbers are not as impressive as it seems on first glance.