$600 Charge for Two year old

[Giorgi-one]

I have no problem with the tip if the fare was reasonable.

[taszmom]

Actually we booked under Promo 197. It's for fall sailings of Zuiderdam, Oosterdam and Ryndam (Mexican Riviera).

[Lisa63]

SeattleHollandDude, welcome to the boards! And thank you for your kind comments.

[peaches from georgia]

Personally, I don't think the tip should be connected to the fare at all. When you book a cruise you have agreed to the fare. If you think the fare is unreasonable go to another cruiseline.

 

As for the tip, that is a gratuity for services rendered by your stewards who have made your cruise so pleasant. It has nothing to do with the fare itself and the stewards shouldn't be stiffed if you think you paid too much for the cruise. :rolleyes:

[idiebabe]

I agree with Lisa63 and SeattleDude. Children should be charged just like any other passenger. Afterall, "kids are people, too"!!!

[Giorgi-one]

Let's put this back in perspective.

 

My understanding is that most cruise lines consider ship full based on two passengers per cabin. That's why some cruise lines report operating at 102% capacity (example). Therefore, any 3rd or 4th passengers in a cabin are almost pure profit except for food they eat. They don't subtract from the number of people in the casino. They add to the number of coke cards or the number of tee shirts purchased.

 

I was talking about a two year old. I am not talking about older children who probably make more of a mess than their parents due in the cabins. The fare should be higher as age increases but I don't see the break point at 2 years old. In any event, the 3rd or 4th person charge should not be 90% of the regular cabin rate as it is for anyone booking an inside cabin.

[Jacqueline]

It would depend on whether the ship was really sailing full. If so, the two year old would be taking the place of a *real* passsenger who would not just be paying full fare but also spending money in the profit centers.

Because of regulations at sea -that I have seen others who are more fluent in this area than my self post- there are absolute limits on passengers due to safetly issues.

This capacity control issue is why even though I have had cabins that were triples and quads, the bunks could not be *sold* becuase the ship was *full*. I actualyl had three cabins all triples and quads and could not book anyone additonal in. For this example, the children could be precluding others from booking- one reason for the full charge.

Of course, if the ship is under capacity its just plain profitable.

[gliles]

I don't know of any 2-year old who doesn't make a mess. I agree, children are people too and should pay the same amount in tips. I can't believe anyone removes the auto tip, I have been on 8 cruises and never have I thought that the service I got didn't deserve at least the minimum. Sometimes no extra, but always the minimum.

[Stevesan]

Nothing lights up the holidays like a

ChrisPtmas or New Year’s cruise with your family.

 

Purchase a suite and include Friends & Family in the same stateroom from just $199 per person.

 

Choose from Caribbean, Latin America or South America Holiday Cruises.

 

Call your Travel Agent or 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425)</B>.

Ask for Promo #125.</STRONG>

Friends & Family

3rd/4th FaresDepartureShipItineraryTo/FromSuperior and Deluxen/t

Verandah Suites

Cat. S

and Cat. SS

[Stevesan]

Sorry about previous post. Tried a copy/paste from a HA e-mail that didn't work.

 

PROMO #125: Purchase a suite and include friends and family in the same suite for $199 and up. Includes superior and verandah suites Cat S and Cat SS.

 

List is too long to copy here, but they're all Holiday period Caribbean cruises except 12/15 Amsterdam which is 21 day South America/Antarctica and the 12/18 Veendam listed as 8 day Latin America.

 

Terms and Conditions

Featured fares are per person for 3rd/4th passengers sharing the same suite, cruise only. Fares are based on Promo #125 in the category listed. Fares are in U.S. dollars and include non-discountable amounts. Taxes are additional. For new bookings only. Subject to availability. Offers are capacity controlled, and may be modified, withdrawn or sailing dates may be substituted without prior notice. Restrictions may apply. Please refer to the appropriate Holland America brochure for full terms and conditions. Ships' Registry: Netherlands, Bahamas

[superstein61]

Since I have always argued with those folks here who dislike having children onboard, who complain about the kids taking over the pool, running around and enjoying themselves (ALL THINGS MOST OF US DID WHEN WE WERE YOUNG) - I must say that paying and tipping for your child - whether he/she is 2 or 12 is something you should do !!!

 

One of the arguments I make to those who compalin about kids - is that the kids (ie their parents) paid to be on the cruise just like everyone else - and they have the same right to the pool and to enjoy themselves as do the kid-haters. If you didn't pay for your kids, that argument would no longer apply.

 

Kids do consume resources on board - whether they be work by your room or dining steward, food, use of facilities, etc. Pay for them and tip those who serve your child if they do a good job. Its only right !!!

[Giorgi-one]

Based on the opinions heard here, HAL would be crazy not to raise fares for 3rd and 4th persons in the same cabin to full fare.

[cruzincurt]

Just curious, who remembers where they went on vacation when they were 2 years old? I certainly don't.

[doone]

I had to wait til I was 22 years old and could afford to pay for a cruise myself.

[CaptData]

I'm single and pay two full fares usually. I eat food, so does the two year old but I do not eat that much more but I pay a full price for someone who is not there. I still tip my steward, waiter and who ever else serves me. I also tip extra because I beleive that one person makes as much work as two even though I pick up my things. :D

 

A two year old will eat 3 times a day plus two to three snacks. Let's do some figures. Lunch the first day base on age at some restuants is $4.99 (34.95) . Supper is $7.00 ($49.00). Breakfast is $1.99 (13.99). ($97.99). This is at very cheap restauants, just fries, hotdogs sort of meals. On ship, he can try lobster, various seafood, have different desserts (not just a cookie or vanilla ice cream) ect. What is the cost of lobster where you are from, would you pay for him to try it at that price. Has he tried cavier. Some of this can cost $25.00 for an oz, So to the $98.00 let's add $50.00 for the expensive stuff (after all he won't eat much). Now two to three snacks a day, lets add $10.00 per day for $70.00. We are up to $210.00. To me, you have saved yourself some money at $600.00. To hire a babysitter for the week would have cost you about $800.00. You saved $200.00 just on the babysitter. You also saved on your grocery bill for the week. He got to try some very expensive dishes without you having to pay extra. Oh yes, he got ice cream too. And more importantly, you got to experience his first cruise with him. Congratulations.

[jhannah]

Cruzincurt, I certainly don't remember a thing about being two years old!

 

In any event, the 3rd or 4th person charge should not be 90% of the regular cabin rate as it is for anyone booking an inside cabin.

Why not? The only "savings" is that they don't take up another cabin that has to be cleaned. Number three and number four consume all that number one and number two do. They require the same water treatment as number one and number two. The ports charge the same for them as the others.

[superstein61]

Based on the opinions heard here, HAL would be crazy not to raise fares for 3rd and 4th persons in the same cabin to full fare.

 

No - that would make no sense - because a portion of the costs (ie the room) are fixed and absorbed whether 2 people use that room or 4 people).

 

but having a 3rd or 4th person pay half or so as they do now makes sense

[CoastalCounseling]

HMMM.... Interesting idea. I love who ever mentioned discounting under age 5 fares.

 

My child (2) can not use the CLUB HAL facilites. I get no "free" babysitting services (included in your fare) until he is older. Baby sitting on board for my child runs $8.00 hour. I LOVE the idea of HAL reducing the prices of kids who cant use the HAL program.

 

Of course we will cruise again before he is 5 years old, but IF I WERE PRESIDENT.....

 

Until then, we will cruise with Nana and Grandpa for FREE sitting! Gotta love them.

 

SMILE! :)

 

Kelly

[snake114]

One of the reasons we chose the Amsterdam for our Alaska cruise in June was that they only charged $199 for our 16-month old. Norweigan and Princess both wanted to charge her the full 3rd passenger in room fees of $500+..!!!!

 

I had no problem tipping extra for her- despite our efforts toddlers can be messy!! However, being charged the $10/day for 8 days, not seven, kind of irked me- that last day we were off the ship by 8:30am, and the incoming passengers would also be auto-tipping for that day as well!!

[Giorgi-one]

The $10 per day should only be added for 7 days. I have never seen it added on the last day. Should I expect a surprise on my Visa Bill?

[iluvcruzin]

I've seen this topic on various cruiseline boards. There's always a big debate on whether a child should be paying the same fare as an adult passenger (as a 3rd/4th). Also the tip thing comes up too.

 

Although I agree $600 is a tad steep for an extra person on a 7-day cruise, I don't think age should be a factor for special discounts or treatments. It's all based on head counts onboard a ship. To consider punishment by withholding tips (as mentioned in the first post) is a personal decision, but personally I think that's unfair punishment to the wrong people based solely on one's issue with pricing.

 

Hopefully you will be able to get a promo discount before your sailing.

 

 

(Hi SeattlehollandDude and welcome to the boards.)

[Giorgi-one]

Forget whether $600 is too much for a two year old. Cabin prices are always based on two people in a stateroom. It seems that most people feel that the third and fourth persons in the same room should pay nearly full fare. This means that they feel that the actual room cost is small compared to the cost of food, electricity, water, etc. I disagree. The cost (Note I said cost) of food is probably less than $10-15 per day for any passenger and in most cases is free for the extra passengers since the ship probably throws away enough food to feed 50 - 100 passengers each day. I am not sure how port charges work. Does the ship pay a fixed fee based on full capacity (2 per room) or do they pay for the actual number of passengers? And the extra passengers spend extra money in the casinos, excursions, etc. I believe that almost all the money paid by 3rd and 4th passengers is pure profit for the cruise line. And don't forget that the extra $70 in tips goes to the cruise line not the workers. And please don't even try to tell me how much extra fuel is required for the 180 lb passenger on a ship that weights about 40,000 tons or 800,000,000 lbs.

[iluvcruzin]

Forget whether $600 is too much for a two year old.

You started the discussion based on this being a problem and now asking to forget it. So I guess you either don't have a problem with it or looking for something to complain or debate about. It's now a dead closed issue...

 

Next topic???

[dam1050]

I personally feel that if someone can afford to buy 4 SS cabins, they can certainly afford to pay for their children. If not, save some money and hire a babysitter and keep them at home.

 

Right On !

 

Isn't it always amazing how the same people who will spend the most for some things, will also be the first the moan and complain about the puny little charges for something else.

 

I don't envy their room steward one bit. You know for sure these same people will be the most demanding passengers to be found.

 

Dave

[Giorgi-one]

Iluvcruzin;

 

Different issue. Most posters are justifying high charges for 3rd and 4th passengers based on cost for food which is very small in the overall scheme of things. Also, remember that most waiters and room stewards are on a fixed salary and that extra tips for 3rd and 4th passengers goes directly to HAL. Waiters and stewards make out better if additional passengers leave extra tips. Actually, everyone makes out better except the four passengers in the same room who are now like sardines.