Kids on a cruise? Do you pay extra for them?

Question

Do you pay for kids to stay in the same room as the parents, or is there an age limit for this? I have a friend with four kids, and if they all have to pay full price, he can't go on a cruise. How does it work?

Answer 1

phmom gave you a great an accurate answer...except you can fit 5 into a cabin. There will be two lower beds, two fold down beds and one roll away bed (cot). If it is just one adult, all 4 kids can sail in the same room...but will be extremely tight!

Answer 2

Yes, you do pay for kids, and they aren't going to be able to put 2 adults and 4 kids in 1 cabin.  They can put up to 4 in a cabin, so they would probably book it as a double and a quad so the parents could be assured of privacy.  If you book 2 triples, the other cabin may not accomodate 4.

The way cruises work is the first 2 people pay full fare.  The 3rd and 4th pay a reduced fare.  There are port charges and gratuities to also consider.  Gratuities are generally $10 per person per day, covering everyone from waiters, bus boys, buffet workers, to cabin stewards.  A party of 6 would pay $420 in gratuities for a 7 day cruise that should be factored in when calculating the cost.  

If your friend looks for 2 inside cabins on Carnival (very child friendly, and always the best price when I check, and I've been doing alot of pricing for my family of 5) and can pull kids out of school to go Sept. or Oct., they may be able to keep it under $4,000 (I checked and found Oct 19, Triumph, after tips, 2 insides came to $3704, but that could change any minute).

It includes all food, accomodation, and activities.  My group can go for a week and not ring up additional charges on the ship and not feel deprived.  

The only cabins that could accomodate their group in 1 are high-end suites which are many times more expensive than 2 inside cabins.

Answer 3

There's usually a "3rd and 4th person" price that's cheaper than the regular price, but not necessarily cheap.

For example, on Holland America Line if it's $1,000 for each of the adults, it might be $300 per kid (actually, for a "third/fourth" person regardless of age).

FYI, MSC Cruises is running a "Kids Sail Free" promotion on all their cruises.  But they usually only have one ship in the Caribbean so your options are fewer.

Answer 4

Unfortunately you do have to pay for them.  no matter what the age of the child is.

I objected to this to a cruise line and they explained that they understand the 7 month old baby will not eat and use public facilities, but it does take up a seat in the life boat and floatation device.  And each passenger and crew have to have a seat.

So if the cruise line can carry maximum of  2000 passengers and 100 babies are coming on board with their parents, then they can only charge for 1900 adults, even though 2000 seats on the life rafts are taken, so that's why even babies count as a person on board.

Having said that depending on the cruise line and the particular cruise you are going, the 3rd and 4th passenger are not that expensive.  My February cruise to Southern Caribbean with my wife and  13 month old will cost me $399 for him, while the suite is going to cost the adults (first two passengers) $1149 each.. so it's a bargain.

But the 3rd and 4th passenger price depends on which cruise you are going on. Some cruise's 3rd person price was only $200 less than the first two... so it all depends.. you should definitely shop around.

But you should expect to pay about half of the first two.

And you if you have 4 kids plus mom and dad.. then you have to have at least 21 year old in a room so that' s a bit of bad news for you.  First two person, no matter what the age is considered at the full price.  So in your case, mom has to takes two kids.. dad takes two kids and the first child in each room will be at full price. Maximum is any room is 4 (unless you get the deluxe suites with multiple rooms but those are tens of thousands of dollars) so you won't be able to fit all 6 of you in a single room.  You will basically pay for 4 adults and 2 kid prices.  Plus you have to pay gratuity for each child. Customary is $10 per person per day.  Unless the child is a baby then you don't have to, but anywhere from 3 old and up.. you should.. because the Stateroom attendants are hardest working people on the ship... and they will be great help to your cruise experience.

It doesn't mean that you have to sleep that way.. it just means you have to book it that way.  You can have adjoining rooms with an inside door inbetween the room so you can freely go from one room to the other.

Eventhough it seems expensive, i believe that cruise is teh best vacation value of the money.  If you count, entertainment, all you can eat food, lodging, and traveling to different islands and countries while only unpacking once.. it's a great deal!  

Good luck.