Babies on Cruise Ships - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

stanford's girl · 07-22-2009, 11:49 PM

My niece & DH are bringing their daughter who will be 7 months old when they cruise on the Ruby Princess in Nov. They will have to pay full fare as a 3rd passenger for their daughter ($849).

My grand niece will not be eating the ships food, nor can she go to the kids camp because she is not potty trained.

I know that the cruise lines need to charge something for babies but I think full fare is absolutely ridiculous!! I feel that the cruise lines needs to come up with special pricing for babies who fall in this category.

What's your thought on this??

hanna · 07-22-2009, 11:57 PM

I'm sure I will get told off on this one, but I don't think children of that age belong on a cruise in the first place. Maybe the charge deters most people from taking their infants cruising. Maybe that's the reason the cruiselines charge it? Could be.

sue miller · 07-23-2009, 12:15 AM

A berth is a passenger regarless of age, And cruiselines charge the price for it. However not all lines do. MSC lets kids sail free. Not sure if that isd every cruise.

houch · 07-23-2009, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanna

I'm sure I will get told off on this one, but I don't think children of that age belong on a cruise in the first place. Maybe the charge deters most people from taking their infants cruising. Maybe that's the reason the cruiselines charge it? Could be.

I totally agree with you, hanna. I sure wouldn't want to be anywhere near a baby of that age. I can't believe they would even think of bringing a baby along. It can't be much fun for them and will probably be quite annoying to the other pax. I would think it would be better to wait until the child is old enough to enjoy the cruise.
What do I really think? It is really dumb and stupid to do that...JMO

stanford's girl · 07-23-2009, 12:42 AM

My niece's best friend is getting married on the ship and she is her matron of honor. So they have to take the baby with them since she will still be breastfeeding. It's not like they decided to just take a cruise with the baby.

hanna · 07-23-2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanford's girl

My niece's best friend is getting married on the ship and she is her matron of honor. So they have to take the baby with them since she will still be breastfeeding. It's not like they decided to just take a cruise with the baby.

Well, heck, why didn't you say so? I apologize. And in answer to your question, possibly half fare would be more of a nice thing for Princess to do. But where do you draw the line? 1 yr,
2 yr...etc etc?

stanford's girl · 07-23-2009, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanna

Well, heck, why didn't you say so? I apologize. And in answer to your question, possibly half fare would be more of a nice thing for Princess to do. But where do you draw the line? 1 yr,
2 yr...etc etc?

Apology accepted. I don't know where they should draw the line but I found out that NCL seems to be the only cruise line that kids under 2 go free.

cruisin' chick · 07-23-2009, 05:50 AM

On some sailings (unless this is no longer applicable on Princess), there's a third and fourth passenger rate. You pay the full port taxes and government fees, but the fare itself is much lower. We've been lucky to pay this rate for our daughter so far. And we have always pay the full amount for tips on her behalf, though, as the cabin steward will have plenty to do for her, even when she was in pullups (her first cruise was at 23 months).

One thing you'll notice is that the waitstaff will absolutely dote on the baby. At that age, they'll offer a high chair, but the parents might prefer to use the stroller for meals (the parents can trade off on crying baby duty...taking the child out of the dining room if needed while the other parent can stay for the meal).

houch · 07-23-2009, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanford's girl

My niece's best friend is getting married on the ship and she is her matron of honor. So they have to take the baby with them since she will still be breastfeeding. It's not like they decided to just take a cruise with the baby.

I am so sorry for them, gotta be tough to do this kind of trip with an infant. I understand why they are taking baby with them but that would make me stop breast feeding.

houch · 07-23-2009, 11:22 PM

I forgot to say that we girls usually cruise with 3-4 in a cabin and there has always been a lower rate for 3rd and 4th pax. That's how we get a better rate cause we just devide the total bt 3 or 4. Odd they were told to pay full fare for the baby.