500 extra births for the Dawn

[cheeso]

Have just been reading some reviews of the Regal Princess (Dawn) and have read that when the ship transfers from Princess to P&O there will be 500 extra births added. This is a bit alarming as most of the reviews I have been reading already state there is a lack of public areas and that there is a line up for the buffet and dining etc..
Has anyone heard anything about this?
Cath B

[karmac]

I think we all knew right from the start that the 500 berths were going to be added. It certainly hasn't been kept a secret. The same thing happened when the Sun was transformed from Jubilee & the Star from Costa Tropicale. We'll just have to wait & see how "crowded" it really does get.


Karen

[claudio]

i dont think they are actually adding 500 extra berths, what happens is that p&o australia sells 4 berths wheras in us the ship is sold as twin cabins at least thats how i see it

[chaz cruiser]

Kaz (foundlove @ sea) may be able to expand on this more but I am sure she said that P&O won't be advertising the friendly four fares in future years in an attempt to change the image of cruising down under. Kaz???

Cheers,
Charmain:)

[AuzzieCruiser]

Perhaps they could introduce a family fare of 2 adults & 2 kids to entice more families. Just a thought...:)

[Kiwi Kruzer]

As I understand it they are changing a lot of the twins into 4 berths to increase the capacity by 500.
However if you think this through.......
Will they increase the capacity of the sewarage system to cope ?
Will they increase the capacity of the ship to "make" more fresh water?
Will they add 250 more chairs in the dining room?
Will they put more seating in the theatre?
Will they put more seating in the bars and lounges?
Will they add more sun loungers on the decks?
Will they put in extra freezers to carry a greater amount of food?
Will they take on more cabin and dining room and bar staff?
Going on P&O's past performances....
I don't think so!!!!

[Matre]

Perhaps they could introduce a family fare of 2 adults & 2 kids to entice more families. Just a thought...:)

The problem with that is that once children turn 12 they are classed as adults.....some people can't think outside the square.

Maria

[Teegiee]

i think its wrong to class children over 12 as adults- they are not!

i have witnessed several times on the Star "adults" aged 13-17 being removed from the front row of the show lounge because "adults" aged 18+ [ or more like 50+] want to sit there. if over 12 is really classed as adults then why would they have to move from their seats.

i am turing 18 this year and have payed adult fare for each of my cruises. i think at adult fares should be for 18+ only. not 12+. If 12 year olds do not are are not able to go to some of the activities offered onboard-then why should their parents have to pay a great deal more for them to cruise.

you may say that there are teen activities onboard- that right TEEN not adult.

i hope that people will agree with me about this

[icemaiden2310]

i think its wrong to class children over 12 as adults- they are not!

i have witnessed several times on the Star "adults" aged 13-17 being removed from the front row of the show lounge because "adults" aged 18+ [ or more like 50+] want to sit there. if over 12 is really classed as adults then why would they have to move from their seats.

i am turing 18 this year and have payed adult fare for each of my cruises. i think at adult fares should be for 18+ only. not 12+. If 12 year olds do not are are not able to go to some of the activities offered onboard-then why should their parents have to pay a great deal more for them to cruise.

you may say that there are teen activities onboard- that right TEEN not adult.

i hope that people will agree with me about this

Sorry but I cant agree with you there.
12+ takes up adult size space and if most 12 year olds are anything like mine were could eat a horse and chase the rider, so many will eat adult size meals. Ships sell space they dont care what u do or dont do.

Before each show they advise that for safty reasons children should not occupy the front rows ,not because the 50+ want to sit there.(you have to be pretty quick to beat the 60-70 + to get a seat there anyway) Kidding!

And as for charing 17 year old childs fare!! Oh my god can you imagine how many 17 year olds there would be on the boat!I dont even want to think about that it would be like schoolies on every cruise. Sorry but when you are older you will see why they have rules as they are

[Star-Man]

I have to agree with icemaiden on this one. On my last 2, i have made full use of the buffet and the restaurant for dinner on the same night, I take up the same space that someone over 18 would as well.

But look at all the other places that consider adults to be younger than 18.
Dreamworld - if you are 14 or over you pay adult fare
Trains and Buses - if you are over 16 and dont have a student card, you pay adult fare
The movies - Same as the trains and buses.

[kaseyoz]

go to disneyland you are classed as adult at 10.......

karon

[sweet_successes]

Hi

My kids will be 13 and 15 at the time of cruising - initially I was a bit annoyed at them paying an adult fare, but then I realised that it is:

1. Not full price - they are charged at 3rd/4th person sharing a cabin.
2. They are both taller than me!!
3. They both eat more than me!!
4. They take up more space than me due to their heights!!!

Maybe I should contact P& O and ask for a child's fare for me!!!!!

Just remember with some of the great deals around you can generally end up with at least 1 child free - we have ended up with 1 1/2 of the kids free when we compare the price we have paid to the price that P&) quote. It just hard deciding which half a a child we need to pay for!!!

Rach

[karmac]

The thing is, there is very little price difference between adults & childs fare for the 3rd/4th person. Ok, it maybe pretty much twice as much for an adult but we are talking a few hundred dollars. It's those 1st two fares that are the killer & those are the same whether adult or child. My middle child turns 13 3 weeks before our next cruise & a few people have commented that we should have done it a month earlier, but she is costing $400 more than my 3rd child. Not a lot really, it is a 2 weeks cruise. If it goes by how much they eat, then my youngest should go for free:D .
Having said all that, personally, I think a more appropriate age for "adult" would be 15 rather than 13.

Karen

[Star-Man]

Just remember with some of the great deals around you can generally end up with at least 1 child free

With the deal that we have just gotten for our next one, we are technically getting an adult free compared to the friendly four rates listed in the brochure. No complaining from me for a while :D

[karmac]

With the deal that we have just gotten for our next one, we are technically getting an adult free compared to the friendly four rates listed in the brochure. No complaining from me for a while :D


So your GF's parents are now thinking about it? That's good news for you.

Karen

[Star-Man]

So your GF's parents are now thinking about it? That's good news for you.

Karen

Yes, but only because the cruise works out a lot cheaper than we had originally thought :p

[karmac]

.... From what I gather, you can still book the four berth cabins, but not with the discounted rates we have had in the past. Kaz


It's not actually any cheaper booking the "friendly four" rates than just booking 4 people in a cabin. If you add the price per person for the first 2 people (the expensive ones), then add 3rd & 4th adult prices, then divide by 4 you get the friendly four rate. And if you were booking with 3 mates, that is what you would do. You wouldn't make 2 people pay 2-3 thousand dollars & the other 2 $600

Karen