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Carnival Kids Sail Free - Speculation Thread


LMaxwell
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How do you feel about a Kids Sale Free Promotion  

243 members have voted

  1. 1. How do you feel about a Kids Sale Free Promotion

    • This would be great - We would definitely cruise carnival FOR THIS REASON primarily
      49
    • This is great - Our family will cruise carnival but this is NOT the primary reason
      44
    • This makes no difference in my vacation plans at all
      29
    • I am less likely to sail carnival if there are more kids
      72
    • I feel cheated paying increased rates while families pay the same as a couple
      35
    • If it is profitable to the cruise line I am all for it
      4
    • I think only Platinum and above should get this sort of offer
      10


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There will be groundbreaking news in the days ahead for families on Carnival. I think it will be a kids sail free promotion. Perhaps Kids 12-18 enjoy 50% reduced rate when booked in same cabin as parents, kids under 12 sail free if in same cabin?

 

I think if Carnival is going to raise prices, going for quality over quantity, that they will need a way to ensure ships sail full enough to meet the bottom line. I would bet Carnival has done tons of research into spending habits of families with kids and maybe feels they can waive or reduce kid fares in order to gain that onboard spending.

 

How does this make people feel? I'm looking for all opinions; whether you have kids or not, or are partial to other cruiselines or not.

Edited by LMaxwell
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Since I made my final nonrefundable payment on a Feb 2014 cruise for my family including my kids. I am certain that Carnival will start the kids sale free program.

Edited by bflohr
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Here's the thing with a 'kids sail free' promotion (and I'm guessing this is not coming from Carnival): It just doesn't make as big a price difference as you might think. 3rd, 4th, and in my case 5th passengers (kids) in a cabin, are already charged at a significantly reduced rate - but, still pay full taxes and port fees. With kids sail free, you can guarantee that kids will still pay full fees. So, in my case for example, we would only save a few hundred bucks (again, assuming that this would apply to kids max 12 years old). It's definitely something nice, and I'm not complaining, but it's not as huge a deal as it may appear at first glance.

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There will be groundbreaking news in the days ahead for families on Carnival. I think it will be a kids sail free promotion. Perhaps Kids 12-18 enjoy 50% reduced rate when booked in same cabin as parents, kids under 12 sail free if in same cabin?

 

I think if Carnival is going to raise prices, going for quality over quantity, that they will need a way to ensure ships sail full enough to meet the bottom line. I would bet Carnival has done tons of research into spending habits of families with kids and maybe feels they can waive or reduce kid fares in order to gain that onboard spending.

 

How does this make people feel? I'm looking for all opinions; whether you have kids or not, or are partial to other cruiselines or not.

 

So hang on a second. Because I don't have kids, I get to pay MORE for my reservation so that families with kids can bring them for free? I don't think so. :mad:

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This would not change the way we sail now.

 

We do cruise a lot as a family. I have no issue paying for my children to do so. They take up resources just as much as any other 3rd/4th passanger does (and they don't make up for it with a bar/casino bill). I already pay the reduced per person cost by booking them in our room. As mentioned above if they do have a kids sail free it actually would not impact the overall cost we usually pay as much of it is taxes/fees that would surely not be included.

 

Perhaps they are making Camp Carnival changes and it's not a kids sail free type announcement.

Edited by Princess Ariel
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Generally, I don't want to be punished because we travel without kids.

 

But, this time, I am looking for a cruise for my grandkids' spring break. The lines are well aware of the date and has jacked up the fares for that week. If a promo like this was available, I'd book 5 staterooms immediately.

 

FYI - at this time, Princess is quite a bit less than Carnival, but RCI is much more.

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Where is the option for I don't think that will happen at all?

Ditto.

Free kiddos certainly isn't making a big difference for the MSC ship sailing out of Florida.

 

We sail with a child and are fine with the 3rd passenger rate. Him going free(or for just taxes) really doesn't sway our cruising decisions. Actually we prefer not to be around too many kids on board and purposely never cruise during holidays, spring break or summer for this reason.

 

I'd be more excited if the new family change was longer camp hours or kiddie splash pads and playground.

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Ditto.

Free kiddos certainly isn't making a big difference for the MSC ship sailing out of Florida.

 

 

The MSC Divina that is now in it's, what, 3rd week of operation out of Miami? A bit premature to say what is or isn't working yet on that ship I think.

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I have no issue paying for my children to do so. They take up resources just as much as any other 3rd/4th passanger does (and they don't make up for it with a bar/casino bill). I already pay the reduced per person cost by booking them in our room. As mentioned above if they do have a kids sail free it actually would not impact the overall cost we usually pay as much of it is taxes/fees that would surely not be included.

 

What about in the context that Carnival is trying to raise overall fare prices, or I should say, not discount them so heavily. If the price per person went from say 400 per person to 600 per person would you still be just as pleased?

 

I think Carnival has a very fine line to walk here...they need to increase prices to be sustainable. Pretty much everyone agrees on that. But as they become more price competitive with other lines they aren't staying as competitive in other areas...yet. Maybe they will be able to increase production style shows and live entertainment with the increased revenue. One would hope. But if they start encroaching into RCI/Princess/newer NCL ship pricing they are going to need to have the amenities those ships offer. (Generally speaking).

 

One way to maintain the higher advertised rate but still sail full is to make kiddos free, even if you do still pays the port charges and fees. It looks like a super attractive deal.

 

Upgrading camp hours or more kid friendly areas would be welcomed. But...those are hardly "ground breaking", and anything besides the extended camp hours requires infrastructure investment and downtime. They need the bodies on board before they can start some of the improvements, imo. Like I said, it's a fine line to walk.

 

Just my opinions. I like reading the opinions of others too.

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I for one hope that if they make any changes to the cc program that they find some way to automate check in/out. I am glad they take measures to keep my kiddos safe, but standing in line for 20-30 minutes to check in and out is a bit crazy. A swipe of the s & s card, verify my picture when it swipes....a wrist band with a barcode for kid and parent....something!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

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I for one hope that if they make any changes to the cc program that they find some way to automate check in/out. I am glad they take measures to keep my kiddos safe, but standing in line for 20-30 minutes to check in and out is a bit crazy. A swipe of the s & s card, verify my picture when it swipes....a wrist band with a barcode for kid and parent....something!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

I agree! :)

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I for one hope that if they make any changes to the cc program that they find some way to automate check in/out. I am glad they take measures to keep my kiddos safe, but standing in line for 20-30 minutes to check in and out is a bit crazy. A swipe of the s & s card, verify my picture when it swipes....a wrist band with a barcode for kid and parent....something!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

 

THIS. Please oh please. YES.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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You know that if Carnival announces a "kids sail free" promotion, it will be for the low season months. In other words, for the months when kids are in school.

 

I'm order to take advantage of these promotions, parents will need to drag their kids out of school.

 

So don't hold your breath for a kids sail free promotion smack in the middle of summer of Spring Break . It won't happen. That's when Carnival makes their money .

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Nothing is ever "free." So they can do this or not. Won't change my vacation planning. Plus just like with any other line that does it, whatever you're getting for "free" is added in somehow somewhere else. I would much rather see practical things, such as was previously mentioned with a better check-in/check-out process. Perhaps a flat rate for night owls, parties, etc. Maybe improve the camp activities for tweens and teens. Seems like the older you get, the less there is to do. Doesn't need to be anything major to have a major impact. Whose to say this grand announcement has anything to do with camp carnival anyway. Guess we'll see soon enough.....maybe. ;)

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