NCL now charging for infants

[mcohen73]

As of today NCL is charging for infants the same as any child.

It was just port charges and taxes.

[johnmpcny]

I wonder if the charge is something the ports now are requiring? If NCL is paying you can bet you will be...

[spacepotatoes]

Carnival charges for 6 months and up. I thought (well, sort of assumed) NCL did the same. They didn't Or are you saying they only charge the port taxes?

[emcelh]

Originally Posted by spacepotatoes

Carnival charges for 6 months and up. I thought (well, sort of assumed) NCL did the same. They didn't Or are you saying they only charge the port taxes?

Out of curiousity I looked at NCL's FAQ section. It just says they offer reduced rates for 3rd+ passenger in cabin and that they don't allow infants under 6 months to sail at all. I didn't know that, our youngest being 36.

[Hopes4]

Originally Posted by spacepotatoes

Carnival charges for 6 months and up. I thought (well, sort of assumed) NCL did the same. They didn't Or are you saying they only charge the port taxes?

As far as I know, On NCL a child under the age of 2 paid taxes, govt fees and port charges only.

[djmess]

The first time I traveled with my son on NCL, he was under 2 and I only paid Taxes and Fees. Did not have to pay the cruise fare.

OP, are you saying that now ALL children will pay the fare and the taxes?

If this is the case, I find it a bit interesting that NCL is making changes that involve the Under 3 age group. This would be the second major change affecting this age group. They recently changed the kids program and beginning in Jan 2013, the drop off kids program increases to age 3 from 2.

Now I love NCL and in all honesty because I've loved the age grouping and flexibility of their childrens program. My son has sailed on 10 NCL cruises. I'm fortunately not affect by this any longer as my son is past that age, but if when my son was between 2-3 and I was not able to drop him off, I wonder if I would have stuck with NCL as long as I have as maybe I might have picked another cruiseline to take him on and may have liked it better.

It just seems to me that NCL is discouraging parents of children under 3 from booking and bringing this age group of child aboard. Am I just reading a lot into these 2 changes with this age group in the last 6 months or so.

[hunterjackson]

Just booked with my 1 yr old. He payed $100 less than other kids plus taxes.

[DMH15]

Maybe so many families are cruising with infants and toddlers that the ships are reaching full occupancy before all rooms are sold??? Just a thought.

[mcohen73]

My 4 year old and 1 year old will now be charged the same. When I was looking at prices yesterday, the 4 year old was charged $499 + port and taxes and my 1 year old would only pay port and taxes. Now the 1 year old is $499 + port and taxes.

I called NCL and they said all children are charged the same amount.

We were on the Epic with my then less than 2 year old and we only paid port and taxes.

I guess I should have booked yesterday.

Originally Posted by djmess

The first time I traveled with my son on NCL, he was under 2 and I only paid Taxes and Fees. Did not have to pay the cruise fare.

OP, are you saying that now ALL children will pay the fare and the taxes?

If this is the case, I find it a bit interesting that NCL is making changes that involve the Under 3 age group. This would be the second major change affecting this age group. They recently changed the kids program and beginning in Jan 2013, the drop off kids program increases to age 3 from 2.

Now I love NCL and in all honesty because I've loved the age grouping and flexibility of their childrens program. My son has sailed on 10 NCL cruises. I'm fortunately not affect by this any longer as my son is past that age, but if when my son was between 2-3 and I was not able to drop him off, I wonder if I would have stuck with NCL as long as I have as maybe I might have picked another cruiseline to take him on and may have liked it better.

It just seems to me that NCL is discouraging parents of children under 3 from booking and bringing this age group of child aboard. Am I just reading a lot into these 2 changes with this age group in the last 6 months or so.

[djmess]

Originally Posted by DMH15

Maybe so many families are cruising with infants and toddlers that the ships are reaching full occupancy before all rooms are sold??? Just a thought.

Good thought, If an infant or toddler is taking up lifeboat space and not actually filling another room with the possibility of extra income (drinks, specialty dining, etc) I guess I get it. Just need a little nudge to understand things sometimes

[rvsullivan]

Makes sense to me.

[keystoneboarder]

Carnival and RCCL have been doing it for a while. NCL just jumped on the band wagon. Okay by me, but I don't have kids.

[time2cruise1]

Should have booked Thursday when I priced the cruise. Just checked the fares went up for my 2 small grandsons. An extra $500. Oh well you snooze you loose.

[Tapi]

Originally Posted by mcohen73

As of today NCL is charging for infants the same as any child.

It was just port charges and taxes.

It wasn't just port charges and taxes

We've had an NCL cruise booked since January. They did charge us for our 15 month infant, but it was a reduced rate. Our infant's rate is $235 + $171 taxes. Our 3 year old son's rate is $445 + $171 taxes.

I did price out our cruise again just now to see what the rates are today, and indeed, NCL is now charging the same for our infant and for our 3 year old.

[Tapi]

Originally Posted by keystoneboarder

Carnival and RCCL have been doing it for a while. NCL just jumped on the band wagon. Okay by me, but I don't have kids.

RCCL raped us last year with what they charged for our son when we sailed on the Allure of the Seas. Their 3rd passenger rate was more than what the 1st/2nd rate was on the Carnival Dream! (But it was worth it!)

[jbscoggins]

Wow. Was there an announcement about it? Thought for sure you all had to be wrong, but nope -- just looked at our April 2012 cruise and realized that DS fare would go up about $150 if we booked now. Will have to be careful when watching for price drops. Kind of frustrating that they increased the fare without actually increasing any benefit. To my knowledge, no one has come back and said there was actually anything new for the Under 3s in Splash Academy.

[rvsullivan]

No extra benefits, just making sure there is payment for taking up a space that could be sold to a full fare. Infants count against total number of passengers allowed on the ship. It was long overdue I think. Other cruise lines were already doing it.

[LadyShiva]

I think all the 3rd person rates went up today. 3rd person (child) on my Halloween 2012 cruise is up to $399+everything.

Makes the "kids sail free" promotions more of a bargain, I guess.

[cruzsnooze]

Children are people and they count toward the ships capacity so why shouldn't they pay. I prefer they pay their fair share so I don't have to supplement them in my fare.

[jbscoggins]

Originally Posted by cruzsnooze

I prefer they pay their fair share so I don't have to supplement them in my fare.

Care to explain how you are supplementing my infant? He's in a room I have paid for that has plenty of space left for him, and he eats the food I bring for him.