Cost of an infant

[Dan3108]

Hello all

 

I was pretty sure we had found the cruise we wanted to do, a 13 night trip from southampton next year on anthem.

 

Currently we are trying for a baby and so we would either have to potentially amend the booking to different dates if pregnancy meant we were unable to do dates or if child was over 6 months we could add them to booking.

 

I have taken a look at both options.

 

So to add a child to the booking is another £1000 near enough!! This surely can't be right for a potentially only 6 month old child!?!?

 

The other option is amending the booking to new dates which will cost £75pp I believe. But we would then still need to add the child on of that was the case I would have thought.

 

It has really put me off booking.

 

£1000 for a child of any age, especially a under 2, seems a bit steep!!

 

Please let me know if I have missed something and actually it may be cheaper?!?

 

Thanks in advance

 

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[steamboats]

RCI does not have special prices for infants or kids. All kids regardless the age pay the 3rd or 4th person price.

 

Sometimes there are specials. But not on a regular basis.

 

steamboats

[Dan3108]

Wow!!!! Well that's mad!!!! P&O offer infants at around £200. I'm sorry but how would a 6 month old make use of facilities to the sum of £1000. They would not be eating the food on offer, they would not be using any facilities. That's madness. Complete and utter madness! I get it from perhaps 3 or 5 years old. And I understand making a small charge but when an adult is paying £1250 how can you charge £1000 for an infant.

 

Wow!!

 

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[NorbertsNiece]

It's all to do with expected revenue.... like charging solo cruisers 200% of the pp fare when there are 2 in the cabin. They have an optimum passenger count so will charge accordingly. Sigh.

[Dan3108]

I'm now just grateful I looked and didn't assume it would be similar to that of p&o.

 

I was ready to book this morning! Gutted, absolutely gutted.

 

We were so excited about anthem as well.

 

There's just no way on this earth I could justify another £1000 to take a 6 month old child.

 

It may not be an issue I get this as we may not have a child but have to be prepared!

 

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[rimmit]

Must be because it's a new ship and the 3rd and 4th passenger rates are particularly high for that sailing.

 

Infants pay the same as a 3rd/4th person. There is no difference due to age sadly.

[Dan3108]

I just can't see how it can be justified!

 

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[rimmit]

I cant either. We typically avoid the cruises with a 3rd berth rate over 500 usd for that reason.

[Dan3108]

Well unfortunately owing to what appears to just be greed, we will now be searching for alternative arrangements with a different cruise line. Such a shame as I really wanted to try RCI

 

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[sailinglisa]

It is because the infant of 6 months old would take the place of a full revenue paying passenger who will also be buying drinks, buying stuff on board and taking up a full space on a lifeboat (as they are counted as a "soul")and a "soul" requires a full place on a lifeboat. An infant will not bring as much income on board as an older child, teen or adult passenger. It does not seem fair, but it is what it is.

[Dan3108]

I understand this to an extent however, they aren't taking the space of a fare paying adult! We would not require a bigger room with another bed, if I did I understand paying full price or near enough, they won't be eating, using facilities etc. We won't even need an extra space at the dinner table! If they were taking space and using facilties or it was costing RCI in some way to have my baby on board I get it. However they would be making a tidy profit by charging me even £250 (near on 450 usd) so this is what is frustrating me. £1000 is just greed and not in any way justified

 

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[phoenix1181]

It's not about their size, or the services they will or won't use. It's the head count. A ship is only allowed to carry a certain number of people due to life boat capacity. A 6 month old is counted they same a 60 year old.

[Clarea]

Another point to consider is that if the cruise has 3 or more sea days in a row, the infant must be at least 12 months old.

[Ourusualbeach]

Also, if your timing does not work out as planned your wife cannot sail if she is 24 weeks pregnant or beyond.

[Harooni]

Wow!!!! Well that's mad!!!! P&O offer infants at around £200. I'm sorry but how would a 6 month old make use of facilities to the sum of £1000. They would not be eating the food on offer, they would not be using any facilities. That's madness. Complete and utter madness! I get it from perhaps 3 or 5 years old. And I understand making a small charge but when an adult is paying £1250 how can you charge £1000 for an infant.

 

Wow!!

 

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i think its too keep the level of kids down. they do it at casino buffets sometimes, keep big price for them so as to discourage too many kids

[spookwife]

Hello all

 

I

So to add a child to the booking is another £1000 near enough!! This surely can't be right for a potentially only 6 month old child!?!?

 

 

 

£1000 for a child of any age, especially a under 2, seems a bit steep!!

 

Please let me know if I have missed something and actually it may be cheaper?!?

 

Thanks in advance

 

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everyone pays the same price regardless of age.

 

only a few lines offer free or reduced prices for infants or children and occasionally you can get a 'sale' where by persons 3 and up in a cabin are free or much lower.

 

 

each person takes up a lifeboat spot. Adults spend more on board. Kids are much more work for the staff( ground up cracker crumbs, disposing of ditty diapers, pureeing foods to eat, etc) and do not generate additional income on board.

 

from a purely business point of view.. it makes perfect sense to charge them.

[spookwife]

I understand this to an extent however, they aren't taking the space of a fare paying adult! We would not require a bigger room with another bed, if I did I understand paying full price or near enough, they won't be eating, using facilities etc. We won't even need an extra space at the dinner table! If they were taking space and using facilties or it was costing RCI in some way to have my baby on board I get it. However they would be making a tidy profit by charging me even £250 (near on 450 usd) so this is what is frustrating me. £1000 is just greed and not in any way justified

 

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YES THEY WILL be Using facilities.. sheets and towels that still need washing whether the person using them is 6 months old or 60. diapers need to be disposed of.

 

if you are of the mindset that an infant is not to going to be using anything then you do not bring them aboard at all. and the biggest reason of all: THEY TAKE UP A LIFEBOAT SPACE, removing the option of a full fare adult being able to do so ..someone who WILL spend money on board and use the facilities.

 

children cost money. a LOT of money.

[marci22]

Each cruiseline has its own mix of charges. Different groups may not like certain charges because they do not seem to be fully benefiting from them. P&O may charge less for children because that is how their mix works. Maybe they save on costs/make money in other ways. If P&O and RC are equal in all that they offer, it would make sense to choose the line that charges less for your child.

Edited June 3, 2014 by marci22

[setsail]

Well unfortunately owing to what appears to just be greed, we will now be searching for alternative arrangements with a different cruise line. Such a shame as I really wanted to try RCI

 

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Crazy isn't it and we are not even talking tips yet. Oh, you did realize the little one will have to pay the same tips as mommy and daddy. Why don't you just refuse to pay the tips for all 3 of you and then you could sail:rolleyes:. Posters talk about that all the time on here:p

[steamboats]

We would not require a bigger room with another bed

 

Actually you do require a room with a triple (or quad) occupancy even when you don´t need the extra bed. You can´t book 3 people in a double occupancy room.

 

steamboats

[Harooni]

YES THEY WILL be Using facilities.. sheets and towels that still need washing whether the person using them is 6 months old or 60. diapers need to be disposed of.

 

if you are of the mindset that an infant is not to going to be using anything then you do not bring them aboard at all. and the biggest reason of all: THEY TAKE UP A LIFEBOAT SPACE, removing the option of a full fare adult being able to do so ..someone who WILL spend money on board and use the facilities.

 

children cost money. a LOT of money.

 

you both have a point, the infant wont be getting dinners or putting a dent on the buffet. if a cabin is double occupied by adults the third infant wont be mouch extra work or expense for a cruiseline. but as you said they wont spend money they may be a bother crying and such and strollers in the way. i feel they do it to lower the amount of infant and kids overall.

[Dan3108]

you both have a point, the infant wont be getting dinners or putting a dent on the buffet. if a cabin is double occupied by adults the third infant wont be mouch extra work or expense for a cruiseline. but as you said they wont spend money they may be a bother crying and such and strollers in the way. i feel they do it to lower the amount of infant and kids overall.

 

I feel that is much closer to the truth.

 

It's just such a shame.

 

As I say it may be all a worry over nothing and we might be able to go. On the other hand my wife may be pregnant and we aren't able to go.

 

I will either seek out another cruise line or give up on the idea altogether and stick with a land based holiday.

 

I'm just so frustrated, it's the principle of the matter I refuse to pay that kind of money for an infant.

 

I do get the argument that yes there will be some work involved and the lifeboat space etc. I get that. However I still maintain that a £200 discount on a full adults fare is not a fair price to pay.

 

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[Adayatatime]

I feel that is much closer to the truth.

 

It's just such a shame.

 

As I say it may be all a worry over nothing and we might be able to go. On the other hand my wife may be pregnant and we aren't able to go.

 

I will either seek out another cruise line or give up on the idea altogether and stick with a land based holiday.

 

I'm just so frustrated, it's the principle of the matter I refuse to pay that kind of money for an infant.

 

I do get the argument that yes there will be some work involved and the lifeboat space etc. I get that. However I still maintain that a £200 discount on a full adults fare is not a fair price to pay.

 

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Cruise aside, I would suggest as a parent that babies take up far more space than adults. Physical, mental and psychological space. :D

 

Also where are you going to put the push chair when around the pool. Who is going to organise a high chair, who is going to get the milk when you ask for it to be warmed up, as someone else mentioned your little one will take up the same amount of space on a lifeboat, and possibly even more organising. I wold argue that my teens need less effort than a new baby by cruise staff.

 

From what I remember P&O are much more expensive than RC when you travel with older kids, so its all swings and roundabouts.

 

And also from what I remember, the clean up after dinner time where there are toddlers present can take staff ages.

Edited June 3, 2014 by Adayatatime

[Dan3108]

Do us a favor and cry a river why dont you. Meanwhile we have to navigate around your pram and try to watch a show with your screaming sprog.

 

Any need to be quite so rude?

 

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[Dan3108]

Anyway. Thanks to those that gave constructive responses. I feel I have the answers I was looking for. Thanks again. I will now search out some alternatives and hopefully be on RCI sometime in the future when my 'sprog' has grown up and I can justify a bit more the cost that RCI feels is acceptable.

 

Thanks again

 

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