Full price for a 20 month toddler really?

[Mistletoe76]

That's quite a feat.

 

He didn't eat ANYTHING during the trip? No food? No water? What about diaper garbage, clean up after the child, linens, etc? Was the child bathed? What about the towels used? I'll bet the child spit up on things that needed to be cleaned.

 

I'm not trying to be offensive, just trying to understand how the child did not eat or drink anything for a whole week.

 

It just ceases to amaze me how often people think they should get a free pass just because it is a little person. They still use things. Plus, isn't a "third person" discounted already?

 

Just chiming in as I exclusively be breast fed my daughter and until 12 months old she didn't eat other food. I am not the OP but, just showing it might be possible. I occasionally offered my daughter a sippy cup of water but, that was it.

[BigB0882]

I think it is more than fair. The child uses up a space on the ship and the child will probably spend $0 on board. They would prefer the child not come and find another adult but they aren't going to say that but they aren't going to throw away the money they could have gotten from another passenger. They are already throwing away any chance at onboard spending. They could, in a sense, justify an INCREASED price for toddlers when you look at it this way. I would never sail with young children who won't get my money's worth.

[OCruisers]

I think it is more than fair. The child uses up a space on the ship and the child will probably spend $0 on board. They would prefer the child not come and find another adult but they aren't going to say that but they aren't going to throw away the money they could have gotten from another passenger. They are already throwing away any chance at onboard spending. They could, in a sense, justify an INCREASED price for toddlers when you look at it this way. .....

 

Sort of what I was thinking as well! :D

 

LuLu

[MisterFidgetpants]

I think it is more than fair. The child uses up a space on the ship and the child will probably spend $0 on board. They would prefer the child not come and find another adult but they aren't going to say that but they aren't going to throw away the money they could have gotten from another passenger. They are already throwing away any chance at onboard spending. They could, in a sense, justify an INCREASED price for toddlers when you look at it this way. I would never sail with young children who won't get my money's worth.

Except for the money we spend on kids for excursions, ice cream, gift store junk, arcade and specialty dining that we wouldn't be spending without them. You have a very narrow viewpoint

[aloha43]

Except for the money we spend on kids for excursions, ice cream, gift store junk, arcade and specialty dining that we wouldn't be spending without them. You have a very narrow viewpoint

 

 

But this thread had to do with a 20 month old. What excursions, what arcade, I thought ice cream was free? Just asking.....

[JulieRose]

It just ceases to amaze me how often people think they should get a free pass just because it is a little person.

 

What about actual little people? Should we give them a discount too? ;)

[MisterFidgetpants]

But this thread had to do with a 20 month old. What excursions, what arcade, I thought ice cream was free? Just asking.....

Most excursions have accommodations for children. RCI ships have ben and Jerry's ice cream shops. Believe me, take little kids on a cruise and you will discover all the things available for parents to buy kids. I end up spending way more onboard with the kids along with us than I do when we don't have them.

 

Look, here is the bottom line, everyone contributes to the cost to run the ship. RCI have amentities and experiences available for all ages and for a charge. Don't think of it as who subsidizes who but rather a collective of money to run the ship.

[Aintnofun007]

the average adult is not throwing things on the floor or mushing fries into a paste on the table either.

 

senior menus also tend to be far smaller in both size and content

 

 

so if thats the case, the ship should be spotless and they should fire there cleaning staff because adults are all responsible.?

 

i also assume you dont utilize the room stewards services at all, being your an "adult" you must generate no mess and clean up after yourself?

 

 

 

I'm not trying to be offensive, just trying to understand how the child did not eat or drink anything for a whole week?

 

 

my wife an i brought bottled water and kids were on formula when we cruised with them. so i can safely say my kids ate or drank nothing..

 

 

 

Funny that I see very few adults clean up after themselves in restaurants, but boy do seniors sure expect a less expensive senior menu.......

 

and dont you slow them down or question there entitled behavior..

 

 

 

 

and lastly for those who dont travel with kids, im guessing you've never been inside the ships arcades. i guarantee that place makes more money then the casino. omg... 20 bucks literally lasts 3 mins there...

Edited July 19, 2015 by Aintnofun007

[Big_G]

The OP didn't suggest the kid sail free and I wouldn't have a problem with a discount for kids under a certain age especially if they're also paying gratuities. I'm not sure where you draw the line but 24 months seems reasonable. JMHO.

[1234icruise44]

I was in the same situation, I waited until any cruise line had 3rd and 4th free.

[roseshayit]

As someone who has sailed when her LO was 9 months, 14 months, and 16 months, it was hard to believe we had to pay at first. My understanding is that ships have a certain capacity, so your child is taking a spot from someone who will likely generate more revenue. I just consider the 3rd person discount my kid's discount because no one else would be taking that spot.

 

At 9 months, we brought our own formula and food, so he didn't eat any of the ship's. Yes, they do clean waste from the trash basket, but I don't think they are ever touching anything in the waste basket with their hands. They also supply a pack 'n' play that is pretty comfortable and a refrigerator by request. We went on a short excursion at port and used babysitting a couple times to go for a swim. Although cheap, that costs money ($6/hr during the day, I believe). Personally, I think that it should be free like camp, but I digress...

 

We made incredible memories, and it was worth the price. The staff goes out of their way to pay attention to your LO.

 

In the later cruises, both were Kids Sail Free. Food was prepared quickly for the babies and they made quite a mess (and we ALWAYS try to clean up after our son wherever we go). They even brought chocolate chip cookies for their dessert. We didn't book excursions and just played in the sand and water on the beach or walked around port. Our son was constantly entertained by all the staff, and he really had a great time, which made us have a great time. At 20 months, your toddler will have a blast. Depending on the ship you choose, you can use the H20 Zone, which non-potty trained children can use. I also recommend an inflatable rubber duck for bath time or swimming!

[cj_one2000]

I like having a diverse cruise population on the ship.....old/young/kids and different countries represented. On my Celebrity TA there was only six under eighteen and two of those were dogs.

 

 

 

Kids makes messes and sometimes scream...we were all kids at some point. Old people drool and are sometimes grouchy.....we will all be there at some point.

 

 

 

Chow

 

 

Where's the like button? I think some of the folks posting on the board have gone overboard (pun intended) on responses to this red juicy apple of a topic post. The OP simply wanted to gripe about not getting her under 2 discount and the next thing we have going down are lectures on social issues and government handouts. Wth? Really people?

 

OP, calm down, don't get so upset about spending some on your little one. A 3rd or 4th person in your room receives a discount. So assuming your baby daddy and you are already occupying the stateroom at full fare, your kiddo IS receiving a discount.

 

Don't like this arrangement? There are other cruise lines to choose from. My daughter will be 2.5 years old on our upcoming cruise (btw her fare was $292 for a 7 nighter and will be in a pack n play). She's petite for her age and probably will easily pass for a 2 year old. I'd love to save money on the airfare and have her as a lap baby but that's not the rules of the airline. I will have to pay full fare for her ticket on most airlines as some (not all) have gone away with child fares. Rules are rules.

 

Your family will have fun and so will your toddler. If your toddler likes the movie "Frozen" you should know to...

 

Let it go, let it gooooo!

[MommaBear55]

And no one has even mentioned that tips are expected from every passenger....

[Big_G]

And no one has even mentioned that tips are expected from every passenger....

 

Actually I did and that's why I wouldn't have a problem with a some discounting for a young child up to and including a toddler.

[BigB0882]

Except for the money we spend on kids for excursions, ice cream, gift store junk, arcade and specialty dining that we wouldn't be spending without them. You have a very narrow viewpoint

 

This thread is about a toddler and I don't know any toddlers who play in the arcade or do specialty dining. Ice cream is free unless I am missing something. I guess the Ben and Jerry's is extra but how much can a toddler eat, they can barely ask for the ice cream. The excursions have nothing to do with the argument because no one is required to book their excursions through the ship and many people don't do any excursions at all.

[MisterFidgetpants]

This thread is about a toddler and I don't know any toddlers who play in the arcade or do specialty dining. Ice cream is free unless I am missing something. I guess the Ben and Jerry's is extra but how much can a toddler eat, they can barely ask for the ice cream. The excursions have nothing to do with the argument because no one is required to book their excursions through the ship and many people don't do any excursions at all.

Earlier I said that when we take the kids we book excursions through the ship but if it is just us we do not. The point was that with kids there's plenty of spending going on.

[Thetrail]

Solo cruisers pay double just like there were two people in the cabin.

only pay 150% of the cruise fare not double, just clarifying.....:)

[Thetrail]

Earlier I said that when we take the kids we book excursions through the ship but if it is just us we do not. The point was that with kids there's plenty of spending going on.

Just what I want to do, take a 20 month old on a shore excursion, the memories they will have......:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[MisterFidgetpants]

Just what I want to do, take a 20 month old on a shore excursion, the memories they will have......:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

There's lots of family friendly excursions. You don't have to book them at all. They aren't super adventurous but we enjoy them for what they are and it also give us as parents some great memories. To each their own, right?

 

The constant negativity of cruise critic is really taking the excitement of cruising down. Every topic seems to be filled with naysayers and unnecessary levels of bickering and negative energy. Isn't anyone else happy to cruise or get excited to have a cruise to look forward to?

[Grandma Dazzles]

only pay 150% of the cruise fare not double, just clarifying.....:)

 

 

It is frequently double. Just back from the Independence and paid double.

 

Looking to sail on the Oasis in September and checked pricing today. A D2 for two passengers is $1941 per person (without taxes). A single occupancy is $3882 - that's double!

 

Agree that single can be 150% increase sometimes, but not often! you have to find a good deal. For the most part have paid double.

[LisaAtlCruiser]

only pay 150% of the cruise fare not double, just clarifying.....:)

 

Unless there is a BOGOHO, it is in fact double...200%.

[Langley Cruisers]

No more negative replies please....

 

Well, I don't think that's going to happen! You ask a question and must be prepared for every kind of reply- positive, negative, or neutral, and helpful or not helpful. That's what this discussion board is all about. ;)

[AtlantaAlly]

We just got off with our 20 month old.

 

She ate a wide variety daily. And unfortunately, they don't have things portioned out for kids in many places. Some of my toddler's expenses:

 

1) I couldn't ask for 1/2 a yogurt or milk carton at breakfast.

2) A piece of toast is still a piece of toast

3) Peanut butter is sticky and so were the napkins when we were done using them

4) We often had to eat more frequently because she was done with a meal, so one of us was done, and then had to get a snack later that we wouldn't have had otherwise

5) Diapers take up a ton of room

6) Pack and Plays are tough to clean around and the room takes longer with a toddler just because of the extra stuff

7) They had to scan her seapass card, just like she was an adult

8) More stuff going on and off the ship with us each day = more time security has to spend looking at the xray

9) sometimes we used the stroller and had to use the elevator when we normally would have taken the stairs- that cost them more money (albiet incrementally)

10) We normally wouldn't have gotten ice cream, but wanted to try it with her, so that's a few extra cones because of a toddler.

 

The list of expenses due to a toddler really could go on and on. These aren't HUGE by any means, but they do add up, and someone has to pay them. Add in the lost revenue (alcohol, specialty restaurant, shopping, excursions)

 

Best thing I learned: They're free under 2 at the specialty restaurants. She really enjoyed Giovanni's table and she loved it!

[AtlantaAlly]

Just what I want to do, take a 20 month old on a shore excursion, the memories they will have......:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

 

We had 5 ports on our last cruise with our 20 month old:

 

She saw flowers, waterfalls, and the Pitons in St. Lucia. She won't remember it, but I will forever remember her chasing the birds down the beach in Anse le Raye. I will also remember her yelling "NANA" out the window when driving in the banana plantation and eating one of the freshest bananas she'll ever have.

 

She won't remember the catamaran trip in Barbados either, but she swam with sea turtles, and I will never forget the look of excitement on ther face when she saw them "TUH-TULLLL!"

 

There was also the airplane that flew over the beach in Antigua where she kept saying "how-cap-tr" and got upset when we told her it wasn't a helocoptor, but a plane. The horror! But that blue water, the boats she watched for hours, the sand castles "she" built.

 

Here's my terrible parenting advice: You're right, they may not remember, but you sure will. And when they're older, you'll tell them about the fun things they did, the adventures they had, and inspire them to have new experiences. And don't discout the memories. They'll listen to your stories and make up their own ideas about what happened and it will be something they can "remember" as a time when they got to spend time with their parents, doing fun things that their parents enjoyed.

[Havingfun2010]

Is it true you pay full adult price for a 20 month toddler and there are no child discounts? I understand that 2years and above pay full but not a toddler seems a bit silly as really what are they going to be eating?😁

 

Yes you do get a discount. A toddler is either a 3rd or 4th person in the room, and the 3rd and 4th people have discounted rates. The cost of food is minor compared to the cost of operations and each bed (a bed is a space, and each bed space is defined as life boat capacity). It's not like an amusement park were a toddler exist but does not use any facility or ride.

 

Sometimes, they can go free during certain promotions, where 3rd and 4th guest are free. I have friends that take advantage of those promotions all the time.