Kids Sail Free ... Or Not?

[BeachyBrowns]

Now that vaccines are apparently in the works, it seems reasonable to expect that a cruise will be a worthwhile vacation option by August 2021.  We have 2 kids, ages 8 and 2, but no matter what cruise I try to book through the RCI website for next August, the "kids sail free" promo does not seem to be applied.  I read the fine print (kids sail free as 3rd/4th guests in one stateroom with two adults), and I've tried to price out a suite and standard, but the cost breakdown gives the BOGO60 discount but not a "kids sail free" discount.  FWIW, the promo terms and conditions page says the BOGO60 and KSF are stackable.  Any ideas?  Anyone else running into this?

[ncwxnut78]

2 minutes ago, BeachyBrowns said:

Now that vaccines are apparently in the works, it seems reasonable to expect that a cruise will be a worthwhile vacation option by August 2021.  We have 2 kids, ages 8 and 2, but no matter what cruise I try to book through the RCI website for next August, the "kids sail free" promo does not seem to be applied.  I read the fine print (kids sail free as 3rd/4th guests in one stateroom with two adults), and I've tried to price out a suite and standard, but the cost breakdown gives the BOGO60 discount but not a "kids sail free" discount.  FWIW, the promo terms and conditions page says the BOGO60 and KSF are stackable.  Any ideas?  Anyone else running into this?

I can not find one cruise out of Florida that I can use KSF promotion on during the summer.  It is also nearly impossible for me to find which cruises qualify on their website.  Hoping for some insight as well.  

[BeachyBrowns]

2 minutes ago, ncwxnut78 said:

I can not find one cruise out of Florida that I can use KSF promotion on during the summer.  It is also nearly impossible for me to find which cruises qualify on their website.  Hoping for some insight as well.  

That's particularly funny, because the website says, "You're eligible for Kids Sail Free savings on this cruise" when I click on whichever one!

[Ourusualbeach]

7 minutes ago, BeachyBrowns said:

Now that vaccines are apparently in the works, it seems reasonable to expect that a cruise will be a worthwhile vacation option by August 2021.  We have 2 kids, ages 8 and 2, but no matter what cruise I try to book through the RCI website for next August, the "kids sail free" promo does not seem to be applied.  I read the fine print (kids sail free as 3rd/4th guests in one stateroom with two adults), and I've tried to price out a suite and standard, but the cost breakdown gives the BOGO60 discount but not a "kids sail free" discount.  FWIW, the promo terms and conditions page says the BOGO60 and KSF are stackable.  Any ideas?  Anyone else running into this?

The kids are free it is just Royals screwed up way of showing the figures.  Check the same cruise with 4 adults and then again with 2 adults and 2 kids and you will see that it’s less with 2 kids. 
 

this is Oasis August 8th 2021 in a J3 junior suite non refundable. Compare on Royals website.  This is from tje TA website. 

[Ourusualbeach]

5 minutes ago, ncwxnut78 said:

I can not find one cruise out of Florida that I can use KSF promotion on during the summer.  It is also nearly impossible for me to find which cruises qualify on their website.  Hoping for some insight as well.  

See my post they are there it’s just the screwed up way Royal shows the figures. 

[Ourusualbeach]

Here’s Symphony August 7th.  Kids are free

[Ourusualbeach]

Same Symphony cruise with 4 adults. 

[not-enough-cruising]

2 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

See my post they are there it’s just the screwed up way Royal shows the figures. 

I am always thoroughly impressed at the amount of work you do daily on this site to illustrate a point to us all. KUDOS!!

[young_ens]

I like how guests 1&2 are priced ridiculously high to make the KSF option close to moot.  Especially when you see the price for kids and adults is the same for guests 3 and 4.  Should just be an adult price and a kids price since they will vastly be different in how much food they eat, activities they can do...

[not-enough-cruising]

3 minutes ago, young_ens said:

I like how guests 1&2 are priced ridiculously high to make the KSF option close to moot.  Especially when you see the price for kids and adults is the same for guests 3 and 4.  Should just be an adult price and a kids price since they will vastly be different in how much food they eat, activities they can do...

Guests 1&2 are always higher than 3&4, why would one discount the adults on a kids sail free promotion?
In the history of my cruising life (25 years) I have never seen an “adult” price and a “child” price. 
Many would argue (and have) that children should actually be a higher price because of the extra amount of work the cause the cleaning staff, the absolute lack of onboard spending, and the resources that must be invested in to entertain them. 

Edited November 21, 2020 by not-enough-cruising

[Ourusualbeach]

3 minutes ago, young_ens said:

I like how guests 1&2 are priced ridiculously high to make the KSF option close to moot.  Especially when you see the price for kids and adults is the same for guests 3 and 4.  Should just be an adult price and a kids price since they will vastly be different in how much food they eat, activities they can do...

Most cruise lines do not differentiate between age for guests 3 and 4 because they view it as a space on the ship which is limited.  Whatever they sell to a child is one less space they can sell to an adult.  Same goes with infants.  One could argue that they are consuming no ship resources and should be free however it’s the space/capacity that they are paying for not the resources they consume. 

[ipeeinthepool]

My favorite sale is "Kids pay Double"

Edited November 21, 2020 by ipeeinthepool

[young_ens]

8 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Many would argue (and have) that children should actually be a higher price because of the extra amount of work the cause the cleaning staff, the absolute lack of onboard spending, and the resources that must be invested in to entertain them. 

 

Uh-huh...   I guess there are some kids with terrible manners, but that is a reflection of parenting and I'm sure they also contribute to the extra work staff have to do.   

I lost count how many times I've seen adults throw up on ships.  Many in the buffet lounge.....  They just walk away.   Never seen a kid throw up.  

 

Lack of onboard spending: my wallet begs to differ.  They don't gamble, so I guess that is the only difference.

 

Entertainment: there is lots of entertaining for everyone, kids don't add much.

 

I know I have it easy, my kids are well behaved and I don't see it your way (kids=more work and should cost more).  They don't run around like morons, sit patiently and respectfully at the dinner table, and we spend time on the ship with them for entertainment (not just chuck them up at adventure ocean).

 

[not-enough-cruising]

28 minutes ago, young_ens said:

 

Uh-huh...   I guess there are some kids with terrible manners, but that is a reflection of parenting and I'm sure they also contribute to the extra work staff have to do.   

I lost count how many times I've seen adults throw up on ships.  Many in the buffet lounge.....  They just walk away.   Never seen a kid throw up.  

 

Lack of onboard spending: my wallet begs to differ.  They don't gamble, so I guess that is the only difference.

 

Entertainment: there is lots of entertaining for everyone, kids don't add much.

 

I know I have it easy, my kids are well behaved and I don't see it your way (kids=more work and should cost more).  They don't run around like morons, sit patiently and respectfully at the dinner table, and we spend time on the ship with them for entertainment (not just chuck them up at adventure ocean).

 

I never said kids should cost more, simply that there is a tremendous amount of evidence why they don’t cost less. It is simple economics. 
 

They don’t invest billions in laser tag, trampoline pads, and water slides for adults.  RCG spent millions every year for DreamWorks characters; again, not for adults. 
 

Anyone that has been seated near a toddler at dinner can attest to the extra cleaning that needs to be done to the floor after they eat. Unlike you I have never seen anyone throw up in the buffet after 31 cruises. 

 

The lack of onboard spending goes beyond the casino, there is alcohol (the biggest money maker of all, specialty dining, jewelry.........the list goes on. 

Regardless, pricing is what it is and I doubt it will be changing anytime soon. 

[ONECRUISER]

8 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

My favorite sale is "Kids pay Double"

Kidding aside when I started taking my kids Cruizing in 90's many to most dates OV rates ran like $799ea first 2 passengers and $1299-1499ea 3rd and 4th passenger and only $999 when lucky. And this wasn't just the Spring/Xmas/Summer/Holiday Sailings. Royal wasn't the Family Cruise 30yrs ago it is now, few Cabins even had 3/4 Berths let alone any 5th/Family Cabins. Usual dates we ended up Cruising were mid-Oct and mid-Feb, which worked out well with Presidents & Columbus Fed Holidays off Work and my kids school had Midwinter week off on Feb/Presidents week...

Edited November 22, 2020 by ONECRUISER

[MoniMommy]

@Ourusualbeach

 

So I'm thinking of booking Sep 2021. It does have the KSF offer. My understanding is that I can now use my FCC for the deposit. Its me and 2 children. I have a FCC for 600(me) and 300(daughter). I'm Assuming that even though this amount will cover the 750 deposit I won't be able to use it for the 2nd child and I will still have to put down a 250 deposit for her. Does that sound right? Or would I be able to use the FCC to cover the deposit for all 3? Thanks in advance for any insight you have. 

Edited November 23, 2020 by MoniMommy

[Ourusualbeach]

10 minutes ago, MoniMommy said:

@Ourusualbeach

 

So I'm thinking of booking Sep 2021. It does have the KSF offer. My understanding is that I can now use my FCC for the deposit. Its me and 2 children. I have a FCC for 600(me) and 300(daughter). I'm Assuming that even though this amount will cover the 750 deposit I won't be able to use it for the 2nd child and I will still have to put down a 250 deposit for her. Does that sound right? Or would I be able to use the FCC to cover the deposit for all 3? Thanks in advance for any insight you have. 

Correct, you would still need to put down a $250 deposit for the third guest.  That being said I would still call and ask if it could be applied to all 3 guests...sometimes you just never know.  You are going to have to call anyway to be able to use the FCC for the deposit so it’s not like it’s any extra time to ask. 

[MoniMommy]

1 minute ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Correct, you would still need to put down a $250 deposit for the third guest.  That being said I would still call and ask if it could be applied to all 3 guests...sometimes you just never know.  You are going to have to call anyway to be able to use the FCC for the deposit so it’s not like it’s any extra time to ask. 

Thanks! That was my thought too. I always do refundable deposits but since I'm paying with FCC for deposit, I feel like there in no downside to non-refundable deposit. If I understand correctly I can cancel up to 48 hours before sailing and get a FCC. If I cancel before final payment I would get my FCC deposit back (even though I booked a non refundable deposit) as another FCC because of the modified  cancelation policy. The only downside I see is that I may be out of $250 cash. If I get that back as a FCC I  will not be able to use it once the deposit policy changes back because we always sail KSF. Given the current refund policy, and I'm paying with FCC do you see any other downsides to booking a  non refundable deposit? Thanks again.

[Ourusualbeach]

1 minute ago, MoniMommy said:

Thanks! That was my thought too. I always do refundable deposits but since I'm paying with FCC for deposit, I feel like there in no downside to non-refundable deposit. If I understand correctly I can cancel up to 48 hours before sailing and get a FCC. If I cancel before final payment I would get my FCC deposit back (even though I booked a non refundable deposit) as another FCC because of the modified  cancelation policy. The only downside I see is that I may be out of $250 cash. If I get that back as a FCC I  will not be able to use it once the deposit policy changes back because we always sail KSF. Given the current refund policy, and I'm paying with FCC do you see any other downsides to booking a  non refundable deposit? Thanks again.

as you are paying with an FCC you are correct about there being no real difference in going non refundable vs refundable other than the $250 extra cash 
 

If you cancelled anytime after final then you would get 3 FCC’s back for the full cruise fare but after final that would be the case with a refundable deposit as well. 
 

yes you can cancel up to 48 hours prior to the date of sailing (note that it is date of sailing and not time of sailing) 

I have had no issues in getting Royal to balance out FCC’s if you were to get 3 and then rebook under a KSF 

 

[MoniMommy]

6 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

as you are paying with an FCC you are correct about there being no real difference in going non refundable vs refundable other than the $250 extra cash 
 

If you cancelled anytime after final then you would get 3 FCC’s back for the full cruise fare but after final that would be the case with a refundable deposit as well. 
 

yes you can cancel up to 48 hours prior to the date of sailing (note that it is date of sailing and not time of sailing) 

I have had no issues in getting Royal to balance out FCC’s if you were to get 3 and then rebook under a KSF 

 

Thank you. So in your experience Royal will allow a FCC for a kid sailing free with the KSF promotion? I've read about people being unable to use it in this situations. And if I cancel BEFORE final payment, my FCCs will be resissured? Is that correct? Thanks again. 

Edited November 23, 2020 by MoniMommy

[Ourusualbeach]

6 minutes ago, MoniMommy said:

Thank you. So in your experience Royal will allow a FCC for a kid sailing free with the KSF promotion? I've read about people being unable to use it in this situations. And if I cancel BEFORE final payment, my FCCs will be resissured? Is that correct? Thanks again. 

I have applied FCC’s  for 4 guests to a reservation with KSF. Those were from sailings that Royal has cancelled. I have also had excess FCC moved to another guest in order to use it all up an many reservations both where Royal cancelled and the guest cancelled. 
 

Cancelling either before or after final will result in your FCC being reissued with an expiry date of Dec. 31 2021 or 12 months from the date you cancel...whichever is further. 
 

 

[MoniMommy]

2 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

I have applied FCC’s  for 4 guests to a reservation with KSF. Those were from sailings that Royal has cancelled. I have also had excess FCC moved to another guest in order to use it all up an many reservations both where Royal cancelled and the guest cancelled. 
 

Cancelling either before or after final will result in your FCC being reissued with an expiry date of Dec. 31 2021 or 12 months from the date you cancel...whichever is further. 
 

 

Thank you! I wonder if this is an area where having a TA is advantageous.

[Ourusualbeach]

15 minutes ago, MoniMommy said:

Thank you. So in your experience Royal will allow a FCC for a kid sailing free with the KSF promotion? I've read about people being unable to use it in this situations. And if I cancel BEFORE final payment, my FCCs will be resissured? Is that correct? Thanks again. 

If you are concerned about being able to use it under KSF then cancel the third person first, their deposit will be applied to the first two guests fare.  Wait a couple days then cancel the cruise.  The FCC will be issued to the two remaining guests. 

[MoniMommy]

2 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

If you are concerned about being able to use it under KSF then cancel the third person first, their deposit will be applied to the first two guests fare.  Wait a couple days then cancel the cruise.  The FCC will be issued to the two remaining guests. 

Thank you!

[Ourusualbeach]

1 minute ago, MoniMommy said:

Thank you! I wonder if this is an area where having a TA is advantageous.

Possibly. Knowing the rules and what’s been done in the past certainly helps when dealing With Royal.  I still get agents that aren’t completely familiar with all tje nuances to their policies.  Depending in the situation I either ask for a supervisor or just call back.