Charge for Infant on Excursions?

[Pajay1962]

We will be traveling to Alaska this summer on Princess with our daughter and grandchild. The baby will be 10 months old at the time. When we booked two excursions, we were told no charge for the baby - he'll sit on his parents lap on the excursions. When we just called about booking the Juneau Mendenhall Glacier + Salmon bake, the "cruise specialist" said we have to pay for the baby. We explained that we weren't required to pay on the other excursions, and he would be carried by his parents, sit on their laps, and would not be eating salmon as he's only 10 months old. They had no reply other than reading out of their book to us that he has to pay.

 

Has anyone encountered this before? I don't see why we pay for a baby when he gets absolutely nothing out of it and does not take up any space. What is the REAL policy? Is there a number to call other than the general one where we get people speaking broken English?

[riffatsea]

Hi

The people who answer the 800 number are sales people

They do not usually know anything about what actually happens on board the ships

I'd either book and then get the money back when you are in board or I'd wait and just book on the ship

[HotRoot]

Won't it just let you book on line?  No need to talk to anybody.

[Rick&Jeannie]

Probably a different tour vendor, who has different "rules".  Princess does not set the policy for any of their tour vendors.  They're just "middle-men"...which is why the tours are marked up higher than what you can do if you were to book directly with that tour company.  Of course...there's always that clause with Princess-booked tours that "you'll never miss the boat"!  (Something to think about!)

[cruzsnooze]

I would just book the excursions for the adults and show up with the baby in arms. The fact the baby gets nothing out if isn't legitimate for not paying, I sometimes get nothing out of it BUT the baby does not take the space of another person or consume any meals so should NOT have to pay. 

[cr8tiv1]

Just be prepared to pay the child rate on the spot if not charged for infant.  As other's have said, the vendor makes the rules.  Princess is just the go between.

[marden1970]

I've never traveled with an infant but would the tour company require a child seat to comply with whatever the law is in Alaska?

[karatemom2]

Were the other excursions you booked also through Princess or through private tour operators? Rules may vary and the note about the car seat could apply on the Princess tour as it requires a bus ride. If the child is taking up a seat that could be used by another paying passenger, there would be a charge for that. Princes usually offers a child rate for their excursions, so at least you would be paying a lesser amount.

[Pajay1962]

The other tours were booked through Princess and the person on the phone at that time said there is no charge for infants. I did not see any "child or infant" rates on any of the excursions. We'll have to look into the bus seat as I hadn't considered that part, will also just get in touch with the tour operator.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

1 hour ago, cruzsnooze said:

I would just book the excursions for the adults and show up with the baby in arms. The fact the baby gets nothing out if isn't legitimate for not paying, I sometimes get nothing out of it BUT the baby does not take the space of another person or consume any meals so should NOT have to pay. 

some excursions have a min and max age limit, and may not allow an infant to attend. Then what? If they show up at the pier with the baby and are told the baby can't join them?

[Pajay1962]

I got in touch with the tour operator as someone suggested - no charge for children under age 3. Thank you everyone for the replies.

[Rick&Jeannie]

There you go...

[dog]

Should be in a car seat and not in lap.

[Torfamm]

28 minutes ago, dog said:

Should be in a car seat and not in lap.

I’m not sure they are going to be in a bus that accommodates car seats.

Edited January 30 by Torfamm

[phabric]

While on a ship excursion, a couple with a small baby brought a car seat.  They were not able to use the car seat on the bus.  The driver put the car seat in the stair well and at every stop, he had to remove the car seat each time so we could exit the bus.