From 'Free' to Fee: Norwegian Cruise Line Now Charges Passengers Under 2

Well, please understand that they must make up their lost GV revenue somehow because there are no more upsells :-(

Hmm, after reading this I tried it myself today. Since I'm in sweden I got directed to the eu site (if it matters?).

I entered 2 adults, 1 child of age 4 and 1 infant of age 1.

Child was charged €249

Infant was charged €99

Doesnt fit with

"All children now pay the same rate, which is typically the reduced [third or fourth] fare when traveling with two adults in the same stateroom," from the article.

Just saw someone post no more upsells? Do they just give upgrades now? Just curious.

Just saw someone post no more upsells? Do they just give upgrades now? Just curious.

As I understand it there the "no more upsells" applies to the Garden Villas only.

As I understand it there the "no more upsells" applies to the Garden Villas only.

So does that mean they leave it empty if it's not booked? (Just getting around to catching up since I was on a mini vacation. Sorry if I am late to the game.:o)

Children take up a space and since the cruise is capacity controlled I think they should pay the third and fourth person rate.

There's another thread on this topic, one that has turned into a very ugly debate about whether or not children should be taken on a cruise. I hope this one doesn't take the same direction.

We cruise with our young children and have always paid full 3rd and 4th fare. For comparison, when you book a child (2+) on an AI vacation, they pay about 70% of full fare, even though they consume no alcohol, much less food and stay in the room with their full-fare paying parents. IMHO cruising fares for children are very reasonable!

We cruise with our young children and have always paid full 3rd and 4th fare. For comparison' date=' when you book a child (2+) on an AI vacation, they pay about 70% of full fare, even though they consume no alcohol, much less food and stay in the room with their full-fare paying parents. IMHO cruising fares for children are very reasonable![/quote']

 

 

The new policy is for children UNDER 2

We cruise with our young children and have always paid full 3rd and 4th fare. For comparison' date=' when you book a child (2+) on an AI vacation, they pay about 70% of full fare, even though they consume no alcohol, much less food and stay in the room with their full-fare paying parents. IMHO cruising fares for children are very reasonable![/quote']

 

An AI vacation includes the airplane seat and fare. On a cruise you must pay for airfare on top of the cruise. That explains the reason why children pay a high percentage of an AI vacation.

Alcohol is cheap in the Caribbean. When I was pregnant years ago I paid more for a glass of Orange juice than my friend paid for a screwdriver(vodka and OJ) And depending on the age, size and appetite of a child food consumption varies a great deal just like amongst adults.

So does that mean they leave it empty if it's not booked? (Just getting around to catching up since I was on a mini vacation. Sorry if I am late to the game.:o)

Yes. People who paid a regular price for sailing in the Garden Villas complained about those upselling at a significantly-reduced price. End result? No more upselling to the Garden Villas.

An AI vacation includes the airplane seat and fare. On a cruise you must pay for airfare on top of the cruise. That explains the reason why children pay a high percentage of an AI vacation.

Alcohol is cheap in the Caribbean. When I was pregnant years ago I paid more for a glass of Orange juice than my friend paid for a screwdriver(vodka and OJ) And depending on the age, size and appetite of a child food consumption varies a great deal just like amongst adults.

Yeah, but that rationale doesn't make complete sense either. Assume air is half the cost of the vacation, which has been the case with our cruises since children occupying a seat pay full fare. (I'm not interested in debating the cost of airfare from Canada, thats being done very nicely on the cruise air forum right now!)

That leaves 50% of the vacation cost for the resort accommodations, food, entertainment and alcohol. Since the children are already occupying a room that has been booked and can't otherwise be filled with other paying guests, and the resort doesn't have occupancy restrictions like a ship does, it still seems awfully expensive to me for a child. While I do agree that alcohol is often cheaper than water at a resort, I have still found this to be the case where a resort offers American pop and alcohol rather than just their local generic brands.

All I'm saying is that when we look at our vacation options, paying a fare for a young child on a cruise is not going to sway us one way or the other. NCL probably realizes this and thus their move to charge young children. Plus it recognizes that any person, regardless of age, requires staff time and takes away from someone else who could be drinking alcohol while gambling in the casino and taking expensive cruise line excursions.

Yeah' date=' but that rationale doesn't make complete sense either. Assume air is half the cost of the vacation, which has been the case with our cruises since children occupying a seat pay full fare. (I'm not interested in debating the cost of airfare from Canada, thats being done very nicely on the cruise air forum right now!)

That leaves 50% of the vacation cost for the resort accommodations, food, entertainment and alcohol. Since the children are already occupying a room that has been booked and can't otherwise be filled with other paying guests, and the resort doesn't have occupancy restrictions like a ship does, it still seems awfully expensive to me for a child. While I do agree that alcohol is often cheaper than water at a resort, I have still found this to be the case where a resort offers American pop and alcohol rather than just their local generic brands.

All I'm saying is that when we look at our vacation options, paying a fare for a young child on a cruise is not going to sway us one way or the other. NCL probably realizes this and thus their move to charge young children. Plus it recognizes that any person, regardless of age, requires staff time and takes away from someone else who could be drinking alcohol while gambling in the casino and taking expensive cruise line excursions.[/quote']

 

So if the airfare is 50 percent of an AI vacation and kids pay 70 percent of what adults pay then their room and food, activities and children's groups account for only 20 percent of the price compared to 50 percent that adults would pay for room, food and activities. Seems fair to me.

So if the airfare is 50 percent of an AI vacation and kids pay 70 percent of what adults pay then their room and food, activities and children's groups account for only 20 percent of the price compared to 50 percent that adults would pay for room, food and activities. Seems fair to me.

Except there are no children's groups :). That's one huge advantage to cruising with children.

My argument is that 20% of the cost is food only...the logings are already paid by the first two guests, and any AI resort we have stayed at has very limited guest activities. That's what doesn't make sense to me, and likely never will at this point.

Except there are no children's groups :). That's one huge advantage to cruising with children.

My argument is that 20% of the cost is food only...the logings are already paid by the first two guests' date=' and any AI resort we have stayed at has very limited guest activities. That's what doesn't make sense to me, and likely never will at this point.[/quote']

 

Sorry have to agree to disagree with you at this point as 20 percent of the last 50 percent for a person who eats, uses the room, towels, pool, boats and child care (many AI resorts have kids clubs) is still fare to me.

Even with its new policy, NCL's 3rd and 4th rate are a steal compared to other cruise lines. For comparison purposes:

• 3rd/4th rate on our 2011 Allure of the Seas cruise: $599
  
• 3rd/4th rate on our 2011 Carnival Dream cruise: $329
  
• 3rd/4th rate on our upcoming 2013 Norwegian Jewel cruise: $239
  

NO complaints here!

It seems only logical to charge them. After all they do require just as much if not more care by the stewards.

one major point is missing from all these discussions. When NCL announced that it was adding a nursery for children under 2, it was clear to me that they would at some point begin charging for these children. Before that Children under 2 were not admitted to the kids program at all and that there was no in cabin baby sitting available. Now that they provide full service to them they will charge. I don't have a problem with that personally. NCL is still very kid friendly, its always has been.

Now that they provide under two's full service its logically to charge.

As for food being the major cost...I think the major cost is fuel anyhow.

one major point is missing from all these discussions. When NCL announced that it was adding a nursery for children under 2, it was clear to me that they would at some point begin charging for these children. Before that Children under 2 were not admitted to the kids program at all and that there was no in cabin baby sitting available. Now that they provide full service to them they will charge. I don't have a problem with that personally. NCL is still very kid friendly, its always has been.

 

Now that they provide under two's full service its logically to charge.

 

As for food being the major cost...I think the major cost is fuel anyhow.

I think that you got it right. They have a product now that they feel they can charge for.

There sure are childrens groups in all inclusives and many AI's offer summer specials where kids stay free. The kids are eating, making a mess in the room, using the facilities as much as the adults, so why reasoning they shouldn't pay extra doesn't make any sense. It is exactly the same as putting four people in a cabin on a ship.

Another thing you need to take into effect when comparing a cruise to an AI is the cost of excursions. There is no charge for the things they have available to kids in an AI, such as snorkeling, getting to a beach, etc. So you have to add in the cost of excursions to what you are paying for a cruise and then compare the costs. They are also not paying for soda and other drinks at an AI.

Many resorts have top shelf liquor and you don't pay extra for it, so I am not sure where the comments about paying extra for liquor comes from. You just need to know which resorts have top shelf and which don't. Generally, the cheaper the AI, the cheaper the liquor is you receive.

When looking at an AI, it is important also to look at what they consider "kids". Some resorts charge kids rates up to 17, some stop at 12.

We are seeing many people converting from cruises to AI's because they are tired of the same itineraries and the cost ends up being less expensive after they add up the total costs.

Except there are no children's groups :). That's one huge advantage to cruising with children.

My argument is that 20% of the cost is food only...the logings are already paid by the first two guests' date=' and any AI resort we have stayed at has very limited guest activities. That's what doesn't make sense to me, and likely never will at this point.[/quote']

one major point is missing from all these discussions. When NCL announced that it was adding a nursery for children under 2, it was clear to me that they would at some point begin charging for these children. Before that Children under 2 were not admitted to the kids program at all and that there was no in cabin baby sitting available. Now that they provide full service to them they will charge. I don't have a problem with that personally. NCL is still very kid friendly, its always has been.

 

Now that they provide under two's full service its logically to charge.

 

As for food being the major cost...I think the major cost is fuel anyhow.

Maybe, but as far as I know they have yet to release any details of the "nursery" for children under 3 - whether it costs extra for "babysitting", or if that is included, or if there is even going to be a drop-off service for under-3s. Until they release those details - and implement the changes - it doesn't make a lot of sense to charge for infants. Once they make the change (assuming it actually affects parents of infants who could have a place to drop off their baby for a few hours), then I can see it being ok.

I don't thing charging for infants has anything to do with the new nursery. It is simply another revenue maker. Every other line charges for infants and NCL is charging for them now too.

Maybe' date=' but as far as I know they have yet to release any details of the "nursery" for children under 3 - whether it costs extra for "babysitting", or if that is included, or if there is even going to be a drop-off service for under-3s. Until they release those details - and implement the changes - it doesn't make a lot of sense to charge for infants. Once they make the change (assuming it actually affects parents of infants who could have a place to drop off their baby for a few hours), then I can see it being ok.[/quote']

Three can live as cheaply as.......

three.

An AI vacation includes the airplane seat and fare. On a cruise you must pay for airfare on top of the cruise. That explains the reason why children pay a high percentage of an AI vacation.

Alcohol is cheap in the Caribbean. When I was pregnant years ago I paid more for a glass of Orange juice than my friend paid for a screwdriver(vodka and OJ) And depending on the age, size and appetite of a child food consumption varies a great deal just like amongst adults.

Very interesting. Some AI's include airfare but most don't though they offer it as an extra charge add on, so it is really not accurate to use that as part of your comparison.