question on 2 cabins and splitting costs with extended family?

[love280mickey]

My SIL is a frequent cruiser, 2-3 times a year (never on DCL yet) and has a cruise companion, but due to age and health that may be coming to an end. I think in the future, she may be interested in cruising with us.

I have said I would only agree to this if she had her own separate cabin. I just took a look at the current rates for our upcoming cruise. Adult fare in our 8C category is 2100. That would mean she would have to pay 4200 to get a cabin on her own, based on double occupancy. (actually more, because she usually only cruises with a balcony)

We also cruise with our dd (under 18) and her fare right now for child/3rd person is 1600. If the time ever comes that SIL wants to cruise with us, I would propose the following to her:

She shares a cabin with our dd (her niece) and although she has to pay for two full fares (still 4200 in this example), we would refund her the 1600 which is the portion we would pay for our dd anyway.

My husband says she won't understand this and will think that we should pay 2100 for our dd to share 1/2 the cabin, as the 2nd passenger. But the point is, we don't mind sharing with our dd at all, so why would we pay more? My option at least allows her to recoup 1600 of her double occupancy fare, leaving her paying 2100 for herself and 500 for our dd, but at least she's not paying 4200 double occupancy on her own.

Or she can totally cruise alone in her own cabin and pay 4200. And I would still only be willing to pay whatever our cabin fare was going to be for our dd, no matter what type of cabin my SIL wanted, ie: balcony.

Anyone else run into issues when trying to cruise with an extra "single"?

Of course, I wouldn't even suggest putting my dd with her if SIL brought along some other friend to share her cabin/costs.

 

[mmouse37]

My SIL is a frequent cruiser, 2-3 times a year (never on DCL yet) and has a cruise companion, but due to age and health that may be coming to an end. I think in the future, she may be interested in cruising with us.

I have said I would only agree to this if she had her own separate cabin. I just took a look at the current rates for our upcoming cruise. Adult fare in our 8C category is 2100. That would mean she would have to pay 4200 to get a cabin on her own, based on double occupancy. (actually more, because she usually only cruises with a balcony)

We also cruise with our dd (under 18) and her fare right now for child/3rd person is 1600. If the time ever comes that SIL wants to cruise with us, I would propose the following to her:

She shares a cabin with our dd (her niece) and although she has to pay for two full fares (still 4200 in this example), we would refund her the 1600 which is the portion we would pay for our dd anyway.

My husband says she won't understand this and will think that we should pay 2100 for our dd to share 1/2 the cabin, as the 2nd passenger. But the point is, we don't mind sharing with our dd at all, so why would we pay more? My option at least allows her to recoup 1600 of her double occupancy fare, leaving her paying 2100 for herself and 500 for our dd, but at least she's not paying 4200 double occupancy on her own.

Or she can totally cruise alone in her own cabin and pay 4200. And I would still only be willing to pay whatever our cabin fare was going to be for our dd, no matter what type of cabin my SIL wanted, ie: balcony.

Anyone else run into issues when trying to cruise with an extra "single"?

Of course, I wouldn't even suggest putting my dd with her if SIL brought along some other friend to share her cabin/costs.

So it would cost her $2,600 for the cruise as opposed to $4,200. Just tell her bottom line is either $4,200 if she books herself alone in the cabin or $2,600 if "booked on paper" with your DD in that room (and with your reimbursement). Also explain that your DD would not really be sleeping there but booking it that way can save her money.

Pretty easy to explain. Don't even try to explain that two full fares would be $2,100...don't even bring that number up.

MJ

 

[Four Swampers]

Another way to approach this would be to not approach it. It is very reasonable for you and your husband and daughter to have your own cabin. So you could just leave it at that. If your SIL approaches you about coming along on her own, you can say she is welcome to do so, but you really don't wish to share a cabin as that would interrupt your family time / personal space. If she inquires about your daughter joining her, you then get the upper hand. You have leverage to say that she only costs you $1600 in your cabin, so it is hard to imagine spending another $500 on her.

Letting your SIL work things out on her own will probably work best.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

We had this happen with my mom who travels with us. I broke it out on paper for her to see and make her decision. She chose to have dd13 in the room with her and we are paying her back the 3rd person rate dd would have had in our room.

 

[love280mickey]

Another way to approach this would be to not approach it. It is very reasonable for you and your husband and daughter to have your own cabin. So you could just leave it at that. If your SIL approaches you about coming along on her own, you can say she is welcome to do so, but you really don't wish to share a cabin as that would interrupt your family time / personal space. If she inquires about your daughter joining her, you then get the upper hand. You have leverage to say that she only costs you $1600 in your cabin, so it is hard to imagine spending another $500 on her.

Letting your SIL work things out on her own will probably work best.

yes, that is good advice.

Also, she may actually like to have my dd stay with her for some company, although as my dd gets older and wants to do more of the "teen" things, it may be best that she's with us. My SIL is older, like a grandma to my dd.

 

[valbob89]

So if you did book your daughter, on paper only, in the second room, will GS give your daughter a KTTW card for your room?

I've heard of people who qualify for the Florida discount booking two rooms, DH and non-Floridian friend booking in one and DW and spouse of non-Floridian friend in the other. Then they each actually stay with their spouse and both cabins get the Florida rate. I've been curious if they go to GS and they give them KTTW cards for the actual room they are staying in. We don't live, nor travel with Floridians, just wondered.

 

[mmouse37]

So if you did book your daughter, on paper only, in the second room, will GS give your daughter a KTTW card for your room?

I've heard of people who qualify for the Florida discount booking two rooms, DH and non-Floridian friend booking in one and DW and spouse of non-Floridian friend in the other. Then they each actually stays with their spouse and both cabins get the Florida rate. I've been curious if they go to GS and they give them KTTW cards for the actual room they are staying in. We don't live, nor travel with Floridians, just wondered.

Yes, you can get a "spare" key to the other cabin. You have to go down to guest services. The "spare" key will not have any charging privileges on it.

Obviously, for security reasons GS will only hand over the spare key to someone actually booked in the room so the mom would have to get the spare key and not the DD.

MJ

 

[kcashner]

There is no problem with the spare key issue--GS will issue one. In addition, regardless of who is booked where, they will "re-key" a KTTW to reflect where the person is actually sleeping if that is an issue (say DD was booked in aunt's room but actually sleeping in Mom and Dad's cabin).

I understand your logic totally in the booking/fees issue. I'd put it to her in final figure terms--it will cost you $4200 if you book on your own. It will cost $2600 if we refund you our daughter's fare. You decide.

The only other sensible option is to just let her do her own booking.

It isn't right for you to have to pay more for your daughter because her aunt wants a fancier cabin or because doing so will save aunt money. You should pay third person fare for your DD regardless of where she is ultimately booked/sleeps. After all, if aunt isn't going, you'd be paying the third person fare for DD.