Booking only two and then adding the kids later

[Jsme]

How does this work. I have read many people say they are going to do this. I really want to do a 7 day cruise in the summer of 2007.

From what I have read I might be able to book sometime in September for 2007, but I am not sure if I can afford 4 deposits right now. I work in the school system and will not get a full paycheck until the end of September.

I was wondering if I could book two adults and then add the kids later? Does the price of 3rd/4th person in your room go up that much? DD and DS will be considered adult passengers by then.

If we like the SPR I thought maybe about booking one of those but I know it will sell out quickly. I am looking at a cruise sometime in July of 2007.

 

[KyCruisinSusan]

Talk to a travel agent. We did this for our upcoming cruise, but at the time the prices locked in.

We booked each one of us into 2 connecting cabins, paid the $500 deposit and then after we got our tax returns we added the 4 kids (2 into each room). We already knew what the final cost was going to be because we had planned this our 8 months prior with our travel agent.

I don't know if you can still get the price that was going when you origanilly booked or not but I would speak to an agent and see if you can.

 

[bridegirl]

Since they allow book a certain number of kids on the cruise, it's possible that the "kids spot" can fill up, even when the cruise is not sold out.

We are cruising august 13, and some friends (with 2 kids) wanted to join us. There were plenty of rooms and adult spots available but since all the "kids spots" were full, they could not book.

Just something else to be aware of, would be a drag to get locked out of the kid spots.

Hugs and pixie dust,

Susy

 

[ivanova]

If you are talking about adding the kids on a few weeks after your initial reservation is made, and you are talking about a 2007 booking, then adding the kids on later shouldn't be an issue.

If you were talking about booking a summer 2006 cruise, and you weren't going to add the kids until next March (i.e. waiting for a tax refund) then it might be a bit more dicey doing that.

As for the pricing, I have been told that when you add folks to the room later, it's at the "prevailing" rate at that time .. not the rate it would've been when you first booked .. again, that's probably not going to be a real issue if you're booking a 2007 cruise and only waiting 2-4 weeks to add the kids to the reservation.

It's conceivable prices can go up that fast (it did with the West Coast and Repo cruises) but I think under "normal" circumstances it does not go up that quickly or dramatically.

 

[Jsme]

I really was thinking about a summer 2007 cruise booking the two adults and paying the $500 deposit and then adding the kids a few months afterwards. They would be the 3rd and 4th passengers in the room. I know right now the 3rd/4th passengers are around $1099 (adult cost due to their ages) for the summer of 2006. I am only using 2006 as an estimate because the 2007 dates are not available as of yet.

 

[krhardy]

another point to consider...we did this...booked 2 rooms in July 04 for Dec 05 cruise...glad we had 2 rooms b/c when we called to add kids, "quad occupancy" was already sold out, so we had to put 2 kids in 1 room, and the 3rd child and my DM in the other room. It is very do-able, just make sure that you add the kids fairly soon after you make the initial reservation.

 

[Jsme]

Oh my had not thought about that. I figure if we plan a summer 2007 cruise we will book this September while on board, if the dates are out then. I thought to add the kids in the next 6 months. But summer pricing is so expensive. I know summer is a big seller but I am not much on summer cruises. Too hot for me. We might just wait till the fall break and do another 7 day cruise in 2007.

 

[ivanova]

if you want a room that sleeps four, when you make your initial reservation request a specific room number and do not book GTY.

 

[Jsme]

I have never booked a GTY stateroom. Not too sure if I would want to.

 

[jenpan]

I was going to the do the same for our Feb. 06, except add my hubby at a later date. The TA said they may not have room on the ship, based on the total number of people sailing, even if I had room in my cabin with DD and myself. She also told me the price would be DRASTICALLY more. I went ahead and booked all three of us and hope I know by Dec. 05 whether or not he can get vacation the week we are booked.
I also work in the school system and know all about that Sept. check thing.
GOOD LUCK!

 

[Jsme]

I was going to the do the same for our Feb. 06, except add my hubby at a later date. The TA said they may not have room on the ship, based on the total number of people sailing, even if I had room in my cabin with DD and myself. She also told me the price would be DRASTICALLY more. I went ahead and booked all three of us and hope I know by Dec. 05 whether or not he can get vacation the week we are booked.
I also work in the school system and know all about that Sept. check thing.
GOOD LUCK!

LOL....I do not think it would be so tight if the school system I work in had changed our pay this year and I will only get a half of paycheck in August where in the past I would get a whole paycheck. Plus I booked a 4 day Wonder for 11/06 last weekend. Had to come up with $800 for that. And we go on a 3 day in less than 8 weeks. Dh tells me all the time to quit bookign cruises but he is a sucker for them as much as I am.

 

[Susie51]

For our June 12, 2005 cruise, we had two empty bunks in our connecting rooms. We tried to add people later, but the ship was sold out and there was a waiting list. The price had gone up a lot. We booked 15 months in advance. Add the kids as soon as possible!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DisneyBill]

Oh my had not thought about that. I figure if we plan a summer 2007 cruise we will book this September while on board, if the dates are out then. I thought to add the kids in the next 6 months. But summer pricing is so expensive. I know summer is a big seller but I am not much on summer cruises. Too hot for me. We might just wait till the fall break and do another 7 day cruise in 2007.

Does anyone know if you do rebook (for the 7 day) for only two while onboard, and add others later, does the 10% discount still apply to those you're adding?