Can you help me with this scenario

[LaDonna]

My sister is now saying she wants to go with us on our cruise. One person in the cabin, of course is the price of two people so she was saying I could put one of my children in there. So I have three in one room and two in the other versus me just having the one cabin with four people so she wouldn’t have to pay the double occupancy rate for just her

Hopefully that makes sense……. of course, I wouldn’t mind this. It would give me a little bit more room in my cabin with less people in there however, I worry about her, needing to cancel.

If I read correctly, what I would be able to do is cancel the cabin completely, and add whoever I had in her room to mine, but will have to pay the current fare for that person. Is that correct? So I guess I have to tell her she’s gonna have to pay any penalties for canceling and the extra it would end up costing me?

Plan on getting insurance I’m sure she will as well(actually, any suggestions on that I would appreciate as well)

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

You are right: cancelling your kid will involve on one hand the penalty applicable on the cancellation and on the other hand the current rate to be paid for your kid to be added back to your room (so if that's higher you will pay more) So indeed if your sister is one of these people that easily changes her mind, has health issues or can have suddenly whatever obligations causing her to cancel it is a bit tricky and would def discuss your concerns before agreeing. Also if you are planning on getting a photo package and she isn't, you may have issues in getting the photos of the kid added to her room...

 

[Dug720]

Be aware that if she cancels but the muster station for your cabin is full, you would not be able to add your child back into your cabin.

AND if you'd be getting off the ship with your kids but not with your sister, she would have to fill out paperwork allowing you to take your own child off the ship since kids under 18 can officially only leave with an adult from their cabin.

 

[LaDonna]

Be aware that if she cancels but the muster station for your cabin is full, you would not be able to add your child back into your cabin.

AND if you'd be getting off the ship with your kids but not with your sister, she would have to fill out paperwork allowing you to take your own child off the ship since kids under 18 can officially only leave with an adult from their cabin.

The muster station thing it had me a little confused …… I guess I was figuring my child was already counted in the master for our section…..if I had both our rooms beside each other is it more depending on the actual cabin, or the section of cabins for your muster station?

 

[lilsonicfan]

The muster station thing it had me a little confused …… I guess I was figuring my child was already counted in the master for our section…..if I had both our rooms beside each other is it more depending on the actual cabin, or the section of cabins for your muster station?

Typically, cabins next to each other will share the same muster station, but of course at some point the muster station zone swaps over... you probably won't know before the cruise whether you're just unlucky enough to have different muster stations.

The paperwork part, as I recall, is not complicated and I think is even done at check-in. We usually sail in two rooms, one kid with my husband and two with me. The photo package thing also was super easy for us, we always just gave one key card or one room # for the pics.

Personally I think it might be better for your sister to find someone to sail with her. Right now you're paying 3rd and 4th person rates for your kids (at kid rates, slightly less than an adult) but if you put one kid with her then that kid will be charged as the 2nd person, an adult rate.

 

[Dug720]

The muster station thing it had me a little confused …… I guess I was figuring my child was already counted in the master for our section…..if I had both our rooms beside each other is it more depending on the actual cabin, or the section of cabins for your muster station?

Typically, cabins next to each other will share the same muster station, but of course at some point the muster station zone swaps over... you probably won't know before the cruise whether you're just unlucky enough to have different muster stations.

This.

Plus your child is counted in at your cabin right now. If you move them out, the count will change and only 3 people will be counted in your cabin for your Muster Station. It won't hold that 4th place. Muster Stations are based on lifeboat capacity.

Let's say you're in Station A and your sister's cabin (even though right next door) is in B. You move one child into her stateroom and therefore into Station B. That frees up a space in Station A, and it could book up for capacity while your child is assigned to a cabin in Station B. (There are technically more beds than spaces, which is why they may only show cabins for 2 in a particular area - if there were a lot of cabins with 4 or 5 people that booked they would not have enough space to accommodate others.) Then let's say your sister backs out and you need to put your child back in your cabin. But other cabins have booked up and taken that space so there is no more room in Station A. You could not move your child back into your room because that would put them over lifeboat capacity for Station A.

I agree with @lilsonicfan - it would be better for your sister to either find someone to cruise with her (who is willing to either cancel or pay for the whole cabin themselves if your sister backs out) or for your sister to just pay for the cabin herself and cruise solo.

 

[Pixarfans]

Also your child will be charged the adult price in her room.

 

[LaDonna]

Thanks everybody for the advice I think I’m just gonna tell her she’s gonna have to find another way…… i’m not sure she can afford the double fair so I’m going to suggest to her that she just goes ahead and book said it doesn’t name the second person and hope she can find somebody that would like to go with her

I’ve only booked on carnival twice. Those are the only cruises I’ve ever done and both of them had a rate I used where if I canceled and lost my deposit but if I’m reading right, most of the Disney cruises aren’t like that unless you book under a special rate which I don’t think they have very often hopefully I read that correctly, but I’m hoping to book 1st day of the itineraries for September 2026 come out.

 

[lanejudy]

I’ve only booked on carnival twice. Those are the only cruises I’ve ever done and both of them had a rate I used where if I canceled and lost my deposit but if I’m reading right, most of the Disney cruises aren’t like that unless you book under a special rate which I don’t think they have very often hopefully I read that correctly, but I’m hoping to book 1st day of the itineraries for September 2026 come out.

With the exception of concierge cabins, DCL deposits and fares are fully refundable until the official PIF date, which is typically 90-120 days prior to sail date. So if your sister doesn't find a travel mate by that point she can cancel and get her money back.