Kids Sail Free Questions

[Coconuts]

I know there are no current KSF offers but I had a few questions:

1. How often has this been offered in the past?

2. When KSF has been offered, what were the circumstances, i.e. in slower months, hurricane season, or just because that cruise wasn't selling?

3. With 2 new DCL ships and the economy, do any of you wise Disers think KSF would be offered any time soon?

Thanks!

 

[shillee]

I was going to post this exact question! We are interested in a cruise with our two LO's and wonder if the kids sail free may be an option since we haven't yet picked a date.

I hope someone can help us out!

 

[Mom 3 mouseketeers]

I'm wondering as well. Right now we are booked on the Fantasy for April 14, 2012, this will be it's 3rd official sailing. However, there is a April 13, 2012 Eastern Caribbean on the Magic that still has tons of room, they even have 11B's open right now. We'd be more than happy to switch our cruise if a KSF came up.

Any thoughts??

 

[Makayna]

I read a post where someone said that they're doing the IGT, OGT & VGT program now, and are phasing out KSF.

 

[LollieFollie]

I read a post where someone said that they're doing the IGT, OGT & VGT program now, and are phasing out KSF.

What is IGT, OGT and VGT?

 

[kcashner]

The "T" program is definitely a new thing. Whether KSF will appear again or not is unknown. In the past, it has had various permutations. One year it was kids under 12 only (lots of people didn't like that!) The next time it was kids 17 and under. Another time it was kids 17 and under, but only in balcony cabins.

The only constant thing is that it showed up on cruises that were not filling, and they tended to sell out very quickly after that! The economy has improved and most cruises on the Dream are sailing full. Bookings on the Fantasy have increased markedly in price since we booked--again, implying that the ship is filling. Specials of whatever sort will appear if DCL needs to fill ships! These also include FL resident rates, military rates, TA rates, CM rates, etc. An empty cabin is a loss; a cabin with people in it usually results in at least SOME purchases in addition to the cruise fare.

The IGT, etc. is "inside guaranteed", "oceanview guaranteed" and "verandah guaranteed" cabins. This is different from the 11gty or 6 gty that is still offered. These are special bookings at discounted rates, but there are significant restrictions to them--they must be paid in full at time of booking, no changes, etc. You can see all the "fine print" at the DCL site.

 

[Makayna]

What is IGT, OGT and VGT?

Inside Guarantee, Outside Guarantee, Verandah Guarantee. What they do is, if a cruise isn't selling well, they will now offer it to where you can buy an IGT, OGT or VGT at a nicely reduced price. But it's NOT kids sail free! It's still paid in full immediately, and you're guaranteed to either get an inside cabin if you bought and IGT, and outside cabin if you bought an OGT or a verandah cabin if you bought a VGT. But, from what I've read, they're doing away with KSF.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Inside Guarantee, Outside Guarantee, Verandah Guarantee. What they do is, if a cruise isn't selling well, they will now offer it to where you can buy an IGT, OGT or VGT at a nicely reduced price. But it's NOT kids sail free! It's still paid in full immediately, and you're guaranteed to either get an inside cabin if you bought and IGT, and outside cabin if you bought an OGT or a verandah cabin if you bought a VGT. But, from what I've read, they're doing away with KSF.

I've read the same thing from TA's who post on here. It's part of their last-minute restricted stateroom program.

This helps not only those with kids, but those without kids. It also helps for those of us who don't live in Florida.

We have 3 kids and did a KSF once and honestly, we would probably not do a KSF cruise again. There were too many kids! Even our kids noticed it compared to our other cruises.

The disadvantage of the new program is for families of 5. You would have to get a Cat 4 to make it work (Cat 8's seem to sell quickly anyway) and I think the program is simply a VGT with a maximum of 4 occupants. Thus, a family of 5 would have to get two cabins and they would in all liklihood not be connecting and perhaps not even on the same deck.