Please, allow me to VENT!

[zalansky]

My 2 sisters are planning a "family" cruise, and they are older than I am and have kids in their mid to late teens...so they are not at all into cruising with Disney. (not to mention, they are not huge Disney fans anyway so I would never even ask)....
So, they have decided on RCCL. Naturally, I want to go. I want to spend time with my sisters, because I hardly get to see them and I love cruising anyway. Now, for my venting:
I just found out thay RCCL charges FULL PRICE FARE for my infant son to sail with us! He will be 13 months old for goodness sakes...not eating their food, not able to swim, not involved in activities...and I will have to pay $8.00 an hour for a sitter if needed (like Flounders Reef) I am floored.
I wish I could tell RCCL to fly a kite...but if I do go it will only be because of the reasons I stated...GOSH - I am so annoyed!!!
Thanks for listening...

 

[mariamard]

DID YOU ALREADY PUT DOWN A DEPOSIT? IF NOT, HOW ABOUT NORWEIGIN(SP?)? THEY HAVE BEAUTIFUL NEW SHIPS WITH NEARLY THE SAME ITINERARIES. I DONT THINK THAT THEY CHARGE MUCH MORE THEN TAXES AND IMMIGRATION FEES FOR KIDS UNDER 2. AS LONG AS THERE ARE TWO PAYING ADULTS IN THE CABIN, OF COURSE.........GOOD LUCK!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

That's really too bad. Is there ANY work-around for the vacation?

 

[MarkLem]

I second the Norwegian Cruise Line. Great service & nice ships. While in Africa once at a game reserve (not the shooting kind) I was staying with 6 guests from NCL. THey had nothing but great comments about NCL. One couple from Hawaii would cruise with no other, and they had cruised all over the world.

 

[rundogrun]

Wow, that's disturbing. Is it only the two of you in a stateroom? If so, that would explain it. Otherwise, you should at least get a discount for third passenger in the room.

 

[ohiominnie]

Another idea....
cruise with your sisters and leave the baby with grandma. Sure it'd be fun to take him, but you'll be confined to your room for a couple hours each day while he sleeps and also early to bed so he can get to bed at a reasonable hour.

Sounds like your sisters kids will be on autopilot and it'd be a great time for you to have a BLAST with them and not have to worry about the baby.

This is coming from someone who left her kids with grandma in order to take a WDW vacation with dh, so it's not like I'm saying "you can leave the baby at home, but I never would!"

Just an idea. You may think it's crazy!

 

[zalansky]

Nope, it will be myself, mu hubby and the baby. They are charging $660.00 for the adults and $499.00 for the baby....plus port charges and taxes. What eats at us is that we could go on a fabulous Disney cruise and get a nice cabin for the same money!!! But the sisters wouldn't even think about it.
Thanks for your suggestions, it really helps! Now, to convince them to sail NCL!!!

 

[LisaGoeke]

I thinkCelebrity cruise lines might also have really reduced rates for the young child. At least 8 years ago when we took my daughter she was nearly free.

 

[Dean]

But isn't the overall price significantly cheaper than DCL? RCCL now owns Celebrity if I recall correctly. HAL has cheaper rates for Infants but still about 60% of the child price. I don't think Princess discounts for kids or infants either looking at their brochure.