They charge for infants?

[Disney-Bride2005]

My baby can't even eat the food or swim in the pool and they charge for him?
Is this correct?
He's not even one.
Any input would help.
Thanks again.

 

[Mom 3 mouseketeers]

I'm pretty sure that children under 3 are free. I think any charges you may have are government fees and taxes.

 

[Disney-Bride2005]

Hi
The cast member on the phone has informed me I am being charged roughly $250 for him. I am trying to find out why.
Thanks

 

[momma2]

We find Disney's policies very family friendly.

To compare: we took our oldest, at 9 month olds, on a 14-night Celebrity cruise and were charged full 3rd berth fare. Meaning we paid for him as though there was an adult in our room! We had a wonderful trip- but there was no applicable childcare/entertainment or pool access for him. And no baby supplies on board (had to make a diaper stop in Aruba!). However, we did find alot of foods he could have once cut to correct size.

Now, for our upcoming Disney trip, we'll be bringing a 10 month old on a 7-night. We have been charged roughly $200. Our 3 yr old is $800 (full 3rd berth, before taxes). We'll have access to Flounder's Nursery (yes, at $6/ hour but we pay close to $10 here at home- we think Flounder's is a steal!) He'll have access to the splash 'pool'. He'll be awed by the characters and children's entertainment. In a pinch, we'll have access to baby supplies. And again, he'll eat plenty of fruits, veggies, and cheeses diced for his needs.

I believe the $200 is mainly port fees and taxes, so in reality we're not even 'really' being charged for him aboard... We think it's a decent deal for the experience we'll all have!

 

[kcashner]

Currently children under 3 sail free. They do pay taxes and government fees--port charges, US Customs fees, etc. These are charges that DCL must pay for each guest on the ship regardless of age. These fees vary a little by ports, but are usually around $240 on a 7 day cruise.

IN reality, your baby will probably generate a lot of work for the staff. He'll have a diaper genie which will be cleaned daily and the dirties disposed of, a crib which will be set up and taken down....he probably tosses his food off the high chair, and he has to have a chair moved and a high chair brought in. I'm not being a grouch here, just trying to show you that a child does generate work and expenses for the cruise line.

I've read that in the future, DCL is instituting a fee for children under 3....supposedly 50% of the lowest child's fee. They have to set whatever policies they feel are fair.

 

[Timon]

My baby girl was 10 months old when we first took her on the Magic and she made such a mess, I felt so bad for the CM's that had to clean up after her I kept apologizing to them every time she ate

Our stateroom host was great and emptied the diaper genie 3-4 times per day and we felt it was a bargain for only $250 for her for the week

We had terrible servers, they obviously had no experience dealing with little babies so if we had had better servers, there would have been much more value for us but we still were happy!

We are taking her one more time before she is 3 (she will be one month shy of 3 when we go) and I think this time will be much better for all of us, still only paying $250 + Flounders

 

[Disney-Bride2005]

They just explained that it is government fees/taxes.
I was trying to dispute it and I asked where in the brochure it says that.
I am just not used to disney ever charging anything for babies under 3.
Can you guys really recommend Flounders?
I have never left my baby alone with anyone but immediate family.
I figure might as well trust Disney......I do with everything else.

 

[kcashner]

They just explained that it is government fees/taxes.
I was trying to dispute it and I asked where in the brochure it says that.
I am just not used to disney ever charging anything for babies under 3.
Can you guys really recommend Flounders?
I have never left my baby alone with anyone but immediate family.
I figure might as well trust Disney......I do with everything else.

Disney is only charging you what they have to pay to someone else because your baby is on board. Other places (WDW) they do not lose money because your baby is there, so the child is free. Every time they go into a port, they pay a port charge based on the number of live bodies on the ship--everyone from 12 weeks to 112 years counts. The cost to sail thru the Panama canal is based on the weight of the ship and the number of people sailing. They pay fees to the US government for border control, etc.

Flounders is excellent. It is clean, well staffed, etc. Go and visit it before you make your commitment. Yes, leaving your little one for the first time is scary. At least on the ship you will know where he is and you can be contacted if you're needed. You can be down there in minutes.

 

[Timon]

They just explained that it is government fees/taxes.
I was trying to dispute it and I asked where in the brochure it says that.
I am just not used to disney ever charging anything for babies under 3.
Can you guys really recommend Flounders?
I have never left my baby alone with anyone but immediate family.
I figure might as well trust Disney......I do with everything else.

Yes, Flounders was great! It was the first and only time I have ever left my daughter with anyone but family and I too was nervous but the great thing about it is you can come and check on them whenever you want

They have a window there that you can watch them through and they can't see you because it's a mirror on their side. The first time I left her, I watched her from that window for about 10 minutes before I left. She was just fine and they were great with her!

Also, if you are worried, you are only ever a few decks away and can come and check on her whenever you want!

I put together a tips page for traveling with a baby, it might help you out a bit

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2040628&page=1

 

[Cruise]

They just explained that it is government fees/taxes.
I was trying to dispute it and I asked where in the brochure it says that.
I am just not used to disney ever charging anything for babies under 3.

From the DCL Terms and Conditions: (bolding mine)

Excluded from Vacation Fare
The Resort portion of the fare does not include meals, beverages, or any other item of a personal nature. The cruise portion of the fare does not include shore excursions (including excursions to St. John), sightseeing or meals ashore in the ports of call, gratuities, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, bottled water, laundry or valet services, or any other items not specifically included. The fare also does not include airfare, ground or baggage transfers, fuel supplements or Government Taxes and Fees, which consist of all taxes and fees imposed by U.S. and foreign governmental and quasi-governmental authorities, including without limitation U.S. Customs and Immigration fees, ship passengers international departure tax, airport passenger facility charge, flight segment fees, international arrival and departure taxes, and sales, use and excise taxes.

So, no, you are not being charged a fare for your child. However, you are being charged the exact amount that DCL is required to pay to someone else for having your child aboard. I'm sure you wouldn't expect Disney to swallow these charges and pay them out of pocket after already waiving any type of fare for a child under 3.

 

[lbgraves]

As stated above that is the way it is currently on DCL BUT starting with the 2010 cruises the prices for children under the age of 3 is about 50% of the regular 3rd and 4th person charge in a room.

I didn't see mentioned yet that you are also expected to tip the same amount for every person in your family, no matter the age.

 

[Disney-Bride2005]

See the part I don't understand is...if they are government taxes and fees then why doesn't it show up under the part that says government taxes and fees???
On my cruise for 2 adults and one infant, the government taxes and fees portion only shows up as roughly $156 total.
The cast member explained the entire extra $256 I was being charged for the baby was only his taxes and fees.
Why wouldn't it show up under the taxes and fees portion of the statement?
Thanks

 

[Happy99]

Part of the government fees are the port charges and those are incorporated into your total price they aren't shown separately

3nt and 4nt cruise port charges are $119 per person regardless of age
7nt cruise they are $159 per person regardless of age
Taxes differ depending on the cruise length and how many ports it visits

As others said be grateful you aren't paying a fare. All other cruise lines have always charged for babies no matter their age
DCL will follow on some 2010 sailings

 

[lbgraves]

Which cruise are you looking at and which category?

 

[amybethchristiansen]

Yes, they only pay port charges and government fees. It won't all show under that category, for whatever reason. There really isn't any point in disputing it. I have to pay it, you have to pay it, and any other person with a baby has to pay it. Its just how it is. Your only choice would be to find another line that doesn't have this charge (which you absolutely will not find...even under the best of circumstances, you pay the port charges and government fees...some lines charge full 3rd fare!)

 

[tvguy]

You bring up a legit question that a lot of folks face. Is it worth the cost to take an infant on a cruise?
As my "baby" just turned 18 years old, I'm not the best to answer that. But I know we waited until age 4 to take the kids to the parks, and in hindsight, for us......we probably should have waited until 7 or 8.

 

[ACDSNY]

I'm kind of curious how bookings through travelocity are handled as they don't include infants in their quote. Do you have to pay the infant fees at the port when you board?

 

[kcashner]

When our 7 day cruise turned into a 4 day cruise (hurricane Jeanne), we got a partial refund from DCL. This came in 3 different categories (we actually got 3 refunds, but the total amount was what we had been promised). OK, on the most "split out" invoice I get, it shows 2 categories--"cruise fare" and "port charges and fees." It seems that there is a tax that is usually shown as part of the cruise fare.

How it is buried in the accounting doesn't really matter--the bottom line is that you are not paying DCL anything that they get to keep in order for your baby to sail. You pay what they pay.

Infant fees have to be paid in advance with the same 75 day deadline as all other fees. No, you can't just pay them at the port.

 

[pursuethekingdom]

The size of my family takes up 2 rooms. The down side is definately that my 12 and 10 year old get charged as adults cause of the 2 adult per room policy. So I figured I'd show them. I'm bringing my sister who is an adult for the price of a kid.

The great part is now we have a sitter for the kids giving my wife and I a chance to finally do something alone on the boat.

 

[kcashner]

I'm a single mom. I have paid full adult fare for my daughter's cruises since she was 4 years old. The cruise line sets the rules and we choose to follow them or not to cruise. The rule is that the first two people in a cabin pay full adult fare regardless of age.

DCL didn't ask us if we thought the rules were right or fair. They asked if we wanted to pay X dollars for Y cruise. We love the cruise, so we said yes...many times. If you don't like it, you choose another line or choose not to cruise.