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The cabin price looks attractive thanks to promotions such as Kids Sail Free, but that doesn’t mean your holiday with children is fully paid for. Children’s costs on a cruise go beyond the overnight price: think of compulsory gratuities, drinks on board, excursions and sometimes even extra charges for kids’ clubs. Having a clear picture of all costs helps you budget realistically. In this article you will read exactly what to take into account.
Do children really sail for free on a cruise?
Royal Caribbean, MSC and other large cruise lines advertise Kids Sail Free. Children up to 12 years of age then sail free as the third or fourth guest in the same cabin. This sounds attractive, but it only applies to the cabin price. You always pay taxes and port charges of around 50 to 150 euros per child. The daily gratuities also still apply: between 15 and 20 euros per person per day.
Be aware that Kids Sail Free often does not apply during school holidays, Christmas and New Year. Many cruise lines exclude peak periods. In addition, you need a suitable cabin with enough berths. A standard cabin often has only two beds with pull-out options for two extra people. Check in advance whether this is practical with young children.
An alternative is Kids Sail for Less. You get 25 to 30 per cent off the cabin price for additional children without blackout dates. This offer gives more flexibility and is often more attractive for anyone wanting to cruise during school holidays. For more background information on all cruise prices and hidden costs, take a look at the page about cruise prices and hidden costs.
Which kids’ clubs and activities are included?
Most cruise lines offer free kids’ clubs. These clubs have daytime programmes for different age groups. You will find play areas with Lego corners, water parks, climbing walls and swimming pools on board. These activities are generally included in your cruise fare and run at set times during the day.
Disney Cruise Line, for example, offers free access to youth clubs, including the nursery for toddlers. Royal Caribbean has similar programmes for all ages, from babies to teenagers. At MSC you will find children’s clubs in partnership with Chicco for children under three years old. Parental supervision is sometimes compulsory here, especially for babies and toddlers.
Be aware that some cruise lines charge extra for specific programmes. Costa Cruises, for example, charges 199 euros per child for five to eight nights for certain activities. On various ships you pay between 6 and 8 euros per hour for dinner supervision. This applies in the evening.
Important points to consider with kids’ clubs
- Check whether your child has to be toilet-trained to use the pools; swim nappies are often only allowed in special areas
- Some activities have an age limit or require advance registration
- For babies under three, it is often the case that parents must take part in activities
- Ask in advance whether you are allowed to bring your own baby equipment or toys
How do you budget for extra costs with children?
Even with a Kids Sail Free offer there are extra costs on top. These push up the total amount considerably. Below you will find an overview of the most common expenses per person per day.
- Gratuities: 15 to 20 euros per day, automatically charged for everyone including children
- Speciality restaurants: 25 to 75 euros per meal; main meals in the main dining room are included
- Shore excursions: 50 to 200 euros per port, depending on the activity
- Drinks packages: 50 to 100 euros per child (soft drink options)
- Wi-Fi: 15 to 25 euros per day; family packages can be better value
On average you should allow 100 to 300 euros extra per child per night, on top of the cabin price. These costs mainly increase because of excursions and drinks. Gratuities and activities ashore together add around 20 to 30 per cent to the total price. Many cruise passengers notice this during their trip.
Are there discounted family packages?
Several cruise lines offer family packages during the shoulder season, outside the school holidays. These packages combine a discount on the cabin price with value-for-money drinks packages. Excursions are often cheaper too. If you book during wave season, between January and March, you will find the best deals. A family of four can save between 600 and 1,500 euros.
Royal Caribbean has ships in the Oasis class. These ships have family cabins that offer more space. The cabins are specially designed for families. They combine sleeping space with a balcony or extra living space. The price for these cabins ranges from 400 to 800 euros per person, depending on the itinerary and the season.
Disney Cruise Line is more expensive, with prices from 1,000 euros per person. However, the cruise line offers extensive programmes for children under ten years of age. MSC regularly offers promotions where third and fourth guests receive up to 30 per cent discount. Compare these options before you book. That way you will find the best value for money.
‘ The ship does not wait. ’
Hidden costs you can keep down
You do not have to accept all the extra costs. There are various ways to limit expenses on your cruise with children without compromising on the experience.
Book excursions directly with local providers in the port cities. You arrange this yourself. This is often cheaper than the excursions offered by the cruise line. Keep a close eye on departure times. The ship does not wait. Passengers who get back late from a private excursion will miss the boat.
Choose ships with lots of free family activities on board. Royal Caribbean and Carnival have water parks, splash zones and teen clubs. These facilities are fully included. This allows you to fill days on board without extra costs.
Speciality restaurants (specialty dining) can easily cost 100 euros or more per meal. These are the à la carte restaurants on board where you pay extra. The standard included restaurants offer plenty of choice for families. Limit visits to speciality restaurants to once during the cruise. Look critically at drinks packages. Your children mainly drink water or juice with meals. In that case, a separate package is often unnecessary.
Budget for a family cruise: what is realistic?
A realistic budget for a cruise with children starts at 600 euros per person for a short cruise in the shoulder season. For longer cruises during school holidays this can rise to 3,000 euros per person. In this amount you include all costs: cabin, taxes, gratuities, drinks and excursions. Any children’s activities are part of this as well.
The shoulder season runs from April to June and from September to November. These months are 30 to 50 per cent cheaper than the summer months. The programme and facilities on board are the same; only the weather can be a little more changeable.
Choose ships consciously. These ships offer many included activities. This means you do not pay extra for entertainment every day. You keep the total costs manageable and avoid unpleasant surprises afterwards.
Important considerations when booking
- Check which age categories apply for children’s discounts. Some cruise lines allow free travel up to 12 years of age. Others go up to 18 years.
- Ask whether minimum ages apply for children on board. Babies younger than six months are often refused.
- Look at the cabin layout in advance to see whether pull-out beds are practical with young children
- Read the terms and conditions of promotions carefully. Cancellation and change fees are sometimes higher for special offers.
On the Traveler Tips website you will find more detailed information about cruise planning, routes and cost control. Perhaps you are going on a cruise with children for the first time, or you already have experience. There is always more to discover about travelling smarter with the whole family. Read the other articles and plan your next trip with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
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The object refers to information about children’s costs and kids’ clubs on cruises, including promotions such as “Kids Sail Free” and what is and is not really free with these. In general, children often sail for free or with a discount as the third/fourth person in the cabin, but still have to pay taxes, port charges and gratuities. Kids’ clubs and most children’s activities are usually included in the price, although some cruise lines charge extra for special programmes or evening childcare. By booking smartly (for example during wave season) and keeping an eye on extra costs such as excursions and speciality restaurants, families can save hundreds to thousands of euros.
Children often travel “free” under promotions such as Kids Sail Free, but you still pay taxes, port charges and compulsory gratuities. Kids’ clubs and most children’s activities on board are included, although some cruise lines charge extra for special programmes or evening childcare. For additional costs per child, allow for gratuities, drinks, Wi-Fi and excursions, which can add up to around €100–300 per child per night including extras. Always compare the total trip cost and not just the cabin price or the promotional slogan.
With many cruise lines, children travelling as the third or fourth person in the same cabin often go “free”, but you always still pay taxes, port charges and compulsory gratuities. Kids’ clubs and children’s activities are usually included, although some cruise lines charge extra for special programmes or evening childcare. On top of that, allow for extra costs for drinks (packages), Wi-Fi, excursions and any speciality restaurants. Per child this total can quickly rise to €100–300 per night, depending on your choices on board.
