If you have children and want to go on a cruise with them, you will have noticed that on many occasions they tell you that "children free", but what exactly does this mean, up to what age can you travel with them without paying the fare, I will comment on this and other questions right away.
In general, shipping companies consider "Children free" reservations in which children sleep with their parents or with two adults in the same cabin, provided they are under 18 years of age, and it is very important that you state the number of children who will also stay in it, even if it is at zero cost. Although it seems silly, sometimes when we book ourselves online, we don't say it, and then chaos comes when boarding, since children, whether they travel for free or not, must have their documentation up to date.
Not everything is free for children
We have already said that accommodation, as long as it is with adults, is free for those under 18 years of age, which, without a doubt, is a more than important reason when booking a ticket, but children do pay boarding fees, insurance, and tips. In the case of tips, many companies apply a discount to children under 14 years of age, and babies under 3 years do not pay any tips.
I recommend that you clarify these points when making the reservation, so that you do not get surprises, in fact there are companies in which you do have to pay for milk or baby food, others do not. What is certain is that all shipping companies that allow small children to travel have a children's menu, I will tell you some things about this menu.
What are specific menus for children?
Family cruises have a very important variety of dishes in the buffets that delight the little ones. It is already in the hands of the parents to control their feeding. And remember that you can point out the intolerance of your children from the moment you make the reservation.
There is no special schedule for children, rather, they eat in the dining room, whether there are shifts or not, with their parents. What is usually in all shipping companies is the so-called kids corner, the children's corner so that they themselves can access the food they like the most.
However, this is not always the case, since, for example, MSC Cruises has a free space where children can eat with them. entertainment staff in the Buffet restaurant, the same goes for dinners.
In the event that we cruise with a baby, you have to check if your meal is included in the price of the reservation. Going back to MSC Cruises, they have a selection of dishes for boys and girls from 6 to 12 months.
Family packages or children free
In addition to this option of free children there are shipping companies that take cruises with Family packages are very advantageous, in quadruple cabins, or adjoining. There are companies that have what we can call a super family cabin, it is a very spacious accommodation for 6 people, which are actually two connected triple cabins, with two bathrooms and two balconies. Each cabin of this type has a fixed price regardless of the number of people staying there, or their age.
Shipping companies are also reflecting important discounts for single parent families, in which one adult and a maximum of 3 children travels. More or less it works like this, the older child, but less than 18 years old, pays 60% of the adult fare, and the others a reduced fare and the corresponding boarding fees.
These cabins are usually reserved well in advance, and I recommend that you request them with sofa bed better than bunk beds, at least that's my opinion, so you can enjoy an authentic suite at a normal cabin price.
Do the children pay for the excursions?
It is clear that if you organize your excursions outside the company with which you are taking the cruise, your children will pay or not, depending on the conditions of the same.
In the case of shipping companies, I have not seen much information on from what age excursions start to be paid, generally, children between the ages of 2 and 14 pay a reduced price.
MSC Cruises has a family excursion program, in which children pay 50% of the price, they start later, and last less. Each visit is made to keep the children entertained while the adults enjoy an enriching and educational experience.
As for the cruises in which children travel for free, they are usually the most chosen among families, so yours will not lack friends with whom to share time and fun ... although the bad thing, in these cases, is that also the areas for children are usually more crowded.
