Cruise holidays provide the perfect setting for families to rediscover one another and make new memories together. The cost of a cruise for three or four people may become quite expensive, especially when additional expenses such as flights, hotels, and excursions are factored in. One solution? Take advantage of the "kids cruise free" offer by sharing a stateroom to cut costs.
A great number of cruise lines, including several that are particularly well-liked by families, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, provide free child rates and other bargains on cruises throughout the year for children. A handful of them always let the children go free. It is possible that you will have the most success locating family-friendly rates during "wave season," which occurs between January and March and is the time of year when cruise lines offer some of the most competitive pricing of the entire year.
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Here is a list of cruise lines that are kid-friendly and offer free or discounted passage for children if you book your vacation at the right time to coincide with one of their limited-time promotions. This will help keep the cost of your family vacation down. Because of how frequently these bargains and incentives are updated as well as how quickly they can become unavailable, you may need to be flexible regarding the destination and the time of your cruise. Always make sure to read the tiny print before booking anything to avoid being surprised by any unexpected expenses or restrictions.
MSC Cruises
The "Kids Sail Free" campaign is one that is offered frequently by MSC Cruises throughout the year. This promotion is often offered in conjunction with other limited-time specials. Children under the age of 17 travel for free in most cabins as the third or fourth guest (Yacht Club rooms are excluded).
Because some bargains may include cheaper rates in addition to cabin upgrades, flexible booking choices, or freebies (such as beverage packages or Wi-Fi), it is possible that both mom and dad may be eligible for one or more of these perks. The "Kids Sail Free" offer can be combined with the discount programme that MSC Cruises provides for active-duty or retired military personnel, as well as health care employees.
Children will adore MSC Cruises because to its kids' club collaboration with Lego and its waterslides that feature virtual reality technology. Its pizza is considered to be some of the greatest in the business.
On the MSC Cruises website, you can find packages offering free or discounted cruises for children.
Related: the top five cruise lines for families with children
Norwegian Cruise Line
Through its "Free at Sea" promotion, NCL gives out free fares for children in a roundabout method. Passengers are given the option to select one or more free booking advantages, such as free speciality dining, free beverage packages, free shore excursion credit, free Wi-Fi, and discounted pricing for additional guests (i.e., kids).
If you go with the second option, you can get third and fourth visitors to your party for free or for $99 per person, regardless of their age. This discounted rate is only available for certain cruises and only if an additional traveller will be sharing a cabin with the cruise's first and second guests.
In addition, in conjunction with the "Free at Sea" event, Norwegian Cruise Line provides discounted cruise tickets for the first two passengers on each reservation. Depending on the specific promotion that is running at the time that you book, you may be eligible for additional incentives that can help you save money on your family vacation, such as free airfare for the second visitor or reduced deposits.
Go-kart racing, laser tag, virtual reality games, and waterslides are just some of the exciting family activities that can be found onboard the newest cruise ships offered by Norwegian. Kids who don't enjoy being required to dress up for dinner will appreciate the laid-back atmosphere of the line's restaurants.
Related: The top seven cruise ships for families with children
Holland America Line
Throughout the year, Holland America Line offers promotional prices, including its "Kids Cruise Free" programme, as part of its "Kids Cruise Free" programme. There is a possibility that the constraints will shift, but the savings will remain the same overall.
At the time of this publication, the line was conducting a promotion in which third and fourth guests under the age of 18 may cruise for free on chosen itineraries that went to the Caribbean, Mexico, and the Panama Canal. (There are additional costs for taxes and fees.) This offer is good for a maximum of two children per booking.
Guardians and parents need to keep an eye out for extra deals, some of which may offer free balcony upgrades, onboard credit, and lower deposits. Some companies provide a free "Have It All" premium package at their prices. This package consists of gratis speciality dining, a beverage package, complimentary shore excursions (the number of which is dependent on the length of the cruise), and Wi-Fi. In that case, families have the option to upgrade to a plan that includes more things for the same price.
Holland America is an excellent choice for multigenerational families that enjoy travelling together and taking advantage of the opportunities to go sightseeing and listen to live music while on their vacation.
The Royal Caribbean (RCL)
The "Kids Sail Free" promotion of Royal Caribbean is presented on a rotating basis throughout the year. Children who are under the age of 12 and are travelling as additional guests on a cruise with at least two adults who are paying the full ticket are often eligible for free cruise rates offered by the line. However, not every offer is the same.
Be sure to read the fine print because the free cruises for children come with a lot of restrictions, such as blackout dates during major holidays and school vacation periods and minimum sailing lengths.
Another promotion that Royal Caribbean occasionally runs is referred to as "Kids Sail for Less," and it typically results in a discount of 25% off the base ticket for each additional passenger in a cabin. Because there is no age restriction associated with this deal, it is open to any additional visitors who are sharing rooms with two passengers who are paying the full fee.
Royal Caribbean is a favourite among families because of its many big-ship attractions, such as ice skating and high-diving shows, onboard splash parks and waterslides, rock climbing walls, mini-golf, laser tag, escape rooms, and zip lines. Other family-friendly activities include rock climbing walls, rock climbing, laser tag, escape rooms, and zip lines. Its expansive kid's clubs' welcome children of all ages, from infants to teenagers, and its private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, is regarded as one of the best vacation spots in the world for families thanks to the numerous beaches and exciting water park that it features.
Check out the offer page on Royal Caribbean's website for any available family discounts.
Related: Why Wonder of the Seas is a fantastic place for families to visit
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
The luxury line Regent Seven Seas Cruises does not provide free trips for children under the age of 17, but the line does provide discounted prices for children under the age of 17 on select sailings during the summer and holiday seasons.
These fares begin at a base price of $999 per child (or young adult) sailing as the third or fourth passenger in a suite, and the prices range from there depending on the journey. While travelling in Alaska, Europe, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, or any of the other areas featured in the campaign, Regent always includes an unlimited number of complimentary shore excursions. This enables children to learn about new places and maintain an active lifestyle.
Related: How should your family determine which cruise ship category to book?
CroisiEurope
River cruise line On select itineraries, children up to the age of 16 can sail for free or at reduced rates of up to 30 per cent off thanks to CroisiEurope's Family Club cruises.
The line has decided to waive the single extra for families travelling on these itineraries. This decision was made because the ships only have a limited number of rooms that can accommodate more than two passengers. This means that a family consisting of two adults and one child can book not one but two cottages for the price of just one. (The child is allowed to go for free, but each parent is responsible for paying for one berth in the cabin; the youngster must be at least 5 years old to stay alone in the cabin next door.)
On CroisiEurope river cruises in Portugal, Spain, and Italy, as well as on the Rhine River, you will be able to find bargains offering free passage for children in the year 2023. Children younger than 16 years old are eligible for a discount of up to 30 per cent on Family Club itineraries to Croatia and Montenegro.
This Family Club cruise discount is only valid for a maximum of two children per adult who is paying. There is a possibility that upgraded accommodations will incur additional expenses. During these cruises, there are a variety of extra activities that are aimed toward children, and there is a children's menu available in the various eating venues on board.
Children under the age of ten are eligible for a discount of 20% on all other cruise itineraries offered by the river cruise line. Children younger than 2 years old ride free.
Star Clippers
Consider scheduling a trip on one of Star Clipper's tall ships for your multi-generational family reunion if you are interested in taking a vacation together. At this time, youngsters between the ages of three and seventeen can sail for free with one or two adults in the same stateroom on certain sailings ranging from three to nine nights in the Caribbean, Central America, and the Mediterranean between the years 2023 and 2024.
If a family is travelling with two children and two adults, the line will accommodate the family in two separate cabins, depending on the room category that they have reserved. In addition, grandparents who are at least 65 years old and want to join in on the fun can do so and earn a 10 per cent discount on the cruise ticket.
With onboard activities like climbing the ship's mast and tying knots, children may play pretend that they are sailors or pirates and live out their fantasies. Especially the older children will appreciate participating in water activities right from the ship.
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