What’s the single thing holding many couples back from taking that dream cruise? Kids! It’s not that we don’t want to be around them, heaven knows on a cruise ship you most likely will hardly see your kids much. It’s simply the price. The cruise vacation for two that we can barely afford doubles in price with two kids tagging along, making it out of reach.
Norwegian Cruise Line has come to the economic rescue. NCL has announced on select cruises booked between March 1, 2014 and March 31, 2014, kids 17 and under sail for free. This applies when the two are sharing a stateroom with two paid fares. Government fees and taxes are still applicable for all guests. This special applies to over 250 cruises on 13 ships, ranging from three to 35 night itineraries.
Is this a good deal or just good marketing? Let’s do a little case study. We have a family of four, the Powers family. Ned is 45 and his wife Edna is 43. Ned and Edna have two children, Garfield who is 16 and Porsche-Lynn who is 14.
The Powers family have picked a ten night Southern Caribbean cruise onboard Norwegian Sun that embarks out of Miami, Florida. They’ve chosen this itinerary because it is already one of the lowest cost Southern Caribbean cruises on the market. Money is tight and Porsche-Lynn is still five years away from her high paying job as a dancer that will ease the burden for the family.
Ned and Edna are able to get off work for either the March 17, 2014 sailing or the April 7, 2014 sailing. Let’s compare the two, shall we? (pricing as of March 3, 2014 – subject to change without notice – pricing in Canadian dollars)
March 17, 2014 Norwegian Sun Southern Caribbean
If it was just Ned and Edna, this sailing would be the best bet. NCL’s ‘Best Fare’ for this cruise starts at just $399 per person for an inside stateroom, based on double occupancy. There is an additional $117.90 per person in government fees and taxes that applies to all guests in the cabin.
Garfield and Porsche-Lynn would actually pay more than their parents. Each would pay $499 plus the $117.90. Why more? There is a standard cost onboard the ship for third and fourth guests, regardless of the level of stateroom. For a suite where the first two people pay $1.869 each, the third and fourth would still pay $499 each. Get it? The total for our family of four, including taxes would be $2,267.60.
April 7, 2014 Norwegian Sun Southern Caribbean
On the April 7 sailing, Ned and Edna would each pay $429 plus the same $117.90 in government taxes and fees. However, Garfield and Porsche-Lynn would be on the line for just the $117.90 each. What results is a family of four total of just $1,329.60, including taxes. More importantly, what results is a savings of $938 for the Powers family.
So, yes, this is a pretty significant promotion by Norwegian.
The Small Print
· The pricing printed here is fleeting and could change at any time.
· Prices are in Canadian dollars.
· Most meals are included in a typical cruise price but DRINKS ARE NOT!
· Also not included are gratuities.
· Cruise pricing does not include air fare, ground transfers and hotel accommodations before and after the cruise.
