This is where families save a lot of money on cruises
Most cruise lines have abolished the mask requirement. Many vacationers with children have been waiting for this. But not all ships are fully utilized yet – one reason why there are many spontaneous discounts. We present the best.
The particularly family-friendly “AIDAnova” is on its way to the Baltic Sea and to Norway this summer
What: pa/dpa/AIDA Cruises
EFinally back to normal on board. Cruise families with children have been waiting for this for a long time. After two Corona summer holidays with undoubtedly beautiful holidays on the farm, in the holiday home, on the campsite or with a canoe on the nearest lake, most cruise lines are again offering the full program on the sea.
The decisive factor here is that there is no longer a requirement to wear a mask on board. For many cruise families, a ship trip with masks in front of their noses would hardly have been an option. Parties, dancing, wellness, entertainment are possible again, even on the inner decks; the kids’ clubs are open again for children from the age of three, and there are toddler groups for the little ones. The prerequisite remains full vaccination protection for all guests aged twelve and over – including those who have recovered.
Families with kids belong to the core target group of many cruise lines. They are considered uncomplicated, noise-resistant, free-spending and fun for everyone. At the same time, the shipping companies use it to train the next generation on a cruise course, so that they always want to go on long journeys and ideally also return on board later as adults and thus full-paying passengers. Since the travel period for school-age kids is concentrated on the expensive holiday periods, there are discounts that reduce the overall price for families.
In the summer holidays, many ships are therefore turned into family resorts: before Corona, more than 240,000 children and teenagers from Germany were traveling on a cruise ship every year, more than half of them in summer. That was more than every tenth guest, according to figures from the Clia cruise association.
Bookings have already increased significantly. The cruise portal cruise consultant.de, for example, registered an 18.64 percent share of bookings for families for departures from June to August 2022. “The number one family travel destination in summer is the Mediterranean with 39 percent,” says Frank Riecke, Managing Director of cruise consultants.de. Norway follows with 32 percent of family bookings and the Baltic Sea with 10.4 percent.
But the ships are not yet fully utilized. One reason why there are even more spontaneous discounts for a cruise with children.
Aida Cruises
Children under the age of two travel for free. Between the ages of two and 15, they travel free of charge during the season or at low fixed prices in their parents’ cabin. In family cabins with connecting doors, there is a 35 percent discount for children aged two to 15 in their own cabin, and 25 percent for children aged 16 to even 24 years. This also applies to the junior suites on the particularly family-friendly “AIDAnova”, which is en route to the Baltic Sea and to Norway this summer.
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Costa Cruises
Up to two children under the age of 18 travel free when occupying upper beds in the cabin with two adults who have booked the all-inclusive fare. This offer is valid on select cruises.
Singles with a child under 18 pay the all-inclusive price for an adult, and only 50 percent of that for a child. Families with two adults and two children under the age of 18 travel in two separate cabins and pay 50 percent for the second cabin for the children when choosing an inside cabin.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
The “Europe 2” is considered to be equally child- and parent-friendly. She travels the Mediterranean in the summer. Children up to and including eleven years of age travel free of charge in a suite with one or two accompanying adults paying the full price. Children from 12 to 15 years pay 90 euros per night when staying in a suite with one or two full-paying adults.
There is guaranteed care for children from the age of two. With the late riser service, mind you for parents, the offspring can be picked up from the suite on sea days from 8 a.m. on request.
Hurtigruten
During the summer holiday months of July and August 2022, children and grandchildren up to and including the age of 18 travel free of charge on the mail boat route between Bergen and Kirkenes – thanks to a second free cabin.
Nicko Cruises
There are eight dates especially for families in the target areas of Northern and Western Europe, the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean. The trips take place on the “Vasco da Gama”. Children under the age of 16 travel for free with two full-paying adults. There are also connecting cabins: Older children and adults only pay 80 euros per person per night when staying in the connecting cabin.
TUI Cruises
“Mein Schiff 6” becomes a family ship on her Baltic Sea voyages during the summer months. Babies and small children under the age of two travel free of charge. From 2 to 14 years there is a fixed price for children in the third and fourth bed in the parents’ cabin, each 329 euros. A cot can be placed in most cabins, the provision of cots and children’s beds (load capacity up to 15 kg body weight) is free of charge.
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Vacation trips are getting more and more expensive
If you are planning a holiday now, you should not hesitate too long. After two years of the corona pandemic with sometimes severe travel restrictions, demand is high. In Spain and Greece in particular, the prices for an overnight stay have risen sharply.
Source: WORLD / Lea Freist
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