I'm Ok with Carnival's infant Policy!  ken

We paid the 3rd person rate for our granddaughter when she was 10 months old, and also got her a passport. I did not see any problem with paying that rate, after all we had a great time on our first cruise. As for Disney, I sent them on it this year and for an oceanview room, I paid over $3500, and there was no discount for a 3rd person. I could had got a suite for that price on carnival and they would had more fun. I don't have any problem with carnival kids rate, after all they are still a person whether they are infants or grown up.

Having been a waitress for 15 years, from experience I can say that babies that sit in highchairs need a lot of attention.  While they may not be big enough for you to order them a meal. They require a plate so you can give them portions of the adults food, a small glass, plactic or to cup please so they don't break it when they bang it on the tray, crackers or just something to chew on while they're waiting for their food. Could you help me or hold the baby for just a minute while I do whatever, please? A extra bar towel to wipe up whatever they are drinking when they spill it, please and of course after you leave all the food that needs to be picked up off the floor, and the area that either needs to be mopped or vaccumed. The chairs or booth that needs to be cleaned up. So yes even on the Lido deck there is extra clean up for the people that work on that deck. I love babies and am not saying anything bad about them, I have 13 grand nieces and nephews and 1 grandbaby myself, just stating that you need to acknowledge the work that is required in taking care of them.  And that is not  saying anything about the cabin staff.  And before someone else reminds me, yes that is their job and yes every waitperson we had including myself did their job ( who ever the customer was) with a smile, that is what we were paid for. Have a good cruise and do not begrudge the people that work so hard behind the scenes to make your vacation enjoyable.

In very simple terms: First bed = full price, second bed in room = full price, third bed = reduced price, fourth bed = reduced price.

No place does it say how old a person needs to be.  Whether you have 4 fully grown adults, or one adult, and 3 kids, those beds are sold for that price. 

Each bed has a dollar sign attached to it, and it does not matter how much they eat, or use each facility on board.  The ship still burns fuel, still docks, still has payroll to meet, and all that money comes from that bed, regardless of the age.

Once you have a kid, you will find that for the next 18 years, you will have to pay, often times for things that are not right.  With much older kids, I am going to tell you that you have seen nothing yet, and might as well get used to being ripped off for the next 18 years.  Complaining will never change it.  You are now stuck. 

If you bring your infant on a plane, and hold them in your lap, they are free, but if you safely restrain them in the safety seat, you must pay!  That is the same reason, they are taking up a seat (or bed). Has nothing to do with age, because the plane is using fuel, and they need to charge for the seat.

Get use to this, now, and please stop complaining.

HavingFun2009:

In very simple terms: First bed = full price, second bed in room = full price, third bed = reduced price, fourth bed = reduced price.

I'm going to modify this just a bit to:

In very simple terms: First bed = full price (required), second bed in room = full price (required), third bed = reduced price (optional), fourth bed = reduced price (optional).

Because if the OP thought having to pay for their kid was wrong, I thought I would point out that if a "single" went on cruise, they would have to pay for the "second bed" too even though it might be unoccupied. And just like for the kid, no extra food would be consumed.

That's just the way it is. 

What everyone seems to forget is that Carnival cruises are capacity controlled.  In this sense it doesn't matter if it's a baby, child or adult.  The fare has to be paid for each person.  Either you pay it or don't cruise Carnival, it's not something you can change.  Let it go!

Capacity or not......ultimately Cruise lines do have to charge something for under 2's just as Airlines do....however airlines only charge a small fee whereas cruise lines charge as a 3rd passenger and for parents with infants it can appear to be a bit unfair.

In my opinion cruiselines should charge much less than half of the reg. price for a baby but hey.....I'm not a big CEO of a Cruise line so I don't know how it is to lose money. But yea....that's how these companies make huge profits....they know several parents won't leave their kids at home so they charge the infants as well.

And frankly I don't care what other people think about cruising with infants. I'm cruising for the first time with my infant and can't wait for all that carnival family fun!!!! And will be up for all the challenges that comes with it........c'est la vie!!!!

 If you agreed to the terms and conditions when you booked (as in agreed to pay the price for the infant), I fail to see the problem.

If you dont want something, you dont pay for it. Nobody forced you to pay the 3rd person rate for an infant....you agreed to it when you purchased the cruise.

averejc:

My entire family has booked a Thanksgiving cruise on the Fantasy this November.  This includes my Brother, Sister-In-Law and newphew.  My nephew will be 11 months old in November and still had to pay the full 3rd person rate.  Keep in mind that he will not eat any food on board, does not need a bed, and won't be participating in any activities.  Exactly what is Carnival charging him for?  I would think Carnival could allow infants who are staying with 2 full fare guests to sail for free or say $100 at most.

I feel your pain.  I had to pay for my 2 year old and 8 month old.  THe 2 year old ok she eats food and went to camp carnival a few times.  My 8 month old does not eat table food and cant go to camp carnival.  And throwing away diapers should not cost so much!

maybe Carnival charges the 3rd person going rate for an infant to discourage passengers from bringing them.  (just a thought, I know I'm going to get blasted for this)

Could you imagine how many babies would be on a cruise if they cruised for free?

This subject is always talked about.  Where in the travel industry, does a company, whether a cruise ship, airline, hotel, that gives a discount for age.  If a seat, bed, or room is occupied, a set fee is charged, regardless of age.  For example, a hotel, charges for the the bed, so if two people sleep in it, than the per person rate is cheaper, but is it fair for a single to pay the same price as a couple?  No, but who is complaining?  The single.  What about airlines, if you take the seat, you pay, but if the infant sits on your lap no. 

If a couple goes on a cruise, they occupy a double room, but if they take an infant, they must occupy a triple.  That bed cost money.  An 80 year old lady, does not eat as much as a 16 year old teenage boy, but they both pay the same. 

So why does everyone expect that they should not pay?  It's not about the amount of food one eats, its about the payroll, the gas, the crew, the equipment, the port charges, the luggage handling, the cleaning, and so on.  Age does not matter, old, young, teenager but what matters, is that the ship gets a fare for every bed. 

Being a parent, and accepting that the next 18 years will be some of the most costly years of your life, will eliminate some of the confusion.  Note, the next time you go to get happy meals at McDonalds, the rip off prices they charge.  It is only beginning.

He who owns the ship makes the rules.  It really doesn't matter what any of us think. For crying out loud, if you don't want to pay for a child on Carnival then find another cruise line.  It's just that simple.

I can totally understand the problem with paying for the infant but like someone else said Carnival sees it as a spot an adult could have. Paying only 1/2 the price is alot better than paying full price. Life is not fair alot of times and nothing in life is free,so I'm sorry to say but just because you have an infant doesnt mean they should be free. Maybe a discounted price like you were going to get yes, but not free. You cant say they wouldnt eat anyfood cause I had 2 babies and they started eatting table food at 10 months. I'm not saying they will eat alot but I'm sure it will be something. Then you have to think about where is your child going to sleep? They have to have to have something for him or her. Or better yet what about at dinner they will have to have a high chair. So yes there is something that the staff will be doing for your child so you cant say they wont do anything. Just because you have to pay for your infant dont let that spoil your fun that you will have. I cant wait to take my kids with us this time. Now yes my kids are older now 10 and 7 but I waited to take them on a cruise till they were older. Either way just have a good vacation and Happy Sailing

I just played with figures I have,  and for an inside cabin on the Dream, there are fees that have to be paid to the ports and the taxes that no matter what Carnival would have to pay..... The third person fare is 279 for an inside cabin... and Carnival would have to pay out 227 for that third person.... so some how I just do not think charging 57 for an infant is out of line at all.