If you’re planning a family cruise, the words “Kids Sail Free” might sound like a dream come true. Royal Caribbean’s popular promotion promises significant savings for families by waiving cruise fares for children under 12 years old. However, many families experience confusion when the numbers don’t seem to add up during booking. Let’s dive into how this promotion works, uncover the fine print, and resolve the mystery of why your total price might be higher than expected.
Ensuring Fair Research
To provide a clear and fair analysis, we’ll base our research on the same ship, sailing date, itinerary, and stateroom category. This ensures consistency across all examples and allows us to identify how the pricing mechanics work for Royal Caribbean’s Kids Sail Free promotion.
For this study, we’ve chosen Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas, departing on February 8, 2025, from New Jersey on an 8-night round-trip cruise to Orlando, Miami, Nassau, and CocoCay. We selected a popular stateroom category: the Ocean View Balcony. This sailing is eligible for the Kids Sail Free promotion, and at the time of booking, there were also two additional offers:
- Black Friday Offer
- 2nd Guest -60%
To maintain consistency, we also chose a specific cabin number rather than opting for a “guarantee” room, which might affect pricing.
The Pricing Puzzle
When we priced out this cruise, the results were unexpected:
- 2 Adults: $3,411.58
- 2 Adults + 2 Kids: $3,502.16
At first glance, this might seem counterintuitive—how can the Kids Sail Free promotion result in a higher price? Isn’t it supposed to save money? To understand this better, we’ll break everything down by making three separate bookings:
- 2 Adults
- 4 Adults
- 2 Adults + 2 Kids
By comparing the breakdown of these scenarios, we’ll uncover the true impact of the promotion and help you understand how the pricing really works.
Booking for 2 Adults
To begin, we’ll book for 2 adults and confirm the available promotions as we proceed through the booking process.
Selecting the Details
We start by choosing 2 adults in 1 stateroom.
Next, we select the option to pick our own stateroom number, opting for the Ocean View Balcony category.
Picking the Stateroom
On the following page, we’re presented with stateroom options. Here’s where it gets interesting:
- Decks 6 and 7: No additional cost.
- Deck 12: Adds $993 to the total price.
To keep things straightforward for this example, we’ll start with a stateroom on Deck 7. This ensures no extra charges are applied due to the stateroom location.
Let’s continue and see how the pricing evolves.
Deck 7
The only available stateroom in this category is Stateroom 7110, located on Deck 7, with a total price of $3,411.58 for 2 adults.
Key Detail to Note
Take a closer look at the purple square in front of the “Ocean View Balcony” label. It shows 4D, which is the stateroom’s specific sub-category. Keep this detail in mind—we’ll revisit it later.
Price Breakdown
Once we lock in Stateroom 7110, we can see the price breakdown per guest:
- Guest 1: $2,269.79
- Guest 2: $1,141.79
- Total: $3,411.58
This pricing reflects the application of two discounts:
- Black Friday Offer
- 2nd Guest -60%
Together, these discounts provide a total savings of $1,628.00.
But what if we had chosen a stateroom on a different deck? Let’s explore!
Deck 6
On Deck 6, there are three staterooms available, and here’s what we observe:
- Purple ‘4D’: Matches the category from Deck 7, offering no price change. For example, choosing Stateroom 6540 will result in the same pricing as Deck 7.
- Pink ‘5D’: Indicates a different sub-category. For instance, selecting Stateroom 6154 increases the price by $993.
What Do the Symbols in the Staterooms Mean?
When we check the Legend, we find:
- Triangle (▲): Indicates the stateroom can accommodate up to 3 guests.
- Asterisk (*): Indicates the stateroom can accommodate up to 4 guests.
Although both staterooms are available for booking with 2 adults, the 5D category (Stateroom 6154) offers increased occupancy and potentially different configurations, such as a sofa bed or specific muster station capacity.
Price Breakdown: Stateroom 6154 (5D)
If we select Stateroom 6154 (Max 3 Occupants), here’s the breakdown:
- Guest 1: $2,978.79
- Guest 2: $1,425.79
- Total: $4,404.58
- Savings Applied: $2,053.00
This is $993 more than the 4D stateroom on Deck 7.
Why the Price Difference?
While the cruise, sailing date, and Ocean View Balcony category remain the same, the sub-category within the stateroom class impacts pricing. Staterooms with higher occupancy (e.g., 5D) tend to cost more due to additional features like sofa beds or increased floor space, as well as their alignment with muster station logistics.
Let’s continue to explore how these variations affect pricing across other decks!
Booking for 4 Adults
Now let’s look at the same sailing and book for 4 adults.
Selecting the Stateroom
We choose Deck 7, which offers several stateroom options. All available rooms are classified as 3D and include the * symbol, meaning they can accommodate up to 4 guests.
We select Stateroom 7144, and here’s the price breakdown:
Price Breakdown: Stateroom 7144
- Adult 1: $2,014.79
- Adult 2: $1,039.79
- Adult 3: $562.79 (Cruise fare: $339, Taxes/Fees: $223.79)
- Adult 4: $562.79 (Cruise fare: $339, Taxes/Fees: $223.79)
Total: $4,180.16
Savings Applied: $1,475.00
By booking 4 adults in a stateroom with a higher occupancy allowance, we see how the pricing adjusts to accommodate more passengers while still benefiting from the available promotions. Let’s compare this to bookings for 2 adults with children to further analyze the Kids Sail Free promotion.
Booking for 2 Adults & 2 Kids
For this scenario, we booked the same stateroom (7144), classified as a 3D category with an asterisk (*), indicating it accommodates up to 4 guests. This time, we selected 2 adults and 2 kids.
Key Observation
The pricing reveals that no Cruise Fare is charged for Guests 3 and 4 (the children). Only the taxes and fees are applied for them.
Price Breakdown: Stateroom 7144
- Adult 1: $2,014.79
- Adult 2: $1,039.79
- Child 1: $223.79 (No Cruise Fare added, only taxes/fees)
- Child 2: $223.79 (No Cruise Fare added, only taxes/fees)
Total: $3,502.16
Savings Applied: $1,475.00
Comparing Costs
- 4 Adults in Stateroom 7144: $4,180.16
- 2 Adults + 2 Kids in Stateroom 7144: $3,502.16
The difference is $678.00. When divided by 2, this matches the $339 Cruise Fare for each additional adult in the 4-adult booking. This confirms that the Kids Sail Free promotion works as advertised. For children, only taxes and fees are charged, with the Cruise Fare waived entirely.
Understanding the Pricing for Adults
Category Codes and Price Differences
When booking for 2 adults, we encountered two price options:
- $3,411.58 (Category 4D, max occupancy: 2)
- $4,404.58 (Category 5D, max occupancy: 3)
The price difference stems from:
- Occupancy: Rooms in the 4D category accommodate 2 guests, while 5D allows up to 3.
- Size and Location: Rooms in higher categories often have additional space or are located mid-ship, which is more desirable due to proximity to elevators and better stability for those prone to seasickness.
Choosing the Right Room
- Occupancy Needs: If you require space for 3 or 4 guests, a category with higher capacity (e.g., 3D or 5D) is essential. Otherwise, categories like 4D may suffice.
- Location:
- Mid-ship rooms are ideal for minimizing seasickness and ensuring easy access to elevators.
- Forward or aft rooms may be less expensive but may not suit everyone’s preferences.
- Price: Consider if the premium for a better location or extra features is worth the cost. If budget is a priority, look into obstructed view rooms, which are often cheaper.
But with so many unique stateroom options, it can be overwhelming to choose the perfect room. That’s where our website comes in! Here, you can explore the layout of each room, and even get a sneak peek through photos and videos. Whether you’re looking for a family suite, a romantic balcony, or a peaceful spot to unwind, you’ll know exactly what to expect.
Checking out your stateroom options in advance helps you avoid surprises and ensures you get exactly what you want. Plus, you’ll arrive already knowing the layout, views, and even special touches that make each stateroom unique. Let us help you start your cruise journey on the right foot—and find the perfect room to make this vacation truly unforgettable!
Kids Sail Free Blackout Dates (2024 – 2026)
The Kids Sail Free promotion excludes sailings departing during the following dates:
- 2024:
- November 22–29
- December 20–January 3, 2025
- 2025:
- March 7–28
- April 12–24
- May 22–August 29
- November 20–28
- December 18–January 5, 2026
- 2026:
- March 6–April 9
- May 21–September 4
- November 19–27
- December 17–January 4, 2027
Additionally:
- Alaska Cruise Tours (May–September)
- Select Anthem of the Seas sailings and Chinese New Year cruises are excluded.
For the full Terms and Conditions, visit Royal Caribbean’s official page.
Final Thoughts
This analysis is based on our personal research and may vary when you do your own booking. Factors such as current promotions, stateroom availability, and specific sailing dates can all affect pricing. However, our breakdown demonstrates that Kids Sail Free is indeed a valuable promotion when used effectively!
