For many cruising parents, the kid’s club is a lifesaver. It allows for some adult alone time while the children have a blast with all kinds of games and activities on board.
But a recent decision by one cruise line to introduce fees for making reservations at the kid center has sparked quite the debate.
P&O Cruises has begun introducing a new policy that will see guests pay a fee to pre-book and guarantee a spot in “The Reef,” the cruise line’s popular children’s club. This change, initially rolled out on the cruise ship Iona, seeks to provide families with more certainty, according to recent reports about the change.
Email Sent to Iona Guests
According to an email sent to guests, P&O Cruises is positioning this new service as a way to make it “even easier for you to plan your precious time away.”
The message emphasizes that “booking ahead gives you peace of mind that youngsters have their spot in the club,” allowing parents to “shape your holiday moments however you like,” including enjoying “peaceful spa treatments or romantic meals.”
Understanding the New Costs
Under the new system, booking slots in The Reef will incur a charge. Daytime sessions are priced at approximately $6.75 USD (£4.95), while evening sessions will cost around $12.20 USD (£8.95).
For a family with two children who opt to pre-book all available sessions, these fees could add up pretty fast, possibly adding up to around $52 USD (£38) per day on top of the standard cruise fare.
P&O Cruises has clarified that while pre-booking comes with a fee, a certain number of children’s club places will still be available for free, bookable onboard on a first-come, first-served basis.
Part of a Broader Trend?
This latest adjustment comes nearly a year after P&O Cruises introduced penalty fees for late cancellations (£5 / ~$6.80 USD) and no-shows (£10 / ~$13.60 USD) for pre-booked The Reef sessions.
Both the new pre-booking charges and the existing penalty fees apply specifically to The Reef, which caters to children aged 12 and under. The teens club, H2O (for ages 13-17), remains unaffected, as it operates more as a flexible hangout space without requiring reservations.
While the immediate rollout is on Iona, P&O Cruises has not yet provided a timeline for extending this policy to the rest of its family-friendly fleet.
P&O Cruises is a line that predominantly serves the UK market. It should be noted that right now many competitors sailing out of the UK, such as Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Disney Cruise Line, typically offer complimentary kids’ club access without the need for advance reservations.
Passenger Reactions
Some parents are voicing strong concerns about the extra fee. “You would think charging £1700 for a 2-year-old would more than cover the potential two times we might use the service on board next year,” commented one Facebook user. Another added, “This is a money making scheme… This could end up costing upto £500+ on a 2 week cruise which is madness!!!”
The feeling of “penny-pinching” is strong. But beyond the cost, some felt that the fee makes it difficult to have a structure-free vacation. “On vacation, kids get tired and crabby. They may not want to go when scheduled. How does anyone know what they want to do on any given day?” commented one cruiser.
However, not all reactions are negative. Some passengers see the new fees as a logical step. “Becoming a fee for ‘additional’ services… which makes sense when you think about it… For passengers without kids why should they essentially subsidise the cost of funding the kids clubs?” said one hopeful cruiser on Facebook.
Another suggested that “since P&O do frequently offer free child/ 3rd,4th passenger for free, adding a small fee for child care perhaps isn’t as penny pinching as it sounds.”
It’s also worth noting that several comments clarified a key detail: “It’s still free if you book on board”, reminding everyone that the pre-booking fee is for a guaranteed spot.