Planning a cruise with children can make the fare structure confusing. Many parents hear that children can “sail free” on Princess Cruises and assume the entire cost of a child’s trip is zero. That is not always the case.
Yes, Princess Cruises can charge for children. The amount depends on the sailing, fare type, the child’s position in the stateroom, and any promotion available when you book. Princess also runs selected promotions in which the third and fourth guests in the same stateroom can receive a $0 cruise fare, but taxes, fees, and other expenses can still apply.
Princess’s published international booking terms also state that children are charged the same fare as adults unless a different fare is specifically offered.
For families, the important point is simple: being a child does not automatically mean the cruise is free.
There is no single child price that applies to every Princess Cruises sailing.
Cruise pricing is generally based on occupancy and the fare attached to the specific booking. A child may therefore have a cruise fare just like an adult, or may qualify for a promotional fare.
Princess states in its published fare terms that advertised fares are generally based on double occupancy and apply to the first two guests in a stateroom. Other guests can be subject to different prevailing rates unless a promotion applies.
This means a family should look at the total price for all guests, rather than assuming a child automatically receives a discounted fare.
Imagine two parents and two children sharing one stateroom.
Without a third- and fourth-guest promotion, the children may have a cruise fare associated with their booking.
With an eligible Princess promotion, the third and fourth guests may receive $0 cruise fare, potentially making the cruise portion much less expensive for a family of four. However, the children can still have other charges connected with their booking.
Sometimes, yes.
Princess has offered and continues to advertise promotions where the third and fourth guests sail free when they share a stateroom with the first and second guests. These promotions can be particularly useful for families with two adults and two children.
However, “sail free” should not be interpreted as “the child has no vacation-related cost.”
Princess's current promotional terms specify that the free third- and fourth-guest offer applies to the cruise fare only. It excludes government taxes and fees, required cruise fees and expenses, any required deposit, and other cruise-related or travel expenses.
Princess also says there is no guarantee that the free third- or fourth-guest offer will be available when you book. The booking fare summary will indicate whether the eligible guest has a $0 cruise fare or an actual fare.
The promotion is based on where the guest appears in the stateroom occupancy, not simply on whether that person is a child.
For example:
When an eligible promotion applies, Guests 3 and 4 may receive the promotional free cruise fare.
The same promotion language can apply to other guest combinations, subject to the specific offer terms.
Yes. This is one of the most important details for families.
A promotional $0 cruise fare does not necessarily mean a $0 booking. Princess specifically states that its free third- and fourth-guest offer excludes government taxes and fees and required cruise fees and expenses. Other travel-related costs can also remain payable.
So when comparing cruise prices, do not look only at the promotional fare.
Check the final booking total for:
The exact amount depends on the cruise and booking.
Not automatically.
Princess has minimum-age rules for young passengers. Its current passenger information says the minimum age to sail is generally 6 months at embarkation. On cruises with more than two consecutive sea days, the minimum age is 12 months.
Meeting the minimum age requirement is different from receiving a free fare.
Parents should therefore check both:
Do not assume that an infant automatically travels at no cost simply because the child is very young.
Princess may offer promotional pricing for additional guests, but families should not assume that every cruise has a standard child discount.
The most useful family promotion is often a third- and fourth-guest offer, when available. Princess has published multiple promotions offering free third and fourth guests in the same stateroom as the first and second guests.
Because these are promotional offers, their availability, eligibility, and conditions can change.
The safest approach is to enter the actual number and ages of all passengers during the booking process and review the fare summary before payment.
The cruise fare is only one part of a family vacation budget.
Princess says additional charges can apply to optional purchases and certain onboard services. Its published terms identify examples such as specialty dining, beverages, shore excursions, shopping, Wi-Fi, laundry, spa services, some activities and entertainment, and child-minding services.
Princess provides youth and teen facilities across its ships, although offerings vary by vessel.
Princess currently states that group babysitting for children ages 3 to 12 is available through its Youth & Teen Club, with extra fees applying.
That means parents should distinguish between activities included with the cruise and services that carry an additional charge.
Children can also have separate excursion costs.
Princess's excursion terms state that children other than infants in arms are generally charged the applicable excursion fare unless the specific excursion states otherwise.
Therefore, a child who has a promotional $0 cruise fare could still have paid excursions during the vacation.
For travel eligibility, Princess has specific rules for minors.
Guests under 21 must travel in a stateroom with a guest who is at least 21 years old, who assumes responsibility for them during the cruise. Princess also has special arrangements for families occupying multiple staterooms.
These are eligibility and supervision rules, not a simple child-fare discount policy.
Parents should therefore check the age requirements before selecting rooms and making separate-stateroom arrangements.
Princess's published international terms state that children's meals are included in the fare, while baby food and formula are not included. The same terms also note that certain dining options and other extras can carry additional charges.
For families traveling with an infant, this distinction can matter when planning the overall budget.
The most reliable way to determine whether your child will be charged is to price the exact sailing.
Select the destination, ship, sailing date, and itinerary you want.
Enter the correct number of adults, children, and infants and provide their ages as requested.
Room type and occupancy can affect pricing.
Look for a third- and fourth-guest offer or another family promotion that applies to your sailing.
Do not stop at a headline such as “kids sail free.”
Check whether the booking still includes:
Princess states that the fare summary will show whether an eligible third or fourth guest has a $0 fare or an actual cruise fare.
Princess offers dedicated facilities and activities for children and teens, although the exact programs vary by ship.
The company currently promotes youth and teen facilities and family-oriented activities, while noting that certain services may have additional fees.
Families should therefore compare the total vacation experience rather than focusing only on the advertised cruise fare.
A low child cruise fare may be attractive, but parents should also consider the cost of transportation to the port, excursions, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, childcare, and other optional expenses.
As of September 18, 2026, Princess's published promotional terms include offers for eligible sailings where the third and fourth guests can receive a complimentary cruise fare. The offer is limited to qualifying bookings and does not eliminate taxes, required fees, deposits, or other excluded expenses.
One current Princess limited-time offer states that bookings made from September 1 through October 12, 2026 can qualify for certain promotional benefits, with availability varying by sailing and category.
Because promotions can change, families should rely on the terms displayed for their actual sailing rather than assuming that a past promotion is still available.
Yes. Children can have a cruise fare, depending on the sailing and fare conditions. Princess also offers selected promotions where third and fourth guests in the same stateroom can receive a $0 cruise fare.
They can on eligible promotions, but not automatically. Current Princess terms describe free third- and fourth-guest offers on selected sailings. Taxes, fees, required expenses and other costs can still apply.
Not necessarily. Princess specifically states that government taxes and fees and required cruise fees and expenses are excluded from the free third- and fourth-guest offer.
Not automatically. Infants must meet Princess's minimum-age requirements, and the fare depends on the booking and applicable offer.
The minimum age is generally 6 months at embarkation. Cruises with more than two consecutive sea days have a 12-month minimum age requirement.
Generally, yes. Princess says children other than infants in arms are charged the applicable excursion fare unless otherwise noted for a specific excursion.
Princess offers group babysitting through its Youth & Teen Club for children ages 3 to 12, but its current information states that extra fees apply.
Princess has age restrictions for separate stateroom arrangements. Generally, guests under 21 must travel with a guest who is 21 or older in the stateroom, with special rules for qualifying family groups using multiple staterooms.
Princess's published international fare terms state that children's meals are included in the fare, while baby food and formula are not included.
Enter all passengers and their ages when pricing the cruise, then review the complete fare summary. This is especially important when a free third- or fourth-guest promotion is advertised because excluded taxes, fees and other expenses can remain payable.
So, does Princess Cruises charge for children? In many cases, yes. Children are not automatically free simply because they are under a certain age. Princess's published terms indicate that children can be charged the applicable fare, while promotional offers can reduce or eliminate the cruise fare for qualifying third and fourth guests.
For families, the key is to look beyond the phrase “kids sail free.” A $0 cruise fare can still leave taxes, required fees, deposits, excursions, childcare, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, and other expenses to pay.
The most accurate price is always the total shown for your specific sailing, stateroom, passenger ages, and selected fare at the time of booking. This gives you a much clearer picture of the real cost of taking children on a Princess Cruise.
Recent Guide
Your ultimate guide to cruise adventures. Discover amazing destinations, find the perfect cruise, and create unforgettable memories on the high seas.
Quick Links
Cruise Types
© 2026 Cruisefinderpro.com. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
