Any parent knows that childcare is important to think about when cruising with children, especially if the onboard kids’ club may run out of space.
In P&O Cruises’ own words on their website, “pre-registration is essential” for kids under 12 who would like to visit The Reef kids’ club. However, pre-securing spots will now come with an extra charge for the biggest ship in the fleet.
An email was sent to future guests of Iona informing them that slots could be booked individually at a cost of £4.95 (or $6.74 USD) for the daytime sessions and £8.95 (or $12.19 USD) for evening sessions.
While this might not sound like a lot, the costs can quickly add up for families with multiple children who intend to visit the kids’ club several times.
“We’re pleased to let you know that you can now book The Reef children’s club on My P&O Cruises for a small fee before your holiday. This new service is being introduced first on Iona holidays, including yours,” the cruise line wrote.
Guests can still reserve spaces for free once they are onboard the 5,200-guest ship, but availability is not guaranteed and will function on a first come, first served basis.
As Iona is the largest cruise ship ever built for the UK market, the pressure is on to book early.
The cruise line wrote: “Booking ahead gives you peace of mind that youngsters have their spot in the club. And it means you’ve reserved some time exclusively for you – perhaps for peaceful spa treatments or romantic meals?”
“With the convenience of booking ahead, you’re free to shape your holiday moments however you like,” the letter continued.
It’s unclear when or if the pre-booking charges will roll out to the other family friendly ships in the fleet, which include Arvia, Britannia, Ventura, and Azura. Aurora and Arcadia are adults-only cruise ships, so the new policy does not apply to them.
It’s also important to note that the change only applies to The Reef, which is meant for kids under 12.
The H20 Children’s Club and The Scene, which are meant for teens 13 to 17, still do not require advance reservations.
New Fees Met With Backlash
Some parents don’t mind paying a little extra for peace of mind as they plan their onboard activities. Others, however, are not be happy about having to shell out some extra cash.
One cruiser shared: “Just another cash grab and even less availability once you are on board. I booked a cruise with included kids clubs, not included ‘handful of spaces you won’t get clubs.'”
“Really disappointed in this, it cuts the free available spaces in half or maybe even more! So for those of us who don’t want to or can’t pay more, we are potentially loosing out on a kids club space, which when we booked was part of the fare,” another agreed.
This also isn’t the first time the cruise line has introduced fees for The Reef. In May of 2024, P&O Cruises implemented a cancellation fee for the Reef for reservations that were cancelled within 24 hours of the booked play session and higher fees for no-shows.
“A cancellation charge of £5 [$6.36 USD] will be applied to your on board account for a session cancelled less than 24 hours before the session start time and a charge of £10 [$12.73 USD] for a session which is not attended,” the cruise line announced at the time.
While some parents appreciated the firm stance, others were frustrated by the lack of flexibility. It’s true that kids can be unpredictable, especially when their routine is changed by traveling, and may throw tantrums or be too tired to play.
Read Also: What Cruise Activities Are Popular for Kids?
As the news has spread of the reservation fees, some have also pointed out that other family friendly cruise lines take a more relaxed stance to their clubs.
For example, Disney Cruise Line only requires reservations and a small fee for using the “It’s a Small World” nursery because this venue offers specialized care for toddlers between 6 months and 3 years old.
Royal Caribbean only charges hourly fees for the nursery and late-night babysitting after 10 p.m. – but the clubs onboard for kids aged 3 and older are free of charge and don’t require reservations.
Carnival Cruise Line currently operates similarly, but as P&O Cruises is owned by the Carnival parent brand, some are wondering if the fees might eventually pop up on Carnival ships.
