megann831

we're doing our 1st cruise with kids in April, my daughter will have just turned 4 and my son will be 2 weeks from 2. I suspect my daughter will enjoy Camp Carnival and she'll get some use of it while we run around the ship with my son. My biggest fear is dinner. My son usually loves to eat and my daughter is very happy on the Ipad. I noticed several posts prided themselves in not allowing electronics at the dinner table. We're spending alot of money on this trip and haven't been on a nice family trip since having children, we're hoping to enjoy a nice dinner every night, with or without electronics and toys. I'm hoping by the cruise my son will be more into sitting down and watching a video. My plan is to order their appetizer and dinner right away. They'll eat that while we eat out appetizers. During out dinner they'll have desert. We never order desert right after dinner. If we want something we'll have it on the balcony while they sleep. I understand why parents don't want to encourage electronics at dinner, I normally don't ether. But I just want to enjoy my vacation, it's not the time to be teaching manners and risking short, interrupted meals. I was hoping CC would take my son so we could do dinner without them, but the more I thought about it I'm really not comfortable with them being out of CC at a buffet without us. Besides worrying about them wondering off, being taken somewhere, my son climbing up something and jumping off the boat, my daughter also has a peanut allergy so I'd rather be there to double check what she's eating.

We've also sprung for a suite. It gives us a little extra room and the kids can use the tub.

I don't understand why kids with swim diapers aren't allowed in the pool? Don't most young kids pee in the pool anyway? Any why does the Pride offer a kiddie pool if diapered kids can't go in? Would my 4 year old have fun in it?

we'll be traveling with 2 young kids so we booked an ocean suite, figuring it would be nice to have extra space. I'm looking at pics and it doesn't seem much bigger. I called Carnival and the guy I spoke to said the cabin of a suite is 360 and a balcony cabin is 225. He didn't seem too knowledgable, does that sound right? I just want to make sure the space is worth the extra $1000

I see on the list of things on ship that the Pride has 3 pools and 1 kiddie pool. Is this a pool kids can splash around in and isn't so deep?

When I called and asked to make sure they have this the guy told me yes. I asked him if kids in diapers can go in and he said yes as long as it's swim diapers. I thought I'd push him in a little further and ask if kids can go in the big pools in diapers, then he double checked the rules and said no, not even in the kiddie pool with swim diapers. I guess I don't really get the purpose of a kiddie pool if little kids can't go in. How strict are they with swim diapers in the kiddie pool? We have a 4 year old too so she'll enjoy being about to jump around in the water, I was just hoping my 2 year old could do the same. It seems like most young kids, diapered or not, will be peeing in the pool.

We're leaving on Easter on the Pride. The ship departs at 4:30, the website coming 1 1/2 hours before, 1-3. So we can start boarding at 1? We have a suit so we have priority boarding, but we're traveling about 5 hours so I don't want to risk anything.

We're going on our first cruise with kids in April. My daughter will have just turned 4 and my son will be a few weeks shy of 2, even if they bend the rules for him I'm not so sure he'd stay.

We'll be on Carinval Pride and I've heard great things about Camp Carnival. My daughter isn't very vocal, she's shy in that way, but she is usually pretty excited about trying new things, even the 1st few days of a new daycare she goes running off alone. I know alot of families do cruises as extended family vacations. We're going on Easter, so alot of schools will probably be out that week. Do many of the kids in the kids club already know other kids or do you think many will be in there and not know anyone like my daughter?

we're taking our daughter, who will just have turned 4 and son, who will be almost 2, on their 1st cruise in April. We've done many cruises but this will be our 1st real vacation since having kids. We have lots of help and could leave the kids if we wanted. As tempting as it is I know as soon as I see another kid I'll regret leaving them and I'll make myself miserable all trip. That's me though. I'm a teacher and I pick my kids up at 3 and know other teachers who have no problem going home and taking a nap and leaving their kids at daycare till 5. As aggravating as they can be, and as stressful I know this cruise may be, I overall love being around them and want to do things with them. I could care less if they remember it, I will.

The Cruise Critic Pride Review says the Pride has outdoor and indoor play areas for kids, what does this mean? Our son will be just shy of 2 so I know there won't be much geared towards him. Do you think he'll be able to make use of these play areas? We'll also have a 4 year old so I know she'll be able to use alot.

We're cruising in April with our 4 year old and our son who will be 2 weeks shy of 2. I would also love to have a peaceful dinner and see a show. I'm hoping they make an exception for him, but I'm not counting on it.

I did email Carnival and explain how much I would appreciate dinner time sitting, even if we had to pay for it. I also explained how this would make my dining experience so much more enjoyable, as well as others, because as much as I will try to keep my son happy and content during dinner, I can't promise I'll succeed. I encourage you to email them too. Maybe if they get enough requests they'll consider it.

I know people have posted on here before that I can try potty training my son before we go, and I will, but I've never met kids potty trained under 2. My daughter was about 2 months after turning 2 and she was the only one I knew of for a while. She kind of inspired alot of our friends to try.

For us, I'm doing Tinkerbell Gifts (small things I've picked up over the year, three reasons-1, she gets something new to play with, and 2, I won't have to buy anything in the gift shop or ports, 3, I limit her toys that I'm bringing and if these get lost, no big deal.), Daisy and car, 2 mini baby princesses paints, crayons/book, a new ball, bubbles, stamps.

 

I'm packing about 25 books and praying that'll be enough for the week. Just exploring the ship, swimming/splash, looking at pictures, getting ready, eating, naps and such take up lots of time! We've never been bored or had dd bored. At 14 months, she played with my flip flop and a ball, loved the splash pad, love exploring the ship, the glass elevator, the stairs. She'll be allowed some cartoons this time around, maybe. lol. We bring our mps players for music.

 

Plus, they have activities going on on sea days. At 14 months, she didn't play with anything I brought, other than the ball and her laptop (Once), I don't think we really read either, we were just always busy or she was doing her own thing.

 

The programs sometimes accept younger kids depending on the space and maturity level.

 

If you want a table for just your family, you need to request it for dinner. Breakfast and lunch you can request at the time, but depending on wait and space, you may have to wait or be sitting with other people. For us, being sitting with other people is NOT optional. We will NEVER cruise a line again if they sit other people at the table with us in the MDR. Just NO. I'm very clear when I book and once we get on the ship. Never had a issue, we've always had a table for two/four.

The Pride doesn't have a splash pad or any water option for unpotty trained kids do they?

We're going in April with our 4 year old daughter and our son will be about 2 weeks shy of 2. How did you keep busy on sea days? How was the dinning? Did they seat you with other families or were you able to sit alone? Did you ever try dropping her off? Did they seem very strict with ages? I know the program starts at 2, and I doubt my son would stay anyway, but it would be so nice to have a dinner or 2 kid free.

We'll be going on a cruise in April with our 4 year old and our son will be almost 2. We're stopping a Disney for a day and 2 days in the Bahamas, going on the Carnival Pride. We definitely need a stroller. I can get our son to nap in the house, and bed time is not a problem, but it's alot easier to get him to nap in a stroller or car. We only have a jogging stroller (BOB Revolution) I love it and I've found other strollers don't maneuver well at all, and I want our son to be able to sleep comfortably in it. We'll be using it at Disney but that will probably be the only port. We have a suite so we do have a little extra room, and I think there is extra room on the balcony with the suite. Do you think it would be horribly awkward to but around a jogging stroller on a cruise? I use it as my everyday stroller and have never had a problem with it or find it too big.

we're going on Carnival in April, my kids will be 4 and 2 weeks shy of 2. While I'm hoping they bend the rules and let my little guy stay at the kids club for dinner a few nights, I'm preparing to keep him with me the whole time. I just wouldn't worry too much about the sitting services because if your little one is anything like mine, it's highly unlikely that he'd stay anyway. Even though my son goes to daycare and would be there with his sister, I just really don't think many 2 year olds will willingly leave their parents in such a new, uncomfortable environment.

I saw a few posts about Halloween activities. We're sailing on the Pride and leave on Easter, does anyone know if they do any egg hunts or anything for the kids?

Thanks for the replies, I love the idea of seeing if we can get him to sleep in the stroller during dinner. I'm waiting to wean him from the bottle because I know a nice bottle of milk always keeps him occupied for a while. My daughter was potty trained right after 2 and it seemed like she was the only one I knew of that age for a while, but I'm off Christmas break so maybe I'll give him a shot. I found out if I cancel we're out $1000 and my daughter keeps talking about the really, really, really, really big boat and all the stuff on it, so I think we're going to have to go for it. I'm not too upset about him missing out of the kids club because I highly doubt he'd stay anyway, but I'm also optimistic that if he wants to stay with my daughter one night for dinner maybe they'll give him a shot. I'm going to find a way to tactfully let them know I'll offer a nice tip.

We have a cruise booked for this April. 7 days on Carnival Pride stopping at Disney and 2 Bahama ports. My daughter will have just turned 4 and my son will be 23 months. I'm a teacher, so with school schedules we can't go any other time and no family members can go with us. Our son is 17 months now and I'm really getting scared and thinking maybe I should look into rescheduling or canceling. I can usually get him to stay still at dinner for a while, or to sit calmly in a stroller with a bottle of milk. He's actually good in a stroller almost all the time, its meals that scare me. We do occationally go out to eat, but I wouldn't expect him to make more than 1/2 hour, maybe an hour if we take a break for a walk or something in between courses I'm sure he won't be potty trained so he can't go in the pool, although I'm also wondering how strictly that rule is followed. I know that rule from the boards, but do people that don't follow the boards know and follow the rule well? I know there are a ton of activities at Camp Carnival, but are any of them family activities that we can do with both our kids or other than a few hours of free play for under 2 is everything else drop off for over 2? I mean what is there really for him to do on sea days? He also goes to sleep early. His bed time was always 6:30, but sometimes I'd let him stay up till a little after 7 as long as he was still happy, lately he seems to be a mess by 6. My daughter on the other hand should be in bed by 8 or 9, but she could easily make it till 10 or 12 a few nights. I hope to make it to a few shows and we did get a suit so we have more room. Is this a terrible idea? Should we just put it off for another year or two? Do you think he'll be any calmer in the next 6 months? I seem to remember my daughter getting to be tough around 1 1/2 and slowly got better after 2, but wasn't really good till 3. We haven't done a real family vacation since having our daughter and I know she'll have a great time, I'm just worried about my stubborn little guy.

we're taking our kids on their 1st cruise in April, my son will be about 2 weeks shy of 2. I know they do night time sitting, but I doubt any of us will make it up for that. I really wish they'd offer sitting during dinner time. I wouldn't mind paying extra at all to have a dinner or two in peace and quite.

 

Hopefully he has a great time. We never actually took Daniel to Camp Carnival. We went up there 1 day to see what it was about and if we could just stay and play with him in there for a little bit one afternoon but even though he was only 1 week away from turning 2 they would not allow him in there. So we never went back after then. Most morning they do have time set aside for children under 2 to come in to Camp Carnival. However it will cost you to do so or the parents must be there with there toddler. This time is pretty early in the morning though so we slept instead. But again more on this later.

 

Anyways thanks again everyone.

I was hoping not to hear that. We're taking our daughter, who will have just turned 4 and son who will be 2 weeks shy of 2 on the Pride in April. I was really hoping they'd let him stay for dinner for a night or two.