What does Carnival do with lost children?

[slotten]

We will be on the Legend during Thanksgiving and I am wondering what Carnival's policy is if a lost child is found. 1 1/2 years ago, when we were on the Disney Magic, I was finishing filling our sodas and my son walked out to the elevator, pushed the button and got on it. Then just as I was walking out there, the doors shut!! Luckily he had his wristband on from the Kids Club, and their policy was to take any lost children to the kids club. I looked for him for a bit, then went to the kids club and found him there. He had taaken the elevator from the pool deck all the way down to the 2nd floor!! He was located by an employee and taken to the kids club. I don't expect this to happen again, but would like to know ahead of time just in case. On Disney, the wrist bands have a chip and are scanned and the employee can get their info that way. (Parents have a matching band). I have read that Carnival only gives their muster location on the wrist bands, so I am trying to figure out if I should add something to that wrist band or have him wear another with our boooking number or something. Any thoughts from other parents is very much appreciated.

[raylene5]

Well, I don't want to scare you but the Camp Carnival wristbands are really hokey. One of the little girls in our group who was 4 (we were traveling with friends) easily slid the wristband off her arm and no Carnival employee ever really asked about it. They're like the paperish wristbands you get at an entertainment venue. Disney's protocol seems much better.

[slotten]

I just might buy him something then and write our booking number on it with a sharpie. I did see someone say somewhere that their kids only wore the disney ones when in the club, but I didn't realize they came off andd kept it on him at all times. Guess that was good!! He was 3 1/2 then and will be 5 this time and I am pretty sure I can make him understand not to leave my site &/or get on the elevator without me, but I would rather be safe than sorrry!! Thanks for the info.

[firefly333]

My sister is a little slow, even though she is a adult, she would not be able to find our cabin. I had impressed on her if she was ever separated from me to ask someone to take her to the pursers desk. you might try this with your child, set a meeting place up.

 

Only once did I almost lose her in a crush after the theater let out, the elevators doors opened, and she got on and I saw her just as the doors started to close and grabbed her out of the elevator. Sure scared me ..(the elevator was going up not down and I was just standing waiting when I looked up and saw she got on)

[H82seaUgo]

omg!

 

we have enacted the same thing my parents enacted with us.

 

if separated, go to the nearest most prominent pre arranged meeting place.

 

if it was an elevator, go to the lobby.

 

how would any stranger be trusted or know what your separation plan was?

[L_K]

My son is 9, we have a rule, if he does not see us, stay where you are and count to 100. After that, go back to the room and wait.

 

Out of 6 cruises, we use the rule 1 x and worked perfectly.

[firefly333]

My son is 9, we have a rule, if he does not see us, stay where you are and count to 100. After that, go back to the room and wait.

 

Out of 6 cruises, we use the rule 1 x and worked perfectly.

 

If my sister could find the cabin, that would work fine, but some children or adults cannot find the cabin. My sister cant figure out odd/even and the sequence of numbers to find the cabin by number, unless it is in a very easy location, like right across from the elevator, or next to a bend in the hallway.

 

Thats why I told her to ask to find the purser's desk. Little children probably cant find the cabin either.

 

If she could have found the cabin though .. I wouldnt have been worried.

[L_K]

If my sister could find the cabin, that would work fine, but some children or adults cannot find the cabin. My sister cant figure out odd/even and the sequence of numbers to find the cabin by number, unless it is in a very easy location, like right across from the elevator, or next to a bend in the hallway.

 

Thats why I told her to ask to find the purser's desk. Little children probably cant find the cabin either.

 

If she could have found the cabin though .. I wouldnt have been worried.

 

I understand.

 

My son is really good with orientation on the ship... he knows all deck and can easily go back to the room. That's why we "lost" him, he asked to go to pick-up ie cream... the machine near the buffet was close and he knew there was a second machine at the back near the adult pool, we did not know that. We were looking for him at Rosie's... he waited for us for the count and went back to the room using the back elevators. Scariest 3-4 minutes of my life !

[bptex]

They'll page you over the entire PA system. It's very effective!

[5waldos]

Confusing websites here- my first thought was throw them overboard of course!

 

But back to CC- we alway had a note in a pocket with the room number and name on it. Or when on land, a hotel card. Also have one in anything we are carrying around. Although we never lost the kids, we did have a pocketbook returned with every penny of change still there which we left on the seat in the London underground.

 

I worry more about being separated on shore, especially when in a non-English speaking port. The ships card would come in very hand then.

[DocF]

I was raised by a cop. Because of this, our policy was always ask a policeman for help. If I had kids, that would have been mine too. We always knew our address and phone number. A kid should know his/her/its cabin number and be able to give this to a security person. They love to help kids.

 

While most passengers would help a lost kid, there are those people with different desires, so that needs to be kept in mind.

 

Go to guest services is a good idea, presuming the kid can locate guest services.

 

I would prefer to teach him the cabin number and to go to a "cop".

 

Doc

[sonicbuffalo]

They sell all little lost kids at auction...low bidder wins them...

[serene56]

With our grand daugter (as with my own kids) they are told to stay put wherever they are. THey are not to go off with strangers or workers.

 

In all my years we never had to use this until last year when we were at DISNEY world and she got seperated from all of us at splash mountain.

 

I was proud of her and she did stay put until we got to her. (then she cried)

[MiamiSpartan]

Confusing websites here- my first thought was throw them overboard of course!

 

LMAO!!

That's the exact same thing I was thinking!

:D

[Room Service!]

I was thinking that they might put them to work, folding laundry, busing tables, etc. ;)

[waldocruiser1]

Confusing websites here- my first thought was throw them overboard of course!

 

But back to CC- we alway had a note in a pocket with the room number and name on it. Or when on land, a hotel card. Also have one in anything we are carrying around. Although we never lost the kids, we did have a pocketbook returned with every penny of change still there which we left on the seat in the London underground.

 

I worry more about being separated on shore, especially when in a non-English speaking port. The ships card would come in very hand then.

 

My first thought was; Thats is where the really short crew come from, they are not adults from another country, they are lost children.

 

But really having a set place is the best.

 

I would think go to the glass elevators, then go all the way (up or down) Up and sit down and wait. I think up would be best because there is less going on then all the way down. But if they go down, they get to the loby and at least have something to do when waiting.

[PictureChris]

Hmmm, they have added Meatloaf and "Gourmet" Burgers to the MDR menu......:D

[crazyfrazee]

I thought about throwing the kid overboard as well! How about a big tattoo going down the arm with the info?

 

I have been on some cruises where there seemed to be lots of lost children. Kids running loose without parents, some way too young. It's good to see people wanting to take preventative measures. I am fire/rescue and have participated in kid searches. It can be a sad ordeal.

[MsTabbyKats]

My first thought was; Thats is where the really short crew come from, they are not adults from another country, they are lost children.

 

But really having a set place is the best.

 

I would think go to the glass elevators, then go all the way (up or down) Up and sit down and wait. I think up would be best because there is less going on then all the way down. But if they go down, they get to the loby and at least have something to do when waiting.

 

I was thinking "elevator"...but it's really not good. Suppose it's crowed, and he can't get off...or the next floor it stops on is 4 decks lower etc...or how would he know if he is "all the way up" or "all the way down"? (OPs child is only 5)

 

I would give him a tag with his name...and also...please bring this child to the pursers desk if he is lost.

 

However, as a neurotic NYC mother...I always gave my son a specific meeting spot for everywhere we went....(If we are at the pool...and you lose sight of me...go to the towel stand, I will meet you there. If we are in the theatre and we become separated...go to the last row, I will meet you there....etc)

[sloepoke]

like others have said, teaching him to go to "a person in uniform" (i.e. crew or staff) is probably best.

 

you might just spend the first day pointing out the staff/crew in uniforms, so he knows what sorts of people you're talking about, and teach him to say "i'm lost, take me to the purser's desk/guest relations desk/cabin xxxx/casino bar" (wherever you want to meet).

 

generally when a child gets truly lost from their parents rather than one who's allowed to wander, they LOOK lost and are upset, so i think most human beings would help a child that looked lost or was upset he couldn't find mummy.

[cooncat_mom]

The pre-arranged meeting place is a good idea (mine were told to stay where they were & I'd come find them)...also, a lanyard with cabin and parent info might be good. Even though we're adults, we all carry our cell phones - what about a cell for him or a two-way - if allowed on board (many people use them at Disney) for emergencies? It's amazing how the little ones take to technology!

[MsTabbyKats]

like others have said, teaching him to go to "a person in uniform" (i.e. crew or staff) is probably best.

 

you might just spend the first day pointing out the staff/crew in uniforms, so he knows what sorts of people you're talking about, and teach him to say "i'm lost, take me to the purser's desk/guest relations desk/cabin xxxx/casino bar" (wherever you want to meet).

 

generally when a child gets truly lost from their parents rather than one who's allowed to wander, they LOOK lost and are upset, so i think most human beings would help a child that looked lost or was upset he couldn't find mummy.

 

We had a horrific incident in NYC about 2 months ago where an 8 year old asked a trusted person for help after he got lost.

 

I'd go with "the meeting spot".....but instill in the child that he must remain "in public sight"

[H82seaUgo]

We had a horrific incident in NYC about 2 months ago where an 8 year old asked a trusted person for help after he got lost.

 

I'd go with "the meeting spot".....but instill in the child that he must remain "in public sight"

 

i was 3, in the bronx, shopping with my mother in a local market.

 

we became separated, and i asked a uniform person if they saw my mother. she told me she had gone home.

 

so i walked 3 blocks home.

 

that story was grilled into me so many times growing up, that the blame was placed on me.

 

one day i woke, and blasted my mother, asking exactly who was in charge of watching me????

[Ggdean]

Never throw them overboard. There is a good resale value to a lost kid. ;). But seriously the meeting place is nice but to a younger child a cruise ship can be confusing. Alot of things look alike. We put our bkg # on their muester station bracelet. I do believe that it is most ships policy is to take the child to the childrens camp area while the parents are being located. Many years ago before kids we were on some ship and a child got lost. Taken to kids play area parents came and kid didn't want to leave. Also if the child is enrolled in the cruise camp program the staff can quickly identify the child and will have the parents info.

[gill_boo]

We were on the lido deck one cruise and saw this little guy, his name was Jake, he was probably 5 or 6, standing beside the pool just looking back and forth with a really worried look on his face. I know to every parent that finding your child with a stranger sometimes isn't that comforting, but I didn't want him to just wander off and or get into the pool and drown. We were sitting right in front of the pool so I went over and asked him if he was lost, and he nodded. I told him to sit right on the end of my chair and that I was going to get someone who could help us. I first asked one of the roaming waiters and he had no idea what to do. Then I saw that set up for the spa just inside the doors to the atrium lobby and I knew those girls would understand. They immediately called security for me and I went back to sit with the little guy until security came. It took them almost 20 minutes to show up. All the while, trying to keep him calm we played little games like I, spy and such. I had tried to get it out of him what color his mom had been wearing but he didn't know. Finally when security arrived, they radio'd down to find that his mom was at the GS desk freaking out and she came flying up when she heard he'd be found on the lido. Turns out his older brother of 14 had decided to leave the upper deck where the slide was and go down to the pool, but had no idea his little brother followed him. So he saw friends and took off, but Jake stayed at the pool. Then he had no idea where his mom was sitting and couldn't see her. I just glad everything worked out and he was fine, but there are so many bad people in this world that could have taken advantage of the situation. That's gotta be the worst feeling in the world when you can't find your child.