Camp Carnival - Be Warned!

[tkportersat]

Thanks :) I love that kid, but being and older parent is tough - he wears me out! haha. I was dumb, broke, young and clueless raising the first two. I am fortunate they turned out ok! :eek:

 

Well, enjoy the time to yourselves. Sounds like you deserve it!

 

You have kids in their 20s and a 4 yr old ????? My hat is off to you and I say God Bless.

 

My kids are all in their 20s now , and I could not imagine starting all over again. DW and I started pretty young so we are still pretty young and vital and our hitch is up *LOL* Three out of the house and the 4th is a possibility in the next year.

[Cruise life]

Weird how this topic turned into comments about people's choices for timing their children and other people's views about that.

 

 

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[KLD1019]

Weird how this topic turned into comments about people's choices for timing their children and other people's views about that.

 

 

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oh, i saw it coming. ive been a part of various message boards for a good 10 years. most are parenting/mommy boards and debate boards. you want to see a heated discussion about who parents how, linger on those!! and bring popcorn and maybe some stiff drinks! it gets down right nasty! this thread is actually quite calm! ;)

[MomofTheBoy]

In November it will just be my 4 year old and I. As an only child he loves other children so that may make him like camp but im prepared if he doesn't. As he gets older im sure we wil be tagging along one of his friends

[SUSIEK]

Sorry your little ones didn't care for Camp Carnival. My son has been cruising since he was 3. He is now 8. He absolutely loves Camp Carnival. I guess we got lucky on our last few sailings. They did a lot of organized outside play on the sports deck. We found the schedule to be very diverse covering outside play, computer games, organized inside games and artsy stuff (not his favorite). I guess a lot depends on the staff from ship to ship.

 

We were also very impressed with the kids program on Princess. The staff to child ratio was very small.

[Mrs. Squirrel]

For any family considering using a cruiseline Kids' program, I have a few tips.

 

First, it is really important to sign up your Kiddos and go to the opening mixer/party on embarkation day. Friendships and groups are formed that first night. It can be hard for a kiddo to 'break in' after that. Go even if the kids don't think they want to attend the rest of the week.

 

Second, pay attention to the schedule of activites and ask early on how closely the cruiseline follows them. My DS (10) likes to go to the clubs when there are activities he is interested in. It has been our experience that Carnival sticks to their schedule more rigidly than NCL. This can be both a plus and minus depending on your kiddo. It helps avoid disappointment if you have a son like mine, but it can also limit the staff's ability to alter activities if it is just not working with a particular group of kids that day.

 

Third, if a kiddo is reluctant to go to Kids' club at all, get them to go with you to one of the family activities hosted by the kids' club in different parts of the ship. . .cup-cake decorating, water games, pizza making. This can be a less stressful introduction to the other kids and staff and may change their mind about trying the kids' club.

 

Fourth, pay attention to the make-up of the kids on the cruise that week. One cruise, we had a hitter in our son's group. The child never hit our DS, but he still would not go to kids' club if that child was present, no matter how much he liked the activities! There is no way to control a variable like this nor would I have thought of it beforehand no matter how many cruises we've been on.

 

I think knowing that the kids' club on any cruiseline can be 'hit or miss' is a reasonable and valid point made by the OP. There is nothing wrong with kids or their families if they don't like/use the Kids' club and nothing wrong with kids or their families that do like/use the Kids' club.

 

Happy sailing!

[festivalfrau]

For any family considering using a cruiseline Kids' program, I have a few tips.

 

First, it is really important to sign up your Kiddos and go to the opening mixer/party on embarkation day. Friendships and groups are formed that first night. It can be hard for a kiddo to 'break in' after that. Go even if the kids don't think they want to attend the rest of the week.

 

Second, pay attention to the schedule of activites and ask early on how closely the cruiseline follows them. My DS (10) likes to go to the clubs when there are activities he is interested in. It has been our experience that Carnival sticks to their schedule more rigidly than NCL. This can be both a plus and minus depending on your kiddo. It helps avoid disappointment if you have a son like mine, but it can also limit the staff's ability to alter activities if it is just not working with a particular group of kids that day.

 

Third, if a kiddo is reluctant to go to Kids' club at all, get them to go with you to one of the family activities hosted by the kids' club in different parts of the ship. . .cup-cake decorating, water games, pizza making. This can be a less stressful introduction to the other kids and staff and may change their mind about trying the kids' club.

 

Fourth, pay attention to the make-up of the kids on the cruise that week. One cruise, we had a hitter in our son's group. The child never hit our DS, but he still would not go to kids' club if that child was present, no matter how much he liked the activities! There is no way to control a variable like this nor would I have thought of it beforehand no matter how many cruises we've been on.

 

I think knowing that the kids' club on any cruiseline can be 'hit or miss' is a reasonable and valid point made by the OP. There is nothing wrong with kids or their families if they don't like/use the Kids' club and nothing wrong with kids or their families that do like/use the Kids' club.

 

Happy sailing!

 

 

I second all of that advice!

 

Specific to Carnival (at least up until recently) they had a color and take home shirt that my DD loves doing and we always avoid the "build a bear" (extra fee) times!!!

 

On our last cruise, the staff did a great job of circulating during the registration time, so it wasn't the usual boring presentation. DD got to meet the staff and interact 1:1. I think that made a huge difference this last time.

[tkportersat]

Thought I would report back to you, we went on our all inclusive vacation last week and my 4 year old loved it! Face painting, bungee trampoline, swimming, water balloons, balloon animals, movies, etc. Completely different experience....I had a hard time getting him out of there he was having so much fun. I hope he loves Camp Carnival this time when we go in March.

 

 

You have kids in their 20s and a 4 yr old ????? My hat is off to you and I say God Bless.

 

My kids are all in their 20s now , and I could not imagine starting all over again. DW and I started pretty young so we are still pretty young and vital and our hitch is up *LOL* Three out of the house and the 4th is a possibility in the next year.

[bambilin]

We are going with a 17 year old, a 16 year old, and a 13 year old. I will be shocked if any of them want anything to do with the organized activities.

 

 

We were on the Dream 08/24-08/31 with my 7 and 9 year old boys, our 9 year old niece, and friends kids ages 7, 11 and some older. The older kids all enjoyed.

 

The 6-8 and 9-11 year olds enjoyed some but not all of the activities. After the first night we just had them check out what was scheduled and let them pick the times they wanted to go. It worked out fine. There were some very upset kids in the 6-8 yeR old group who were trying to get Mom or Dad to come get them but could not find them.

 

My 9 year old was mad, the one activity he really wanted to do was the Nerf Dart tag thingie, but it was in the afternoon on a port day and we were off the ship! ;0)

 

 

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[Warm Breezes]

Not to stir the pot, but why a family would book a cruise knowing their kids had to be with them 24/7 is perplexing. What about all the adult activities on board? We can't partake? Then why go on a cruise? Go to Disney. I can go to my bedroom at home at night and sit there for a lot less $ than paying for a cruise!

 

I knew after our first cruise when our kids were 4 and 7 that my kids would be with us 24/7. They absolutely hated the kids clubs on Disney.....and yet cruises became our favorite type of family vacation to the point that they are now 17 and 20 and have been on 10 cruises. They tried the kids club less than a handful of times on CCL and NCL and hated them every time. So they didn't go and yet we found plenty of things to do as a family on a cruise. DH and I could always find a little time to do some adult things...by ourselves when they were younger and as a couple as they got older and could hang out together without us. It was a enough for us...after all these were our FAMILY vacations and we absolutely loved hanging out with our kids on our family vacations. We took adult vacations without them when we wanted adult only time.

[Warm Breezes]

With work, school, after school activities, homework and them hanging out with their friends, I never feel 'stuck'. I enjoy every minute with my family and not only don't mind it, I relish in it. I leave it entirely up to them in what they want and I thank g-d everyday that they want to be 'stuck' with us 24/7.

 

Just my opinion.

 

That describes us. Between work, school, dance, soccer, etc. being together 24/7 to reconnect was great for all of us. Even though they didn't like the kids club, they loved cruising to be with us and I loved it. I'm in the planning stage for a family cruise Dec 2015. DS will be 21 and finishing his last year of college. It may be our last family cruise like this, though I hope not. I hope we get to cruise with our kids families as they move on with their lives. But we don't know what the future holds so I will hold on to every memory I have hanging out with my kids on these family cruises.

[Athankfulheart]

[quote name=

BTW, musical chairs is an active game. I love(d) musical chairs and I cannot imagine a typical 6 & 8 yr. old have already outgrown that game but I guess they do/can. I miss my childhood and duck duck goose and 7 up days lol.

[/quote]

 

I agree ! My (7 and almost 9 on last cruise) youngest kids would enjoy a game like this. I think that a big part of it is that nobody has ever told them that musical chairs is boring or uncool, so they judge it for what it is . They would also sit and listen to a story. The notion that a 6 or 8yo is too young to listen to a story .... I can't wrap my brain around that one at all :( Heck, my 11 and 13yo would make musical chairs fun too ! They would probably even sit for a story and hold a preschooler in their laps and say that they had a nice time. Life is what you make of it, no matter your age.

[tkportersat]

Weird, the quote you responded to is crediting me but that was actually a quote by the OP I had commented on that you pulled out....not my words.

 

(not my quote)

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkportersat View Post

Not to stir the pot, but why a family would book a cruise knowing their kids had to be with them 24/7 is perplexing. What about all the adult activities on board? We can't partake? Then why go on a cruise? Go to Disney. I can go to my bedroom at home at night and sit there for a lot less $ than paying for a cruise!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I knew after our first cruise when our kids were 4 and 7 that my kids would be with us 24/7. They absolutely hated the kids clubs on Disney.....and yet cruises became our favorite type of family vacation to the point that they are now 17 and 20 and have been on 10 cruises. They tried the kids club less than a handful of times on CCL and NCL and hated them every time. So they didn't go and yet we found plenty of things to do as a family on a cruise. DH and I could always find a little time to do some adult things...by ourselves when they were younger and as a couple as they got older and could hang out together without us. It was a enough for us...after all these were our FAMILY vacations and we absolutely loved hanging out with our kids on our family vacations. We took adult vacations without them when we wanted adult only time.

Edited September 12, 2014 by tkportersat

[Freckle53]

Back in the olden days my parents threw me a surprise 16th birthday party and there are pictures of a bunch of 14-17 year olds playing duck duck goose. It was every bit as fun doing it in kindergarten.

[Vitamin_Sea]

Been taking my kid on cruises for years now.

Never a problem with the kids clubs

[Cruise life]

Weird, the quote you responded to is crediting me but that was actually a quote by the OP I had commented on that you pulled out....not my words.

 

 

 

(not my quote)

 

Quote:

 

Originally Posted by tkportersat View Post

 

Not to stir the pot, but why a family would book a cruise knowing their kids had to be with them 24/7 is perplexing. What about all the adult activities on board? We can't partake? Then why go on a cruise? Go to Disney. I can go to my bedroom at home at night and sit there for a lot less $ than paying for a cruise!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I knew after our first cruise when our kids were 4 and 7 that my kids would be with us 24/7. They absolutely hated the kids clubs on Disney.....and yet cruises became our favorite type of family vacation to the point that they are now 17 and 20 and have been on 10 cruises. They tried the kids club less than a handful of times on CCL and NCL and hated them every time. So they didn't go and yet we found plenty of things to do as a family on a cruise. DH and I could always find a little time to do some adult things...by ourselves when they were younger and as a couple as they got older and could hang out together without us. It was a enough for us...after all these were our FAMILY vacations and we absolutely loved hanging out with our kids on our family vacations. We took adult vacations without them when we wanted adult only time.

 

 

For many of us, the clubs on the ships allow us to have both couple time and family time- that is the best part of cruising for families like mine whose children enjoy camp. No need to take a special couples only vacation! Although we have done both, we prefer utilizing camp and showing the children new ports when they are interested. We have no problem leaving the kids on board and participating in an adult excursion at times if we so choose. It's win-win.

 

 

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[Kristi Williamson]

Our kids have always loved the camps, but we typically only put them in there two nights on a seven day cruise. We like both family time and adult time when we vacation.

 

However, we have a similar story to tell: During our October cruise on the Breeze our youngest daughter asked NOT to attend her second evening at camp. It was after dinner (we always eat together, even on "camp nights") and my DH and I were going to watch a movie, then pick her up before grabbing the other two at Circle C. She begged not to go, but we were firm that this was mom and dad's time together and we'd be back in just a few hours.

 

After grabbing our loungers under the stars, my DH and I looked at each other and said, "Something's off. Let's go check on her."

 

We walked back up to Camp Carnival (just behind the movie screen) and they have a screen on the wall so you can see into camp. The counselors have the kids in a circle doing...nothing. There's no book reading, no toys, no colors, no anything. A few of the younger kids are, literally, laying on their sides rocking back and forth. Our daughter was sitting with her head on her knees. Two little boys had lost it and were just running in circles. My husband walks up to the kiosk and calls our daughters name...loudly. When she comes running out the door with a counselor just behind her my DH asked her what they were doing. She says..."Playing the quiet game".

 

The counselor immediately says, "Oh, we're just having them rest so they're ready to be worn out" or something to that affect. The look on her face said it all. The counselor knew what they were doing was NOT what they should have been doing on a child's vacation in a facility included in the price their parent's paid for said vacation.

 

We just took our daughter left. We asked her if they'd "played" the quiet game the night she'd stayed before and she said that they had. We were livid.

 

I commented about this on my Breeze review last year. It was the only moment we had on the Breeze that was less than stellar.

 

So, to the OP: I absolutely get what you're saying. Carnival should have some policy in place so that the camps are routinely checked on and that the counselors are doing what they should be doing, which is entertaining and engaging young people on their vacation, not "playing the quiet game" because they don't feel like doing their job. I don't know how I feel about reading to them, either. I suppose the very young ones would be fine, but even that should be a voluntary participation, IMO, not something "required" of the kids. It's not school. It's their vacation, too!

 

Other than that one cruise, we've always had fabulous experiences with the camps and our kids beg to go more than twice, but we feel that's a good balance for our family.

[nickel1522]

Just as many others have mentioned, it all depends on the child with Camp Carnival. I am a teacher and not every child will love a specific subject, a certain teacher, or school in general.

 

My son is 7 and LOVED Camp Carnival, especially since he got to move up in groups. He begs us to stay and gets mad when we pick him up.

 

However, my 3 year old daughter could not stand Camp Carnival! I gave it a couple tries to see if she would eventually get used to it, but it's just not her thing.

 

I love when my kids enjoy Camp Carnival, and I love it when they don't, because it gives me more time to bond with them, and I know that they are having fun on their vacation no matter what they choose. If anything, the "back up" I would have is cruising with family. Our next vacation we are traveling with lots of family so I know if my husband and I need time alone I can have someone watch my daughter...because my son will obviously be living it up at Camp Carnival lol!

 

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[cdnmr]

Sorry you and hubby had to take turns looking after your kids. Leave them at home next time so you can enjoy your vacation.

 

Dam kids interfering with Mom & Dad's fun. :p

[mitsugirly]

Our whole cruise plan was changed by the fact that our kids did NOT like the camp. We thought we'd have time for relaxing, casino, 'couple time', etc. but our whole experience was shifted.

 

Our boys are 6 and 8 and their group activities (6-8 year olds) was very immature IMO.

 

They came out the first time and said "They made us sit down and listen to a story!!!". Even I thought that was ridiculous. They are not 3 year olds.

 

They are confined to a room - no outside or sports activities - and the most excitement I could imagine is the Wii and Playstation games for kids that like that kind of thing. My kids are active and love sports or age appropriate games. The camp seems geared toward girls who are generally more passive, enjoy crafts and things. They had Musical Chairs as one activity. Seriously?

 

Some kids were obviously fine with it or even really liked it, but we didn't imagine that our kids would hate it and so just wanted to plant that in people's minds so they could have a back up plan. Me and the hubby had to take turns going to the casino, etc. because the kids were with us most of the time.

 

The fact that it was cold weather and 3 days until we got to a port was very difficult. Not much to do as a family inside the boat for 3 days during the day. Nights were ok - by the time you ate there was a show or comedy show that took up your evenings.

 

 

We normally sail with NCL and took our first Carnival cruise last year. My daughter absolutely loves going to the kids club and usually begs to stay and cries to go back. However, on Carnival, she begged not to go and never once ask to return (even though she did). We were on the Dream and the counselors were rude and mean (even to me). Both my daughter and grandson (who were both 5 at the time) were there and they said really mean things to them and to us. I was appalled by the way they treated the kids and parents. Our kids also didn't like that they always had to sit quietly and watch t.v. or listen to a book being read. They didn't seem to have very many activities. I had really hoped this was an isolated event. Now I'm wondering because I really want to go on another Carnival cruise soon.

[JinxyB]

Wow, reading this is making me a little nervous for my upcoming Breeze cruise next month! My son has participated in Camp Carnival on two separate sailings on the Dream and had a blast...I never saw the kids doing quiet time games or anything like that. I was less than impressed when we went on the Inspiration this summer and found the counselors very rude and not helpful at all. They seemed angry when I was dropping my son off when we were in port, despite them advertising them being open and available for kids if parents want to do an excursion off the ship, etc. When I picked him up 2.5 hours later, they had the kids parked in front of a movie :( That has really been my only negative experience with Camp Carnival.

[babyher]

Thought I would report back to you, we went on our all inclusive vacation last week and my 4 year old loved it! Face painting, bungee trampoline, swimming, water balloons, balloon animals, movies, etc. Completely different experience....I had a hard time getting him out of there he was having so much fun. I hope he loves Camp Carnival this time when we go in March.

 

 

 

Glad you had such a great time . We didn't cruise with our kids when they were that young , but I know mine would have had a ball too. They loved all those things at that age .

 

Its great he had a wonderful time with kids his age, and if it gave you and DH a little alone time, that's icing on the cake . :0

 

Hope you have a ball on your March trip too

[Ellaleah]

I'm taking 5 children on the Miracle for Xmas ages 4-12. Dies anyone have experience on The Miracle?

Ty

[Cruise life]

I'm taking 5 children on the Miracle for Xmas ages 4-12. Dies anyone have experience on The Miracle?

 

Ty

 

 

The camp staff changes roughly every 6 months like much of the other crew, so my experience last April may be totally different than yours in December. I have never seen the "quiet time" activity at camp, but they do have movies and they are listed in the camp schedule. It's not every day or night, but randomly throughout the cruise. I have found the counselors to be mostly fair and accommodating. Our boys were on the Miracle for 16 nights and spent quite a bit of time at camp. They had fun and never fought us about going, but we did spend a lot of time with them at the dome covered pool and they were with us on all port days. We always looked at the camp schedule and they never were made to go to camp during an activity they knew they would not like- but my kids are older (twin 9s) and they are very familiar with camp as we are regular cruisers. Definitely plan ahead and try to get some copies of the camp schedule on any ship just to show them what to expect in general. GL!

 

 

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[Badfinger]

I love reports like this. Just confirms our decision to not cruise until our youngest was 12.