trunabiscuit Posted November 5, 2007 #1 Share Posted November 5, 2007 Our kids are 2 (just turned 2 two days ago) and 4 and I'm wondering what to do about dinner on our cruise. We'll be on Carnival's Holiday and have the 5:45 early seating, but I just don't think my 2 year old is going to want to sit through a 2 hour meal. Just wanted to get advice from others regarding whether or not you typically take your kids with you to dinner at this age or do they dine in Camp Carnival? I think my 4 year old would do fine, but I just don't think my 2 year old would last more than 30 minutes sitting at the table. And since this is my vacation too, I'd like to enjoy a peaceful, relaxing meal with my husband. Apologies if this topic has been addressed on another thread, but I couldn't find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzinmomma Posted November 5, 2007 #2 Share Posted November 5, 2007 Our kids are 2 (just turned 2 two days ago) and 4 and I'm wondering what to do about dinner on our cruise. We'll be on Carnival's Holiday and have the 5:45 early seating, but I just don't think my 2 year old is going to want to sit through a 2 hour meal. Just wanted to get advice from others regarding whether or not you typically take your kids with you to dinner at this age or do they dine in Camp Carnival? I think my 4 year old would do fine, but I just don't think my 2 year old would last more than 30 minutes sitting at the table. And since this is my vacation too, I'd like to enjoy a peaceful, relaxing meal with my husband. Apologies if this topic has been addressed on another thread, but I couldn't find it. I wonder the same thing about my 3 year old. My 11 month old will sit for endless lengths of time without a peep, but my 3 year old gets restless really quickly. I would really like to dress her up and go to the formal dinner looking pretty, but I don't know how long it will last. Can we get up mid meal and escort her to the kids camp if the meal drags on past the point of no return? Interested to see what everyone says! G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerry's Girls Posted November 5, 2007 #3 Share Posted November 5, 2007 On our Carnival cruise, my twin 2 year olds (they turned two the week before) came to dinner with me each night - the early sitting. We had a table of our own, and the waiter was great about serving us quickly, so the meals weren't even close to two hours. This wouldn't work if you're seated with others who prefer to linger, but we had a table of our own. The girls also LOVED that there was some kind of music/performance each night. If you want some time alone with your husband though, you could ask for your kids meal to be delivered each night at the same time as your appetizer and then run them to the kids area when they're done - I'm sure the waiter would cover your meal or hold the next course depending on when you want to go. Carnival has booths in the dining room - which I suggest requesting as it's easier to corral the kids by putting them on the inside (though we had a regular table and it was fine). Have a great time! Best, Mia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paleochick Posted November 5, 2007 #4 Share Posted November 5, 2007 Our kids are 2 (just turned 2 two days ago) and 4 and I'm wondering what to do about dinner on our cruise. We'll be on Carnival's Holiday and have the 5:45 early seating, but I just don't think my 2 year old is going to want to sit through a 2 hour meal. Just wanted to get advice from others regarding whether or not you typically take your kids with you to dinner at this age or do they dine in Camp Carnival? I think my 4 year old would do fine, but I just don't think my 2 year old would last more than 30 minutes sitting at the table. And since this is my vacation too, I'd like to enjoy a peaceful, relaxing meal with my husband. Apologies if this topic has been addressed on another thread, but I couldn't find it. Our dinner didn't take 2 hours. We didn't order every course, we were some of the first people in the dining room each night, and my kids (1 and 3) ate with us each night. If your kids will eat at camp, send them. If not, there are ways to get out of there in about an hour. I never ordered the salad course and asked the waiter to bring everything at once (this happened a few times...it all depended on the kitchen). The kid's food came out the fastest each time. Sometimes we had to eat dessert at the buffet, but that was okay...we were cruising with kids...we had to be flexible. On the Liberty, most families with small kids had their own tables...no one was inconvenienced when we left early. Play it by ear. You'll be surprised by what you'll be able to pull off. The first people in the dining room get the first food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare angelsfort Posted November 5, 2007 #5 Share Posted November 5, 2007 My daughters first cruise was when she was just 2 years old... we brought her to dinner with us every night and she did fine. Our secret?? We brought several of her toys with us to dinner... or even a small pack of crayons, a sheet or two of small stickers and a spiral notebook... she either played with her toys (we actually bought some new ones that we didn't bring out until that night, at dinner... so it was something new that would keep her interest for longer) or she spent her time sticking stickers on the pages of the spiral notebooks. She was perfectly happy and didn't bother anyone. She did need a little bit of help with getting the stickers off the sheet, but she had a good time finding creative places to put them (including on her nose). And dinner didn't last two hours... as soon as you come in and are seated, they will bring you your menu. You can wait for any others seated at your table, or you can order right away... if nothing else, you can always order your little ones food as soon as you get there... since it generally takes them longer to eat anyways. She just turned 5 years old and this past cruise was her second cruise... we brought her leapster with us to dinner with a new game for it (again, so it would keep her interest longer) and she did really well. On both cruises we ended up sitting with other people (whom we didn't know) and although I was nervous about it, my daughter did handle everything very well both times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusinmama06 Posted November 5, 2007 #6 Share Posted November 5, 2007 Dinner with a child will NEVER last 2 hours unless you want it too. ;) The servers are really good at moving it along with the kids. Our seating was 6pm on Sensation, I would walk the kids up to camp by 7pm and return to have dessert alone with the hubby. My kids have always gone to dinner with us. (Unless they ask to go to the special dinner with the camp, usally happens at least once on any cruise) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazingm42 Posted November 6, 2007 #7 Share Posted November 6, 2007 On carnival if my memory recalls correctly. You only have a option to have your kids in camp at dinner time is on formal night. Else camp closes during dinner time, you will need to take them to dinner with you all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nebr.cruiser Posted November 6, 2007 #8 Share Posted November 6, 2007 We had grandkids 5,5 4 & 3 with us on our Carnival cruise a couple of years ago. Although dinner with the camp counselors wasn't every night, they did have it at least four nights. This probably varies. We took the kids to the camp dinner when it was available; they seemed to like it, though the 3-year-old (he had barely turned three) was a little reluctant; he did it though. We had them eat with us on formal nights, just to have the cute pictures--the two little girls especially loved dressing up.--and to give them the experience of the dining room. We just didn't have them stay for the whole time. What worked well for us was to have the waiters bring the kids' meals as soon as they could. After the first night they had the kids' favorites ready almost as soon as we sat down. We had early seating, and Camp Carnival opened at 7. The kids were done eating by 7 and their parents took them up and we enjoyed the rest of the meal at leisure. They all loved Camp Carnival. It all depends on what type of child you have; some are perfectly content to sit quietly and color, play with stickers, etc. Others just can't sit that long and really won't enjoy the long dinner. Do what works best for you and your family. It is true that the meal doesn't have to take two hours, especially if you are seated just with your family. The waiters can hurry it along if you want, you can order more than one course at a time, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michiganredrose Posted November 6, 2007 #9 Share Posted November 6, 2007 My kids are a bit older than yours so my experience was different than what you will most likely have. My 9 year old son ate with us every night except one (the night of the Superbowl, he went with Grandpa to the Superbowl party). He is the more adventurous one who wanted to try all the different foods which they didn't have at the kids club dinner. My 7 year old daughter didn't want to eat any of the "wierd" stuff they served at dinner. She ate with us the first couple of nights and then spent the rest of the dinners with her new bff's she met at Camp Carnival. They all became the best of friends and she invited them all (5 of them) to come live with us and become her sisters. They all accepted but for some reason the parents vetoed the idea. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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