jcearth

I didn't think it was sarcastic. My first reaction to the question was why take you kids on a cruise, if you can't handle them for 30 minutes during the most important "activity" on the ship, learning how to save your kids. Not only do you need to know what and where to go, but the parent needs to know how to handle the situation if they are separated, and it's a good time for the kids to learn how to behave. During an actually emergency, the kids do not go to camp Carnival, or the lounge so the best place is the muster station. Some ships can have anywhere from 300 - 600 kids on the ship.

 

It's amazing how many times questions like this come up and during the drill, the crew takes this serious. They do not need to answer questions like, where can I go to be comfortable so the kids can play during the drill.

Let me get this straight: You would advise the OP (who is asking for advice on how to best occupy children during the muster drill) to "handle" her children during the muster drill, thus most likely distracting her from learning the very advice that could save her life and the lives of her children! During an actual emergency, how do you think the children will react if they know it is an emergency? Do you think that they will be calm, cool, and collected? Or will they most likely be screaming, crying, or at best, really frightened and need extra help? Do you expect a 3 year old to be able to reasonably find a muster station should they become separated from their parents? During an actual emergency, the kids may very well be in Camp Carnival. The OP is looking for helpful strategies to "distract" 2 little ones, who will glean very little or nothing from the briefing at best, and at worst, disrupt the entire scenario.

OP, I find that tablets or phones (sound muted) work very well (remember you are still in port) should you need a distraction. Otherwise, I stress the importance of the drill to my children in case of emergency, so that they know what to do (this is easier now that they are 5, 6, and 8), and the importance of being quiet so that everyone can understand the directions.

A lot of the ships will also have a few SUPER trivia contests, where you earn cumulative points over multiple days, and the host keeps track of the points. Other contests can involve rolling a die to pick a category, or giving the host a number to for them to find a question. It all depends on how the individual cruise director or host designs the game.

I have played trivia a fair amount, but I have found that the overwhelming vast majority of players are honest with their answers -- occasionally a bad apple will pop up, but this is the exception, not the norm. One time I played a general knowledge trivia, which was super tough, and I only got 11 out of the 20 questions correct, but I still won.

This is most likely a joke of some sort. The reviewer specifically states May 26, 2015 as their date of departure. This was a Tuesday, and I don't believe any Carnival ships in the Caribbean do Tuesday departures (maybe the Fantasy once in awhile). Also, the reviewer makes a big point to show himself as a jerk, and makes a big deal about being slighted by a waiter (or bartender, he couldn't keep it straight). Now, on the Lido deck, if you are unable to get a drink, you must have some serious issues, because there are always tons of waiters everywhere. Please do not WAIST anymore time worrying about this review - most people will read it, and say to themselves "What an idiot", laugh, and move on with their lives.

Also, who complains about being slighted by a waiter (or bartender, still can't tell which one it was), but not about a room steward walking in on him in a precarious situation?

We are traveling with friends this fall… kids ages will be 5, 6, and 7…. I know the older two will be together in Camp Carnival… will they allow the 5 year old (who is the sister to the 6 year old) to be in the older age group with the other since we are traveling together?

 

TIA

The actual answer is --- it depends. You will be sailing when there are not a lot of kids on board, so that will give you a better chance of success. The decision lies entirely with the camp director. At orientation, find a counselor, explain your request, and then live with their answer. Last year on the Conquest, I was able to move my 5 year old (who was 2 weeks shy of his 6th birthday) up to the 6 to 8 year old group. Using my parental judgement, I explained that it was much more appropriate for him to be with an 8 year old than a 2 year old. They agreed to a move up on a trial basis. Everything went smoothly, and he had a great time that week. I had heard that there was another child that moved up on a trial basis, but there were some issues and they moved the child back to the 2-5 age group. That being said, every ship is different, and every director is different, so your mileage may vary.

Best I have done is $259pp for an OV for a 7 nighter on the Conquest last September.

I am going on the Breeze in a few months, and picked Lido Beck balconies, although the cove would be pretty nice as well.

We had a villa last year - split it with other family members. It was outstanding! The absolute best part was having a bathroom with a shower so that you didn't have to go back to the ship in a sandy, wet bathing suit. I would recommend to anyone with enough people to make it cost efficient. After two trips there, I can say without a doubt that Half Moon Cay is the most beautiful place I have ever been to in my entire life.

We've had them on Fantasy class ships 2 times before, but never had a problem. My now 6 year old sleeps on a top bunk every night, so he is used to it. We have the bunk beds with stairs, but he refuses to use them, opting to climb up every night. I am quite certain he probably got out of bed by jumping a few times.

If you are certain that you are going, by all means book under the early saver rate. This entitles you to match all price drops up until 2 days before sailing, and it locks you into a cove balcony. The coves will most likely sell out for that week (it is a popular week for families to sail) before the other balconies.

Also, the website only ever shows 10 room available at any one time for a certain section. If it shows less than 10, then you know that the supply is running thin.

On John Heald's schedule, it says Brian Leavitt.

Finally! I was able to snag the remaining $800 I need to pay off my cruise.

It's also pretty rocky in the water, so take water shoes.

This ^^^^^^ I sliced a nasty gash in my heel last year when I was there. Also note, the pool at Margaritaville is free to use.

If only there were a way to get drinks on the ship and transport them to the island for a day......

In my opinion, Guy's is without a doubt, the best burger at sea, and the best part is that it is at a complimentary venue. (Johnny Rockets pales in comparison, and leaves you lighter in the wallet. Mater's burgers on Disney were average at best. I will try the O'Sheehans version next year.) They are a big step up from the regular Carnival burgers, which aren't bad by any means. Guy's burgers is not just a branded hamburger -- there is a lot of thought that goes into making it so tasty, from the choice of meat, to the mixture of cheeses, to the buttering and grilling of the bun, and the wide array of very tasty toppings.

In my opinion, the best month to cruise is September. As kids go back to school, the prices go way down, and the number of people on the ship is way less than in the summer or over spring break. The temperatures are great at this time of year. However, this is not the best time to cruise for a specific itinerary, because it is smack dab in the middle of hurricane season, and the chance of an itinerary change or a shortened or unintentional prolonged cruise goes way up.

Incorrect

 

 

Ages 12 and under

Must travel in the same stateroom with a “Parent” (as listed above). If insisting on traveling in separate staterooms, minors must be directly across the hall or side-by-side to “Parents” stateroom. Document this exception: “Guest reqs separate staterooms”..

If traveling in separate staterooms, stateroom assignment required – TBA staterooms not permitted..

If traveling in a balcony stateroom, minors must be in the same stateroom with a “Parent” (as listed above)..

 

 

 

 

Ages 13 – 17

Must travel with a “Parent” (as listed above) in the same stateroom or separated by up to 3 staterooms down/across the hall..

If traveling in separate staterooms, stateroom assignment required – TBA staterooms not permitted..

For ages 13 and under, if traveling in a balcony stateroom, must be in the same stateroom with a “Parent” (as listed above)..

Shhh.. don't let facts and everyone's evidence who has done it before get in the way of someone's personal opinion about "the way things should be".

Hi everyone! Has anyone ever booked separate rooms for you and your kids? I was thinking about booking connecting rooms or rooms across the hall from each other. My main concern would be safety (obviously) and Carnival's policy on this. Our kids will be 9 & 10 when we cruise for the first time and I trust them completely, but worry about other passengers realizing there are 2 kids in a room alone. I've read about others doing it on some other forums, but wanted your thoughts since I know there's a lot of very experienced cruisers here.

 

Thanks!

I have done it multiple times. In order for the children to be booked in their own room , you need to call Carnival to book. If you book online, you need to have an adult booked in each room. It all depends upon your preference. You can go to guest services and get an extra key to your children's room upon boarding. Here are some guidelines I found:

Guest Policy

Quick Reference Guidelines

Guests are required to be 21 years of age (on embarkation day) to travel on their own.

Guests under the age of 21 must travel with their “Parent”. A Parent can include Grandparents as well as a Court-Appointed Legal Guardian.

Ages 12 and under

Must travel in the same stateroom with a “Parent” (as listed above). If insisting on traveling in separate staterooms, minors must be directly across the hall or side-by-side to “Parents” stateroom. Document this exception: “Guest reqs separate staterooms”.

If traveling in separate staterooms, stateroom assignment required – TBA staterooms not permitted.

If traveling in a balcony stateroom, minors must be in the same stateroom with a “Parent” (as listed above).

Ages 13 – 17

Must travel with a “Parent” (as listed above) in the same stateroom or separated by up to 3 staterooms down/across the hall.

If traveling in separate staterooms, stateroom assignment required – TBA staterooms not permitted.

For ages 13 and under, if traveling in a balcony stateroom, must be in the same stateroom with a “Parent” (as listed above).

Ages 18 – 20

May travel in separate stateroom from the “Parent” (as listed above) beyond the 3 staterooms down/across the hall and including separate decks in cases where spoilage must be avoided. Always make every effort to assign nearby.

Ages 20 and under and NOT traveling with a “Parent” (as listed above)

Must travel in the same stateroom with an adult 25 years of age or older.

Group Bookings

If group consists of 8 or more staterooms under this condition, guests in those staterooms must pre-pay gratuites and those minors must pre-pay $100 damage deposit.

If group is not able to abide by our Minor Guest Guidelines, they must be referred to the tour operator holding space on that saildate. If no student space is held, provide both telephone numbers:

1) Straight A Tours/Festivals at Sea

407 896-1242 or 800 237-5440

2) Four Seasons Travel/Rock the Boat

407 654-2500 or 800 421-4159

Exceptions to our Minor Guest Guidelines

Legally married couple less than 21 years of age

Same-Gender Union couple less than 21 years of age

Qualified Military Personnel

I drove last year to Miami from Atlanta with an 8, 5, and 4 year old. It was about 3 hours longer than the drive to Port Canaveral, but it went relatively smoothly. One possibility we considered was to drive to Orlando, spend the night, and then drive to Miami on the morning of the cruise. We were on the Conquest last year, and we didn't mind the drive so much that we booked the Breeze for this year.

Some differences that I can see (especially with kids):

1) After 5 straight cruises with either Waterworks or AquaDuck, my boys were underwhelmed by the slide on the Conquest class. They thought it was very slow compared to the Twister on Waterworks ships. The Breeze, with 2 nice slides and a dump bucket, will provide them (and me) with hours of entertainment.

2) My wife did not like the fact that there was no room for shade on the Lido deck pool area with the kids on Conquest class - (All of the shade is in the Adults only section in the aft pool area). I love the Dream class aft pool area with the umbrellas and no restrictions for kids.

3) The Valor does not have the 2.0 upgrades yet (I think it is getting them in March of next year). I really enjoyed Guy's Burgers and Blue Iguana Cantina, and am ecstatic that the Breeze also has them. One point deduction for no Fish'n'Chips on the Breeze, although Cucina makes up for it slightly.

4) My boys thought the best kids area was on the Dream class (outside of Disney, which is beyond amazing).

5) Ropes course - another plus for the Breeze. My 8 year old loves them, and can't wait to try.

6) The Breeze also has all the added little touches, like Thrill theater, C-Side BBQ, and SeaDogs that I know my kids will love.

7) For adults, I am also really looking forward to the Red Frog Pub.

I also splurged a little and went with Lido Deck balconies (we usually go with connecting Oceanview on Riviera).

My father, brother, and I hit 15 a few times last year on a 7 day (my brother hit it every day, I think). The one night we were playing in the casino and we had the casino manager by us rounds after we maxed Cheers out. I believe that I averaged around 12 or 13 per day.

"Day of Play," for 0-11 years on port days. What other ships do this?

All of them. The under 2's will have a fee for port mornings.

I have been outside the gates of the Belize port before, but that was 12 years ago. Even then, it wasn't the sort of place you would want to venture into after dark. There was a seedy looking Radisson hotel near the port, and a local taxi driver commented that it was the 3rd nicest hotel in the country. The past few times that I have been there, we have either stayed on the ship, or done snorkeling excursions where we got picked up directly from the ship (cuts out about an hour of transport time).

If you are concerned about complying with size dimensions, this is the cooler that I use:

http://www.amazon.com/Picnic-Time-Insulated-Backpack-Cooler/dp/B007FGPD4K/ref=sr_1_5?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1428514400&sr=1-5&keywords=backpack+cooler

I have used this cooler for years, and it works great - no leakage, and keeps things icy cold for about a day. Along with your room steward, you can also get ice from any bar that sells buckets of beer, or from the ice machines on lido (make sure you use a cup to fill and not fill the cooler directly). The backpack cooler is a must for me for port days at the beach!

Every single time - it is a game that if you pay attention you can rack up some very nice Onboard credit.

It's a dance party for families on the 1st night of the cruise before Camp Carnival opens. They play some music, blow up some balloons for the kids to play with, maybe have a kids vs. parents dance off -- things like that.