Bringing the kids?

[captainx]

I have been on Carnival many times but without the kids. Now I am thinking about taking them (3 and 7 years old - both girls).

 

I am worried about it being too "partyish" for families. I know Carnival has invested lots in Camp Carnival and are trying to change their image.

 

But I was on a weekend cruise on the Miracle last November and I couldn't have imagined my kids being there. Maybe because it was just a 2 day to nowhere?

 

I'd appreciate any honest opinions....before I book the trip. Should I stick with Disney or Princess?

 

Thanks!

[NoNoNanette]

But I was on a weekend cruise on the Miracle last November and I couldn't have imagined my kids being there. Maybe because it was just a 2 day to nowhere?

 

I think that you've nailed it with the above. Cruises to nowhere are more of a party-til-you-puke gathering.

 

Book a week or longer! Have fun.

[MrPete]

I have brought my now turning 7 daughter on 5 cruises since she was 4. 2 on Disney, and 3 on Carnival. I asked her recently which one she liked best, and she proclaimed "ALL OF THEM".

 

And, I have NEVER used Camp Carnival nor whatever they call it on Disney.

 

As long as there's not an adult congregation around the bar, and you are not hanging out there, you will most likely avoid "adultish " behavior.

 

Been cruising Carnival for 17 years now, and the FUN they advertise is the fun you encounter. That image has been there for me all those years. I hope they are not changing it!

 

Can't comment on Princess. Haven't tried it yet.

[MrPete]

Cruises to nowhere are more of a party-til-you-puke gathering.

 

Can you support that with some facts? Have you seen this?

[L2J]

Pete - did you ever write any sort of review for your CTN?

[captainx]

Our cruise to nowhere was definitely very heavy partiers (from Tampa - does that make a difference? ;)). Hey - that's why I went - not to drink until I vomited but to blow off steam without the kids. I have no problem with others doing that. Our cruise was delayed because one guy was taken off the ship by ambulance for getting too drunk PRIOR to sailing! That being said - of course not all are there to get wasted.

 

Also, our ship - the Miracle - was SO smoky. Being a non-smoker, I couldn't breathe in the casino or bars. It made it difficult. I asked one of the Carnival staffers about the ventilation and they said in Florida because of the smoking ban smokers come in droves to cruises-to-nowhere because they can smoke, drink and have a good time without government intervention.

 

I hope that assumption was correct. I don't remember any of the longer cruises to be "smoky".

[NoNoNanette]

Can you support that with some facts? Have you seen this?

 

Firstly, I don't have to prove anything to you, Mr. Pete.:rolleyes:

 

I will say, however, that in my experience, weekend cruises are typically a much younger crowd because of the price. You'll find more college-aged kids getting their yah-yahs out.

[MrPete]

Firstly, I don't have to prove anything to you, Mr. Pete..

 

Based on your style of posts, I expected that kind of answer.

 

Nevermind.

[Chucksta63]

I have been on Carnival many times but without the kids. Now I am thinking about taking them (3 and 7 years old - both girls).

 

I am worried about it being too "partyish" for families. I know Carnival has invested lots in Camp Carnival and are trying to change their image.

 

But I was on a weekend cruise on the Miracle last November and I couldn't have imagined my kids being there. Maybe because it was just a 2 day to nowhere?

 

I'd appreciate any honest opinions....before I book the trip. Should I stick with Disney or Princess?

 

Thanks!

I don't find Carnival like that at all!!!! I go in April when kids are cruising and they have a blast!!! Carnival works for me,,, price is right tooo!!!!!!

[MrPete]

Pete - did you ever write any sort of review for your CTN?

 

No I didn't. It was 3 years ago, and it was all such a blur.

 

We treated wife's 84 year old spry grandmother from Scotland, so we got to experience it through her eyes. All she kept saying was that she could never put this into words to describe to her friends back home.

 

http://community.webshots.com/photo/166131536/166677112GRqJkC

 

What I didn't like was the next morning you get up, ready to have fun, and it's also your last day. Nothing like having cruise depression, knowing you're getting off, right after getting on.

 

I also ran into a cousin I hadn't seen in ten years. It only occurred to me afterwards that her grandparents and my grandparents had cruised together 35 years earlier, on the Europa.

 

I was glad to return to a Spirit class ship the following year on the Pride. Unfortunately, the grandmother died the day we disembarked.:(

 

I did get to return to the Legend last month.

[L2J]

http://image14.webshots.com/15/7/71/12/166677112GRqJkC_fs.jpg

 

What I didn't like was the next morning you get up, ready to have fun, and it's also your last day. Nothing like having cruise depression, knowing you're getting off, right after getting on.

 

I was glad to return to a Spirit class ship the following year on the Pride. Unfortunately, the grandmother died the day we disembarked.:(

 

I did get to return to the Legend last month.

 

Couldn't open the link.

 

I'm considering one for a fix but that's my fear - feeling like that knowing I'll just turn right back around and have to get off.

 

:(

 

I believe I read your review. Thanks

[H82seaUgo]

I will say, however, that in my experience.....

 

 

Carnival Holiday, 11 nights- 4/02

Royal Olympia Voyager, 9 nights- 3/03

Carnival Conquest, 7 nights-2/04

Grand Princess, 7 nights- 1/05

Carnival Conquest, 7 nights- 10/16/05 .

 

Looking at your experience, I don't see any weekend cruises listed.

[eastexascruiser]

We have sailed with our children twice with Carnival & once on Royal Caribbean. Our children are now 10 & 8. Cruises by far are their favorite vacations. We do use the children's programs. My children have made great friends on each of our sailings.

 

As long as you keep them away from "adult" entertainment, I think you should be fine (in my experience). My only not so good experience was on our Rhapsody sailing 2 years ago. It was a "gayribbean" sailing that they do each year. Some of the public behavior was offensive to me and my children. There was no escaping it. However, I have since learned to try to avoid sailings that might have a large group of individuals with whom I would rather not share a week with.

[ommax2]

Just sailed a 4 night on Imagination...and my 5 and 3 yr old loved it and Camp Carnival...they are still playing "big boat"! I think that if you avoid the party areas and cleverly distract ;) you will be fine! We did use the camp some, mainly because the kids loved playing with their new friends!

 

 

Good Luck :)

[cruisinqt]

My brother and SIL took a cruise to nowhere and had a blast. They later went on a 3 day cruise and enjoyed it just as well. They did state that it was mostly college kids and people in the 20's that were looking to party and drink. There were a few older people there but they were definitely in the minority. They said it was great for couples but they would definitely NOT take their daughter along.:rolleyes:

 

That's why we chose to take our kids on a 7 day cruise which we heard was much more tame and family oriented. Our first cruise was a 7 day cruise on Carnival and our kids had a blast. :) They were 4 and 6 then and both are girls. They are now older and wiser and veteran cruisers. We've cruised NCL, Carnival, and RCI with our girls and they really enjoy it. We will be trying Princess for the first time this December and can hardly wait. I asked my girls which cruise line they liked best and they couldn't chose. They said they liked them all which puts their Carnival cruise experiences right up there with RCI and NCL. If I were you, I would definitely give Carnival a try, my kids love Carnival.:D

[cruisensoon]

We just got back from the Elation a couple of weeks ago. We couldn't keep the kids away from Camp Carnival, especially our 7 year old son! Our 11 year old enjoyed it because he could sign himself in and out, as he pleased. We did not like it too much but we set some ground rules such as where he could go and made sure that 2 others were with him at all times. Another thing to consider is that for the 9-11 year old group, a lot of the activities were unsupervised (scavenger hunts, etc.) Again, set some rules ahead of time. They really had some fun things for the kids to do. They loved it and it gave some extra time for DH and myself to be by ourselves.......added bonus!!! :D

[born_to_cruise]

We just got back from the Elation a couple of weeks ago. We couldn't keep the kids away from Camp Carnival, especially our 7 year old son! Our 11 year old enjoyed it because he could sign himself in and out, as he pleased. We did not like it too much but we set some ground rules such as where he could go and made sure that 2 others were with him at all times. Another thing to consider is that for the 9-11 year old group, a lot of the activities were unsupervised (scavenger hunts, etc.) Again, set some rules ahead of time. They really had some fun things for the kids to do. They loved it and it gave some extra time for DH and myself to be by ourselves.......added bonus!!! :D

This is exactly the experience that I am hoping for on 7/24 Elation. Thanks! Denise

[TupperJo]

Bring the kids, they will have a blast. It's a nice option Camp Carnival, but it's not mandatory. So, if the kids want to do it, fine. If not, that's fine too. We took our 3 boys on their first cruise 3 years ago. The youngest was 10 at the time. He did Camp Hal only when something interested him. Otherwise, he hung with us at the pool, went on excursions and went to dinner with us each night. We are taking them once again on a 4 day cruise with Carnival to New England/Canda on Sept. 1st. I am sure they will have a great time on that one too.

 

As far as 2 day cruises to Nowhere. The girls just went on one in June and have booked another for October. We sail out of NYC. There was such a wide arrange of people. I was surprised on how many families were there with young children. I guess it's the luck of the draw on the people you have on your cruise. I have been really lucky I guess.

 

I've always met nice people onboard.

[pacerzfan]

Always sail with my 2 DD's (now 7 and 15), I just can't imagine being away without them. They always make my experience even better!

[Momto3InTn]

We sailed 3 times without kids and we just sailed the Ecstasy last week with our 3 kids (ages 10, 6, 3) and they absolutely loved every minute. Honestly, it was more work for us! Keeping up with Camp Carnival hours kinda kept us from doing some adult things we wanted to do at the same times...but we adjusted our way of thinking. The only problem I forsee is that we've created little addicted cruisers! :D

 

Rhonda

[bphman]

We have always cruised with our kids. It started with a 7 day to Bermuda when my 2 girls were 5 years and 2. We didn't know at the time but our son was traveling with us, too. We have been on 7 cruises so far with number eight coming in 4 weeks. They're now 19, 16 and 13. I can't believe how fast the years went by. I can't imagine traveling without them. Just my feeling. We have had varied success with the kid's programs, some good and some bad. It depended on how many kids were on board, whether the kids participated, and the time of year. Take the kids and have a good time. At their ages, they have excellent programs to keep them occupied.