Safety of Camp Carnival vs. Disney Day Camp?

[Carleeb12]

My friend just talked to a cruise specialist at a travel agency and was told that the reason Disney is so expensive is because they run full background checks on everyone going on the cruise, and their day camp is just the gold standard when it comes to safety. She said she would never ever leave a child in Camp Carnival because it just isn't very safe and the reason Disney can charge what they do is because the parents get a vacation, as well as the kids, because they can have peace of mind when they leave their kids in the day camp.

[crunchy05]

NOk. Disney is expensive because its Disney. They are able to charge high prices because there are people who have no issues paying them. We were able to sail on Disney due to scoring an awesome Fl Resident rate, but it was only a four day.

 

I highly doubt they are running bacground checks on all passengers, costs too much and takes time.

 

Both camps are safe, both of my children attended camps on both ships and they actually liked Carnival better.

 

Carnival would lose alot of money if thier camps were not safe.

Edited October 29, 2016 by crunchy05

[Saab4444]

Unbelievable that someone thinks a private travel provider would be allowed to run private background checks of their guests without their individual agreements.

 

 

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[Dearabby_84]

My, then 9 year old and 5 year have spent time in Camp Carnival and I have nothing but great things to say! The staff were very nice to my children and I didn't have any concerns about their safety. I can't speak to Disney, but my kids loved it (Carnival)! Hope this helps :)

[CdrescherRBL152]

Funny cause it was oh maybe 5 years ago but don't think quite that long. That a crew member on one of the Disney ships was accused of sexual assault on a teenage girl. And Disney's safe and secure response was to send him home at the next port of call. The authorities were never notified till the family got home and filled a report 7 days later.

 

 

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[Bookbug53]

My friend just talked to a cruise specialist at a travel agency and was told that the reason Disney is so expensive is because they run full background checks on everyone going on the cruise, and their day camp is just the gold standard when it comes to safety. She said she would never ever leave a child in Camp Carnival because it just isn't very safe and the reason Disney can charge what they do is because the parents get a vacation, as well as the kids, because they can have peace of mind when they leave their kids in the day camp.

 

The cruise 'specialist' is an idiot.

 

Disney is expensive. Period. Perhaps the so called specialist has an agenda in steering your friend in that direction.

 

I can't imagine a company spending thousands every week to run background checks on passengers! They might have to decline to take someone's money.

 

I would be more inclined to accept the possibility that the crew undergoes background checks. Go figure.

 

Camp Carnival is one of the highest rated children's experiences in the cruise industry.

 

I have total piece of mind and the grand kids have a blast. In a safe and friendly environment.

Edited October 29, 2016 by Bookbug53

[Adge01]

Wonder what kind of background checks they are running without consent? Every cruise line is required to run their manifest against a list that is provided to them, I forget exactly what it is but there have been a lot of individuals with warrants taken into custody. Including off Carnival ships. No doubt this TA was trying to get her clients to book the more expensive cruise because of the commission and/or Disney may have been running an extra TA bonus for bookings.

[chengkp75]

Wonder what kind of background checks they are running without consent? Every cruise line is required to run their manifest against a list that is provided to them, I forget exactly what it is but there have been a lot of individuals with warrants taken into custody. Including off Carnival ships. No doubt this TA was trying to get her clients to book the more expensive cruise because of the commission and/or Disney may have been running an extra TA bonus for bookings.

 

No, the cruise line does not "run its manifest against a list". The manifest is provided to CBP, which runs screening on the passengers during the duration of the cruise, so they have the time to get into depth (which is why you are allowed to travel with just a BC/DL). Those taken into custody at the end of the cruise are because the local LEO's have been informed by CBP that outstanding warrants are on those individuals.

 

No cruise line does background checks of passengers, and those checks done on crew depend on the information available from the crew members' home countries, which in many cases does not track child abuse, or even have a central national archive of crimes.

[riffatsea]

I would expect that the "cruise specialist" gets more of a commission from Disney than from Carnival.

That's why she'd try to steer her customers there.

It often happens with hotels when you use travel agents to book vacations and you don't understand why they suggest one hotel over another.

[firemanbobswife]

I heard that one of the reasons Disney is more expensive is because they don't have a casino to supplement their income. Don't know if it's true or not (I know they don't have casinos, just not sure about the other part).

[Nic6318]

My friend just talked to a cruise specialist at a travel agency and was told that the reason Disney is so expensive is because they run full background checks on everyone going on the cruise, and their day camp is just the gold standard when it comes to safety. She said she would never ever leave a child in Camp Carnival because it just isn't very safe and the reason Disney can charge what they do is because the parents get a vacation, as well as the kids, because they can have peace of mind when they leave their kids in the day camp.

 

Hi

 

When a travel agent makes an off the wall comment like that, you really should challenge it. I realize that it was your friend that told you of a conversation, already third hand. What is the suggestion...that only Disney has safe kids camps, or only Carnival is unsafe? Really!! ;)

 

You pay more for a cruise on Disney because if you really need to see Mickey on a cruise, you can't do it anywhere else. Do you see what they charge to get into a Disney park these days? They can get away with it because people are willing to pay.

 

The fact that they don't have a casino is a serious hit to their easy money. The fact that their cruises are specifically family oriented, they loose a lot on alcohol sales as well.

 

I think this is more likely the reasons for their high prices.

[tarabonnie]

We had wonderful experiences at the camps on both cruise lines.

 

 

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[debster11]

Unbelievable that someone thinks a private travel provider would be allowed to run private background checks of their guests without their individual agreements.

 

 

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Absolutely. It would have to be in their terms and conditions. I had my kids in camp carnival when they were younger and never had a safety concern ever.

 

 

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[klfrodo]

The problem is not that people say this idiotic crap,,,, the real problem is that people believe it.

[ecarbine]

The problem is not that people say this idiotic crap,,,, the real problem is that people believe it.

 

I am not sure I follow this rationale; If someone was spreading rumors about you, then you wouldn't have a problem with them, but you would have a problem with anyone who believed them?

[klfrodo]

I am not sure I follow this rationale; If someone was spreading rumors about you, then you wouldn't have a problem with them, but you would have a problem with anyone who believed them?

 

Nope. I'm very comfortable in my own skin and could care less what people who are not integral members of my life have to say or think about me. Life is too short for that kind of drama.

Edited October 30, 2016 by klfrodo

[joeyancho]

While I seldom have high praise for Carnival, I do have high regard for the children's club. They took excellent care of my grandson and he loved it. They do not allow adults to hang out in the kiddie area. The counselors were terrific.

[JAMST3RZ]

All youth staff on carnival have background checks, first aid and cpr training. Also with disney for the kids to sign in and out they have a wristband which anyone could get a hold of whereas on carnival they physically and meticulously check the sail and sign card.

 

 

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[loubetti]

Agreed, Disney isn't any safer than Carnival, expect for the fact they have life guards at the pool.

 

Disney is more expensive because:

 

1. The Disney brand. You do pay for that!

 

2. No Casinos (big money generator)

 

3. Less alcohol sold on board due to the general "family" nature of Disney.

 

For the money, and with no kids, I'd be on Celebrity / Cunard / Princess et al in a heart beat!

[madiaka]

Disney is expensive because it's Disney - not for the kids club. The entertainment is excellent and people pay more because the whole ship is pretty much geared toward kids - with the exception of a few adult only areas. There are multiple choices for kids activities at all hours, etc. (Note: I'm not saying it's worth it. But some people feel that it is.)

 

But, if you google Disney kids clubs at all, you'll find a series of threads where you have people arguing about the kids clubs. They either hate the 3-12 age group being in the same rooms or they love it. It's a free for all to some and very organized and caring to others.

 

From personal experience, if you have shy or only children you might not like it as much. They do have organized activities, but the children can choose to do their own thing and you have 12 year olds running around at times playing with each other without the regard for smaller and younger children. If you have more than one child, and they are looking out for each other- it's probably fine. But, it doesn't appear that counsellors actually monitor actions as much to make sure that older kids don't inadvertently hurt younger ones. My 4 year old son was hurt in the club and all they did was call and say he was ready to leave. No record of what happened. He didn't say much. I just thought he was tired. I didn't notice that he was hurt or had a bruise until later. He eventually said he was pushed off of a slide. Maybe they didn't see it. I don't have issues with that happening with his peers. Kids have disputes, and inappropriate behavior has to be dealt with and discussed. But, no one mentioned that he had an incident when we picked him up, and the thought of a much older child doing that is kind of scary. He still has the small bruise on his elbow and this happened 6 months ago.

 

Basically, don't expect that nothing happens at Disney clubs and it's so much better than others. It's an excellent looking facility. But, I wouldn't say that their counsellors are any better than those on other lines. They probably have better facilities and more to choose from as far as activities.

 

 

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[Sitzmark]

I heard that one of the reasons Disney is more expensive is because they don't have a casino to supplement their income. Don't know if it's true or not (I know they don't have casinos, just not sure about the other part).

 

They also don't run a daily flea market in the promenade like we encountered on the Oasis.

[Sitzmark]

My friend just talked to a cruise specialist at a travel agency and was told that the reason Disney is so expensive is because they run full background checks on everyone going on the cruise, and their day camp is just the gold standard when it comes to safety. She said she would never ever leave a child in Camp Carnival because it just isn't very safe and the reason Disney can charge what they do is because the parents get a vacation, as well as the kids, because they can have peace of mind when they leave their kids in the day camp.

 

Our son enjoyed the kids club on Disney, he did not on RCI. Never been on Carnival so I don't have a direct comparison. I do not believe that any special background checks were run on us while on Disney though. Disney does do good shows and the kids club are good.

[xitappers2bx]

My friend just talked to a cruise specialist at a travel agency and was told that the reason Disney is so expensive is because they run full background checks on everyone going on the cruise, and their day camp is just the gold standard when it comes to safety. She said she would never ever leave a child in Camp Carnival because it just isn't very safe and the reason Disney can charge what they do is because the parents get a vacation, as well as the kids, because they can have peace of mind when they leave their kids in the day camp.

 

No. Not even a little bit.

 

Disney is expensive because that is what they are able to charge and people will still go on their cruises. You can tell this by looking at multiple weeks of the same cruise, during "low" times the prices are "almost" affordable, and during summers and breaks the prices triple and in some cases quadruple. It's basic supply and demand.

 

I have left my daughter many many times in Camp Carnival and she has yet to be maimed or otherwise harmed in any way shape or form. The first time on her 5th birthday, and now she is 12 and looking forward to moving up to the next age group. She's been in kids programs across most of the cruise lines, and loves Carnival's program.

 

That's just snobbery and a travel agent trying to get a bigger sale.

[talliana]

In order to run a "full" background check they would need consent from the passengers. I've never heard anyone doing this. If it is anything like the background checks that you do for higher level jobs in the Federal government, the person has to fill out a form that is about 20 pages maybe more. They go back at least 20 years sometimes more and question your neighbors and relatives. Disney is not going this kind of check. Disney is expensive because it is Disney and everything they do is expensive. I priced their cruises several times and I would never take my kids on one due to their ridiculous prices. I would rather have a cruise that was affordable for my family and would allow me to take my kids on excursions at our destinations. I could take my family on 2-3 cruises for the price that Disney charges for one of their cruises.

[sc4125]

As someone who runs background checks for employment with a law enforcement agency - to run an accurate NCIC/FCIC for national and the state of Florida criminal history, you need a Social Security #. Without that SS # you would have to rely on the name & date of birth for individuals and then have to try to match them up. This isn't at all feasible when you're talking about thousands of passengers - even if you did have their SS #.

 

I'm sure the "expert" was referring to complete background checks on Disney's employees. All reputable cruise lines runs a background on crewmembers. It's true that it's difficult to get the information from some countries - but that applies to all cruise lines.

 

Bad things happen everywhere and it's certainly possible that something bad could happen to children onboard a cruise ship. Parents have to be diligent anytime their child is out of their sight.