Cruised with Kids on Carnival Conquest?

[texascruisemom]

We are thinking of taking a 7 day cruise on the Conquest. We did a 5 day cruise in October on the Elation (during 12 foot storm surges) with our 5 and 8 year olds and had a blast.

A concern of mine is that my 8 year old will be 9 by the time we cruise again and I heard the "older" kid's program was not as well organized.

Has anyone cruised on the Conquest with a 5 or a 9 year old?

[cruisinqt]

We did the Conquest cruise a few months ago with our girls ages 6 and 8 1/2. My 8 1/2 year old loved the kids club. I think Carnival has one up on the other cruise lines when it comes to their kids clubs. :) They did lots of fun things like dressing up like pirates including getting their faces painted like pirates and going on a treasure hunt. What kid wouldn't like that? They also made candy necklaces, had ice-cream eating contests, and painted t-shirts. At the end of the cruise, they gave all of the kids "Camp Carnival" backpacks. These activities I mentioned were being done in both the 6-8 year old group and the 9-11 year old group. The info. sheet they pass out the night before had the same activities listed for the 6-8 year old group and the 9-11 year old group. The 2-5 year old group had easier projects listed and the 12 and up age group was very vague. It think that's the age group that's not as much fun.;)

 

The "older kids program" that's not as organized and a little more boring is the one for 12 year olds and up. The 12 year old and up group consists of more teens and pre-teens who think adults are boring, so the counselors let the teens help decide what to do for the day. It's less organized and some of these teen/pre-teens complain that it isn't as fun. I think it has less to do with what there is to do in Camp Carnival and has more to do with their attitude at that age. That's the age where kids tend to drift away from their parents and think adults are boring. I don't look forward to my girls getting to that age. My neice just turned 12 and suddenly I'm not the cool Aunt she always wants to hang around with anymore.:( I went from being cool and popular with her and her friends to being just another one of those boring adults.:rolleyes: I hope this passes soon!

[serene56]

the 9 years old can sign them selves in and out of the program. but your soon to be 9 year old could stay in the 6-8 program.

[nybumpkin]

Hi Texascruisemom - We sailed on Conquest in July with both a 9 YO and a 5 YO (as well as a 14 YO). The 9 YOs can sign themselves in and out of Camp Carnival, but we always escorted him to camp and picked him up when camp was done. We did have one occasion where he left camp before we arrived to pick him up, but we also made sure he knew where to go and it wasn't a problem. He had a really great time - it's not as structured as the younger groups are, but the activities are very age-appropriate. Our son made some good friends on this cruise. As for 5 YO - since we're booked for Legend next year, we constantly get bugged for pictures of the kids' area. He loved Camp Carnival on Conquest. The kids- area is very well arranged. Hope this helps, and I'd be happy to answer questions.

[texascruisemom]

Thanks for all your help! I will impress upon my 9 year old that he will NOT sign himself out... Your input has made me less nervous and more excited for our trip! I just hope my 5 YO grows to 48 inches so she can do the slide:) .