Tell me about Camp Carnival on Elation

[soccermommie]

We're thinking about taking the kids on the Elation this summer. The only other Carnival ship we've sailed was the Jubilee, and it's children's facilities were a bit disappointing. (I will say our kids loved it despite some drawbacks that DH and I noticed)The area was quite small (only one room and it was smaller than our family room) and seemed to be added as an afterthought. Perhaps Camp Carnival was developed after the Jubilee was built in 1985 and so the children's area was a retrofit type deal? Luckily, there were only a handful of kids on our sailing, so crowding and lack of toys/games wasn't an issue, but I could see it becoming one on a sailing with a lot of kids. Also, the videogame arcade was situated right beside the casino and an entire deck up from Camp Carnival. Not exactly the best placement IMHO because of the smoke issue and the distance from the kids' area. The counselors were great with our kids, and as I mentioned before, they had wonderful time.

 

I would love to hear some firsthand experiences (good or bad) of the kids' facilities on the Elation.

 

soccermommie

[cruisinfamilytx]

How old are your children??

[hilltopfamily]

no answers here, but just a poster who is curious about what responses you get. We're on her this summer also. Our kids will be at time of sailing 7, 10, & 13-almost 14.

 

Penny

Disney Magic Eastern 7/2003

Spring Break 5 days onboard Celebration! Mar 22 '04

Aug 1 '04 Carnival Elation--Our 3rd Cruise!!!

[jimcald]

We are sailing Elation on Sunday. If you want me to check anything out for you just let me know. We have been on Inspiration (same class) and our daughter (7 at the time) loved camp carnival. It was kind of a pain to get to but the space was not bad.

 

Jim...

 

 

Adventure of the Seas - Thanksgiving Cruise 2004

 

Carnival Elation - Easter Cruise 2004

 

RCI Explorer of the Seas - Feb 2003

Carnival Inspiration - Feb 2002

NCL Seaward (AKA Norwegian Sea) - June 1992

USS Dale (CG-19) - 1990

USS Coontz (DDG-40) - 1988

 

[cruznovice]

My four year old spend a good part of each day at Camp Carnival in February. It is located forward on the top deck, which is nice because it is quite sunny. Only drawback about this is that only the glass elevators go that high.

 

There are two separate rooms, dividing up the younger and older kids. I think it was divided by those in school and those too young for school. The computers are only in the older kids area, so my son only got access to the computers when the older kids were out and about on the ship.

 

The area is absolutely smoke-free. But the orientation session was held in the nightclub above the inspriation dining room (the name escapes me now) and the bar outside the nightclub allowed smoking including cigars. So by the time the orientation session was over it was quite smoky in the back of the nightclub and very smoky in bar which one had to walk throught to leave. This was a problem for us because parents are encourged to bring children to this session and my son is asthmatic.

 

I did take a beeper which was nice to have. Would have been nicer if it could have been taken off the vibrate option because you had to wear it all the time and that was a little tough while sunbathing or swimming. It did work all the way to the shopping area off the pier at Cozumel. That is as far away as I got from him.

 

I know some people leave their children on the ship when on a day trip, but I just didn't leave comfortable doing that. Maybe if he had been older.

 

In general, I thought it was one of the best parts of the vacation for my son.

 

I don't have any comment about arcade because we didn't go in. But when we walked by it was often crowded.

[soccermommie]

Cruisinfamilytx-

 

Our kids are 9mos, 6, 8, and 13, but we'll be leaving the baby home for this one, should we decide to book. Part of me would like to do a land based this summer so we could all go and enjoy instead of leaving the baby behind, but our kids have been begging for another cruise since we got back from the Jubilee. The harrassment has only gotten worse since DH and I booked a "mommy and daddy only" cruise for this December.

 

Jim-

 

Right now I can't think of anything specific I'd like for you to check out for me, but I would LOVE to hear your thoughts in general about Elation's Camp Carnival when you return - the counselors, the childrens' area, the supervised activities, etc.

 

Cruznovice-

 

Thanks so much for the info. It sounds like the children's area on this ship was planned much better than the Jubilee. When you say it was bright and sunny, I'm assuming you mean the actual children's room not just the area leading to the room. If I'm remembering correctly, the playroom on the Jubilee didn't have a single window. You walked down a flight of stairs into what felt to me like a dungeon. Very depressing I thought, but, once again, my kids loved it and didn't want to leave during "off" hours. We also didn't feel comfortable leaving them on the ship while we were off in port. Doubt we will this time, either.

 

Thanks again.

 

soccermommie

[Swamp Cruiser]

just got off the Elation last week. With kids 10 and 9. The kids are divided by age groups, mine were in the 9-12 age group. They meet alot in a room in the middle of the ship, the "Heckle and Jeckle". This "lounge" is also used some at night for ship-wide sing alongs and other activities. It is posted were the kids are to meet for activities,or they can go to the main kids club room and they will let them know. This age group is allowed to sign themselves in and out of Camp carnival. There was a first night welcome/intro. family party on the ship. thru-out the week they kind of went by the room and saw what was scheduled. They participated in a couple of ship-wide scavenger hunts, talent show, t-shirt painting, ice-cream social, dance party. other times they choose just to be with us or go from one photo shoot on the ship to another or other ship-wide acitities. There is a carnival "mascot" on the ship who participates in alot of the activities. There was also a "slumber party" they could have attended, but was from 12am until 3am. (extra cost). I have the "kid carnival capers" still, which is the daily schedule of activities. If anyone has a specific question i will try to answer. Carnival does have the second best "supervised" kids club of all cruise lines... Disney is number one- which i guess everyone knew.

[cruisinfamilytx]

soccermommie,

 

We were just on in March with an 11 year old and a 14.5 year old. Your kids will be together in the 6 to 8 should be great as my daughter really enjoyed the 9 to 11's. The 6 to 8 need to be signed in and out by you and your husband and spend more time up in camp carnaval.

 

The 12 to 15 year old group wasn't as exciting. But maybe yours being younger would like it better. Once they are 9 years old on carnival, they can sign themselves in and out. She liked the ice breaker on the first morning and did the games afterwards. After that she either hung out alone videoing the ship for us, reading by the pool or on the promenade deck with her pina coladas. Or, spending time with us, which was nice we did bingo, watched the game shows and some behind the scene tours--which she really enjoyed. I can send you a copy of the teen and 9 to 11 year old schedule if you send me your snail mail address.

[Swamp Cruiser]

you're right, i missed the age- it is 9-11 years olds together. My kids used Camp Carnival as another choice of something to do, spent alot of time with us doing the same activities as you mentioned.

[StaceyM]

we have 5 girls on our cruise, three are already 12 and two will not be 12 until July and August. We are going in June. Will they hav a hard time getting into the activites taht are for the 12-15 year olds? DO they check ages closely? What kind of activities are there for this age group? Can they get into the teen club?

[momof1cutie]

Do they serve snacks or drinks while the kids are in there?

[Swamp Cruiser]

They do check ages closely, in fact they KNOW how old each child is because they have it on the ship registry. However, my youngest child was 8 ( almost 9 by two months), we had to get approval from the Camp Carnival director in order for her to be moved up to the 9-11 group because she wanted to be with her 10 year old sister. It was not a problem. I feel as long as a child is close to the next age group they make exceptions.

[StaceyM]

Thanks for the info swamp cruiser. So we will just need to clear it with the camp carnival director? Is there a main desk at the entrance or is it somewhere eles?

[momof1cutie]

Do they let kids take toys back to their room? My 3 yr old loves to read and I don't want to pack a ton of books for her.

 

Do they serves snacks or drinks during Camp Carnival?

[Swamp Cruiser]

I only have knowledge of the 9-11 age group information. Since my two girls were in this group. There is two camp carnival "main" rooms. They both over look the pool deck area ( nice windows ). One side for very small the other for older kids, just go to either side and ask for the director ( or supervisor, I'm not sure what her offical title was). Like I mentioed before, the 9-11 year olds can sign themselves in and out and usually meet in another part of the ship as well as the 12-15 year olds. They have a camp carnival capers each day that shows daily activities and where they will take place. For the 3 year old, I'm not sure if they let them take books and toys to their room, I'm sure they do. They do have a library on the ship that has alot of books and board games they can check out and take to their room for alot of age groups.