October sailings/kids - ??

[paminohio]

I understand there won't be a ton of kids on an October sailing on a 4 or 5 day cruise on an older ship...but will there be ANY? My kids would be thrilled if there were 3 or 4 other kids their ages (they are 5 and 7). I'm now worried there wouldn't be ANY and they'd be in Camp Carnival all alone. If that were the case, would they still have all the regular activities?

Pam

until Voyager
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[jennings]

I am wondering the same thing. We are booked on the Destiny 10/3/04 and have our 12yr old son, and our 9 & 3yr old daughters going with us. Sure hope some other kids are aboard.

Carnival Tropicale 94'
Carnival Inspiration 96'
Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas 01'
Carnival Triumph 03'
Carnival Destiny 10/3/04'

Destiny!!!!!!!!!!!!
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[CruiseFever]

I've heard this one before and the end result has been that those cruisers came back and said there were plenty of kids.

In fact, the impression I get is that there are indeed fewer kids which often translates to more attention to the ones who are onboard.

It might be stretching it to say that "if you have kids and you're cruising in October, chances are you're on a Carnival ship" but I'd think there is some truth to it.

Other cruise lines have good kids programs too. I thought Carnival had the market cornered on kids programs with Camp Carnival but I learned last month that Princess has a decent program too.

But they don't do short cruises hardly at all.

I'd plan on them having the time of their lives; pack, budget and dream accordingly.

Happy Cruising

Chris

[url="http://www.LifeIsCruising.com"]www.LifeIsCruising.com[/url]

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/04
Star Princess 10/04
Carnival Spirit 12/04

[Cotton]

I've been on two October sailings, and I've always seen kids....not like when school's out, holidays, or spring breaks....but I've never cruised without seeing anywhere from 2-3 dozen kids at least.

Festivale 1987
Carnivale 1988
Mardi Gras 1989
Pacific Princess 1990
Norway 1994
Holiday 2001
Holiday 2002
Holiday 2003

[tpear3]

We were on an Inspiration cruise the week before Thanksgiving. There was plenty of kids for my kids to make friends. At the time mine were 6, 10, and 11. We no longer can book during school as the girls are now in Jr. High with lots of homework. You will all enjoy your cruise!

NCL Sea - 10/00
CCL Inspiration - 11/01

12/19/04 Elation cruise
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[Knights on the Beach]

There were several kids on our October 2002 cruise on RCI's Enchantment of the Seas. I'm sure there will be a few kids on your cruise as well.

Beth
~~~~~~~~~~~

Countdown to Glory
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Emerald Seas 6/86
Emerald Seas 11/87
S.S. Royale 10/88
Celebration 6/97
Grandeur of the Seas 6/98
Sensation 6/99
Carnival Triumph 6/00
Carnival Triumph 11/17/01
Enchantment of the Seas 10/27/02
Carnival Victory 5/25/03
Carnival Glory 5/22/04

[legalcruiser]

Just wondering - generally how do parents take kids on a week long vacation during the school year outside of school break, home schooling, etc? I remember as a youth in grade or secondary school that that wouldn't even be an option given a small allowance of unexcused absences per school year. Maybe I just went to strict schools?

Dawn 5/23/04
RCCL Enchantment 7/02
Carnival Glory 8/03

[dosi]

legalcruiser--in my area you can sign an independent study contract. You guarantee your child will do x amount of school work and maybe some kind of special report and the state still pays the school the per diem rate that they would otherwise lose for an unexcused absence. Out here it is no problem to miss school since our state is bankrupt and our educational system bites. In all honesty I do not feel like my son will miss much of anything if he misses a week of grade school. Now once he is in middle and high school I think that will be a little different. To the OP we had over 500 kids on our Elation cruise in Oct of 2002. Alot of kids last year on the Paradise. At least 100.

doris

"I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine"--Caskie Stinnett

Elation 10/20/02
Paradise 9/21/03
Star Princess 10/24/04

[This message was edited by dosi on 04-08-04 at 06:12 PM.]

[Knights on the Beach]

Also remember that some places have year-round school (nine weeks in, two or three weeks off), so it's possible to cruise just about any time of the year and find kids on school breaks. Year-round school was tried here a few years back, but didn't go over very well.

Beth
~~~~~~~~~~~

Countdown to Glory
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Emerald Seas 6/86
Emerald Seas 11/87
S.S. Royale 10/88
Celebration 6/97
Grandeur of the Seas 6/98
Sensation 6/99
Carnival Triumph 6/00
Carnival Triumph 11/17/01
Enchantment of the Seas 10/27/02
Carnival Victory 5/25/03
Carnival Glory 5/22/04

[legalcruiser]

Thanks for your reply Doris. That sounds like a good arrangement especially for parents with limited vacation availabilities.

It is not that I mind; it was just something I was always curious about.

Thanks again!

Dawn 5/23/04
RCCL Enchantment 7/02
Carnival Glory 8/03

[selucrey]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by paminohio:
I understand there won't be a ton of kids on an October sailing on a 4 or 5 day cruise on an older ship...but will there be ANY? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

PAM; We have cruised twice out of New Orleans in October and there were indeed kids on board.There were not a lot but the ones I saw were in the Camp Carnival program.If you are considering the 10/23/04 sailing on the Sensation,there will be some in our group with children.



INSPIRATION 10/21/01
CONQUEST 10/19/03
SINSATION 10/23/04

[mnhenderson]

Pam,We are also from Ohio. We take our son in October every year.We have a fall break due to the county fair each year.There are always at least 100 kids along for the ride. Last cruise, on the Pride, we had 22 in th 6-8 year old group.I like the small group. Wyatt gets a ton of attention and he makes closer friendships with fewer children. What ship are you sailing and when? We are on the Sensation-October 11. Hope that helps. Mariann

[paminohio]

I'm still debating which ship, based on from where it is sailing. We'll be driving from Ohio so Jacksonville is the closest,with Mobile, AL second. Third choice is Port Canaveral. We have relatives in Jax and Pt. C so we could save $$ on pier parking and also have a place to stay the night before for free. That would be the Celebration (jax) or Fantasy (Pt. C). But, the Fantasy is only a 4 night, instead of 5. Although, I am looking for the best pools for the kids, too. I guess the Holiday has a slide? My kids love that. Do the other ships?

Thanks again,

Pam

until Voyager
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[eerbeek]

Isn't October "school time" for MOST?

I would imagine the ratio of kids to adults should be well diluted in Oct., but still there will be plenty of playmates! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Lido Deck Linda



[img]http://www.bigotis.com/Glory/dudes.gif[/img]

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Fantasy 2/6/2000
Victory 3/23/2003
Destiny 4/25/2004

[Knights on the Beach]

Maybe October is school time for most, but like I said in my earlier post some school districts are on year-round schedules, which gives the kids two or three week breaks throughout the year. Besides, lots of schools have "Fall Breaks" now, too. Our country doesn't, but the county next to us does, and their break was in October last year.

Beth
~~~~~~~~~~~

Countdown to Glory
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Emerald Seas 6/86
Emerald Seas 11/87
S.S. Royale 10/88
Celebration 6/97
Grandeur of the Seas 6/98
Sensation 6/99
Carnival Triumph 6/00
Carnival Triumph 11/17/01
Enchantment of the Seas 10/27/02
Carnival Victory 5/25/03
Carnival Glory 5/22/04

[eerbeek]

And that is exactly why I said "MOST". No need to reiterate!

Lido Deck Linda



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[img]http://skins.hotbar.com/skins/mailskins/em/062802/062802jumpie_prv.gif[/img] [img]http://skins.hotbar.com/skins/mailskins/em/033102/033102food_1_prv.gif[/img] [img]http://skins.hotbar.com/skins/mailskins/em/062802/062802drink_prv.gif[/img] [img]http://skins.hotbar.com/skins/mailskins/em/082502/082502cheers_prv.gif[/img]

Fantasy 2/6/2000
Victory 3/23/2003
Destiny 4/25/2004

[Knights on the Beach]

Just giving another point of view. No need to get snippy.

Beth
~~~~~~~~~~~

Countdown to Glory
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Emerald Seas 6/86
Emerald Seas 11/87
S.S. Royale 10/88
Celebration 6/97
Grandeur of the Seas 6/98
Sensation 6/99
Carnival Triumph 6/00
Carnival Triumph 11/17/01
Enchantment of the Seas 10/27/02
Carnival Victory 5/25/03
Carnival Glory 5/22/04