Camp Carnival

[Mikey3w11]

I am a little over protective with my two year old. What are the reviews for camp carnival like. Has anyone had complaints or problems. Thanks

[snista]

I am also very very protective but yielded to hubby who said my three and six year olds would be fine. I have to admit he was right. They were amazing with my kids and I could not get them away from there without a fight. My kids actually cried on the last day saying goodbye to one of their counselors. They are now five and eight and we are leaving in three weeks. All I hear is camp carnival this, and camp carnival that. It left a great impression on them.

 

That is my experience. I know everyone's is different.

[I&MsMom]

We were lucky to take three cruises while DD was 2. She went to, and enjoyed, the camp every time. We choose the 2nd and 3rd cruises because we had such a wonderful experience on the first cruise.

 

We had no problems. The facility is very child-friendly and the camp counselors are AMAZING! It is a very well thought out and well executed program which just captivates the kids!

 

No worries! You'll have the best time! (When was the last time you were able to sit by a pool and read? LOL)

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[brew62]

We have gone on 2 cruises. We just returned this weekend from our second from a different ship. If there is one thing that is the same on the Carnival Ships it is camp carnival.

The kids love it there. Their staff is trained for that particular job. And security. If you went to pick up your child and your arm was hanging half off because a shark grabbed your Id on your way to pick them up they would tell you not without the ID.

Also remember, the parent that signs them in is the only one that can sigh them out. So if you are not sure who will be getting them out both of you should sign them in.

Believe me your kids will be upset if they can't go all the time.

[katnapa]

I am taking my 8 yr old DD on a cruise leaving in 12 days ( :) ) ... and based on all the great reviews and knowing how hard it is to keep kids active, am planning to tip the camp carnival counselors. What are your thoughts ... cash or phone card? Thanks, K

[caribbean dreams]

I have always been very happy with Camp carnival and the staff, at times it is hard to drag my daughter away for it.

I tip the staff cash.

[1tonysmom]

We just returned from a cruise on the Triumph. My DD, 4, loved Camp Carnival. She became very attached to the counselors and they were so great with her. On the way to preschool today, she told me how much she missed Miss Julie , Miss Cindy and Miss Minkie and that she wanted to go back. She is going on a cruise 6/19 on the Fantasy and asked if they would be her "teachers". I felt really good on the cruise knowing she was so happy.

 

Joanne :D

[Jolimont]

My 4yo had a great time at Camp Carnival, she went willingly and spoke fondly of the counselors. They were very careful about check-in and check-out, we felt it was very safe. 2yo can be a little harder to handle if they are not used to doing things without their parents, but hopefully yours won't mind.

[KJPG]

The first day on board you get to visit Camp Carnival. That might be a good time to see how your child will like it. You'll have a meeting with the counselors that night. Camp opens the next morning.

 

Our youngest is very shy and has a hard time talking to new people. Our first cruise last spring break, I talked up Camp Carnival to her. By the cruise, she was so jazzed about it, she checked in the first day and I don't think she even said goodbye to us...

[JackieH]

We will be on the Valor in August. My kids will be 12, 7 and 2. The older 2 kids were on one other cruise almost 3 yrs ago on RCCL, and did fine. MY almost 2 yr old has not. She is not as outgoing as her siblings, so Im wondering how she will do in Camp Carnival.

[UKCRUISEFAN2]

WE HAVE BEEN CRUISING SINCE OLDEST DD WAS 4 AND SHE IS NOW 11. THE ONE CONSISTENT AND WONDERFUL THING HAS BEEN CAMP CARNIVAL. THAT IS THE SINGLE FACTOR THAT HAS KEPT US FROM TRYING OTHER LINES. THE COUNSELORS ARE ALWAYS KNOWLEDGABLE, KIND AND GREAT LISTENERS. WE ARE ONLY SAD THIS IS HER LAST CRUISE AS A KID....MOVING UP TO THE TEEN PROGRAM. NOW, THAT IS SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT!:eek:

[I&MsMom]

Take your 2 year old to the camp meeting the first night. It will give him/her a chance to meet the counselors and some of the other kids. Then go to the party in the disco that is usually right after the meeting. It will give your child a chance to interact with the counselors and the other kids with you there. They play games, have balloons, etc. You can participate, or not, depending on the comfort level of your child. That way, when you drop him/her off the next morning there are familiar faces.

 

Also, I only dropped DD off for about an hour the first morning. When I went to pick her up, she didn't want to leave. I told her she could go back after lunch if she was very good. That was it - no looking back. She wanted to go to camp at every opportunity!

 

BTW: we tip cash. Usually you hand it to whoever is presiding over the sign out the last night, and I feel it's easier to divide among the counselors if it's cash.

 

Enjoy!

[wmsherwood]

Ditto to all the positive statements made previously. We've had our kids in camp since they were 3. One was very shy at first, but if you take them to orientation and to the "disco" party (as previously suggested) you'll probably find that they'll be very comfortable. The counselors have consistently been great, though our kids are older now and often don't go (they have teen things to do once they meet up with their age group). You'll probably find that the counselors are very sensitive to the shier children and often go out of their way to spend time to bond with those kids. The last cruise we were on we went by the party and one of the counselors had a child on each knee (hugging pretty close) while the parents kind of faded out of the room. Later during the cruise we saw those kids with the camp group and they appeared to be having a great time.

 

As for tipping, though we often do give out phone cards (for waiters, stewards, and random staffers who make our cruise great) we've always tipped Camp Carnival in cash because of the sharing.

 

Have a great cruise!

[Scoutcat]

While our kids were too old for Camp Carnival when we cruised last December, I do remember reading about it. All of the CC staffers have to have either a degree in some form of education---such as early childhood specialist---or adequate experience in child care or teaching in order to even have applied for the position.

 

We were on board the week before Christmas, and on the last afternoon--Christmas Eve--all the CC kids put on the cutest program. They must have been practicing a good bit of the week! Even the littlest ones had a blast from what I could tell.

 

"Scout" aka Carol

Dayton, OH

 

Carnival Valor~December 2005

[ratherBcruizin']

We will be on the Valor in August. My kids will be 12, 7 and 2. The older 2 kids were on one other cruise almost 3 yrs ago on RCCL, and did fine. MY almost 2 yr old has not. She is not as outgoing as her siblings, so Im wondering how she will do in Camp Carnival.

 

I have a timid 2 1/2 year old too. She'd be just a couple weeks shy of 3 when/if we cruise. She is not accustomed to the daycare/child care scene so I'm wondering how it'd go. We just keep going back and forth between going or waiting!?!?

[LHP]

Our 2 sons have loved Camp Carnival for years. While they were not as young as 2 when they started, (6 and 8ish, as best as I can remember) they have gotten consistant excellent care on all 13 cruises they have been on.

Our youngest son is a special needs child and they have done a wonderful job with him.