Leaving a Child in Cruise Line Camp

what is a cruise lines "camp"?

Two years ago I took my then 4 year old daughter on a 7 day Carnival cruise. She loved the camp. They even have dinner for the kids if they want to go. I always gave my daughter the choice, dinner with Mommy or dinner with the kids. She pretty much always chose the kids.

Yes I have been on both cruise lines +. My kids loved it more so as they got older. Get her involved as soon as you board they are great with kids and with the little ones you can sometimes get a beeper. Camp is a great way to socialize and give parents some free time.

Just do it enjoy.

My son was older, but still went to the camp every day. Sometimes it was just to meet up with some new buds and they would check themselves out of camp and go to the pool or miniature golfing or basketball. (Carnival allows age 9+ to check themselves in and out if parents allow.) What I noticed on our cruise was that 95% of the childcare workers/counselors were female. They did lots of crafts and girly games and the girls seemed to have a blast. The boys, not so much... Could have just been the cruise we were on.

If you don't mind, I would like to also recommend the early seating for the little ones at dinner. There are lots of kids and they make it more family. Also, the downside, if you get stuck at a table with another family and it's not a good fit, makesure to ask for a new table that very same night. We got stuck at a table with a family with two very ill-behaved boys and because I didn't request to move the table immediately, we got stuck. The boys refused to listen to their parents and once, the parents both got up and left the table with one of their boys and left me to watch their other son, who thought throwing food at the waiters and other patrons was okay. How embarrassing! People thought he was my son!! My son, by the way, was very happily and quietly eating his 5th shrimp cocktail of the night (haha).

Happy Cruising, sorry for the unsolicited dinner advice!
S.

PS If you enjoy wine/beer. Make sure you use the daily allotment because drinks are very, very expensive.

We had a five and a three year old go with my husband and I on a 7 day Carnival cruise last Sept. We did leave them at the camp about 3 times for a few hours at a time. We did feel comfortable doing so and we are not ones that leave our children often at all with anyone. I booked the cruise on purpose AFTER school started (I home school) so there was not alot of children on the ship or in the camp. On the first day of the cruise they offer an "open house" for you and your family to check it out and ask questions. You can also at that time fill out an information sheet(s) to enroll your child(ren) if later you decide to leave them at the camp. They also give you a cell phone to carry during the entire cruise so they can contact you if needed if you leave them at the camp. You return the phone on the last day of the cruise. I found the faculty clean and the staff nice. They had plenty for them to do as well. My boys did like it but we just enjoyed keeping them with us and vacation as a family for most of the cruise.
Hope this helps. Happy sailing!
C.

My brother went on a Carnival cruise with his family last year. He has two boys, ages 7 and 11. They loved the camp. My brother had a hard time getting them to leave the camp every day. I hear the same thing from other people that have gone on cruises with their kids. They do a lot of different activities in the camp. Good luck and have fun!!