On our last cruise we took our kids with us when in port. I have sinced learned that you can leave your kids at camp carnival while the parents go to port alone. I have no doubt that my kids will love camp... they loved it last time we cruised and I often had them begging me to go back when I would pick them up for lunch and dinner.

The thought of my kids being in camp while I am off on some island makes me a bit nervous. I know the staff is screened well and they have security procedures in place but I am still scared that something could happen and I wont be there. Has anyone used camp service while in port and if so, do you have any suggestions, complaints, or compliments that you can share with me?

 

Didn't realize that this was an option. My first thought when I read this was "what if something happened to you in port and your kids were left on the ship alone?" That would be my biggest fear. Just a thought...

I have not done this but a friend was traveled with did.  I think it really depends on the age of the children also.  Her kids were 8 and 10 and she does not allow them to sign themselves out so she knew they would be in camp until she came to get them.

She had a bit of a reservation about leaving them but they did not do anything that would put them at any great risk and if something happened to one of them there was still the other.  I would recommend a Carnival excursion if you do this so you know that you can't miss the ship.

They have some sort of emergency policy that they follow and from what I understand they can contact these tour groups at anytime so I would think if anything happened to them you would be able to reach you.  Her kids had no problems and like she said, it is in the back of your mind a bit the whole time, but they are doing what they want and you get to do what you want.

im glad you posted this.we are sailing dec.14th 2009.our kids are 17,13,and 8. we did not want to take the 2 younger(boys) out in the evening time.so i asked about leaving them on the boat too.i was told people do it all the time and thats why this service is available.also they givwe you pagers.

we want our 17 year old to have a good time too.and that is sometimes hard with 2 little brothers.we will be trying it ourselves.good luck to you and us both

Dendee:

The thought of my kids being in camp while I am off on some island makes me a bit nervous.

On a port day, because of the rain, we went back to ship early, and caught a late lunch on the Lido deck.  After getting our food, my kid noticed a friend he made in Camp sitting at a table all by himself.  We went over to join him.

It turned out, this 9 yo was left to wander around the ship all by himself, as his parents went on an excursion for the day.

tracyanns:

I would recommend a Carnival excursion if you do this so you know that you can't miss the ship.

On the 'net is a video of some parents just missing the ship.  However, since their daughter was on board, the captain sent a small launch back to the dock to pick up the parents.  I think that is the only time Carnival did such a thing.

I guess the captain didn't want the responsibility of having a kid on board w/o their parents.

We did this on another cruiseline.  My dtr was 6 and I was nervous. But when we got back and picked her up, she was mad and wanted to stay!

We left our then 4 & 2 year old on the boat when we cruised to Cozumel on the Fantasy.  We were too nervous to actually do an excursion, but we walked around the area at the pier for a little bit. When we got back on the boat we were still anxious but we picked up the kids and they couldn't have cared less that we were gone. They were happy as clams at camp. Looking back, I wish we would have done more in Cozumel because I am certain the kids would have been fine. The staff in CC was really good.

I have been cruising with both my kids since they were just out of diapers- now 6 and 12 and I have always left them at Camp Carnival on gone to shore.  They love it!!  and they have "extra fun" stuff for them to do during that time.  They are locked on the ship with the camp crew.  More relaxing to know that then trying to keep up with them in a port with all the "activity" going on.  And like another poster said- they don't usually want to leave when you go to pick them up.