I was wondering if there is anyone else that will be on the cruise with children from 9 to 11 years old.  This will be our first cruise and my 9 year old daughter is very excited to meet other kids at Camp Carnival. 

 We have 2 boys, 8 and 11, that will be joining us.  First cruise for all of us.  We are so excited we are about to have kittens.  The 8 year old has been lukewarm about Camp Carnivalbut the 11 year old is stoked.  I think the selling point for him was all the gaming options.

Hi there, we will be on the 11/22 cruise and I have an 8yr old daughter that will going, but unfortunatly she would not be with your daughter since the age groups change from 8 to 9. My daughter will be in the 6-8 yr olds. This will be her 3rd cruise and she was hoping to meet friends in Camp Carnival too!

Hi Suzie,

My daughter may want to go with the 6-8yr olds instead of the 9-11yr old group (she will just be turning 9 the beginning of Nov) It depends on the activities each group is doing.  Do you know what they have for activities are the 6-8 yr old's?  This will be our first cruise, so we don't know what to expect!

Hi Angelmom-

Carnival has a pretty strict policy about the age groups. We started crusing when she was a month away from 6 y/o and I wanted her to go with the 6-8 y/o instead of 2-5 but they wouldnt let her. She liked it ok, but i am hoping that they have updated CC a bit from our cruise in March of 07 on the Inspiration.

They do candy art, t-shirt painting, a scavenger hunt (which she really liked because they walk around the ship) they also take them to the nighttime show on formal night which is good if you want to get dressed up and have an adult dinner. They have movie nights, video games etc, and the staff really is as nice as you hope they are, really seem to like their job, and seem very knowledgeable about kids!

I know my daughter would have fun if she had a friend, she is social but prefers that one on one friendship rather than friends with everyone (if that makes sense). They have a welcome aboard party to fill out paperwork, take the kids and parents on a tour and usually go make ice cream sundaes. I always go with my daughter to all of that so she doesnt feel like I just dropped her off!

It would be nice if they let parents decide to move their kid if they are close in age to another group, like my daughter will turn 9 in March and she may want to be with the older kids (pesonally i dont think she would have much fun with an 11yr old which is the other side of the group) or maybe your daughter would prefer to be with the younger ones, but I wish as parents we could choose!

anyway, hope I helped. Let me know if you have any other questions, I live here locally and have cruised with Carnival 4 times now, this one the second on Inspiration (pretty excited to see the changes) Cruising really is great!!

Hi Suzie,

I do have another question- How warm with the water be when we go on the excursions?  We will be in the water with the sting rays at the Grand Cayman, and I really don't like cold water and was wondering how warm it will be.  We live on the east coast of Florida, and I need the water to be at least 84 degrees to swim!!!  My daughter swims year round (with a wet suit on)!  Thanks!! Let me know if you have any more tips.

hi there! I am like you and I dont like the cold water! We live on the other coast of FL in the Tampa area so our water tends to be about 85... cant say that i know about the temp for the cruise though, I have only cruised in the springtime, this is my first fall cruise. I do hope its warm! last year my 8 y/o and I went to Paradise Beach in Cozumel and had a great time... we bought arm bands for $9.00 each and we were able to swim, kayak, climb a "coconut tree" etc and the food was good too! My daughter loves mac and cheese and it was Kraft, so that was a plus! They provide the lounge chairs and umbrellas as well. I think I am going suggest going there again this time!

We will be traveling with our 3 and 14 yr old.  The 14 yr old has cruised before and didn't do much much with Camp Carnival but is really excited this time.  I'm hoping the 3 yr old enjoys it...I toured on the Valor last spring and it seemed liked the kids were having a great time.  Any advice on traveling with a 3 yr old???  My husband and I cruise twice a year but this is the 1st time on the Inspiration

Thanks

Michelle

Hey AngelMom,

I also live in FL and do not go in my parents pool unless it is at least 86 so I know what you mean about the water being warm as well!  I went on the sting ray tour in Dec. 2004 and the water is beautiful there!  It is only up to about your waist (I'm 5'6") so the sun really keeps it warm since it's so shallow.  You will love that tour!  They are so friendly and soft.  It's like stroking velour (spelling lol) I am going again this Dec with my Mom and can not wait!!!

Karen, FL

Thanks for the info Karen!  Do you go in the water bare foot, or do you wear the water shoes??

I have seen any other "roll calls" for this cruise.  I started another one.  Here is a link.

I would think people would start doing more posts now that we are starting to get fairly close.  Big ship, 4 families,  has to be more going.