We were guests on the Carnival Imagination that sailed on 2/23 out of Miami. We had a good time, food was good and the staff was very accommodating and friendly... with one VERY BIG exception, the kids club "Camp Carnival". Our girls are 9 and 5 and on the 2nd day our asked to go to the open play session so they could check the kids club out. When we dropped them off and registered them around 10:00 am they were the only 2 kids there. We were a little surprised but our kids were excited to try it and with four counselors we figured they would get lots of attention. We returned to pick them up an hour and a half later to have them race back to us close to tears and tell us they were never going back. They informed us that the counselors wouldn't let them paint or color or play on the computers. Since they were the only two they had them watch a movie the entire time. Since Carnival does not provide pagers as other cruises do our kids could not page us to come back and pick them up. The cruise was very nice but the Lido deck activities are clearly adult focused and since it was two windy most of the time for the water slide or putt putt that was our only option to swim and play with our kids amongst the adult activities. The evening shows and activities were all adult focused (PG-17 rated). In the past we have taken a Disney Cruise and the kids club was 110% better. The activities had a much wider range - luau party nights, cookie baking and treasure hunts to name a few. Our kids were younger and BEGGED us to go to the kids club. Much of the time my husband and I would hang out and watch the festivities (we were made to feel very welcome) and the counselors interacted with the kids constantly. While there were adult focused activities and shows on board there were equal amounts of family shows and activities. As I said, the cruise was nice and the staff very friendly but I would not recommend Carnival for a family trip. Go Disney.

Huh Disney is better for kids who would have guessed

Hmm an anonymous poster posting about Disney sounds very fimilar. Ive never had a problem on Carnival at all. Id assume it being in Feb. most kids are in school. Why do people want wine on a beer bottle budget? Id prefer Carnival over Disney any day they are so over priced and its not even worth it. You want to know something odd Disney cruise line with the B.B.B. is rate an F if you done believe me look for your self http://www.orlando.bbb.org/newsearch2.asp?ComID=07330027001349

Now Carnival on the other hand is an A- http://www.seflorida.bbb.org/BusinessReport.aspx?CompanyID=21000334

id take an A over an F anyday

I checked the Disney price. What they have to offer is not worth the extra $2,000. They have two nice ships soon to be four ships. If I want a big mouse or a rat running around I'd chose RCCL.   Carnival is great and the kids love it. I'll keep cruising on Carnival.

Near the Beach:

I checked the Disney price. What they have to offer is not worth the extra $2,000. They have two nice ships soon to be four ships. If I want a big mouse or a rat running around I'd chose RCCL.   Carnival is great and the kids love it. I'll keep cruising on Carnival.

So you did not like your cruise RCCL? Just wondering considering next cruise, but I am partial to Carnival.You can't go wrong with a fun ship

Anonymous:

Since Carnival does not provide pagers as other cruises do our kids could not page us to come back and pick them up

A very minor investment would have provided you with walkie talkies.

jsut two weeks later the Legend had hundreds of children booked.  they all seemed to be enjoying the adventures planned out for them.

 

 

 

shell:

Near the Beach:

 

So you did not like your cruise RCCL? Just wondering considering next cruise, but I am partial to Carnival.You can't go wrong with a fun ship

We also have done both Carnival and RCCL and are going back to Carnival in 21 days. Nothing on RCCL was as good as Carnival's... It cost us a little bit more, not much, the service was nothing near as wonderful as Carnival, nor was the food or entertainment. Our vote is Carnival.

no kidding

that's right

You must not be a Carnival fan. I am sorry your children didnt enjoy themselves. But I think you should have went during the spring or the  summer there are more kids. But if overall you had a good cruise then you should definitely travel Carnival again. Stop being a sourpuss. Besides Disney is a ripoff a 7-day cruise is like 1500pp. Thats INSANE!!

I also agree. My daughter, 14y did not have a great time and we went during spring break. The kids club for her age was 11-14yrs. She went one night and it was all younger kids doing younger activities. She tried again another day & no one was in the room - not even staff. So she ended up hanging around me & my husband not happy. She was miserable during trivia, during dance lessons, she did enjoy watching karaoke & the shows but that was it. The shows were adult themed, the dancers mimicked strippers during a few of the dance scenes. I was not happy at all and will never book another carnival criuse again, big waste of money. You're probably better off paying alittle more for the disney-at least everyone will have a good time. I won't recommend this for anyone.

We sailed on the Carnival Liberty on 11/30/08 & there were 600 kids onboard & we hardly saw them.  They were very busy with Camp Carnival.  I would assume you just went at the wrong time with kids.  Usually Carnival ships are very kids friendly.

First- my kids, 11 and 13, love Carnival, and so do we! 

She tried again another day & no one was in the room - not even staff.  That's probably because the groups don't stay in one room, they vary locations-  that's why there is a schedule handed out at the beginning of the cruise, so perhaps she went to the wrong room.

So she ended up hanging around me & my husband not happy. She was miserable during trivia, during dance lessons,  If the plans for her activities didn't work out and you chose not to adjust your schedule so you could enjoy family time, that's NOT Carnival's fault!  

she did enjoy watching karaoke & the shows but that was it. The shows were adult themed, the dancers mimicked strippers during a few of the dance scenes. If the shows were adult-themed, then why did you take your daughter??  Even if the show wasn't properly "rated" (as they typically are) at the first HINT of strippers, I would have taken my daughter and gone to play mini-golf or looked at the stars or gone swimming or gone to the library or gone to have ice cream or gone to have our nails done... ANYTHING ELSE!

If you aren't happy with Carnival, that's your opinion and that's fine, but don't blame Carnival for poor parenting!

 In February most kids are in school. You should try going during a school break or during a "homeschooler cruise".

Both my cruises had lots of kids onboard (between 400-500) of all ages. First cruise was in November, the week before Thanksgiving, so not during a break. Second cruise was in February, during Mardi Gras, so was only a spring break for kids in the areas that really celebrate that holiday. Sounds like you just went at a bad time. I don't think its Carnivals fault that no one with kids near your childs age booked and brought their kids on the same cruise as you....