Sailing with kids on Carnival? It’s a good choice for families to have a ton of fun. The cruise line is specifically focused on families with tons of things for kids to do.
Below, we’ve rounded up some of the most popular things kids and families will love to do on the ship.
Camp Ocean
Carnival’s Camp Ocean is a place that kids will love, but adults might love it even more. This is Carnival’s dedicated kids area, where parents can drop off their kids and the Carnival staff supervises them and offers up all sorts of things to do — from arts and crafts to video games to competitions. Meanwhile, Mom and Dad can go do their own thing.
Kids are separated into groups based on age, so they are interacting only with people around the same age (no your 13-year-old doesn’t have to hang out with five-year-olds). The open hours are fairly lengthy so you can enjoy dinner and a show while your kid has a ton of fun. Carnival even allows you to go into port while your kid is at Camp Ocean.
Sports Court Activities
Have an athletic kid? They will feel right at home at the sport court. This is the ship’s basketball court where they can shoot hoops, but it’s often more than that. Soccer goals are sometimes set up for football fans. Or they can just run around doing their own thing in an open space.
Check your daily planner for competitions as there are contests like free-throw shooting where your kid can show their stuff and possibly win a golden trophy!
Mini-Golf
Putt-putt (or mini golf if you’re serious) is a cruise staple. Just about every Carnival ship will have a course and it’s open whenever you want to play. Just pick up a club from the bin and start putting. The courses are great for kids (they are fairly straightforward with large holes) and you’ll always see a lot of families playing.
As well, there are usually hole-in-one contests (check the daily planner) if your kid wants to play for a prize.
Ropes Course (For the Brave)
Not every ship has them, but if your kid wants a little adventure then see if you’re sailing on a ship with a ropes course. These courses tower over the main deck and feature all sorts of obstacles you have to walk through, over, and around. Of course, they have to do it all while harnessed in and standing 12 feet over the deck below. It’s a challenge that will cause them to forget all about screens and video games and focus directly on what they are doing! Best of all, it’s free to do.
Build-a-Bear Workshop
It’s an additional cost on the cruise, but if you want a tangible memory of your vacation then Build-A-Bear is a great idea. Check the daily planner and there will be a set time during the trip (usually one of the mornings on a 7-day cruise) where a workshop is set up for kids to make their bear. They get to pick out everything the bear wears, so each one is unique. And it doesn’t even have to be a bear, there are turtles, sharks, dogs, and more that your kiddo can create.
Poolside Movies
Sometimes a kid just wants to chill out with a movie. Well, what about a new release on the big screen… on the pool deck? Carnival ships have massive screens that overlook the pool area. At night, there is often a movie shown (usually the latest animated or superhero movie) where kids can sit in a lounger or the hot tub and watch the flick. Sometimes there is also popcorn served. Just one tip — the pool deck can get cold at night so be sure to dress a little warmer than you would during the day.
Go “Duck Hunting”
One of the things kids will love doing the most on a cruise is actually something that has nothing to do with Carnival at all (though in recent times they have leaned into it!). It’s become a trend on cruises for passengers to hide small rubber ducks around the ship. When you find one, you either keep it or move it to a new hiding spot to keep the fun going.
For kids, hunting and finding ducks is a treasure hunt that can keep them entertained for hours. You never know where one might pop up.
Arcade
Mom and dad have the ship’s casino. Kids have the arcade. Any Carnival ship you sail will have an arcade for the kids. While it might not be as busy as you remember the arcade in the mall when you were a teenager, it still has a lot of options. Everything from racing to shooting games from ticket redemption games (ski-ball, anyone?) to air hockey can all be available, depending on your ship.
Everything is done with your room keycard, so no need to bring quarters!
Hit the Pool
Of course the classic cruise activity for kids is to hit the pool. Every ship you sail will have a pool and many ships feature multiple ones. There are also hot tubs available. Kids are welcome to swim in any of these, as long as they are potty trained. There are lifeguards on duty (though that’s not a reason to not still keep an eye on your kid), and there are also life jackets available for free.
Just keep in mind that the pools are relatively small for the number of people on the ship.
Visit the Candy Shop: Cherry on Top
Cherry on Top might sound like an ice cream spot, but it’s actually a lineup of candy stores that you’ll find on Carnival. Here, you’ll have a literal kid in a candy shop where they can get anything from chocolate bars to gummy works to jawbreakers and tons more. Honestly, it’s hard to visit this spot without spending a small fortune, so just be prepared!
Dr. Seuss at Sea
Carnival is the only cruise line that has a tie to Dr. Seuss. If your kids love The Cat in the Hat and other characters, they are in luck. For the little ones, Carnival offers a Seuss parade, there is a Thing 1 and Thing 2 breakfast (extra cost), and also a story time with characters and some theming in kids areas around the ship.
The Evening Shows
You cruise will come with entertainment included, and in our opinion, the shows aren’t to be missed. Now, that’s an adult’s perspective. But there are some shows that could be a big hit with kids. Some comedians offer family-friendly shows earlier in the evening. Then there are acts like magicians or jugglers that can be a hit with kids. Game shows like Family Feud or bingo can be popular with the kids too.
Those shows that feature a lot of singing and dancing? The kids might prefer going to Camp Ocean during those instead.
Splash at Carnival Waterworks
What kid doesn’t love a waterslide? Or a splash pad? Or a massive bucket filling with water that then tips and dunks all over?
Carnival ships have a Waterworks area with all of these things that kids will love. It’s all free to do and perfect for days at sea. The good news is that the slides are fun but not too crazy so even smaller kids should have a good time on them while older kids won’t get bored.
Plenty of Family Photo Opportunities
We don’t know many kids that enjoy taking family photos, but there certainly are parents that want to get a nice photo to remember their vacation. There are plenty of opportunities, starting right when you board. There will be a backdrop and photographer set up in the terminal to get a picture when boarding. During the cruise you’ll find more photo setups and roving photographers. If you like the photo, you can purchase it onboard to take home with you.
Eating Is For Kids Too!
Food is a big part of any cruise, and that includes the kids loving their options. To us, there’s no better cruise for kids eating than Carnival. They have a lot of free options (especially on newer ships) with tons of items that will appeal to children. There’s pizza that you can just grab and go, the famous Guy’s Burger Joint, tacos, and Big Chicken. Dining rooms can cater to any sort of tastes and the buffet always has options. Nobody will go hungry on a Carnival cruise, no matter their age or tastebuds.
Get Your Fill of Soft Serve
One suggestion if you are sailing with kids — or even if you aren’t — is to find the soft-serve machine on the first day. It can be in various spots around the ship but it’s always one of the most popular things for kiddos to hit up the machine for dessert or a snack. It’s completely free, and you’ll no doubt see lots of people during your trip enjoying their ice cream.
Towel Animal Invasion
Carnival is famous for having towel animals in the cabins. When the steward tidies up your room during the day, you can expect to come back to a towel animal sitting on your bed. Kids absolutely love these creatures but there’s something even better to watch for.
During the morning of one of the later days of the cruise, there is the “towel animal invasion.” There is no announcement, so you’ll just have to be sure to visit the pool deck around breakfast time to check. When it happens, every chair and surface will have a towel animal sitting on it. It’s something that your kids will absolutely love to see. Don’t miss it.
More on sailing with kids:
- Camp Ocean (Carnival’s Kid Area): What to Know Before Your Kids Go
- 41 Must-Have Tips for Cruising With Babies, Toddlers, or Small Kids (From Someone That’s Done It)
