With 500,000 passengers under age 18 each year, Carnival has sold itself as the family cruise line. FTF asks what the line really offers.

Carnival does a very good job of living up to its tag line of "Fun Ships" and now has 22 of these big ships operating three to 16-day cruises that depart from several ports around the US, and sail into more than 60 of the world's most beautiful destinations. While there was a large partying crowd aboard our Carnival Destiny cruise, there were also plenty of seniors and families. Carnival has enjoyed such success, that they now carry approximately half of the total number of children who will cruise in a year.

Carnival cites the growing trend among North Americans for taking short getaways vs. longer-length vacations as the reason behind a scheduling trend with many shorter itineraries. We're pleased that they're offering so many port options, too, which will make it more cost-effective for families to join their ships.

For flexibility in youth activities and care, Carnival fits the bill, with programming and/or group babysitting from 9am to 3am (the supervised camp runs 9am-10pm daily), which is unprecedented. The nightly babysitting is proved for ages 2-11, nightly, from 10:00p.m. - 3:00p.m. (There is a charge for this service). Carnival is unique in welcoming 2-year-olds into their youth program, changing diapers and administering bottles.

The youth program is offered in port, free-of-charge -- not the norm either. Even under-2s are accepted in nighttime group babysitting and on port days from 15 minutes prior to the first ship tour, to approximately 12:00p.m., when cribs are set up in part of the kids' room. Preschooler parents will also appreciate the indoor play areas, video walls with cartoons showing, jungle gyms, mini-basketball, kiddie pool and onboard stroller and bouncy chair rentals.

Carnival's commitment to families with children of all ages, supervised fun activities and tremendous value, earned this cruise line Honorable Mention in FTF's "Top 10 Getaways for Tiny Travelers" honors in 2002.

For added security, parents with children 5 and under receive a beeper or cell phone upon registration on the first day, which they keep throughout the cruise.  The beeper works for ship-use only; the range does not extend beyond the ship.  Parents will be beeped/called if a child is misbehaving, ill, seriously unhappy, asking continuously for their parents, or in the case of an emergency.

Despite its breadth, the youth program is not intended for parents to get rid of their kids. There are many family activities in which parents must participate in order for children to take part. We found that the family arts 'n crafts night (art programs are being expanded to include paper mache, oil paints, watercolors and more), talent show, welcome and farewell parties, scavenger hunt and "Name that Tune" were highlights of the youth program and what really set it apart from others.

Carnival Educruise

Carnival's "Educruise" program runs on over half of the fleet's ships and promises to be fleet-wide soon.  This educational program offers a specialist who devises activities for kids in all age groups. While most of the programming is geography-oriented and tied into the shop's destinations, the Carnival Conquest's science experiments are being expanded as the H2Ocean hands-on science program, to be led by skilled counselors. Carnival's A-B-Seas initiative brings the pleasure of reading to cruising, with library read-alouds, bedtime story-telling, writing workshops and storytime act-out sessions.

The youth rooms aboard the newer ships, in particular, are very roomy, cheerful and well-equipped. The Destiny-class ships also sport an outside play area just for kids with a slide, climbing apparatus, splash pool and kid-sized picnic tables. For daring children and adults, there is the trademark Carnival waterslide on each ship, which my daughter and I enjoyed. Both the youth staff and our room steward were warm and friendly. Turn-down service provides children with chocolate chip cookies and a poem on their pillow on one of the formal nights.

The Carnival Legend's corkscrew waterslide, high-tech game room, expansive indoor and outdoor play areas, and 2,400-square-foot dedicated children's room, Noah's Ark, was out-classed by the Carnival Conquest's 4,200-square-foot Children's World.  Like the Legend, this 2,974-passenger ship features a youth room which can be divided into different areas including a playroom, game room, and 16 TV movie room. Adjacent to Children's World is a wading pool.

Although Carnival did away with dedicated teen rooms many years ago, it is now adding them to many of its existing ships. The Conquest-class ships all have a purpose-built teen (15-17 years) recreation area called "Club 02." Some of its features include a state-of-the-art game room with the latest video and arcade games; a lounge where teens can relax, socialize and enjoy non-alcoholic beverages; a teen disco; and a video wall showing music videos. On the original Conquest, like the rest of the ship's Impressionist-inspired interiors, the interior of Club 02 is a take-off on Paris' famous Montmartre district with design elements that include exposed brick walls, concert posters, graffiti, and building facades. 

Similarly, the Liberty has a teen club called "Without Batteries," which offers everything "Club 02" does, in addition to a library of teen-oriented books and magazines, individual video game units, and computers with popular software. These ships are offering "teen-only" shore excursions as well. New to the Carnival Cruise ships is that they all now offer youth spas, enabling 12 to 16-year-olds to enjoy parent/child massages, hair or face treatments, and health evaluations at a discounted rate on port days.

Carnival Food Options

From buffets to elegant reservation-only dining, all ships have multiple dining options that should suit everyone's needs.  For fresh, baked pastries, cappuccinos and tea, each ship comes with a European-style café.  Each ship also features a sushi bar and New York style deli.  Many also provide convivial wine bars with selections from around the world.

On all the ships we liked the food options, particularly the kids menus, ice cream stations, prepaid Fountain Fun Cards for soft drinks, and the 24-hour pizzeria, a big plus when Alexandra got hungry mid-afternoon.

Overall, even with such large numbers, Carnival does an excellent job of keeping kids entertained and happy.