A cruise is a great choice for a family vacation. There are little extras that can create an even bigger wow factor for your children and make your cruise vacation even more memorable and enjoyable.
These 11 ways can make a Carnival cruise extra special for your kids.
There are so many fun free things to do on a Carnival cruise that your children will have a wonderful time even without any extras.
But if you are looking to make your family vacation a little extra special for your kids the suggestions below will help. Some of them do have an extra cost but I think they are worth it.
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Activities and amenities vary from cruise ship to cruise ship. If something is of particular interest to you, be sure to check Carnival’s website for the exact amenties and activities on the ship you have booked or are planning on booking.
Ways To Make Your Carnival Cruise Extra Special for Your Kids
1. Decorate your stateroom door
Decorating the outside of your cruise cabin door is becoming more popular, especially on Disney Cruises. Cruise door decorations need to be made of flame retardant materials (not just sprayed with flame retardant).
Cruise magnets are a perfect way to decorate your stateroom door, especially personalized ones. When your cruise is over, you are left with an adorable keepsake. Read more on cruise magnets here.
Magnets for cruise ship doors add a little extra fun to your cruise plus act as an easy way to see which door is yours.
2. Order a surprise cruise gift
The Carnival Fun Shops has a really great selections of items you can pre order and have waiting in your cruise cabin.
The Fun Shops carry everything from stateroom decorations, to stuffies, to beach bags, to towels, to water bottles. You are sure to find something that will put a smile on your child’s face.
3. Attend Thing 1 and Thing 2 Breakfast
The Carnival’s Thing 1 and Thing 2 Breakfast (formerly called Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast) is fun for the whole family. Try some green eggs and ham or “Who-ville red velvet french toast” and meet and greet some of the colorful characters from Cat and the Hat.
There is an additional cost, currently $15 USD per person for adults and $10.00 for kids, but it’s sure to be a memorable morning. Be sure to reserve ahead of time. Dr. Seuss’ breakfast is available on all Carnival ships.
One of the main dining rooms will be all decorated with Cat and the Hat decor. It is well done and such a fun atmosphere. It will be available on one or two mornings.
You can check out the whacky Carnival Green Eggs and Ham breakfast menu here.
Related post: 12 Top Tips For Cruising With Teens
4. Carnival Build A Bear Workshop
Your kids (and you if you’d like) can create their own custom souvenier with Carnival build a bear.
Build A Bear Workshop is available on most of Carnival’s ships and does have an additional charge. The price varies depending on the bear or animal you choose to stuff as well as any clothes or accessories used.
Here is the Carnival bear my daughter made on our Carnival Dream cruise.
5. Carnival ZSpa
Carnival Cruises offers spa services just for teens aged 13-17 called ZSpa. The ZSpa services include facials, manicures, pedicures, massages, body scrubs and hair styling services.
A spa treatment is the perfect way to make your teen’s cruise extra special. Who doesn’t love to be pampered.
My daughter had a facial on one of our Carnival cruises and loved it. It was a special feeling for her going to the spa.
You can see the list of Carnial ZSpa services here.
6. Consider a Family Harbor stateroom or suite
Family Harbor stateroom and suites are specialty cabins found on select newer Carnival cruise ships. Family harbor room can accommodate up to 5 people and include exclusive access to the Family Harbor Lounge.
The Family Harbor Lounge has movies, board games, organized family ativities, as well as continental breakfast, snacks and cookies. In addition to these perks, children in Family Harbor rooms eat free off the kids’ menu in select specialty dining restaurants when accompanied by a paying adult.
Kids will love the Harbor lounge and the convenient access to snacks.
The Carival ships that offer Family Harbor staterooms are:
- Carnival Celebration
- Carnival Horizon
- Carnival Mardi Gras
- Carnival Panorama
- Carnival Vista
Photo by Carnival Cruiise Lines
7. Go on the waterslides with them
Most of Carival’s ships have waterslides on them. Don’t just sit and watch the kids, ride the waterslides. Your kids will appreciate and enjoy it more than you probably know. It’s these little things that count.
My kids still talk and laugh about how I squealed (embarassingly) the first time I went on the Drainpipe slide on Carnival Dream.
The waterslides are a fun free activity on Carnival that the whole family will enjoy.
8. Treat them to a frozen drink
Treat the kids to a frozen virgin pina colada or one of the other frozen slushy mocktail drinks poolside. They are delicious and probably something they don’t get very often if at all.
These frozen non-alcoholic drinks definitely have a vacation feel to them.
9. Give them input on shore excursions
Giving them input in what to do in one of the ports will make their cruise extra special. It involves them in the planning and pre cruise excitement as well as increases their enjoyment in the excursion knowing it is the one they picked.
A great family friendly shore excursion if your are cruising to Jamaica is Dunn’s River Falls. You can read more about it here.
My favorite shore excursion so far was Stingray City Grand Cayman. We did this excursion when our kids were 12 and 14. We all loved it. Seeing these creatures in their natural environment is such an amazing experience.
10. Formal night dinners
Don’t skip eating in the main dining room on formal nights (aka elegant night). The kids will likely feel quite special all dressed up for a fancy dinner. Dinner in the main dining rooms is included in your cruise fare.
The Carnival main dining rooms have a kids menu.
Stop and pose for a family portrait at one of the photography stations. There are several, all with different backdrops. There is absolutely no obligation to buy and no sitting fee. Check the photo gallery the next day, you can choose to purchase the photos or not.
11. Cherry On Top Candy Store
What kid doesn’t love a candy treat now and then, especially on vacation. Cherry On Top is on most but not all Carnival ships.
Taking your kids to Carnival’s Cherry On Top candy store and saying pick out a treat or two will surely put an even bigger smile on their face. You may just have to put a time limit on the decision making though as that’s definitely a tough decision. 🙂
Most of all, just have fun together as a family. That is what is great about cruising, it allows family time, couples time, and the kids can have fun themselves at one of Carnival’s age specific kids clubs.
Kid’s grow up in what feels like a blink of an eye. Travel as much as you can with them, enjoy every minute of it, and take lots of pictures.
If your kids are aged 12-14 when cruising they would take part in Carnival’s Circle C kids club. You can find details about that program here.
If you are considering Carnival Mardi Gras for your family vacation then 21 Reasons Your Teen Will Love Carnival Mardi Gras will be of interest.
You can also bring games on a cruise. These are great for sea days, rainy days, or any downtime. Here are a list of 21 fun games to bring on a cruise.
You can read what drinks are free on Carnival here.
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