Have you ever had a family vacation where there was a lack of family activities? Well, I have.
My first choice would have been Disney of course, but I really wanted to test the waters to see if cruising was a good fit for our family. It would’ve been horrible to spend all of that money and have someone who spent the entire cruise seasick. So finding a budget-friendly and family-friendly cruise was crucial to my planning success. After all of my research, we decided as a family on Carnival’s Paradise Cruise Ship.
WaterWorks
Our family loves waterslides. It is something I look for any time I book a resort visit. Our cruise was no exception. Carnival Paradise has WaterWorks, an online waterpark. It has a huge Twister waterslide hundreds of feet up in the air. It took my kids some convincing on this because of it “hanging off” the edge of the ship, but they loved it once they did it. There are also side-by-side racing slides and a splash pad type area.
It is important to note that there are height and weight restrictions. Also, children must be toilet trained. This is important to note because if you have toddlers, you may want to consider another cruise ship as there is no water area for toddlers. No water areas allow swim diapers. Although I do not have small children, I can tell you they are strict on this policy. I witnessed several families removed due to this policy.
The other thing to know about the WaterWorks area is that with high winds over 30 mph it is closed for safety purposes. For one of the four days on our cruise, WaterWorks wasn’t an option, but fortunately, there are plenty of other family activities.
Pool
Located on the Lido deck where there is plenty of action, even with all of my research I was unaware it was the only pool on the entire ship as the site said pools. The lido deck pool was pretty small and very busy. Also, the area, in general, was normally very adult as the Rum and Tequilla bar were right beside it, as well as all of the poolside activities. Our kids are early risers even when on vacation so Mark and the kids did end up enjoying some quiet early morning swimming which seems to be the best time there for a family swim.
Punchline Comedy Show (PG Version)
While our kids were enjoying Camp Ocean, we decided to sit in and preview the PG Version of the Punchline Comedy Show to see if it was something we wanted to plan to take the kids to. Although it was definitely something we could have taken the kids to, the kids opted for Camp Ocean activities as opposed to the show. I felt like this was a good choice as I feel although it was cleaner humor, most of the jokes would’ve gone over their heads.
Camp Ocean
My kids love summer camp. Although Mark and I both work from home, we often send them to summer camp just for the experience and socialization. Camp Ocean aboard the Carnival Paradise was just like summer camp! Camp Ocean is for children 2-11 years of age. It is divided into three groups, Penguins (2 to 5 years), Stingrays (6 to 8 years) and Sharks (9 to 11 years) with age-appropriate activities. These activities included arts and crafts, songs, games, toys, dancing, movies and video games.
Eden and Xen had a lot of fun with various activities. Each evening had a theme including a superhero theme, outer space, and a Carnival favorite, pirates.
Camp Ocean was closed at 6 pm and reopened at 8pm. This made our selection of early dining at 6:30 perfect for our family. After we ate together in the main dining, the kids could prepare for an evening in Camp Ocean and Mark and I could enjoy some of the adult shows and activities.
Family Activities with Camp Ocean
Although Camp Ocean is intended for the kids, there were times that they had activities the entire family could participate in together. These included scavenger hunts, games, the Be Kind Initiative, and Seuss at Sea.
Seuss at Sea Seuss parade and Storytime
Although my children are really borderline too old for Dr. Seuss, we all enjoyed Seuss at Sea. If you have read any of my other blog posts, you may know we have an infinite love for all things Dr. Seuss. This is one of the reasons I opted for the Carnival Cruise Line.
Children can join in the Seuss at Sea Parade that takes them from one end of the ship to the other with some beloved Dr. Seuss characters including the Cat in the Hat, Things 1 and Two, and good old Sam.
The parade ends in the theater where the kids can take place in an interactive storytime complete with a classic book from Dr. Seuss.
Hasbro Game Show
Eden and Xen were the most excited about the Hasbro Game Show. Due to the scheduling, we had to even leave dinner early. During the Hasbro Game Show, popular board games are brought to life. On our cruise, there was giant-sized version of the classic Hasbro games Yahtzee and Operation.
Contestants are selected from the audience. We were in the front row and both of my kids were eager to participate (even the shy one). Eden ended up being selected and had the opportunity to participate in Operation.
Her team won and put their Monopoly pieces into the Monopoly machine to see if they were the big winner. Although she didn’t win the grand prize she all contestants walked away with a Hasbro game of some sort, Eden’s was a Barrell of Monkeys. If you asked Eden, participating in the Hasbro Game Show was a highlight of her trip.
Michael’s Crafts
Having a child who loves crafting, participating in Michael’s crafts activities were a must for us. During our cruise on the Carnival Paradise, we had two opportunities to make seasonal crafts.
The first activity was very basic using stamps and markers to make a small picture on a wooden board. Being 9, Eden required no assistance for this activity and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The next craft was making a fall banner that could be hung on your cabin door. The skill level of this activity was more intensive and did require some parental assistance. We had a great time working together to make a pretty Fall banner to hang on our door.
Games
From mini-golf and shuffle board to chess, ping pong, and cornhole, there is no shortage of games around the cruise ship. They even have a library where they offer books as well as various board games that you can play as a family.
We had a lot of fun with all of the games. The kids discovered a newfound love for shuffleboard. We spent the most time there, so much so that I walked away with a shuffleboard injury. What can I say, it wasn’t easy sending the puck down a wooden ship deck.
Hangouts for the Older Kids
Do you have older kids who aren’t interested in anything I have mentioned so far? Ah, teenagers! Carnival Paradise offers two clubs just for the older kids. There is Circle C for ages 12- 14 and Club O2 for the older teenagers. I was able to peek into both and even at 9, my kids would’ve enjoyed these awesome hangouts.
Seasonal Family Activities
One of the things I discovered in my research is that Carnvial Cruise Lines offers Seasonal Family Activities. During the entire month of October on the cruises, they have a Halloween Party, Costume Contest and Trick-or-treating for the kids. Xen even won a cool Carnival Cruise medal for his Omega costume.
There are also activities like an ugly sweater contest in December, so be sure to check the FAQ’s or contact the cruise line to find out what seasonal fun they may have during your cruise.
Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast
We had a terrific time at the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast. This breakfast is not included and does cost extra, but for $5 a person, I feel it was definitely worth the cost.
Once again, my kids were some of the older kids at breakfast, but they still had a fun time. Families will enjoy breakfast from a special whimsical Dr. Seuss themed menu, entertainment, and photo opportunities with your favorite Dr. Seuss characters.
This was a great time and if you speak to families who have attended the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast, they will all tell you it is definitely a must-do on your Carnival Cruise.
Build-a-Bear Workshop at Sea
Also for a nominal fee, your child can participate in the Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea. At the time of our cruise, the cost was $35. Our children have made several bears when they were younger but have outgrown this phase. I did however still consider participating as they have an exclusive Carnival Cruise bear.
There are many different choices for bears including dogs, sharks, and the Cat in the Hat of course. They also have a special St. Jude bear in which some of the proceeds go to support that charity.
Night Owls
Although like Camp Ocean, it is really for the kids, Night Owls is a great opportunity for some late-night adult and kid fun. From 10 pm to 1 am you can leave your child with qualified supervised care. What kid doesn’t like to stay up past their bedtime?
The kids participate in music, games, crafts, and more while you are out enjoying activities that you would otherwise miss.
While on our cruise the cost was $6 per hour per child which with babysitting rates today, that seems like a great deal.
Unfortunately, although the kids would’ve gladly stayed up past their bedtime, by 10 pm, I was ready for bed and didn’t take advantage of this service.
Conclusion
All in all, Carnival Paradise offered our family plenty of activities that we could enjoy together. There is a reason it has been voted one of the top best cruise lines for families by US News and World Report for Families 2019. Have you ever been on a Carnival Cruise? What was your experience? Sound off below in the comments.