carnival cruise 15 year old club

• Cruise Advice

Ultimate Guide To Carnival Cruise Line’s Kids Programs

• June 8, 2019

Carnival Cruise Line offers kids and youth programs across their fleet of Fun Ships. Since the cruise line accommodates more than 750,000 kids annually, Carnival has to be able to cater to families exceptionally well.

Family activities the cruise line offers include events on the decks or other spots on the ship, family oriented live entertainment, and pay- for activities for any age.

One of the most appealing and beloved aspects of a family cruise is the kids and teen clubs. Catering specifically to the two to 17-year-old guests, these spaces entertain, teach, and engage children and teenagers on their level.

Carnival Kid’s Programs

While most cruise lines have some sort of place for the kids to go and have fun, some say that Carnival does it best.

Carnival’s kid and youth programs are broken down into three sections:

• Camp Ocean is for the 2-11-year-olds
• Circle C is for those 12-14
• Club O2 for older teens

Each group has its own space on the ship separated from the rest, so teens won’t feel like they are being sent to a babysitting camp, and younger kids will also feel comfortable with children of similar ages.

None of the groups are additional costs and are included in the base cruise fare.

While Camp Ocean has lots of guided activities such as crafts, movies, and plenty of staff, Circle C and Club O2 are more “hang out” spaces with organized activities such as scavenger hunts, movies under the stars, dance parties, and karaoke.

Camp Ocean (Ages 2 to 11)

The primary kid’s activity on Carnival is Camp Ocean (formerly known as Camp Carnival), which is a part of every ship in the fleet. When you first board the vessel, the camp area will be open for you to meet the counselors and let children become acquainted with the area and activities.

READ MORE: Carnival Introduces New Program for Kids

This is a great time to ask any questions that you might have. Some kids will have butterflies about going to the camp, but once they see the fun activities planned, the crafts, and the gaming systems, those usually disappear.

The activities in Camp Ocean change constantly and are always fresh. There is a different craft project every day in which the kids can take with them and proudly display in the cabin.

Books are read, with a special emphasis on the Dr. Seuss series. Lots of games, puzzles, leggo, and other fun playthings are available. Sometimes age-appropriate movies are played in the evening; parents are always informed ahead of time of which film is to be shown.

If a child becomes upset or injured, families are called back to the camp with a portable phone which is given when the children are dropped off. Kids cannot leave without being signed out with a staff member and the adult must be on the pre-approved list.

Older children can be given the privilege of signing themselves out, but this must be set-up ahead of time when you register for your cruise, or discussed with a counselor on embarkation day. 

Camp Ocean is not open all day and night, but instead has set hours.

Standard Camp Ocean hours: 

• 10:00 am -1:00 pm
• 2:00 pm -5:00 pm
• 7:00 pm -10:00 pm

Even though many families drop off their kids right when they open and pick up right at closing time (often at the request of the kids themselves!), you are welcome to do that at any time the camp is open.

On select nights drop off can occur in the buffet area where kid-friendly food is served. Other than that, food is not given to the children and the camp room is usually closed during lunch.  

If you are not sure of the hours on any given day, check with a counselor, the Fun Times daily planner, or the Carnival Hub app.

Carnival Cruise Babysitting Program

Camp Ocean does offer a “Night Owls” babysitting program which is available from 10 pm – 1 am. This is held in the main Camp Ocean room for kids 6 months- 11 years old. Carnival no longer offers in-room babysitting services. 

Standard charges are $7.50 per hour per child plus an 18% gratuity. Fees are paid when the kids are picked up and charged to your Sign and Sail account. Discounts for multiple children are, unfortunately, not available.  

READ MORE: Dr. Seuss Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast Review  

Night Owls is a fun slumber party type environment with movies, games, crafts, and snacks for the kids to enjoy. Pillows and blankets are provided for older children who feel tired and Pack ‘N Play for babies to nap.

Younger children do not have to be potty trained. but must be dropped off with diapers and toiletries. They must also be able to fit on a changing table. 

Additionally, on select nights themed parties such as “Mardi Gras” and “Beach Bash” are held which do incur an additional $17 per child if they would like to participate.

Circle C (Ages 12 to 14)

Designed for the 12-14-year-old early teen crowd, Circle C is a great place for them to hang out and make new friends. It’s less structured than Camp Ocean, but activities are planned according to a schedule and are always staffed by energetic and fun Carnival crew.

This space is designed with a fresh and cool vibe. It has the feeling of a cross between a  lounge and a game room.

Activities take place in the Circle C lounge, but also around the ship. In the lounge are dance parties, karaoke, movies and gaming stations. Outside of the Circle C space, there is organized fun like scavenger hunts and water slide races.

Kids who choose to attend Circle C are given the ability to check themselves in and out at will.

Club O2 (Ages 15 to 17)

For the oldest group of kids, Club O2 is completely dedicated to the 15-17 year olds. Decorated in dance club style, there’s usually a large dance floor, stools for sitting, lounge areas, and a bar for serving smoothies and sodas. Comfortable couches and loungers along with gaming stations round out the area.

Participants come and go as they please, however, the room and activities are always staffed with Carnival Crew to make sure everybody is following the rules and having a great time.

Hours of Club O2 lounge are:

• Sea Days 12 pm-6 pm / 8:30 pm -12:30 am 
• Port Days 3 pm-6 pm / 8:30 pm -12:30 am

Outside of the Club O2 lounge, planned activities include movie nights under the stars, ping pong, basketball and other sports, and other fun surprises for teens.

Carnival ships are known across the travel industry as being the best for families- and it shows with the awesome kids and teen spaces that they have created. However many activities your children or teens decide to participate in, they are guaranteed to have fun, make incredible memories, and enjoy every minute of their cruise.

This post was written by guest columnist Michael York.

Recent Posts

Sea trials begin for royal caribbean’s latest mega cruise ship [photos], crew member arrested following incident on alaska cruise ship, carnival vista’s departure delayed due to technical difficulties, carnival marks 30 years of cruising from new orleans, share this post, related posts.

Nominate Your Favorite Teacher to Win a Free Cruise

Search Ends for Crew Member Missing from World Cruise

Bringing you 15 years of cruise industry experience. Cruise Radio prioritizes well-balanced cruise news coverage and accurate reporting, paired with ship reviews and tips.   

Quick links

Cruise Radio, LLC © Copyright 2009-2024 | Website Designed By   Insider Perks, Inc

• Port Overview
• Transportation to the Port
• Uber & Lyft to the Port
• Dropping Off at the Port
• Cruise Parking
• Cruise Hotels
• Hotels with Parking Deals
• Uber & Lyft to the Ports
• Things to Do
• Cozumel Taxi Rates
• Free Things to Do
• Restaurants Near the Cruise Port
• Hotels & Resorts With Day Passes
• Closest Beaches to the Cruise Port
• Tips For Visiting
• Shore Excursions
• Cruise Parking Discounts
• Hotels with Shuttles
• Which Airport Should I Use?
• Transportation to the Ports
• Dropping Off at the Ports
• Fort Lauderdale Airport to Miami
• Inexpensive Hotels
• Hotels near the Port
• Hotels With Shuttles
• Budget Hotels
• Carnival Tips
• Drink Packages
• Specialty Restaurants
• Faster to the Fun
• More Articles
• CocoCay Tips
• Norwegian Tips
• Great Stirrup Cay
• Harvest Caye
• How to Get the Best Cruise Deal
• Best Time to Book a Cruise
• Best Websites to Book a Cruise
• Cruises Under $300
• Cruises Under $500
• Spring Break Cruise Deals
• Summer Cruise Deals
• Alaskan Cruise Deals
• 107 Cruise Secrets & Tips
• Tips for First-Time Cruisers
• What to Pack for a Cruise
• What to Pack (Alaska)
• Packing Checklist
• Cruising with Kids
• Passports & Birth Certificates
• Bringing Alcohol
• Cruising with a Disability
• Duty-Free Shopping
• Cruise Travel Insurance
• Things to Do on a Cruise Ship
• What Not to Do on a Ship
• News & Articles

Camp Ocean (Carnival’s Kid Area): What to Know Before Your Kids Go

Cruising is without a doubt a great way to vacation for the entire family. Whether you are 8 or 80, there is always something for you to do. But that doesn’t mean a family traveling together always wants to spend every moment together.

Sometimes parents want some time without the kids. And sometimes the kids want to play with other people their age. That’s where the dedicated kid areas — like Carnival’s Camp Ocean — can be the perfect solution.

These spots give children a place to play and hang out without their parents while still being watched by the staff. That means for both kids and adults, it may end up being their favorite places on the Carnival ship.

But if you and your kids have never visited Camp Ocean before, you might have some questions about how it works. We have you covered below…

What Is Camp Ocean?

First things first, Camp Ocean is a dedicated kid area that’s available across the entire Carnival fleet. It offers staff that supervises the kids and tons of things for kids to do from video games to arts and crafts to physical activities to movie nights.

Parents can drop off their children while Mom and Dad get some time to enjoy the cruise on their own terms. Kids get to play and do things they want to do with other kids their own age.

Think of it as daycare on the cruise ship, allowing everyone to have a good time.

Is Camp Ocean Free for Kids to Attend?

For the vast majority of times, admission to Camp Ocean is included in your cruise fare. So you simply check your child in and pick them up when ready at no additional charge. That means you won’t pay anything extra whether your kids stay there for an hour or all day.

The one exception is after 10 p.m. From 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Carnival’s Camp Ocean offers the “Night Owls” session. During this time there is a charge of $7.50 (plus 18% gratuity, for a total of $8.85) per hour for each kid who stays.

So if you have a kid that stays anytime up until 10 p.m. there is no charge. It’s about $9 per hour after that.

As well, there is an hourly charge for kids staying in Camp Ocean during the more limited hours for children aged 0-2 years old.

What Age Groups Are Available to Participate?

As mentioned, children are grouped by age. Camp Ocean offers the following groups on the ship:

• Turtles (0-1 years)
• Penguins (2-5 years)
• Stingrays (6-8 years)
• Sharks (9-11 years)

For older kids there are also youth areas known as “Circle C” (12-14 years old) and Club O2 (15-17 years old) that technically aren’t part of Camp Ocean, but offer a dedicated spot  and programming for older kids. These two spots still offer things for kids to do but on a more independent basis. For example, teens in these groups can sign themselves in and out as they please.

I Have Kids in Two Different Age Groups. Can They Go to the Same Area?

Carnival’s website says they have a “strict policy” of not moving kids from one age group to another.

In our experience, however, we noticed some leniency. Say you have a 9 year-old and an 8 year-old. In that case we’ve seen some bending on the age policy to allow the siblings to be in the same group. You can just talk to the Camp Ocean staff when you first arrive.

However, larger age differences likely won’t be accommodated. Don’t expect a 5 year-old to be able to go to the same group with a 9 year-old.

How Does the Drop-Off/Pick-Up Process Work?

Before your child can join Camp Ocean, you’ll need to go through a registration process. This can be done online ahead of time, which is highly suggested. If you don’t do it before the cruise then you can visit once on the ship. During embarkation day there is an open house where kids and parents can come, meet the staff, register (if not already done), and then explore Camp Ocean.

Once the camp opens, then you’ll simply arrive at the front desk when you want to drop off your kid. The staff will take your room number to bring up your account, check your room keycard to make sure you have pick-up/drop-off privileges, and then have the child get their name tag to wear in camp. The staff will then take the child back. You’ll be able to see the time of check-in on the Carnival Hub app.

When it’s time to pick-up, the process is similar, just reversed. You’ll arrive at the front desk, provide your room number, and show your keycard. The staff will then go back and get your child.

Who Can Pick-Up/Drop-Off a Child in Camp Ocean?

When you register, you can provide who has the ability to pick-up and drop-off. There are different rules based on their age that you can choose from.

• Kids Under 9: May be picked up by a designated adult over 18 years old only.
• Kids 9-11: If a parent/guardian chooses, then kids 9-11 are allowed to sign themselves in and out of Camp Ocean until 10 p.m. After that time, an authorized adult must sign them out. As well, a parent can opt to not let kids 9-11 be able to sign themselves in/out.
• Kids 12 and Older: Children over 12 years are allowed to sign themselves in/out as they wish.

What Hours Is the Camp Open?

Hours vary based on whether you are at sea or in port. During a recent cruise, we found the following schedule:

• Sea Days: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | 6 p.m. – 1 a.m. (Charge applies after 10 p.m.)
• Port Days: Port Arrival – 12 p.m. | 1 p.m. – 1 a.m. (Charge applies after 10 p.m.) Kids-only lunch from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

As you can see, there are some hour-long breaks during the day where the camp closes around dinner time. Carnival says that parents are “encouraged to pick up for meal times.” However, there is also the option on some days in port to have your child eat lunch/dinner with Camp Ocean.

To be sure, you’ll want to check the Carnival Hub app when you are on your cruise to see the exact opening hours each day.

Can My Child Stay in Camp While I Go to Port?

Everyone knows that having a small child with you completely changes the dynamic of exploring a new place. And whether it be that a shore excursion you’ve booked is only for kids above a certain age or you just don’t want to try and plan a day in an unfamiliar port around a child’s needs, you do have an option with Camp Ocean.

Kids are welcomed to stay at Camp Ocean while a parent goes off the ship into port . The only issue is if something goes wrong at camp while you are off the ship, then there may be no way to contact you. Carnival says if you are on a Carnival excursion, they will contact the tour operator if something goes wrong. Otherwise, you will be notified when you get back on the ship.

What if my Child Has a Problem While at Camp?

Anyone that has a kid knows that occasionally issues do come up. From smaller kids who miss their parents to older kids that get too rough, there may be times when the staff can’t fix the situation and need to get in touch with parents.

For smaller kids, the camp will have a limited number of shipboard phones that you will be provided. For older kids they are available on request, but are meant for those with younger children. These phones work on the ship and allow the staff to call you directly should there be an issue where a parent is needed.

If you don’t get one of these phones, then the staff will try to contact you other ways. For instance, this might be a call to your stateroom phone. If something is extremely urgent and you can’t be reached over your cabin phone, there could be a shipboard announcement.

What Is There For Kids to Do?

During the day there is a schedule of different activities arranged.

For instance, during “Kid’s Choice” campers get to do what they please, whether that’s playing games, playing with toys, video games, and more.

During “Active” times, campers do things like play Capture the Flag, Dodgeball, or Bean Bag Toss.

Arts & Crafts sessions include everything from jewelry making to creating whatever you want. There are also movie times, themed parties, and karaoke. You’ll see a full schedule of what’s available each day on the Carnival Hub app once your board.

A Special Word About Kids Under 2 Years Old

Kids under 2 years-old are treated a little differently with Camp Ocean. For most kids, the camp is simple. You bring your child, check them in, and they have fun while you go around the ship.

That’s not the case for the youngest children. These kids are in the “Turtles” group. Because smaller children require more care, Carnival offers more limited times for them.

In this case, there are times where you and your child can go enjoy the area designed for smaller kids for no charge. But if you want to leave your child during these times, then it’s a $7.50 per hour (plus 18% service charge) per child.

Available times will vary based on sea days/port days, so you’ll want to check the Hub app once you board. However, just know that it won’t be as inexpensive or flexible as sailing with an older kid.

Our Personal Experience With Camp Ocean

We recently cruised with our 6 year-old who attended Camp Ocean for the first time. During past cruises the area was closed (sailing right after cruises returned) or he wasn’t yet old enough to attend. 

First things first, our son loved the experience. He would regularly ask during the day if he could go back to “Ocean Camp” (as he wanted to call it for some reason) multiple times during the day. For him, the chance to be social with other kids and also play video games were big draws. In fact, there were even times when we went to pick him up after a couple of hours, only for him to ask to stay longer.

On the parent side, the staff put us at ease and despite there being a lot of kids around, things seemed to be organized well. Lines during peak check-out times were long, but took no more than five minutes of waiting. As well, having the ability to drop off our kid and then go do things like have a drink, gamble in the casino, or just have some peace and quiet was amazing.

The cost is included in your cruise fare. Definitely take advantage. 

More Tips & Advice

• If you have a child that requires medicine during their stay at Camp Ocean, know that the staff isn’t allowed to give it. Also, no medicines other than epi-pens and inhalers are allowed at camp. Parents will have to come to give medicine if it’s required during the stay.
• The person picking up a child doesn’t have to be the same one who dropped off. It also doesn’t have to be a parent or guardian. It just has to be someone that was authorized during registration and over 18 years old. So, for example, if you are sailing with another family, you can each authorize the other to be able to pick up kids. That way only one person of the group would have to go grab the kids when it’s time.
• Look on the schedule for family programming. These are activities that parents and kids can do together, giving you a chance to do some things that are designed for kids to enjoy while spending some time together.

You can read more about Camp Ocean on Carnival’s website .

Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of)

Read next: park & cruise hotels for every port in america, popular: 107 best cruise tips, secrets, tricks, and freebies, related articles more from author, carnival cruise live blog (day 4): a final day at sea featuring… whales plus final thoughts, carnival cruise live blog (day 3): blow holes & golden trophies, carnival cruise live blog (day 2): the most beautiful port i’ve visited, carnival cruise live blog (day 1): first impressions sailing radiance from long beach, following incident, carnival says gambling ‘strictly forbidden’ outside of casino, revealed: the most expensive carnival cruise you can buy (and cheapest, too), leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

How Much It Costs to Live on a Cruise Ship For a Year (Updated)

Crew member arrested for stabbing three aboard alaskan cruise, 15+ hotels with cruise shuttles between orlando and port canaveral, hotels with cruise shuttles for every major port in america, 107 best cruise tips, tricks, secrets, and freebies, 39 useful things to pack for your cruise (including 17 you’d never think of).

• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions

Carnival kids club: A guide to Camp Ocean on Carnival Cruise Line

If you're contemplating your first family cruise, you might be wondering if Carnival Cruise Line has a kids club. The answer is a resounding yes.

Carnival offers a fabulous kids club called Camp Ocean for preschool- and school-aged children, plus separate hangouts with age-appropriate activities for teens and tweens. It even offers special programming for babies and toddlers. Events take place in cool kids-only hangouts and are staffed by youth counselors with prior education or childcare experience.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Some kids want to stay in cruise camp all day, while others will check into Camp Ocean for an hour or two and spend the rest of the cruise exploring the ship with their family. No matter how your young cruisers choose to use the kids' facilities, here is everything you need to know about Camp Ocean on Carnival Cruise Line.

What are the Carnival kids club age groupings?

Camp Ocean divides young cruisers into three main age groups: Penguins (2 to 5 years old), Stingrays (6 to 8 years old) and Sharks (9 to 11 years old). Kids do not need to be toilet trained to attend dropoff programming, though youth staff will not change diapers for older kids ages 5 and up. The Turtles program is an addendum to Camp Ocean for little kids ages 6 months to 2 years.

Circle C is the tween hangout for the kids in the middle, ages 12 to 14.

Club O2 invites teens ages 15 to 17 to chill out with new friends.

Related: 5 best cruise lines for families

What activities are available for kids in Carnival's Camp Ocean?

Camp Ocean offers a schedule of kid-friendly activities, sometimes split into three age groups and sometimes with mixed ages. The daily schedule might include arts and crafts, sports and games, movie watching, science-based activities, face painting and video game play. Some free play and socializing time is scheduled as well.

To stay true to its name, the program has access to more than 400 ocean-themed activities, such as creating penguins out of Oreo cookies, designing aquariums and creating sea salt art.

Carnival has a partnership with Dr. Seuss, so his whimsical characters influence Camp Ocean's activities. The Seuss-a-palooza parade and story time is a big hit with little sailors who can meet life-size versions of their favorite storybook characters, like the Cat in the Hat.

Related: Disney Cruise Line vs. Carnival: Which family-friendly cruise line should you choose?

The cruise line has also joined forces with NASA to offer a Space Cruisers program to Camp Ocean campers. NASA-inspired activities might include playing space-themed bingo, building Mars rovers, designing bridges and learning about how objects orbit in space.

At night, Camp Ocean turns into Night Owls, a late-night, mixed-age group slumber party. It offers movies, toys and snacks for kids, as well as rest areas (including cribs) for sleepy cruisers. Special parties called Owl Jams are held on select evenings, either for kids ages 2 to 11 or 6 to 11. These themed parties might include a Caribbean party with a tropical theme and limbo contest, a Party Animals event with face painting and games, or a Rock N Glow Party with an '80s theme and glow sticks.

The littlest cruisers under age 2 can come to Carnival's cruise camp for special programming at select times on sea days. Parents and guardians can either drop off babies and toddlers for a fee or stay and play with their kids for free. On port days, they can drop off their little ones for group babysitting while they explore ashore, but they must be onboard during mealtimes as Camp Ocean will not provide lunch to this group.

Turtles activities might include sensory play, story time, arts and crafts and dancing.

What activities are available for teens in Circle C and Club O2?

Tweens in Circle C can participate in games of all kinds (bean bag toss, card games, kids vs. staff), play video games, watch movies, make crafts, roam the ship on scavenger hunts and bust a move at evening dance parties. A Circle C Leader is on hand to organize activities and keep everyone making friends and having fun.

Club O2 counselors know that teens don't need a lot of handholding but do need some intriguing events to keep them from wandering the ship and getting into trouble. Activities for teens include movies, sports and games (basketball, dodgeball, capture the flag), video games, music, karaoke, foosball and evening parties, including Carnival's version of prom.

Related: The 5 best cruises for teens

What are Carnival's Camp Ocean hours of operation?

The Carnival kids club hours vary by day and by port of call. Camp Ocean's schedule on sea days runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

On port days, activities start from the time the ship arrives in port until 10 p.m., with a break from noon to 1 p.m. for a supervised lunch at the buffet. Family programming might be scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. on port days.

Most children need to be signed in and out of Carnival cruise camp by a designated adult. However, parents and guardians can give Sharks (ages 9 to 11) permission to sign themselves in and out.

A youth staff-supervised Kids' Only Dinner is offered nightly, except for embarkation day, from 6 to 6:50 p.m. at the buffet.

The Night Owls late-night activities take place from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. All kids must be picked up by an adult from Night Owls; no one can sign themselves out after 10 p.m.

Circle C and Club O2 offer supervised programming from noon to 5 p.m. on sea days and from 4 to 6 p.m. on port days. Complimentary evening activities run nightly from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

How much is the Carnival kids club?

Day and evening programming at Camp Ocean, Circle C and Club O2 is included in your cruise fare.

The Night Owls late-night activities for kids ages 6 months to 11 years old cost $7.50 per child per hour, plus an 18% service charge. Owl Jams cost $17 per event, per child, plus the service charge.

Related: Are cruises all-inclusive? What's actually included in your cruise fare

Turtles drop-off programming for kids ages 6 months to 2 years also costs $7.50 per child, per hour, plus an 18% service charge. The price is the same on port and sea days.

What else does Carnival offer families with children?

Carnival cruise ships are extremely family-friendly. Kids will love the onboard water parks, often with multiple waterslides and splash playgrounds, as well as the onboard pools. Ping pong, foosball, arcades, minigolf and sports courts are common across the fleet. Giant movie screens by the pools show family favorites in the evening.

Certain ships have ropes courses, roller coasters, suspended cycling rides and IMAX and thrill theaters.

Additional family programming might include scavenger hunts, bingo, trivia and craft-making. Carnival also offers Build-A-Bear workshops for an additional fee.

Related: The 10 wildest attractions you'll find on a cruise ship

Parents should be warned that kids might want to spend their entire allowance at Carnival's onboard candy store, Cherry on Top. Redirect them to the multiple onboard soft-serve ice cream stations, often by the buffet or pool deck, where treats are free.

Possibly the best specialty dining event on board for young families is the Dr. Seuss-themed Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast, perfect for preschoolers. The menu is filled with colorful breakfast treats inspired by the storybooks, and life-size characters pose for photos with all the families.

Speaking of food, Carnival's fast-casual staples, such as Guy's Burger Joint (created by celebrity chef Guy Fieri), Blue Iguana Cantina, Pizzeria del Capitano and Shaq's Big Chicken are hits with kids of all ages — and their parents. The main dining room always has a kids menu, but for a treat, splash out on a night at Bonsai Teppanyaki, where the chefs are the star of the show.

Bottom line: Camp Ocean, the Carnival cruise kids club

Carnival's kids club offers age-appropriate fun for babies, kids and teens. It can give parents a break to enjoy a leisurely dinner at a specialty restaurant and allow kids to make friends to play with on board. Camp Ocean's flexibility lets families use its programming as much or as little as they like to fit their travel style and enhance their vacation. Plus, with free activities from morning until late at night, kids will have a blast without breaking mom's or dad's travel budget.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

• Carnival Cruise Lines

Almost 15 year old …teen club?

By JoanieFL , March 29 in Carnival Cruise Lines

Recommended Posts

Our cruise is exactly two weeks before our son turns 15 and he does not want to go to Circle C (12-14 yrs) and said he wants to be with kids more   his age in Club O2 (15-17yrs.) This kid hangs out mostly with kids that are a year or two older than him. Will Carnival be flexible?

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

You can always ask, but I don't think so.

starstruck05

It's considered by the team depending on how many are in each group. You just have to ask at registration. 

kctwinmommy

Yes like @starstruck05  said, it always depends on the numbers. We were on a cruise in the summer with a lot of kids and they could accommodate a few of them, but mostly because they were all traveling in a large school group together. It was like 2 or 3 who were 14, almost 15, so they let them. But then we've been on cruises where they said no to kids moving up. And other times, it's not been a problem. Simply go on the first night and ask.

Remember that the same as he doesn't want to be with the 12 yrs olds, the 17 yrs olds don't want to be with a 14 yr old.  

Teen clubs are for meeting others to hang out with. My 5 are very close in age and close to each other, yet always found their own groups of friends on cruises, on the last one dd14 had a group, ds14 had a group, dd16 had a group, ds19 and dd20 shared a group (more difficult without a club). He won’t be hanging around with 12 year olds, they sort themselves out.

16 hours ago, Elaine5715 said: Remember that the same as he doesn't want to be with the 12 yrs olds, the 17 yrs olds don't want to be with a 14 yr old.  

I get that as the maturity levels differ. I would not ask if he just turned 14 or was even six months out from his 15th birthday. That said, he literally turns 15 eleven days after the cruise. 

9 minutes ago, JoanieFL said: I get that as the maturity levels differ. I would not ask if he just turned 14 or was even six months out from his 15th birthday. That said, he literally turns 15 eleven days after the cruise. 

It never hurts to ask. They let our son into Club O2 a couple of weeks before his 15th birthday. He had a 17-year-old sister in O2, so I don't know if that made a difference. 

11 minutes ago, JoanieFL said: I get that as the maturity levels differ. I would not ask if he just turned 14 or was even six months out from his 15th birthday. That said, he literally turns 15 eleven days after the cruise. 

Correct but just like you, some parent is asking if their almost 12 yr old or their just turned 18 yr old can get an exception.  That is why only the camp crew can tell you.

DukeASUGirl

It always depends on the number of teens or kids in each group who are on the ship. Last year they let my 11-yr-old son go to the 12-14 yr old club without us even asking - when we went to register him for the kids club they said they were allowing 11 1/2 -yr-olds to choose whichever they preferred because they there so many younger kids on the ship that the kids clubs were skewing younger and there were less preteens/younger teens onboard, so they allowed the 11 1/2 yr olds to make the choice for themselves. Since his sister was 13 at the time, he decided he'd rather be in the older group, since the younger group would barely get any video game time.

My point is that they can be flexible based on the situation, but don't expect it. Maybe they'll allow it, maybe they won't. If there are tons of older teens on the ship, then they might not be as flexible as they would be in that age group had very few. 

None of us can say what will happen. Only the youth staff can make that call based on the current facts.

We did one and our oldest was 17 and youngest 14 (months away from 15) I think.  The youngest didn't want to hang out with the younger kids and wanted to stay with her sister.  I seem to remember there was some maybe, maybe not, but eventually they allowed her in.   I don't recall them really spending that much time with it, but that was 8 years ago and I've slept once or twice since then.

He may end up skipping any of the kids clubs and just going around the ship himself meeting people. Some kids love the kids clubs while others don't. My kids never liked the kids club and always went off and did their own things. They ended up making friends on lido, in the arcade or elsewhere on the ship. The kids club was a one and done for both of my boys.

CheckersMidwest

Our daughter was allowed to move up. It does depend on how full the clubs are but we had no problem. She was 14, a freshman in high school but she played varsity sports and was a cheerleader.(So mixed with grades 9-12 regularly) She ran with the older kids on a regular basis, not the younger junior high age kids at all. She was light years more mature and would not have enjoyed the Circle C stuff. (However, when she was 12, she did like Circle C).

• 2 weeks later...

pamesacruisin

We are bringing our 17 year old Grandson on the Jubilee.  Does he just show up at the Club 02 or make a reservation?  Please tell me about the club.  Food, drinks, games?

1 hour ago, pamesacruisin said: We are bringing our 17 year old Grandson on the Jubilee.  Does he just show up at the Club 02 or make a reservation?  Please tell me about the club.  Food, drinks, games?

He can just come and go as he pleases, but highly recommend that he attend the meet and greet on night 1. That's when this age group tends to meet up with their "friends" for the week and then they just kind of hang out all over.

deelightfull

And even for a 17 year old, you as a guardian have to sign some one time paperwork.  You can do it online before you get on the boat or in person on that first day. During first day check in the staff makes sure the paperwork has been signed and adds a small sticker to his sign and sail card that shows he's allowed in the club when it's open. (Basically, the paperwork goes over basic rules and gives them permission to evict a kid who's acting a fool.  It's never been an issue for me, and I'm glad staff has some authority in the space.)

Just be aware... Circle C is very much family friendly.. and Club O2 gets up to a lot of shenanigans lol

cruisehappyinJune

25 minutes ago, skywalkr2 said: Just be aware... Circle C is very much family friendly.. and Club O2 gets up to a lot of shenanigans lol

Agree! They are sort of monitored but it’s more “activities director/teen fun squad” than babysitter or behavior check. The music is the same as adult night club (no bleeping out profanity), the dance moves rival any adult club 😂 , etc. This wasn’t a problem for us at all but may be a shock for others, so worth mentioning. My daughter loved it and at age 22 is still instagram friends with kids she met on cruises at 15 and 16! 

3 minutes ago, cruisehappyinJune said: Agree! They are sort of monitored but it’s more “activities director/teen fun squad” than babysitter or behavior check. The music is the same as adult night club (no bleeping out profanity), the dance moves rival any adult club 😂 , etc. This wasn’t a problem for us at all but may be a shock for others, so worth mentioning. My daughter loved it and at age 22 is still instagram friends with kids she met on cruises at 15 and 16! 

Exactly correct.

One thing to note. I do recall that there was a 'no exceptions' policy once a teen turns 18. I'm sure this is for liability reasons.

4 minutes ago, jsglow said: One thing to note. I do recall that there was a 'no exceptions' policy once a teen turns 18. I'm sure this is for liability reasons.

My kids were 16 and 18 on our Carnival Pride European cruise in 2022. When registering my 16 year old, the group leader said the 18 year old was welcome to attend. I was surprised by this, but I am sure it's because the number of teens was so low. The 18 year old wasn't interested. She had finished her first year of college and didn't want to hang out with high school kids. I am hoping this flexibility remains the case for our Carnival Pride Greenland cruise this summer. My son turns 18 next month, but will be going into his senior year in high school. I am hoping he will be allowed if he wants to go. 

Update: We are back from our cruise and the Club O2 director allowed our son in since he was so close to being 15. He had a great time and spent a few hours every night with the group. They even had him up dancing with the group at the big 80’s party up in the front waving a glow wand. He is shy and this experience with Clib O2 really brought him out of his shell!

19 minutes ago, cyntil8ing said:   My kids were 16 and 18 on our Carnival Pride European cruise in 2022. When registering my 16 year old, the group leader said the 18 year old was welcome to attend. I was surprised by this, but I am sure it's because the number of teens was so low. The 18 year old wasn't interested.

Wow, very surprised by this. I must admit that my info is 15 years old. 

13 hours ago, jsglow said: Wow, very surprised by this. I must admit that my info is 15 years old. 

Me too, this is the first time I read about any line allowing a legal adult in the teen club, I wouldn’t count in it happening again!

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started 9 hours ago

LauraS · Started 11 hours ago

LauraS · Started 12 hours ago

LauraS · Started May 3

LauraS · Started May 1

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

• Family Cruises

15 Year Old and Club O2

By xMandy , January 29, 2010 in Family Cruises

Recommended Posts

My aunt and I have decided to surprise my mom with a Carnival cruise for her birthday. The cruise will probably be a 5 day cruise out of Galveston in mid to late September. It will be the 1st cruise for all of us. It was originally going to be just the 3 of us but my 15 year old cousin (girl) may be joining us. Does anyone know anything about Club O2?

Thanks in advance!!!!!!

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

My girls love Club 02. The oldest one has since aged out of it. Have your cousin go to the first night's meeting.

Last cruise on the Paradise the club had parties, gaming system events, scavenger hunts, hide & seek in the main showroom and other things. On other cruises they have had smoothie parties, a dress up event. It depends on who is running it on the cruise. The club usually has a sponsored excursion available.

She'll love it. there are always tons of kids during breaks and its a ton of fun. The hardest age to cruise is 18-21 because you're "too cool" for the programs and too young to drink. But 15 shouldn't be a problem, they have fun stuff that tends to appeal to kids this age. If she goes for the first day or two to the programs, then she'll meet some people and they can decide which things they want to go to. I wouldn't worry about it.

Thank you for the replies!! My cousin hasn't decided on wether she wants to go or not yet. I will let her know what y'all said. Thanks!!

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started 9 hours ago

LauraS · Started 11 hours ago

LauraS · Started 12 hours ago

LauraS · Started May 3

LauraS · Started May 1

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

• Onboard Activities
• All Onboard Activities

AVAILABLE ON:

• All Ships Current Element Number 1 of 1

* Coming Soon

The little ones can enjoy the best parts of summer camp, year-round aboard their Carnival cruise. At Camp Ocean kids will have a blast in supervised, age-based groups and give each a cool marine-life label: Penguins (2 to 5 years), Stingrays (6 to 8 years) and Sharks (9 to 11 years). Together with their group they’ll enjoy tons of fun-filled, age-appropriate activities like arts and crafts, songs, games, toys, dancing, movies and video games. When it’s mealtime, kids eat together and get their own menus with back-on-land faves like mac & cheese, chicken nuggets and more. The whole time, our experienced counselors will be there to make sure everyone in these small groups has an amazing time. Plus, when the sun goes down it’s Night Owls time — fees apply, but kids get to stay up late having fun while their parents also enjoy themselves well into the night.

The Details:

If you like this, you'll love these....

• Today's Deals
• Sign Up & Save!

• Top Cruise Destinations
• Alaska Cruises
• Bahamas Cruises
• Bermuda Cruises
• Caribbean Cruises
• Europe Cruises
• Mexico Cruises
• 1.800.764.7419

Never Miss a Cruise Deal

• Thank you for signing up! 
• Click here to learn more about our specials.

Youth Programs (Under 2 and 2-11 years old)

Have fun. be safe.

• Health Protocols and Requirements for Sailing

Travel Documentation and Online Check-in

• Travel Documents
• Online Check-In

Getting There

• Cruise Terminal Information and Parking
• Airport and Pier Transportation
• Air Information

Before You Board

• Embarkation Day Check-In

Youth and Family

• Teen Programs (12-17 years old)
• Carnival's Seuss at Sea
• Age Policies

Things to Know

Onboard experiences.

• Shore - Excursions
• Spa and Fitness
• Outdoor Fun
• Entertainment and Activities
• For Your Convenience
• Onboard Guidelines and Policies
• Past Guest Recognition Programs

Onboard Celebrations

• The Fun Shops
• Special Occasions
• Wedding Cruises and Vow Renewals

Dining and Beverages

• Dining and Snacking Options
• Dining Rooms
• CHEERS! Beverage Program
• Liquor and Beverage Policy

Onboard Communication

• WI FI Service and Carnivals HUB App
• Staying Connected

Money and Gratuities

• Gratuities (Tips)
• Sail & Sign Onboard Account
• Forms of Payment
• Cruise Cash/Bar/Photo
• Financial Access

Shipboard Health and Safety

• Passenger Bill of Rights
• Guest Screening Policy
• Safety and Security
• Safety Briefing - Muster Station Drill
• General Health Information
• Privacy Notice
• What to Pack
• Cruise Ticket Contract
• Carnival Vacation Protection
• Guests with Disabilities
• Choosing Your Cruise
• Tech Support
• Early Saver Promotion
• Minors / Infants / Pregnancy
• Making changes to your booking
• Carnival EasyPay
• Financing Powered by Uplift
• US Department of State Travel Tips
• And more things to know....

Debarkation - After Your Cruise

• Preparing to Go Home
• Post Cruise Inquiries

Search Results

• Make sure all words are spelled correctly
• Use different words that mean the same thing

Camp Ocean (2-5 Years) Penguins: Things to Know

Carnival's youth program, camp ocean (6-8 years) stingrays: things to know, camp ocean (9-11 years) sharks: things to know, turtles (infants under 2): things to know, camp ocean children's program, carnival youth programs facilities and activities, the warehouse arcades, policy for children while at youth programs during emergencies, plan a cruise.

• Search Cruises
• Travel Agent Finder
• Weddings & Occasions

• Carnival Mastercard
• Away We Go Blog

Group Travel

• Group Shore Excursions

Already Booked

• Manage My Cruises
• Shore Excursions
• In-Room Gifts & Shopping
• Spa & Salon Services
• Internet Plans
• Beverage Packages

• Airport Transportation

Customer Service

• Have Fun. Be Safe.
• Early Saver Price Protection Form
• Lowest Price Guarantee Claim Form
• Post-Cruise Inquiries
• Legal Notices for EU & UK Guests
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

About Carnival

• Passenger Bill Of Rights

• Legal Notices  
• Privacy & Cookies  
• Site Map  

• © Carnival Corporation. All rights reserved.

• Today's Deals
• Sign Up & Save!

• Top Cruise Destinations
• Alaska Cruises
• Bahamas Cruises
• Bermuda Cruises
• Caribbean Cruises
• Europe Cruises
• Mexico Cruises
• 1.800.764.7419

Never Miss a Cruise Deal

• Thank you for signing up! 
• Click here to learn more about our specials.

Have Fun. Be Safe

• Health Protocols and Requirements for Sailing

Travel Documentation and Online Check-in

• Travel Documents
• Online Check-In

Getting There

• Cruise Terminal Information and Parking
• Airport and Pier Transportation
• Air Information

Before You Board

• Embarkation Day Check-In

Youth and Family

• Youth Programs (Under 2 and 2-11 years old)
• Teen Programs (12-17 years old)
• Carnival's Seuss at Sea
• Age Policies

Things to Know

Onboard experiences.

• Shore - Excursions
• Spa and Fitness
• Outdoor Fun
• Entertainment and Activities
• For Your Convenience
• Onboard Guidelines and Policies
• Past Guest Recognition Programs

Onboard Celebrations

• The Fun Shops
• Special Occasions
• Wedding Cruises and Vow Renewals

Dining and Beverages

• Dining and Snacking Options
• Dining Rooms
• CHEERS! Beverage Program
• Liquor and Beverage Policy

Onboard Communication

• WI FI Service and Carnivals HUB App
• Staying Connected

Money and Gratuities

• Gratuities (Tips)
• Sail & Sign Onboard Account
• Forms of Payment
• Cruise Cash/Bar/Photo
• Financial Access

Shipboard Health and Safety

• Passenger Bill of Rights
• Guest Screening Policy
• Safety and Security
• Safety Briefing - Muster Station Drill
• General Health Information
• Privacy Notice
• What to Pack
• Cruise Ticket Contract
• Carnival Vacation Protection
• Guests with Disabilities
• Choosing Your Cruise
• Tech Support
• Early Saver Promotion
• Minors / Infants / Pregnancy
• Making changes to your booking
• Carnival EasyPay
• Financing Powered by Uplift
• US Department of State Travel Tips
• And more things to know....

Debarkation - After Your Cruise

• Preparing to Go Home
• Post Cruise Inquiries

Club O2 (Teens 15-17 Years)

• All children must be registered by a parent/guardian prior to participating in any Youth Program.
• Carnival’s policy is to group children together according to their age. The age is determined according to the child’s birth date.
• There is no sign in/out policy for Teens Ages 15-17. They are free to come and go as they choose for activities
• Supervised complimentary programming runs from 12:00pm-5:00pm and 8:30pm-1:00am. 
• Supervised complimentary programming runs from 4:00pm-6:00pm and 8:30pm-1:00am.
• Active (Basketball, Capture the Flag, Dodgeball, Manhunt)
• Arts & Crafts (DIY Creations, Messy Mania, Jewelry Making)
• See The World, special authentic celebrations that expose teen cruisers to holidays and traditions from cultures around the world
• Books and Board Games
• Games (Card Games, Human Hungry Hungry Hippos, Lyric Bee, Digital Scavenger Hunts)
• Karaoke 
• Themed Activities/Face Painting (Zombie Apocalypse, King & Queen Formal, Neon Jungle, Teen Olympics)
• Video Gaming

Was this answer helpful?

Answers others found helpful.

• Circle “C” (Young Teens 12-14 Years)
• Camp Ocean (9-11 Years) Sharks: Things to Know
• Carnival's Youth Program
• Camp Ocean (6-8 Years) Stingrays: Things to Know
• Camp Ocean (2-5 Years) Penguins: Things to Know