Two questions about the kids room (Carnival Liberty, 6-8yr old area)

[leighi123]

1. What is the set up like as far as "screens" (computer/tv/movie)? Are they every place? or in just one area of the room? I ask because my son cannot do screens. Is there a way to avoid screens?

 

i.e. Disney he was hardly able to go - only when they had a specific activity and I had to drop him off right at the start and collect him right at the end. RCL there was only a couple computers in the corner in his age group room and they never seemed to be on, and they let him play in that room when the other kids watched movies in the younger kid area where the TV was.

 

 

2. How are food allergies handled? i.e. I heard they go for trips to the ice cream bar, my son is allergic to dairy. Is it possible for them to grab him an alternative so he can still go along with his friends? Or for me to collect something to leave with them that he can eat when that activity happens?

(he is used to eating something different, so wouldn't mind if he got a fruit cup while everyone else ate ice cream for example).

 

I'm guessing eating meals with the kids wouldn't be a great idea, because he doesn't eat "kid food" (i.e. the junk they usually have on kids menus), is vegetarian, and has allergies. Unless there is a way to get a meal sent to him for him to eat while the other kids get their food from the kid buffet or whatever it is?

 

He is super social and will want to be with the other kids as much as possible - and it will be 5 adults + him on our trip, so he will want to have kid time!

[cb at sea]

Your best bet is to contact the "special needs" dept. on the cruise line you're sailing in advance of your vacation. They do wonders with folks who can do normal stuff or eat regular food. All cruise lines have this department....Call them, and specify your needs

[leighi123]

Thank you - I do plan on doing that, our last 3 cruises I've called and each time they just tell me to "tell our server" his needs. Which worked on 2/3 cruises (the first one he had terrible allergic reactions).

 

I have also always been told we could only eat in the main dining room, but all three cruises were able to accommodate him in the buffet areas, by giving us info on what was in some of the dishes or by sending something special made to the buffet area for us to pick up when he was ready for lunch.

 

We also learned to bring our own sheets/towels as he is allergic to the laundry soap they use!

 

 

But the reason I asked here was because I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the kids room and how they handle food specifically.

 

And also wondering what the set up of tv/movie/computer screens is.

[Essiesmom]

I believe the consensus here is that Carnival does not provide food in the clubs. The only food is if they take them to the buffet for lunch (port days) or for supper. EM

[Athankfulheart]

I had kids in this age group on the Dream this year. I don't know if Liberty is the same or not. They always had water but sometimes had popcorn, pretzels and goldfish crackers. On the dream there were several screens. The kids in this age group only left camp on port days if they were signed in for lunch. For camp dinner, they had to be signed in AT dinner and then went back to camp together. They did not leave camp for any other reason in the 6-8yo group.

[The Mister]

A year ago this week (!) we went on our first cruise, which happened to be on the Carnival Liberty.

 

As for the question about room setup, the 6-8 room is set up with TVs/video games in the back of the room, with open play area in the middle. The open play area does have a big screen TV, but it is not on at all times (just for when they're showing certain shows).

 

As for food allergies, part of Camp Carnival online registration includes a food allergy form. It's not all-inclusive, but feel free to make notes at the bottom (or wherever).

 

In addition, when we went, we were sure to bring copies of all of the forms (plus any other information). When we went to registration in the theater, the Camp staff was able to address all of our concerns.

 

As far as I was aware, the only food that Camp Carnival provides is:

(1) lunch on port days (for a fee - I think it was $6/child) and

(2) the dinner drop-off service. As I recall, at around 5:30 or so, Camp "moves" to the Fish & Chips area (upstairs from the buffet) for a kid's meal. They have the sign-in forms there, and after the meal they are all escorted back to the club. These menus are fixed. Mac&Cheese one day, turkey sandwich the next, hot dogs after that.

 

We did not use #1 for our special needs son (just once for our daughter when the rest of us perused the port area in Belize - we intended to get back before lunch but the tenders took a bit too long).

 

#2 we were able to use several times, even with our son's food sensitivities (basically, nothing artificial). Some days, however, avoiding the artificial stuff proved to be difficult (e.g., mac&cheese day), so we simply let him eat at the buffet since he could always find several options there. It was easy, then, for us to walk him up the stairs just as the rest of the kids were finishing their McMeals. This also saved us from the extra walk to drop him off at the club while we got ready for our "date".

 

As for general meal information, the process should be similar to what we did: As mentioned we brought copies of our son's dietary sensitivities. On boarding day, we were instructed to talk to the Maitre D' (or his/her representative), who was located in the Golden Olympian dining room (the mid-ship MDR where YTD occurs). The Maitre D' quickly summoned a dietary consultant (there are several on board, by the way - it's an official position, though I'm sure they have additional duties as well). I wish I could remember our consultant's name, as she did great.

 

Basically, when you meet with her on boarding day, you will first discuss the generalities, and then you and she will discuss that night's dinner plans and come up with a menu for you.

 

Then, that night at dinner, she will visit you during dinner, make sure everything is fine so far, and discuss the next night's menu (or, if you want to eat somewhere other than the MDR, she will discuss that with you there as well).

 

Our consultant was quite happy to meet us in the buffet some evenings and check out certain items for us. For my son, the desserts are typically the land mines, as that is the most common food to have something artificial (color or vanillin or something). So most nights she would either bring up a warm chocolate melting cake from the MDR, or give us an extra one to take back to our room for him to have a bedtime snack instead of dessert.

 

It all worked out fine.

 

I hope this is helpful. :)

[RSLeesburg]

Wow. That is one of the most informative and helpful posts I have read in a long time. Thanks for that.

 

And a Doctor Who fan too!

 

 

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[The Mister]

Wow. That is one of the most informative and helpful posts I have read in a long time. Thanks for that.

 

And a Doctor Who fan too!

You're quite welcome. :)

 

Oh, and for that cruise on the Liberty we were with a group of Doctor Who fans. :D With us were Sylvester "I'm in The Hobbit, you know" McCoy, Frazer Hines, Carole Ann Ford, Andrew Cartmel, and a couple of others from the show.

 

... But that's off-topic ...

[LibrarianBecky]

We were on Carnival Liberty last year. My son was 7 and enjoyed the kids club a few times. I think they watched a movie on one night, which was advertised, but for the most part they did activities (crafts, dancing, games, etc). They did not take him for ice cream, but did have a candy making activity one night in the club (a straw filled with pixie stick type sugar). Hope that helps a little.

 

 

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[leighi123]

Thank you - that is helpful.

 

He is allergic to dye/artificial stuff too - as well as oats, vinegar, dairy, strawberry and several other things. And is vegetarian on top of that. So nothing he could eat on the buffet. I will just tell him in advance that he can't eat with his friends unless their family wants to meet us for lunch in the main buffet where we can find him stuff and supervise what he eats.

 

 

As for the screens, its disappointing they have them in the main area, I will have to see what the set up is in person as well as talk to the staff to see if they can help either shut them off or keep ds from watching them - he has a neurological reaction to screens and it won't be pleasant for him or anyone around him if he ends up in front of one.