Our Complete Guide to the Best Carnival Cruise Ships For Kids

Which Carnival ship has a roller coaster? Mardi Gras has a roller coaster named Bolt: Ultimate Sea Coaster.

Bolt is the first-ever roller coaster on the sea, with an admission rate of $15. The all-electric coaster with a two-person car can travel 40 miles per hour and boasts 800 feet of winding track.

If you want to save money, go for a rope course of mini-golf with your kids. The ship has five splash parks in The Ultimate Playground neighborhood.

The vessel has kids camps; Camp Ocean is located on deck 4 that is separated into three age groups between 2 to 14. Club 2 is on deck 17 which allows kids from 15 to 17.

The ultimate playground is on deck 18 which can help your little ones stay busy for a while. Sea coaster and other sports like basketball court are on the topmost deck.

• Decks: 18 (11 with cabins)
• Launched: 6 September 2020
• Passenger Occupancy: 6500 with 2000 crew members

Are babies free on carnival cruises? No, cruise fares for kids and adults are the same. But if you are traveling in the count of three or more, the third person gets a little discount.

Carnival Panorama is a family-friendly ship with stand-out features like the SkyRide cycle and SkyCourses. Carnival Sky Zone costs $12, and Glow Paty costs $18 per person.

Toddler Time is also available on the ship which takes you $5 per child aged 5 or younger. This activity requires an adult to be present there at $5.

Their kid's club Ocean Camp is at Deck 11 with its own private outdoor playground area. The activities are categorized based on the age group to indulge them in crafts and puzzles.

The fun indoor trampoline Park on Panoram is the first one to be on a cruise. There is also challenge zones on Deck 7 and 8.

Club 2 is for teens between 15 to 17. Some organized activities are video games, karaoke, and sport.

• Decks: 14 (13 with cabins)
• Launched: 6 December 2018
• Passenger Occupancy: 4200 with 1450 crew members

Carnival Vista has a SkyRide feature. It is an elevated 800-foot-long track with a speed of up to 18 miles per hour at 150 feet above sea level.

The feature has been named the Best Cruise Ship feature consecutively from 2016 to 2019. It also has Kaleid-O-Slide with rafts.

What if you want to enjoy the night partying but have a child? Carnival has a Night Owls babysitting program for kids ages 6 to 11 that runs from 10 pm to 1 am. It costs $6.75 per hour per child plus a 15 percent gratuity.

The cruise has partnered with Dr. Seuss for Seuss at Sea for Bookville space on Deck 11. A Seuss-a-palooza story time is held at least once per cruise. Are you ready to explore Wendy Green's board?

The cruise has the 300-long spiraling Twister Waterslide on Deck 12. Spray parks are available to use from 9 am to sunset.

• Decks: 14 (12 with cabins)
• Launched: 25 June 2015
• Passenger Occupancy: 3934 with 1450 crew members

Carnival Horizon is the second Vista-class ship in the fleet. It is the first Carnival ship to feature Dr. Seuss WaterWorks, inspired by cartoonist Theodor Seuss Geisel.

The Dr. Seuss WaterWorks is on Deck 12 with different slides. It has the SportSquare outdoor recreation area with several ropes course challenges.

The Cat's Hat Slide offers over 450 feet of heart-racing twists and turns. The feline theme has Cat's famous red hat with opaque sections.

The Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with The Cat in the Hat and Friends features unique menus with colored fruits and pancakes.

Fun Things Slide is another wonder you can only find on Horizon ship encompassing 213 feet of energizing fun. It is named after the mischievous duo Thing 1 and Thing 2.

• Decks: 14 (13 with cabins)
• Launched: 10 March 2017
• Passenger Occupancy: 3960 with 1450 crew members

Carnival Sunshine boasts its 235-foot-long Speedway Splash Racing Slides. It is a Dream class ship similar to Magic and Breeze.

Like other Carnival ships, Sunshine also has a Camp Carnival play area. Depending on the age group, kids are provided with playing material, from age-appropriate soft toys to video games.

Littles thrillseekers can try rope challenges and play mini-golfs with their guardians. If you are done doing other activities pay for Shake Spot.

Hasbro Game Show night is something you should not miss onboard. Let your kid challenge a fellow cruiser or a friend and see them jump like maniacs.

The camp caters kids to by decorating Camp Carnival T-shirts at $5. The Build-A-Bear Workshop costs $26, allowing juniors to make their stuffed best friend.

Sunshine offers ice creams and hot dogs in the casual poolside Lido Marketplace restaurant. Kids can also dine under the stars with a crew member while their parents take an ocean breeze.

• Decks: 13 (11 with cabins)
• Launched: 15 November 1995
• Passenger Occupancy: 3002 with 1040 crew members

Carnival Celebration is the second Carnival ship to have the Bolt: Ultimate Sea Coaster roller coaster.

The vessel has a 312-foot-long tube slide named Blue Lightning with mats. The slide is packed with high-speed turns.

Orange Thunder offers the most thrilling rides for 48 inches or taller. It is a 229-foot drop slide also available on Mardi Gras.

The ship is facilitated with Mini Racer Slides like most other Carnival ships. Thrill-seeking little ones can race with their friends or siblings with some restrictions in height and age group.

Additionally, the vessel has a Space Cruisers curriculum supported by NASA to explore the universe and Earth. Young cruisers of 2 to 11 ages can participate.

• Decks: 18 (11 with cabins)
• Launched: 2 November 2022
• Passenger Occupancy: 5,374 with 1735 crew members

Carnival Venezia has Gondola Glide Slide. The slide is also available on the Carnival Firenze.

Deck 11 is all about entertainment for kids adults and any other age groups. Venezia has complimentary outdoor cinema provided with popcorn.

Carnival Camp Ocean has over 200 marine-themed activities among which some are free of cost and some are chargeable. Sportsquare has creative coves with arts-crafts-workshops.

All the kids are supposed to wear their muster station wristbands available at Guest Services. If you have infants and have forgotten a stroller, you can get it at $8 daily.

You can also participate in Beary Cuddly Workshop for $20. Some portion of the collected fund goes to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.

• Decks: 18 (11 with cabins)
• Launched: 2 November 2022
• Passenger Occupancy: 4,090 with 1,424 crew members

Carnival Radiance has a 203-feet long Aqua Tunnel Water Slide on Deck 10. The ship also features Twister Waterslide.

The cruise has Zumbini for kids aged 2 to 5. It requires 30 minutes of parent and child bonding over music and dance by trainer instructors.

The nine-hole mini golf courses at SkyGreens can be an ideal way to engage with your kids while you guide them. There are also ping pong and foosball waiting for you.

Its SportSquare comprises SkyTrack, SkyCourt, SkyCourse, SkyBilliards, and Shuffleboard. These activities are arranged on Deck 11.

Green Eggs and Ham breakfast featuring Dr. Seuss characters are also available like other Carnival cruises. Kids can participate in Club 02 and Circle C.

• Decks: 13 (9 with cabins)
• Launched: 31 December 1998
• Passenger Occupancy: 2984 with 1108 crew members

The Carnival Spirit water slide is Green Thunder Thrill Slide. It is a 100-foot free-fall drop slide with a giant swirling bowl.

The see-through slide takes center stage at WaterWorks Aqua Park. It was not installed in the ship when it was launched but is a part of refurbishment done in 2012.

There are a 150-gallon PowerDrencher dump bucket and water play areas in SplashZone. On Deck 11 You can also get a kick out of splashing around on the yellow Twister water slide.

Little ones can enjoy the Towel Animal Theatre created by Tony Award winner John Tartaglia. They can see some of the towel animals.

If you like to basketball then you must visit Sports Deck.

• Decks: 12 (6 with cabins)
• Launched: 7 July 2000
• Passenger Occupancy: 2124 with 930 crew members

One of Carnival rides names is Drainpipe of Carnival Breeze. It is also present on Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic.

In 2012, Carnival Breeze welcomed cruisers on Thanksgiving by erecting a 50-foot-tall inflatable turkey. They also made a charitable donation to Feeding South Florida.

The ship usually sails to Bermuda and The Bahamas. While onboard, kids can find entertainment at Camp Ocean designed for ages 2 to 11.

Littles ages 12 to 14 can join the Circle C club to play cool games and hang out with friends. Club O2 is for teens ages 14 to 15 who like to dance party and compete in karaoke.

The Lido Restaurant provides kids-only lunch and dinner with parental supervision. JiJi Asian Kitchen costs $5 for kids to taste multiple appetizers.

• Decks: 14 (9 with cabins)
• Launched: 16 September 2011
• Passenger Occupancy: 3690 with 1386 crew members