What to Expect at Camp Ocean on Carnival Cruise Line

Formerly Camp Carnival, Camp Ocean is the kids' club for 2- to 11-year-olds on Carnival cruise ships. If your kid wants to make new friends and participate in fun, age-appropriate activities onboard -- while you get some grown-up R&R -- Carnival’s Camp Ocean should be your first stop on embarkation day.

What Is Camp Ocean on Carnival Cruise Line?

Kennedy Space Program show at Camp Ocean on Carnival Jubilee (Photo: Chris Gray Faust)

Camp Ocean is Carnival’s free, all-day, drop-off kids' camp. Young cruisers are divided into three age groups -- Penguins (ages 2 to 5), Stingrays (6 to 8) and Sharks (9 to 11) -- with separate play areas filled with age-appropriate toys, games, crafts and videos. Some ships, including Freedom, Panorama, Vista and Horizon, have an additional shared space for all age groups.

The decor and programming have a marine theme; expect colorful murals of sea creatures on the walls and activities such as Lego Reef Building and Fish, Fish, Shark.

Parents can send their kids to Camp Ocean on Carnival cruises for an entire day or for specific activities, whatever works for each family. Hours vary on port days, so be sure to check the kids’ programming on Carnival’s HUB App.

The cruise line offers two additional kids’ clubs: Circle C (for tweens aged 12 to 14) and Club O2, (for teenagers up to 17 years old).

Activities Offered at Carnival’s Camp Ocean

Depending on age and ship, children might participate in scavenger hunts, make crafts, play video games, attend a dance or cooking class or talent show, do group sports out on deck or just have free time to play.

Children in the Penguins age group (2 to 5) have spacious game areas for independent and guided play. Activities range from arts and crafts to songs, story time and dancing. Themed days may include “Under the Sea” and “Pirates’ Day”.

Activities for Stingrays (6- to 8-year-olds) include movies, face painting, video games and science and discovery experiments. Kids nine to 11 have access to a wider range of video games as well as to guided and independent activities such as bean bag toss, dance classes, board games, DIY sessions, science games, and sports.

Carnival has a partnership with the Kennedy Space Center to offer NASA-approved space-themed activities for kids of all ages at Camp Ocean. The program, which includes books, toys, experiments and decorations, launched on Carnival Celebration but has since extended to other ships.

Family activities are also offered from time to time for parents and kids in the Ocean Camp age range, including arts and crafts, dance parties, trivia games, scavenger hunts and bingo, among many others.

Does Camp Ocean on Carnival Offer Nighttime Activities, Too?

Penguin room for small kids in Camp Ocean on Carnival Jubilee (Photo: Chris Gray Faust)

Camp Ocean also offers late-night programming for a fee. Night Owls is essentially group babysitting available for kids ages 6 months to 11 years, held inside the Camp Ocean facility on all Carnival cruise ships.

Younger kids might watch movies or rest while older kids might play video games and listen to music. On select nights, a late-night party for 2- to 11-year-olds, called Owl Jams, might take place, with themes such as a Mardi Gras party or a Beach Bash.

Are There Any Activities at Carnival’s Camp Ocean for Babies and Toddlers?

Although Camp Ocean on Carnival is for kids over 2 years old, the kids’ club also has select, extra-fee, drop-off hours for babies over 6 months old. On sea days, parents can choose to play with their children during under-2 hours at no charge.

Children do not have to be potty trained to participate in Camp Ocean activities, but parents must provide diapers to Carnival staff every time they drop off their kid.

The Registration and Sign-In/Out Process at Carnival’s Camp Ocean

Carnival Jubilee sits docked at Montego Bay. (Photo: Colleen McDaniel)

To participate in Camp Ocean on Carnival ships, parents need to pre-register their children online before embarkation day. On the first day of the cruise, families can visit Camp Ocean during designated open house hours. This provides an opportunity to explore the facility and confirm registration details with the kids’ club staff.

During registration, parents also designate which adults are authorized to pick up their child. Kids are given name tags or wristbands with their name, age and muster station the first time they use the Ocean Camp facilities.

For children aged 8 and under, parents or guardians must sign them in and out each time they attend Camp Ocean. Children aged 9 and older are allowed to sign themselves in and out, but only if their parents provide written authorization.

No child will be allowed to sign themselves in or out in the evening; a parent or authorized adult must drop them off and pick them up.

Is There a Fee for Use of Camp Ocean on Carnival Cruises?

Daytime use of Carnival's Camp Ocean is complimentary for kids ages 2 to 11. There are hourly fees for under-2 daytime drop-off services.

Fees for Night Owls group babysitting also apply. Owl Jams parties, which are offered occasionally, cost a flat fee per child, too.

Are Meals Provided at Camp Ocean on Carnival Ships?

While parents are encouraged to pick up their children from Camp Ocean during mealtimes, supervised lunch service is available on port days. During these times, staff escort the children to the buffet restaurant, where they can enjoy a variety of kid-friendly options, such as mac and cheese and chicken nuggets.

In addition, dinner is served every evening at the buffet restaurant.

Carnival Cruise Ships with Camp Ocean

Camp Ocean is available on all Carnival cruise ships. Décor and activities may vary by ship.