New Youth Programs Coming to Carnival Cruise Line

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An expanded youth program with brand-new activities is coming to Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, Carnival Celebration, ahead of a full-fleet rollout planned for spring 2023. New, updated options will be available for all age groups, with both entertaining and educational options to engage young cruisers.

Carnival Updates Youth Programs

Youth programs are a popular activity for young cruisers and an attractive amenity for family cruises. Now, Carnival Cruise Line is updating its youth offerings with more tech-savvy and educational options that will not only entertain young guests, but will also provide fun education related to the oceans and cruising.

“The updates weโ€™re making to our youth programming ensure our young cruisers have even more to be excited about when they come aboard,” said Melissa Mahaffey, Carnival Cruise Line’s director of youth experience.

Carnival Celebration Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Jouni Niskakoski / Shutterstock

Several of the new programs have already been introduced aboard Carnival Celebration, with great reception. By spring 2023, the new offerings will be available onboard all 24 of Carnival’s ships.

“Weโ€™ve already seen early success with our launch on Carnival Celebration, and Iโ€™m looking forward to expanding the reach of our new additions to families sailing with us across our fleet,” said Mahaffey.

New Turtles Program

The most extensive change to the cruise line’s youth programs is the new Turtles program for sailors under the age of 2. This new program includes a variety of special activities, including sensory activities, playdates, and music.

Especially meaningful is the interactive Baby Turtle Trek featuring fun facts about sea turtle conservation and urging toddlers to reenact a baby sea turtleโ€™s development by crawling on a custom-made ocean mat to their cheering family on the other side.

This not only provides great developmental activities for young cruisers, but helps instill a sense of conservation and protection for the marine environment from an early age.

Cruise-Themed Educational Activities

For all ages in Camp Ocean (2-17 years old), new cruise-themed activities through the Nautical Explorer program add a further educational element to the daily activity schedule.

Carnival Cruise Line Activity
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

Depending on age group, cruise length, and overall schedule, activities will include designing a giant cruise ship, discovering the language and symbolism of nautical flags, learning how to use a compass, and meeting a ship’s officer for exclusive, behind-the-fun discovery.

Each of these activities helps engage young cruisers with the uniqueness of a cruise vacation and helps them connect to maritime fun.

Enhancements to Dr. Seuss Bookville

The already popular Dr. Seuss Bookville program is also getting enhancements with more interactive opportunities with iconic characters from the beloved storybooks.

Thing One and Thing Two will help families put on their very own crazy circus, while The Cat in the Hat stops by to conduct a science experiment, and Sam-I-Am leads a scavenger hunt for those delicious green eggs.

Dr. Seuss Bookville is currently available onboard Carnival Celebration, Mardi Gras, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Panorama, and Carnival Vista.

Cultural Enrichment Experiences for Teens

For the oldest cruisers in the youth program, new cultural enrichment activities will spark their interest and foster greater understanding of diverse cultures, including the histories and cultures of the amazing destinations Carnival Cruise Line visits.

The new offerings follow the successful Holi Festival of Colors enrichment enjoyed on Mardi Gras. Now onboard Carnival Celebration is a program inspired by the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan, which celebrates the beauty of life and new beginnings.

Carnival Cruise Line Activity
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

Additional activities coming to Circle “C” (ages 12-14) and Club O2 (ages 15-17) include anime drawing lessons, pop culture games, authentic tea ceremonies, Japanese crafts, and more.

Already popular aboard Carnival Celebration is the new childrenโ€™s space program in partnership with Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, which includes activities inspired by NASA, such as using trampolines to study gravity, designing personalized mission patches, building a Mars base, and studying constellations.

With so many amazing offerings for cruisers of all ages, it is no surprise that Carnival Cruise Line continues to be a favorite choice for family cruises.

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