Is Carnival cruise daycare free?

During these times, parents/guardians have the option of leaving their child in the care of the Youth Staff (fees apply: $7.50 USD per hour plus an 18% service charge, per child) – or - they can stay and use the camp facility at no charge.



On Carnival Cruise Line in 2026, the answer depends on your child's age and the time of day. For children aged 2 to 11, the supervised daytime activities at Camp Ocean are completely free and included in your cruise fare. These programs run from approximately 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM on sea days, and from port arrival until 10:00 PM on port days (including supervised lunch). However, for toddlers under 2, there is no "free" drop-off daycare; parents can either stay with their child for "Under 2 Time" at no cost or pay for childcare at a rate of approximately $8.85 per hour plus an 18% service charge. Additionally, for all children aged 6 months to 11 years, the "Night Owls" late-night babysitting program (10:00 PM to 1:00 AM) is a paid service, costing roughly $9.00 per hour plus a 20% service charge. While the daytime kids' clubs for ages 2+ are a fantastic, cost-free amenity that allows parents to relax, any care for very young infants or care during the "late-night party" hours will require an additional charge to your Sail & Sign account.

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It's free for kids to attend during most hours. 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.

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Babies and toddlers up to two years sail free on MSC Cruises, with kids aged two- to 11-years-old offered a reduced rate. On Cunard, infants up to 23 months travel free, while two- to 17-year-olds sail at a reduced rate, and Italian line Costa Cruises does not charge for infants under three.

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Price. Daytime use of Carnival's Camp Ocean is complimentary for kids ages 2 to 11. Under-2 daytime drop-off fees are $6.75 per hour, per child, plus a 15 percent gratuity. Fees for Night Owls group babysitting are also $6.75 per hour, per child, plus a 15 percent gratuity.

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Cruise fares are per person which includes children and infants. When traveling with 2 full fare guests, additional guests in the same stateroom pay a discounted cruise fare. Children less than 2 years of age are not required to extend gratuities.

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Plenty of Activities for Kids We've got all-day youth activities for kids to hang out and make new friends their age. Camp Ocean for ages 2–11, Circle “C” for 12–14 and Club O2 for 15–17. When planning your day aboard, plan on waterslides, mini-golf and live entertainment galore.

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During some cruises, capacity may be limited. We know that even the smallest campers want to have fun! Camp Ocean® offers special play times for tiny tots, under 2 years of age, to enjoy. If your child is turning 2 years old during your cruise they are welcome to join our Penguin® group, ages 2 to 5.

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You will want some kind of stroller or baby carrier for taking your child around the cruise ship and in port. Some cruise lines, like Carnival, have rentals available; MSC offers loaners. You will need to store strollers in your cabin, so we recommend bringing a small umbrella stroller, rather than a large baby jogger.

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Why do Some Cruise Lines Charge the Same Rate for Babies as Adults? Though babies and toddlers clearly do not consume nearly as much food and drink, nor partake in the same activities as their parents, babies still create extra cleanup and housekeeping work that the ship's crew ultimately must take care of.

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Rates: We charge $9.00 per hour for one child and $8.00 per hour for each additional sibling in the same family with a one hour minimum charge. Payment will be posted directly to your stateroom folio. reservation more than four hours prior to the start of your reserved time.

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Under the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, for the purposes of determining the obligations under the convention, a birth on a ship or aircraft in international waters or airspace shall be treated as a birth in the country of the ship or aircraft's registration.

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Travelers under the age of 18 must travel with an adult over the age of 18. Children under the age of 16 must have a passenger who is 16 or older share their cabin. Minimum age to leave a P&O ship on your own: Guests must be 17 or older to go on a ship-sponsored shore excursion on their own.

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Children under the age of 16 who are citizens of the U.S. or Canada are exempt from the passport requirement for land and sea border crossings.

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Circle C is the place where teens aged 12-14 years can meet new friends and have fun. They can enjoy activities such as dancing parties, movies, t-shirt painting and much more. Of course they are supervised by our qualified team every day. Opening hours: depending on the Activity Plan.

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Minor guests (12-17 years of age) may use the facilities provided they are accompanied by a parent or guardian (subject to restrictions posted outside the Fitness Center). Salon: Salon services (hair, nail and facial services) are available to guests of all ages.

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