Entertainment | Adults
Since Emma was with us on this trip, we didn’t really partake in many of the “adult” activities, but they had a wide range of things to do if it was a couples or friends trip.
Casino (age 18+): I was actually pretty impressed with the onboard casino given we’ve ventured to Las Vegas and Biloxi several times. It was the size of a smaller spot on the strip, but there were a good number of tables and slot machines. While it was certainly always pretty packed when we went, we were always able to play. There was a bar in the casino, and attendants coming around – and they were absolutely fantastic in terms of attentiveness. Donna and I went to the casino while Grandma and Emma would hit the arcade or the Dive In Movie so it was a win-win.
Serenity Adult-Only Retreat™ (age 21+): this part of the deck was exclusive to adults and was much clamer/quieter than the rest of the ship. The cushions on the chairs were thick, the hot tubs were warmer and overlooked the ocean, and the music was far enough away to be a soft distant tune. With a bar in the area as well, it was a relaxing spot for sure, even for just a moment.
Cloud 9 Spa (age 18+): Massages, facials, body wraps, thermal suites and more — plus, a Hydrotherapy Pool. All on board the ship. While we didn’t utilize the spa on this trip, we did venture to check it out and let me tell you it’s on my list for our next adventure.
Pool & Hot Tubs (age 18+): At the rear of the ship there was another pool and two additional hot tubs that were adults only – the unfortunate part here was that this was the covered pool area but thankfully it didn’t rain on us during our trip!
There were also a few bars and a nightclub on the ship for evening activities sans kiddos like karaoke, live music, a piano bar, and themed “mingle” events as well as a comedy club and other shows dubbed adults only as well. I will say something noteworthy was that some things that are generally 21+ in the states were 18+ while others were 21+ so if traveling with 18-20 year olds just be mindful of that!
Entertainment | Family
Arcade: This spot was full of both kids and adults! They actually had a lot of good games and ones we hadn’t seen before. They of course had fan favorites like skee ball and air hockey as well as some VR options. All in all, a good selection and a fun place to spend some time at night!
Pools, Hot Tubs & Slides: In the main area, there were two family friendly hot tubs that were not super hot but warm, and then a small pool that was 4 feet deep. The pool was super frigid actually, so it was pretty empty most of the time. The two slides were pretty fun as well, and with virtually no line, we (Emma and I) ended up going dozens of times in a row before opting for a quick dip to warm up a tad. They also had a little splash pad area at the foot of the slides complete with mini slides which was cute as well for the littles.
Build-A-Bear Workshop At Sea®: This was a fun add on event! If you’ve been to a BAB on land, the premise was much the same but there were special edition animals and outfits just for Carnival. You drew a number and there was a little presentation before they called people up in 2-4 numbers at a time. Emma opted for the Carnival Bear with special pjs and it turned out so cute!
Shows: There were some evening shows that were family friendly and we ended up going to the America Rocks™! one that was a fun rock-n-roll concert with lots of songs Emma knew as well. It was a fun show and the theater was a good location. We wished there would have been more family friendly options however! The theater itself was really cool and there were a variety of seating options. There was also a morning show that was the cruise director and some other folks on staff that was pretty informative and entertaining as well.
Dive-In Movies at Carnival Seaside Theater™: Each day there were a few movies that played, and night ones were the most fun. There was popcorn and blankets as well and the movie choices were varied, but mostly all family friendly which was nice.
Mini Golf & other Activities: There were also basketball and pickleball courts with tournaments you could sign up for as well! They even had a towel folding class you could take, and had dozens and dozens of towel animals set up around the main pool. Plus, in the library they had several board games, which was a fun activity to add in between dinner and the rest of the day. There was shuffleboard, cornhole, giant chess sets, scavenger hunts, and trivia as well!
Speaking of trivia, we naturally had to play the Harry Potter Trivia and Emma got every question but one correct! The one she (and me as well) missed was how many chapters are in ALL the books combined (it’s 199 – you’re welcome). Of the two winners, this sweet lady came over and told Emma how cool it was she outplayed all these adults and lost with grace and that she knew the number of chapters because she was a teacher and HP was her theme all these years – and then she gave Emma her trophy! It was such a sweet moment and Emma was so excited about it!
Entertainment | Kids
Camp Ocean (ages 2-11): supervised, age-based groups, each a cool marine-life label: Penguins (2 to 5 years), Stingrays (6 to 8 years) and Sharks (9 to 11 years). They offered tons of fun-filled, age-appropriate activities like arts and crafts, songs, games, toys, dancing, movies and video games. We did not participate in this (there weren’t a lot of kids on board, and it seemed a bit young/more like daycare. The water activities were much more our speed, but I see the value in having this as an option especially with multiple kids and younger kids – especially as it is no extra cost!)
Night Owls: just like Camp Ocean, but for a fee and at night until 1am so that parents could go to other activities.
Seuss at Sea: Dr. Seuss Bookville, Parade, and Thing 1 & Thing 2 Breakfast – we did not participate in any of these activities, but they looked so fun for families with younger kiddos!
Circle C (ages 12-14): dance parties, games, outdoor movies and more, some in the exclusive Circle “C” lounge and others around the ship. All supervised by counselors and at no extra cost!
Club O2 (ages 15-17): movies, listening to music, playing sports and video games, joining karaoke jam sessions. Seemed like a cool night option for teenagers at no extra cost!
Shops
There was a candy store, portrait studio, and even art exhibits throughout the ship. There were also gift shops and duty free shopping on board. But shopping at the ports of call were more fun for sure! Plus the candy was rather expensive, and they could certainly do with some JOYRIDE.
All the Details:
See our other posts about the Carnival Valor because one post just wouldn’t do it justice: Rooms & Boarding, Food & Drink, and Ports of Call
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