by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 11:50 AM ET, Mon December 18, 2023
Kids, tweens and teens will have lots of ways to stay busy when they sail aboard Carnival Jubilee, the cruise line’s newest ship. Carnival is rolling out an array of new family-friendly activities aboard the ship, which will set sail on its inaugural voyage from Galveston next week.
The new programming ranges from virtual space exploration to Dr. Seuss story time.
“Kids and multigenerational families sailing on Carnival Jubilee are set to enjoy a new level of fun with all new experiences tailored to every age group,” says Melissa Mahaffey, Carnival’s youth and family experiences director. “We’re welcoming new characters, creating new spaces and telling new stories so everyone in the family can make the most of their cruise vacation.”
Space exploration will be a big theme on Carnival Jubilee. In collaboration with the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Carnival is expanding its popular Space Cruisers program to include a high-tech LED space wall. Located inside Camp Ocean, the space wall uses NASA imagery to help kids imagine they’re piloting a spacecraft. As they virtually explore the universe, they’ll also engage in hands-on STEM learning experiences.
Little ones will also be able to get in on the action, thanks to a new space-themed toddler playground called Planet Play at Sea. The playground is inspired by Planet Play, an immersive play experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Crews will install the playground sometime after the ship debuts.
Carnival is also unveiling new Dr. Seuss-themed activities and offerings onboard Carnival Jubilee. Starting in early January, Thing 1 and Thing 2 will host a birthday party-themed breakfast, which will have new menu items, activities and music. Then, in mid-February, Fox in Socks will join the Seuss-a-palooza Parade. And the ship’s Seuss-a-palooza Story Time will feature the beloved Dr. Seuss book “Green Eggs & Ham.”
Carnival also plans to expand its popular teen program See The World on Carnival Jubilee. Guests between the ages of 12 and 17 will be able to participate in new cultural experiences, such as jewelry making and a flower parade, during the Panagbenga Festival, inspired by the annual celebration that takes place in the Philippines each February. Carnival developed the new offerings in partnership with crew members from the Philippines.
The vessel itself boasts new kid-friendly features, too. In the ship's Currents zone, for instance, little cruisers will be able to design their own sea creature, then watch it come to life on LED screens on the ceiling and walls. Carnival will also install enhanced facial recognition technology in the ship’s youth area. The system, which is already in use on Carnival Mardi Gras, helps ensure children leave the area only with authorized adults.
The cruise line is also launching Night Owls Camp Out, an evening program designed to feel like an outdoor summer camp. Activities include horseshoes, crafts, fort building, cornhole, obstacle courses and singing songs around a campfire.
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