Carnival Camp Ocean Penguins: Activities, Hours and Schedule for Ages 2–5
Carnival Cruise Line’s Camp Ocean Penguins program is designed for children ages 2 to 5, offering supervised activities throughout the cruise while giving parents time to enjoy the ship on their own. Penguins is the youngest of Carnival’s three main Camp Ocean age groups, with programming that can include arts and crafts, games, themed activities, science, music, dancing, movies, and active play.
During our Carnival cruise, we used the Carnival HUB App to look through the Penguins schedule and Camp Ocean information. The screenshots below show what parents can expect from the program, including embarkation-day registration, port-day activities, sea-day programming, kids’ meals, themed events, and late-night Night Owls childcare.
For more Carnival information, CruisePrism readers can also explore our Carnival Dining Menus, Carnival Drink Lists, and Carnival Onboard Guides for more information about restaurants, schedules and onboard activities.
What Is Camp Ocean Penguins?
Penguins is Carnival’s Camp Ocean group specifically for children ages 2 through 5.
Carnival divides its primary Camp Ocean program into three age groups:
• Penguins: ages 2–5
• Stingrays: ages 6–8
• Sharks: ages 9–11
There is also a Turtles program for infants from 6 months to under 2 years old, while older children and teenagers move into Carnival’s Circle “C” and Club O2 programs.
Carnival describes Penguins as its youngest campers, with daily activities that can include arts and crafts, singing, dancing, games, educational activities, and other age-appropriate entertainment.
Where Is Camp Ocean?
The exact Camp Ocean location varies by Carnival ship.
On the ship shown in our Carnival HUB App, Camp Ocean was located on Deck 4 Mid. The app also displayed extensions 4141 and 4144 for contacting the youth program.
The map in the HUB App showed Camp Ocean next to the Family Harbor Lounge and Dr. Seuss Bookville.
The hours displayed in the HUB App on this particular day were:
• 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
• 5:30 PM–1:00 AM
The late closing time includes Carnival’s Night Owls program. Hours and activities vary according to the cruise itinerary and day, so parents should always check the HUB App during their own sailing.
Registering for Camp Ocean
Children must be registered before participating in Carnival’s youth programs.
Carnival allows families to complete youth registration online before the cruise. Registration becomes available as part of online check-in.
Parents who do not complete registration before sailing can still register their children once onboard.
Registration does not require a child to participate in Camp Ocean. It simply allows them to use the program during the cruise.
For younger children, parents or guardians control who is authorized to sign the child in and out of Camp Ocean.
Embarkation Day at Camp Ocean
The first day of the cruise provides families with opportunities to get familiar with Camp Ocean before the regular schedule begins.
On our sailing from Miami, the Penguins schedule started with Open House & Registration at 11:00 AM.
The schedule displayed in the HUB App included:
• 11:00 AM – Open House & Registration
• 3:45 PM – Sail Away
• 5:30 PM – Explore Camp Ocean!
• 7:00 PM – Camp Ocean Family Welcome Aboard Party
• 8:00 PM – Kid’s Choice
• 8:45 PM – All Aboard Camp Opening
• 9:00 PM – Theme: Bouncing Bunnies
• 10:00 PM – Night Owls
Most activities took place at Camp Ocean on Deck 4 Mid, while Sail Away was listed at the Lido on Deck 16 Mid.
The combination of an open house, family welcome party, and evening programming gives younger children several opportunities to become familiar with the space and staff before spending longer periods there later in the cruise.
Camp Ocean Penguins on Port Days
Camp Ocean does not shut down simply because the ship is visiting a port.
Carnival offers supervised programming on port days, making Camp Ocean useful for families who remain aboard for part of the day or need childcare around their plans ashore.
Our Nassau schedule began with Kid’s Choice at 8:00 AM.
Activities shown throughout the day included:
• Kid’s Choice
• Kid’s Lunch
• Arts & Crafts: Painting
• Theme: Under the Sea
• Active: Parachute Fun
• Seuss at Sea: Story Fun
Kid’s Lunch was scheduled for noon in the Family Harbor Lounge on Deck 4 Mid.
Carnival’s current general schedule for Penguins indicates that supervised Kid’s Choice programming can begin when the ship arrives in port and continue until noon. Kids’ lunch is then offered, followed by scheduled afternoon programming.
Evening Activities on a Port Day
Programming continued well into the evening after the ship’s Nassau visit.
The evening schedule included:
• 5:30 PM – Kid’s Choice
• 5:30 PM – Kid’s Dinner
• 6:30 PM – Kid’s Choice
• 7:30 PM – All Aboard Camp Opening
• 8:00 PM – Games: Group Games
• 8:30 PM – Theme: Penguin Palooza
• 10:00 PM – Owl Jams Party Animals
The Owl Jams Party Animals event required a reservation and was part of Carnival’s paid late-night programming.
This schedule illustrates how Camp Ocean can extend beyond daytime childcare. Younger children can participate in activities after dinner while parents enjoy other evening entertainment, restaurants, bars, or shows around the ship.
Camp Ocean Penguins on Sea Days
Sea days provide some of the most extensive Camp Ocean programming because families remain aboard throughout the day.
Carnival’s current general schedule lists complimentary Penguins programming on sea days from 10:00 AM–5:00 PM and again from 7:00 PM–10:00 PM, followed by the paid Night Owls program.
Actual activities and times can vary by itinerary.
On the sea day shown in our HUB App, the schedule included several Camp Ocean activities as well as larger family events elsewhere around the ship.
Activities shown included:
• Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea Party
• Kid’s Choice
• All Aboard Camp Opening
• Games
• Seuss at Sea activities
• Seuss-a-palooza Parade
• Seuss-a-palooza Story Time
• Space Cruisers: Astro Memory Match
The Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea Party was held at Center Stage rather than inside Camp Ocean, while the Seuss-a-palooza Parade and Story Time took place in other public venues.
These activities show that selecting the Penguins filter in the HUB App can display both Camp Ocean programming and family activities elsewhere on the ship that are relevant to children in this age group.
Afternoon and Evening Sea-Day Activities
The Penguins schedule continued into the evening.
The later schedule included:
• Active activities
• Kid’s Choice
• Kid’s Dinner
• All Aboard Camp Opening
• Kid’s Celebration
• Games
• Theme: Royal Gala
• Night Owls
Kid’s Dinner was scheduled in the Family Harbor Lounge, while most of the other activities took place inside Camp Ocean.
The changing themes are one of the more noticeable parts of the Penguins program. Rather than repeating exactly the same activities every day, Carnival rotates games, crafts, active play, themed events, and other programming throughout the sailing.
Camp Ocean Penguins at Amber Cove
Port-day programming continued during our visit to Amber Cove.
The daytime schedule included:
• 8:00 AM – Kid’s Choice
• 12:00 PM – Kid’s Lunch
• 1:00 PM – Kid’s Choice
• 2:00 PM – Active
• 2:30 PM – Arts & Crafts: Handprint Crafts
• 3:15 PM – Science & Discovery
• 4:00 PM – Games
• 4:30 PM – Family Zumbini
• 5:15 PM – Photo Time! with Dr. Seuss
Most activities took place at Camp Ocean on Deck 4 Mid. Family Zumbini was listed at Camp Ocean: Turtles, while the Dr. Seuss photo opportunity was held at Pixels Gallery on Deck 8 Mid.
This schedule is a good example of the variety within the Penguins program. In a single afternoon, children could move between active play, crafts, science, games, music and movement, and a character photo opportunity.
Evening Activities After Amber Cove
The evening schedule again transitioned from regular Camp Ocean programming into Night Owls.
Activities shown included:
• 5:30 PM – Kid’s Choice
• 5:30 PM – Kid’s Dinner
• 6:30 PM – Kid’s Choice
• 7:30 PM – All Aboard Camp Opening
• 7:45 PM – Active
• 8:30 PM – Movie Time
• 10:00 PM – Night Owls
This type of schedule can be particularly useful after a port day. Families can spend time ashore together and then children can return to Camp Ocean for evening activities.
Another Fun Day at Sea
Later in the cruise, another sea day showed a shorter filtered Penguins schedule during the period captured in the HUB App.
The seven activities displayed were:
• 5:30 PM – Kid’s Choice
• 5:30 PM – Kid’s Dinner
• 6:30 PM – Kid’s Choice
• 7:30 PM – All Aboard Camp Opening
• 8:00 PM – Active: Ball Games
• 8:30 PM – Theme: Creepy Crawly Critters
• 10:00 PM – Night Owls
Again, the schedule moved from flexible Kid’s Choice time into more structured activities before transitioning to Night Owls at 10:00 PM.
What Is Kid’s Choice?
Kid’s Choice appears frequently throughout the Camp Ocean Penguins daily program.
Rather than representing one specific scheduled craft or game, Kid’s Choice provides a more flexible period within Camp Ocean. Carnival lists free play among the core categories incorporated into its Camp Ocean programming.
On our sailing, Kid’s Choice appeared repeatedly during mornings, afternoons, and evenings, particularly around transitions between scheduled activities.
Arts, Games and Science Activities
Carnival divides Camp Ocean programming into several different types of play so children are not doing the same kind of activity throughout the day.
Penguins activities can include:
• Arts and crafts
• Active games
• Free play
• Group games
• Music
• Science and discovery
• Movies
• Themed activities
• Social activities
• Food-related fun
• Digital activities
The schedules from our cruise included painting, handprint crafts, parachute fun, ball games, science and discovery, Astro Memory Match, and group games.
That variety is useful for children with different interests. A child who does not particularly enjoy crafts, for example, may be much more interested in active games or science activities later in the day.
Dr. Seuss Activities
Several Dr. Seuss activities appeared in the Penguins schedule.
These included Seuss at Sea Story Fun, Seuss at Sea activities, the Seuss-a-palooza Parade, Seuss-a-palooza Story Time, and a Dr. Seuss photo opportunity.
Not all of these activities took place inside Camp Ocean. Some were larger family events held elsewhere around the ship.
Parents using the Carnival HUB App should therefore pay attention to the location listed beneath each activity rather than assuming every event under the Penguins filter takes place at Camp Ocean.
Kid’s Lunch and Kid’s Dinner
Carnival can provide supervised meals as part of Camp Ocean programming.
On our sailing, Kid’s Lunch appeared on port days and Kid’s Dinner appeared on multiple evenings. The meals shown in the HUB App took place in the Family Harbor Lounge on Deck 4 Mid.
Carnival’s current general policy states that Kids’ Only Lunch is offered on port days, while Kids’ Dinner is generally offered every evening except embarkation day. Exact times, locations, and menus can vary.
Parents should check the HUB App for the schedule during their sailing.
What Is Night Owls?
Night Owls is Carnival’s paid late-night childcare program.
Regular complimentary Camp Ocean programming generally ends at 10:00 PM. Night Owls then allows children to remain under the supervision of Carnival’s youth staff while parents continue enjoying the ship.
For U.S. sailings, Carnival currently lists Night Owls from 10:00 PM until 1:00 AM.
Unlike most regular Penguins programming, Night Owls has an additional charge. Carnival currently lists the cost at $9 per hour per child, including the 20% service charge.
Night Owls activities can include:
• Movies
• Games
• Toys
• Arts and crafts
• Video games
• Snacks
The atmosphere is designed more like a late-night slumber party than the regular daytime Camp Ocean schedule.
What Are Owl Jams Parties?
Carnival also offers special Owl Jams parties on select nights.
During our Nassau day, the HUB App listed “Owl Jams Party Animals” at 10:00 PM and specifically marked the event as requiring a reservation.
Owl Jams parties carry an additional charge separate from regular complimentary Camp Ocean programming.
Carnival currently lists select Owl Jams parties at $20.40 per child, including the 20% service charge.
Is Camp Ocean Free?
Most regular Camp Ocean programming for children ages 2–11 is complimentary.
That includes the scheduled daytime and evening activities offered before Night Owls begins.
Additional charges can apply to certain programs and activities, including:
• Night Owls late-night childcare
• Owl Jams parties
• Certain special activities
• Some programming for children under age 2
The Carnival HUB App identifies activities where fees or reservations apply.
Using the Carnival HUB App for Camp Ocean
The HUB App is particularly useful for families because Camp Ocean programming changes throughout the cruise.
Parents can use the daily activity schedule to see what is happening, when an activity starts, and where it is being held.
The screenshots from our sailing also show that activities can be filtered specifically for Penguins, making it much easier to find programming appropriate for children ages 2–5 without scrolling through the ship’s entire daily planner.
Because schedules vary by ship, itinerary, port, and sailing, the HUB App should be treated as the final source for the schedule during your actual cruise.
Camp Ocean Penguins Tips for Parents
A few things are worth knowing before the cruise:
• Complete youth registration before sailing when possible.
• Visit the embarkation-day open house so your child can see Camp Ocean before being dropped off.
• Check the HUB App every day because activities and hours change.
• Use the Penguins filter to find age-appropriate activities more quickly.
• Check the location of each activity because not everything takes place inside Camp Ocean.
• Pay attention to meal times if your child will participate in Kid’s Lunch or Kid’s Dinner.
• Remember that regular Camp Ocean programming and Night Owls are different programs.
• Expect additional fees for Night Owls and certain special events.
• Check whether reservations are required for special late-night parties.
• Do not assume a schedule from another Carnival sailing will be identical to yours.
Frequently Asked Questions About Carnival Camp Ocean Penguins
What ages are Camp Ocean Penguins?
Penguins is Carnival’s Camp Ocean group for children ages 2 through 5.
Is Camp Ocean free?
Regular scheduled Camp Ocean programming for Penguins is generally complimentary. Night Owls and certain special programs have additional fees.
Does a 2-year-old qualify for Camp Ocean?
Yes. Carnival’s Penguins group begins at age 2.
Does Carnival have childcare for children under 2?
Carnival offers its Turtles program for children ages 6 months to under 2. Available times and fees differ from regular Penguins programming.
Do I need to register my child for Camp Ocean?
Yes. Children must be registered before participating in Carnival’s youth programs. Registration can be completed before the cruise or onboard.
What activities do Penguins do?
Activities vary but can include arts and crafts, active games, science and discovery, movies, music, themed activities, group games, free play, dancing, and other age-appropriate entertainment.
Is Camp Ocean open on port days?
Yes. Carnival offers Camp Ocean programming on port days. The exact schedule depends on the itinerary.
Can children eat lunch at Camp Ocean?
Carnival offers Kids’ Only Lunch on port days. Times and locations vary and are displayed in the HUB App.
Does Camp Ocean offer dinner?
Yes. Kids’ Dinner is generally offered each evening except embarkation day. Check the HUB App for the time and location on your cruise.
How late is Camp Ocean open?
Complimentary evening programming generally continues until 10:00 PM. Carnival’s paid Night Owls program then operates until 1:00 AM on U.S. sailings.
How much is Carnival Night Owls?
Carnival currently lists Night Owls at $9 per hour per child, including the 20% service charge.
Can parents leave the ship while their child is at Camp Ocean?
Carnival provides supervised Camp Ocean programming on port days. Parents should review the current sign-in/out rules and port-day policies for their sailing before going ashore.
Where can I find the Camp Ocean schedule?
The daily Camp Ocean schedule is available through the Carnival HUB App once onboard.
Final Thoughts
Carnival’s Camp Ocean Penguins program offers considerably more than a room where younger children can play while their parents explore the ship. The schedule from our cruise included arts and crafts, active games, science activities, Dr. Seuss events, themed parties, movies, supervised meals, and flexible Kid’s Choice periods throughout both sea and port days.
For families traveling with children ages 2–5, one of the biggest advantages is the length of the programming day. Complimentary activities can continue into the evening, while Night Owls extends supervised childcare as late as 1:00 AM for an additional fee.
The exact Camp Ocean schedule changes from cruise to cruise, so parents should use these examples to understand the type of programming Carnival offers rather than expecting identical times and activities. Once onboard, the Carnival HUB App provides the current Penguins daily program, activity locations, meal times, reservations, and any applicable fees for your particular sailing.
