Spring break season typically falls around March through April, about when folks are getting a little tired of staying cooped up during the cold weather and are ready to head for sunnier skies. One of the all-time favorite ways to skip out on the snow? Going on a cruise.
Cruising is a very popular spring break vacation option, even if you’re not technically getting a “spring break” from school anymore. However, spring break cruises do come with their pros and cons. Is the experience right for you? Here’s what you need to know.
Pro: Lots of Savings and Specials
One of the main reasons why many opt for a cruise over spring break? It’s all about the money.
You can find many cruise lines offering discounts and deals for spring break cruises occurring in March or April. Just a quick look at spring break cruise deals on Priceline shows many different cruises offering interior stateroom stays for less than $100 per night, with hundreds of dollars of discounts.
Some also offer extra bonuses for booking, such as kids sail free promotions or 60% off your second guest. Some offer special bundles, like onboard credits and drinks included in your cruise fare.
When you look at the deals, and already know you or the kids will have time away from work and school, it can seem like a no-brainer to book a spring break cruise.
If you want the best deal on a cruise, however, you do have other options. The best cruise to book is one that’s occurring during what’s known as “wave season.”
Wave season is typically January through March, so it bumps up to and overlaps with the start of spring break season. This is historically when industry-wide demand is the lowest and when you can see regular cruise fares drop by as much as 50%.
Possibly the next-best time to book a cruise? On very short notice. Yes, while some cruisers may book their next cruise up to a year out, they’re also probably paying top dollar. As cruise lines get closer to their sail dates, they drop prices to fill up all their staterooms. If you can book a week or even a month out, you could save big on your fare.
Bottom line? While spring break cruises might not be the cheapest overall, they’re still pretty affordable for most travelers. If you go on a spring break cruise, you’ll enjoy this benefit. However, if you don’t want to go on a spring break cruise, there are other times that you can find great savings.
Con: Changing Clientele
If you’re accustomed to cruising, but you’ve never gone on a spring break cruise, you may be in for a little shock when you step aboard your cruise ship. The clientele changes a bit over spring break, partially in thanks to all those cruise savings and specials.
Expect college kids ready to party and families with kids in tow. These groups can both be rowdy and loud, albeit in slightly different ways. One group in particular may be pretty intoxicated throughout your cruise’s duration.
For some cruisers, this is no big deal. They go about their favorite cruising activities with little care as for who’s around them and what their fellow cruisers are doing. However, for many other cruisers, this can be a turn off. They’d rather wait until their favorite cruise ships are back to normal, free from the rowdier crowds.
If you’re not the type to prefer busy resort settings or crowded college towns, you might not like a cruise ship during spring break either.
That said, if you’re just dying to go on a cruise during March or April, you don’t have to avoid cruising altogether. Maybe just avoid the cruise lines that are most popular with spring breakers, which includes most notably Carnival Cruise Line, but also, to a lesser degree, Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises.
Instead, go for the cruise lines that may not attract families or college kids, like adult-only cruise lines or more expensive cruise lines. You may have to pay more for the experience, but getting away from the clientele may be worth it for you.
Pro: Shorter Sailings are Available
During the spring break period, many cruise lines offer specifically shorter sailings. After all, spring break for most is only one week, so those cruisers might not be able to fit in a seven-day cruise, inclusive of travel to and from the port destination.
Spring break cruises can be just three or four days, allowing for cruisers to nicely fit the experience into their weeks off. While this may mean you won’t be able to visit the same number of destinations you would on a longer cruise, it’s just overall more convenient.
Even if you don’t have school to get back to, the short sailings mean less time needed off work and a quick, fun getaway.
As a few examples of what you can expect, MSC Cruises offers three-night spring break sailings from Miami that stop in the Bahamas and at the cruise line’s private island. Royal Caribbean offers four-night sailings from Los Angeles, with stops at Catalina Island and in Mexico.
Royal Caribbean also offers three-night spring break sailings from Fort Lauderdale, with stops in the Bahamas and at Perfect Day at Coco Cay. Carnival offers three-night Bahamas sailings as well.
Con: Expect Some Wild Parties
If you were hoping to have a really relaxing, leisurely cruise, with lots of quiet time, maybe some late-night strolls on the top deck or some naps by the pool… Well, think again. That’s not exactly what you’ll get on most spring break cruises.
The crowds are up and the crowds are ready to party. Not only do the deck parties get a bit wilder and crazier, thanks to the spring breakers (read: college kids) ready to have a great time, but the general vibe the entire cruise will be a more rambunctious.
Pro: Expect Some Wild Parties in a Good Way!
What can be a con for some, though, can be a major pro for others. If you really want a wild, time-of-your-life party atmosphere on a cruise, you can find it during spring break.
Just be sure that, if you are after that true party atmosphere, and not a crazy-because-there-are-a-million-children-on-board atmosphere, go for less family-centric cruise line. For example, you might avoid Royal Caribbean and, instead, choose a cruise on Virgin Voyages, which is adults-only.
Just keep in mind that, even on spring break, cruise lines do still enforce strict rules around disorderly conduct and over-indulging in the bar. For example, Carnival Cruise Line has a policy that states cruisers can only order 15 alcoholic drinks per day during their cruise, spring break or not.
Con: Crowded Sea Days
During a normal cruise, on a sea day, certain areas of the cruise ship may be a little more crowded than normal, but it’s still not impossible for you to have a great time. With a little good timing, you can avoid crowds around the pool or buffet.
However, this may not be the case on a spring break cruise. Again, think of the spring breakers. Often, these are college kids that are out for a great time, but not out to spend extra cash.
Read Also: What Cruise Activities Are Popular for Kids?
As such, they’re going to be headed to the free fun on sea days, such as the buffet and the pool — leaving little room for you. If you’re looking for peace and tranquility before you hit the next port, you may need to head to the spa or the specialty restaurants.
It’s not just the adults’ spaces that can get pretty crowded, though. If you’re traveling on a kid-friendly cruise line, you may find that the overabundance of traveling families leads to children’s clubs filling up quickly. This can mean a lackluster experience for your children, or to some activities being moved out of the crowded kids’ club altogether.
Pro: You’ll Have the Ship to Yourself on Port Days
As we’ve discussed in the past, port days are some of the best times to enjoy a cruise ship, as the crowds disperse and you get more of the ship all to yourself. This is definitely the case during spring break.
Many spring breakers look at cruising as a way to visit a destination or multiple destinations while enjoying the journey just as much as the destination. As such, they’re going to get off at port.
You, though, don’t have to. If you’ve already been there, done that, especially when it comes to some of the most popular spring break cruise destinations, like the Bahamas, simply stay on board the ship.
Yes, while you may find that some attractions close up shop during port days, like certain restaurants, you will find that many other attractions are open and empty, like the pools, waterslides, dry slides, rock climbing walls and similar features. You can also enjoy certain discounts for paid activities on port days, like spa treatments.
Con: Noisy Cabins
Put yourself in the shoes of a college-age spring breaker looking for a cruise experience on a budget. What kind of stateroom are you going to choose? Probably the most affordable one…and you’re probably going to split the cost with as many friends as possible.
This can lead to noisy cabin areas, particular on the decks of the cruise ship that are primarily dedicated to cabins only.
As such, you may need to bring your earplugs and white noise machine, if you plan on booking a cabin toward the middle of the ship. Otherwise, it may just be time to upgrade to a suite, where you can enjoy more space and a quieter atmosphere, among those who chose to splurge for better accommodations.
Better yet, book a room in a suites-only area of the ship. Multiple cruise lines now — such as Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean — have entirely separate areas of their ships dedicated to suite guests, with their own restaurants, sun decks and even pools. These spaces can give you greater separation from the traveling masses, and more quiet time.
Pro: The Weather is Pretty Good
During March and April, the Caribbean is especially a good place to take a cruise, due to the great weather. You’re well out of hurricane season and it’s the dry season, so you don’t have to worry about rain showers.
Additionally, the temperatures aren’t too terribly hot. It’s the same if you take a Mexican Riviera cruise, as the temperatures aren’t bad, in the 70s or 80s.
For many travelers, this is exactly the kind of weather they’re looking for, after a few months of frigid temps and blustery snowstorms.
Con: Long Waiting Times
Cruising comes with a fair amount of waiting, no matter when or where you’re cruising. You’ll wait to board the ship, wait to get in your stateroom, wait at the buffet and, if you didn’t book your meal times and show tickets ahead of time, wait then, too. At port? You’ll be waiting to get off and on the ship yet again.
This isn’t a huge deterrent to many avid cruisers, though, because, while there is waiting, often, lines move relatively quickly.
During spring break, though, the lines are much, much larger. When a ship is packed to the gills with thousands upon thousands of people, getting everyone through the buffet at prime lunch time takes a while. As such, expect longer wait times if you cruise during spring break.
Is a Spring Break Cruise Right for You?
So, given all of the above, is a spring break cruise right for you? Only you can decide.
However, if you love a great party and a great deal, and only have a brief amount of time to get away from work, you may find that a spring break cruise is right up your alley.
On the other hand, if you hate crowds, noise, lines and the like, you may not have the patience required for a spring break cruise. Either choose a cruise at a different time or choose a cruise line that’s decidedly not spring break-friendly.
