Spring Break on HAL

[DizzyDallasDi]

Are there lots of children on HAL during spring break? Due to HAL's demographics and more subdued atmosphere, I wouldn't expect to find a large number of beer swilling college students.... they probably gravitate to Carnival, NCL and RCCL. What I'm wondering is if there are a large number of "younger" kids. Please understand that I adore children and have two grown ones of my own. I did many family vacations and loved showing my youngsters the wonders of the world. However, I've reached that point in my life where vacations are more about relaxation than non-stop activity. I hope you understand where I'm coming from.

Please tell me about your spring break experiences as I'm considering a mid-March HAL cruise. Thank you!

Diane

[Boatdrill]

Yes, there are some very nice famlies onboard. Very few, if any, unescorted college age kids.

[JLC@SD]

Are there lots of children on HAL during spring break? Due to HAL's demographics and more subdued atmosphere, I wouldn't expect to find a large number of beer swilling college students.... they probably gravitate to Carnival, NCL and RCCL. What I'm wondering is if there are a large number of "younger" kids. Please understand that I adore children and have two grown ones of my own. I did many family vacations and loved showing my youngsters the wonders of the world. However, I've reached that point in my life where vacations are more about relaxation than non-stop activity. I hope you understand where I'm coming from.

Please tell me about your spring break experiences as I'm considering a mid-March HAL cruise. Thank you!

Diane

We understand where you are coming from......which is why we avoid spring break times......cruise while kids are in school ......book longer trips (more than 7 days)......and book late siting for dinner.

We have six wonderful grandchildren......but we prefer to cruise without kids......especially at dinner.....and around the pool.

[airlink diva]

I cruise on a ten day trip on the Maasdam last April (April 4-14 2007). I really didn't expect alot of kids on board due to the length of the cruise. However there were a nice number of children on board.
The kids were great. No running down the halls,bumping into people or pushing all of the elevator numbers. I know on one of the sea days, there were small groups out on a scavenger hunt,but they didn't bother no one.
Also one night I was in the piano bar when a small group of teen came in. When the piano player completed the song, he told the teens that they were not allowed in the piano bar after a certain time without an adult. They told him that they were sorry and left. When I passed the Explorer's lounge heading to the elevators, they were sitting in there chatting away.
There was also a large family together on the ship with quite a few children, but they were no problem at all.
The group on my sailing were a great bunch and cause no problems. I know that some people don't like sailing with children, but I find that it's a wonderful way for a family to spend time together. The parents need to set guidelines and enforce it when the children step out of line.
Happy sailing!!

[cruisinbulldog]

The parents need to set guidelines and enforce it when the children step out of line.


So if you have good parents on board you might see well behaved children..;)

Bulldog

[Krazy Kruizers]

You won't find many college students on board HAL during spring break.

But -- you find that there will be lots of children on board -- thus we now avoid these cruises.

[herb]

Spring Break ---- Holland America just seems like an oxymoron to me :D

[Fishndawg]

I had the same question and am glad to see the response so far. Would make me lean towards HAL if cruising during these peek periods. I AVOID spring break cruises, but really would like to cruise that time of year. Good question!!!!

[gelo7]

Well, speaking for our three kids, I sure hope that there will be kids on the springbreak cruise.:cool: :cool:

[Willsot]

My DW is a teacher, so we regularly take advantage of spring breaks for cruising. There have always been families onboard during those weeks + lots of teachers. Last spring on the Westerdam we met a few women college students on break. Despite HAL's reputation as a study in human senescence, they seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. Very well-behaved and no problems for us.

[herb]

I think there's a big difference between Spring Break (time for FAMILIES to go on vacation when school is out) vs. SPRING BREAK (time for college students to go on vacation WITHOUT supervision)

[timothy998]

We're on Westerdam Eastern Caribbean, March 22-29, with our three kids, who'll be 3-1/2 yrs, 7 yrs, and almost 11 yrs! They're great travelers and looking forward to the adventure as much as their parents!

[carosave]

And we will be on the Westerdam with 5 year old dd--but not till April--the 4th through the 18th (I think those are the dates...over Easter). Before anyone panics, although we use the Lido pool for a little while over the Club Hal break, (and I don't generally do cannon balls or have splash fights with her)] we don't go to dinner in the dining room a lot:p.

As a better answer to your question, though, my sense is that most families, with school aged children would be on vacation more around the Easter time, as spring breaks (at least around here) tend to more around that time, as opposed to March. Families with children not old enough for school...they can go at anytime, but I don't think the numbers are that significant. If I am wrong, sorry!! I don't think I have heard of large groups of college aged students partying on HAL.

[sodomojo]

The most I've seen so far have about 220 under-18 kids on an Vista class, no real life experience though.

[DizzyDallasDi]

Thank you for your great responses! I'm especially impressed that no one got huffy about my question and all were respectful and honest in their replies. I'm willing to bet that HAL has the best parents on the high seas. :)

Diane

[sirgonealot]

Several years ago we took a 10 day March cruise on the Maasdam. We had about 250 children (most in the 12 - 16 year old group). They were totally out of control. It seems that their parents decided they were on vacation and had no responsibility for these horribly ill-behaved children. HAL on the other hand, knew they were coming and made no provisions for trying to entertain what is definitely a difficult age group to please. It was not a pleasant experience and I try to avoid the children season. Please do not get me wrong. I have also been on ships with a good children's program and responsible parents who are proud to have well behaved children and the cruise experience has been very pleasurable.

[Cruisepucks]

My DH is a teacher so we are limited to school breaks for vacation. He also likes to get a break from children during his vacation as he sees them daily at work. Like you, our children are grown (or so they like to think) and no longer live at home. We travelled mid March in 2006 and purposely chose to cruise HAL on a caribbean cruise to avoid a lot of children. We were not disappointed. Although there were some children on board, there was not a large number and were never a problem. There were no unaccompanied college students on board.
Hoping to travel again mid March again this year and HAL is at the top of my list.
Cruisepucks

[Mary Ellen]

Thank you for your great responses! I'm especially impressed that no one got huffy about my question and all were respectful and honest in their replies. I'm willing to bet that HAL has the best parents on the high seas. :) There are sadly also interesting parents. I would suggest avoiding the Vista-class ships and the E'dam at that time - if you want to avoid as many families as possible (those ships have the most triple/quad cabins that attract families). Up until our last cruise we'd only experienced very well behaved children on our cruises - but the 'little darlings' on that cruise made up for our previous fortune. :eek:

[richnorto]

We have traveled with our children on a Hal cruise during Spring break a couple years ago. Our break (in Alabama) is during March as is the norm for many southern states public schools but not colleges or the rest of the country. There were very few kids on this cruise out of Florida. I wished we had more kids on board as the "friends" choice was so very limited. The holiday (Christmas) cruises have more teens which is great! They all hang out together and have a great cruise without boredom. Christmas cruises tend toward older kids as the "Santa issue" isn't. We had a really great group of teens from all over the continent last year!

[fun*n*sun]

Well, speaking for our three kids, I sure hope that there will be kids on the springbreak cruise.:cool: :cool:

I hope they are as cute as your kids! I have the feeling your children are well behaved and aren't the kind of kids ( or is it more often the kind of parents ) That most people object to. :)