March - a bad time to cruise bc of spring break?

[Ruggled]

Cruised last March, on an 8-nighter and was amazed at the lack of Spring Breakers (college variety)...I think the length of the cruise, and its embarkation during the week rather than on the weekend made a difference. Although, I've seen just as many drunk and stupid 50 year olds on cruises.

[klepton]

Haven't cruised Carnival yet, but cruised NCL the first week of March this year and there were a number of spring breakers from Vandy on our cruise, which left from New Orleans. For the most part, it wasn't that bad. They did completely take over the pool and sun decks, and I mean completely take them over. You couldn't get in a hot tub, and reading on the sun deck was difficult because there was usually music be blasted from their stereos. However, aside from that there weren't any problems. Without going out on deck I may not have even noticed.

Needless to say, I scheduled our 2010 cruise a week earlier with the hope of avoiding the college spring breakers. It was a decision-making factor in my mind, given the choice I'd always choose to cruise without that type of crowd.

On my cruise, there were VERY few kids under college age.

[CruiseHobbit]

We are cruising over Easter break next year. I expect there will be pleanty of children on the cruise. Since we are taking an eight day cruise I don't expect as many college kids though. Longer cruises (7-8 days) should not have too much of a problem.

[taxiang]

Originally Posted by Ruggled

Although, I've seen just as many drunk and stupid 50 year olds on cruises.

Very true. You will find some people acting a fool no matter when you sail.

[5waldos]

Originally Posted by lappy22

I would consider booking a better cabin higher up or on a deck that doesn't have many inside rooms during spring break though. If you get college spring breakers they are more likely to book the cheapest cabin possible.

Now that is an interesting thought. We have, by choice, a Riviera OV. last week in March. Might consider rethinking that one. Although our first cruise was pretty much the same time and location and I just remember a few moments of wanting to go into the hall and say- Children- Shut up! And they weren't really children, or rather old ones I guess.

[jayscore]

Originally Posted by aimcat

March and May are our options for going....so trying to figure out the better option.

Take a look at the prices for the dates you have in mind. They are sort of a barometer as to how popular the time is. CCL is savvy to to when they will have more families, or kids, involved. I hope this helps!

[BamaCruiser20]

We have sailed in March and May several times. On the shorter (4 or 5 day), lower priced cruises, you will have a good number of kids and college aged young adults. This doesn't normally bother us because then we can get drunk and act stupid without looking out of place LOL But, if you want to avoid them, as long as you stick with a longer, more expensive cruise, then you should be fine!

[mouche]

My past two cruises have been in March, I love that time of year and never had a problem with there being to many kids. Were cruising in June this time, I hope it's just as nice.

[dustyroad]

it would for me. of course i am 60, past the late night party-hardy stage of my life and go for the more sedate , relaxing time on the cruise . since i dont know your age and what kind of cruise experience you want only you can decide if you would be comfortable in that setting. i wish i where about 30 yrs younger so i could be making that choice .have a great time whatever you choose.

[FightOnRon]

Originally Posted by jayscore

Take a look at the prices for the dates you have in mind. They are sort of a barometer as to how popular the time is. CCL is savvy to to when they will have more families, or kids, involved. I hope this helps!

So are you saying the more expensive the cruise, the more likley they know they will be bombarded with kids and drunken college students, or the cheaper the cruise will attract them? Or I think a better way would say, the cheaper in March is because they don't expect the crowd and the more expensive ones are because they do expect the crowds so know they can get better money?

I may have planned a fatal cruise going March 8th out of LA, but I thought our local schools/colleges (and the AZ and NV schools) got out at the end of March or beginning of April, not the beginning of March. Nuts.

[VABeach]

Originally Posted by aimcat

March and May are our options for going....so trying to figure out the better option.

My vote is for May! I usually find the weather to be more dependable in May than in March. (Spring storms are usually over by then, but hurricane season hasn't started yet.) I have always had smooth sailings in May. Plus, all the little kids are still in school!

[zqvol]

Originally Posted by aimcat

Would March be a bad time take 1st time cruisers because of spring break on Carnival?

What are you trying to avoid?

If you are avoiding high school and younger children, then avoid the week before and the week after Easter. These are the ones that cause the "spring break" problems that people worry about.

If you are avoiding college age kids, don't worry about it. They tend to be unseen on cruises. When they cruise they drink, and lay out by the pool. At night they are in the clubs dancing. What they don't do is run all over the ship and act rude. (Plus they have to be over 21 or have a responsible adult along). BTW after 10 cruises, half at spring break, I have yet to see the drunken college students that people express concern about, but I have seen herds of middle school kids running around like wild people. You are more likely to see drunken 35+ yos than you are college kids on a cruise.

BTW spring break this year begins as early as February 26 and runs through mid April.

Go the first part of March and have a good time.

[meatball77]

We're going the week after easter. We went Early April two years ago and didn't have a problem.

I'd avoid the cheap three and four days cruises.

But really if you're wanting to avoid drunken twenty somthings you jsut have to adjust your sechedule. Get up early and go to bed early and you'll miss them for the most part.

[Joanns6569]

This would depend of if you have any children or teenagers in your group. I have cruised twice during spring break on two different lines, and have had a blast on each. It is always the best that you make it.

[mathgeek1978]

Originally Posted by FightOnRon

So are you saying the more expensive the cruise, the more likley they know they will be bombarded with kids and drunken college students, or the cheaper the cruise will attract them? Or I think a better way would say, the cheaper in March is because they don't expect the crowd and the more expensive ones are because they do expect the crowds so know they can get better money?

I may have planned a fatal cruise going March 8th out of LA, but I thought our local schools/colleges (and the AZ and NV schools) got out at the end of March or beginning of April, not the beginning of March. Nuts.

YES.

Spring break for the Cal State semester-system schools is on the week of March 29th.

Spring break for the University of California and Cal State quarter-system schools is on the week of March 22nd.

You can check the universities' websites to confirm this.

[Aoumd]

I've generally found that college spring break (drunken college kids, etc.) is usually in late February/early March for most schools, while elementary/middle/high school spring break is later, around Easter weekend.

My fiance is a teacher so I'm usually tied into cruising when K-12 schools are out and kids are on board (exception: I'm going on a cruise in January with a friend). We went last year the week following Easter Sunday, and the ship was full of families with little kids, but no college kids. We still had a great time.

If you don't want college kids nor younger kids around you when you cruise then go in May. But if you want to go in March, the time of month has a huge bearing on the age makeup of your ship.

[dotshub]

My vote would be for May. Most of the spring breaks should be over by then and the ocean temps will be getting warmer which makes it much nicer for swimming.

[Casino Player]

Originally Posted by aimcat

Would March be a bad time take 1st time cruisers because of spring break on Carnival?

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO aimcat: If you cruise early in the month you will probably not get crowds of college students on spring break. Also, if you go on a longer cruise. Try a 10-14 day cruise.

[ukiecruzer]

avoid the 4 and 5 day cruises in March during spring break

[forwardcabin]

Most everyone in our family is involved in public school/college education. We booked a spring break cruise on Carnival Triumph for Mar 13-20 because, this year, we all have the same spring break week. This rarely happens since we are all at different schools in Texas. We will have our kids (in their 40's) and our grandkids (13-15) on this cruise. They have all cruised before and really like going on cruises. We anticipate this one to be a really great cruise for all in the family. Bon Voyage!