Spring Breakers

[cmdknw]

Ditto the cancel and re-book. You're going on a cruise on spring break...one one of the most budget friendly FAMILY cruise lines. We are going the week of April 4 and honestly, my kid is pretty well behaved and as a parent, I could care less if my child being there is a disturbance to another adult. Especially if he's acting fine or just like a typical kid.

[Jenhem31]

I think OP said they didn't have an option as to the time frame they can go. Anniversary I believe.

 

OP, I'm sure you'll have a great time. We can never be in perfect situations all for time. Also, seems like the longer the cruise, the less kids. I'm with the others in saying it's the college ones to look out for.

[Whenisdinner]

Just got off the Conquest. Spring break for our two kids 13 and 7. There were a good number of college age spring breakers on the ship, who mostly kept to themselves around the Lido pool. They had their beer "bongs" and general silliness, and I never saw anything out of the ordinary for a carnival boat. But they were outnumbered by other age groups by a large margin. The aft pool area and deck 10-11 above the central pool w were full of mostly 25+ and what one would normally expect.

 

CD Mike Pack had the grandmas doing tequila shots in the lobby during his hilarious trivia shows. The haters can hate all they want, but any age can get a little silly, so let them have their fun and relax and have some yourself.

[jason534]

Bar or Casino. Not many in there. IF they are, they are just catching a shot and quick smoke before heading back to Camp Carnival.:D

 

 

Love it:):p:D

[Guest]

We will probably be playing trivia,watching movies,going in the library and spending time in the steamroom and whirlpool.

Edited March 16, 2015 by garsny
mispelling

[BK512]

Will be on Glory 3/21. I know it is spring break for south Florida. Not thrilled with children. Any suggestions on how to deal with them. Or avoid them.We did pick the late seating. Think that might help. Thanks.

 

We went in February, which is mid-winter break for many kids. There were lots of kids around, which was great for my 17 year old, who had many to hang out with--they tended to hang out in the Lido deck, in the teen club, or in the lido restaurants, go to shows, etc. They were, by and large, well behaved (Although I did overhear a couple of girls talking about which boy would be her 'cruise conquest'...)

 

We also picked late seating for the same reason...I hoped to avoid the little ones who tend to like to get out of their chairs and whose parents don't mind if little Johnny and Janie run up and down the aisles.

Well, we were seated between two families of 15+, complete with flying pacifiers landing on our table. Luckily, that was the first night, and the kids kind of settled down as the week went on. We enjoyed our dinner times every evening.

 

Please know that much of the time, the kids will be occupied with Camp Carnival. Yes, they'll be in the pools, yes, they'll be in the hot tubs, and yes, there will be large family groups everywhere. But that is when their time to vacation is, too.

 

Hopefully, you have booked a balcony cabin and will have your own private retreat.

 

But overall, your attitude will dictate the outcome. If you go in expecting to be bothered by kids, then you'll look for opportunities for that to happen. If not, well, maybe you'll have a great time. I hope so.

[dettlja]

We are headed out on the breeze on the 22nd. This is also our first spring break cruise and only our 2nd (out of six) with our kids. I'm nervous about the crowds and my kids seeing inappropriate stuff with the collage age crowd but I know we will have fun.

[elainmir]

Stereotypical much.

No...not really ...just realistic...and calling it like I see it. Not trying to ruin your day just stating my humble little ole opinion...:D

[BigB0882]

I am cruising on the Dream during peak spring break week in Louisiana. It will be full of kids, I am sure. It is a 7 day cruise so that may help keep the numbers down a little compared to the Elation that week. However, we got a cove balcony so we will have a great escape where it will be quiet. We also spend most of our time in the casino, no kids in there. :)

[Guest]

We have a 5 day.

[asdjl]

I have 3 kids and we cruised last spring break on NCL, this spring break on CCL. It was not horrible, but yes lots of kids. It was fine with us because my kids are not the problem

 

However, I totally understand the desire to cancel and rebook, I see you are moving out of the FL area, perhaps you could look into something out of Texas during the school year, maybe the beginning or second week in May?

 

I know it's your anniversary, but for us, we don't worry about the particular date if something else comes up. Our honeymoon 17 years ago was in August, but the wedding was the previous May due to business (his) and grad school (me) commitments. The date would mean less to me than having a better time, and if that means less kids than I would move the date. But obviously, jmho

[Guest]

Thanks.Will make the best of it.We are snowbirds.6 months Florida.6 months Colorado.Back to Denver 1apr.

[rdevine10]

I have 3 kids and we cruised last spring break on NCL, this spring break on CCL. It was not horrible, but yes lots of kids. It was fine with us because my kids are not the problem

 

However, I totally understand the desire to cancel and rebook, I see you are moving out of the FL area, perhaps you could look into something out of Texas during the school year, maybe the beginning or second week in May?

 

I know it's your anniversary, but for us, we don't worry about the particular date if something else comes up. Our honeymoon 17 years ago was in August, but the wedding was the previous May due to business (his) and grad school (me) commitments. The date would mean less to me than having a better time, and if that means less kids than I would move the date. But obviously, jmho

 

We have cruised or been to Disney World the last 4 spring breaks. yes- there are lots of kids. But its been fine- granted we have kids. But I would also recommended picking another time of year if you think it will impede your enjoyment. Years ago for our 2nd anniversary (in July) we celebrated in September and even for our 15th (which was a cruise) we celebrated in August. To us its not about the date- its about when works for us to go and when is the best time to go. The 2nd anniversary we waited till September as we KNEW the kids would be back in school! Enjoy!

[tigereye]

WOW! Sweet Dutch Girl. I wander how you acquired that name. Certainly doesn't seem to match your demeanor.

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

WOW! Sweet Dutch Girl. I wander how you acquired that name. Certainly doesn't seem to match your demeanor.

 

For many it is perfectly fine for them to disparage children, young parents, young adults, and anyone else who doesn't "cruise" the same way they do. My comments may be harsh but they are just about turning the tables to demonstrate that others may have prejudices about other groups that aren't part of their demographics. People come to these boards and ask how a Spring break cruise is and the posts are all about the 1% and don't really relate to the experience of many who actually cruise during those periods.

[uncleg]

Good luck and have a Happy Anniversary. That said I have sailed during spring break, never again, only because of parents failing to parent. Can you say 11 and 12 year olds running the halls at 3-4 AM. I have never had a bit of problems with College kids, they usually just enjoy themselves with little bother to anyone. The worst group is between 15 and 20 to old for Camp Carnival and to young for adult activities, they generally have nothing to and will find trouble trying to stay entertained. I don't know about other lines but Carnival seems to overlook this group.

[lazydayz]

We are just off the Paradise and we contributed to the madness by bringing our three grands, ages 5, 8 and 14. We picked early seating so the younger girls could do the Camp Carnival activities after our family dinner. No issues at any dinner, just lots of families with babies, toddlers, kids everywhere.

 

The behavior of the 13 to 20 somethings was the most objectionable. Some of the words I heard are not worth repeating, but if one of my daughters said that at that age, there would have been major consequences. These kids didn't seem to care about consequences, which makes you wonder where the parents are.

 

And I was shocked to learn that Carnival does not have a curfew for the younger set. We saw teens roaming the ship at 3 in the morning. And heard plenty of noise outside our cabin.

 

Will we do another spring break cruise? Probably, but we are likely to go on another cruise line with an enforced curfew if we do.

[Runaway Parent]

We have cruised many spring breaks on 2 different lines. The kids have never been a problem. It is what you make if it!

[Ryancoke]

People college age and younger are one of the few minorities it is safe to disparage. Be nice to them. They'll be running the selection process when euthanasia is legal.

[manmachine]

For many it is perfectly fine for them to disparage children, young parents, young adults, and anyone else who doesn't "cruise" the same way they do. My comments may be harsh but they are just about turning the tables to demonstrate that others may have prejudices about other groups that aren't part of their demographics. People come to these boards and ask how a Spring break cruise is and the posts are all about the 1% and don't really relate to the experience of many who actually cruise during those periods.

 

I am indeed prejudiced to think that college students on spring break may drink and yell 'YOLO, dude!'

[rtap23]

I personally love to see children and young adults on board. It brings a great atmosphere to the ship. For me it's better than looking at a bunch of old folks laying around doing nothing. For that I can just look at myself in the mirror.

[Guest]

The kids and college students were well behaved, for the most part.

[diamonddaddy]

Will be on Glory 3/21. I know it is spring break for south Florida. Not thrilled with children. Any suggestions on how to deal with them. Or avoid them.We did pick the late seating. Think that might help. Thanks.

 

There will be a lot. Just a bad time to go. They wear me out too.

[sjn911]

The kids and college students were well behaved, for the most part.

Year old follow up on spring Break cruising and OP Made it.!!!

 

I went on a 5 day Easter Sunday exit cruise on 2012. It had it's moments by main pool....and serenity... but I also enjoyed the family's and that extra love they were giving each other and the dressed up Easter kids and families who took the dining room seriously...the whole week. Shows were fun..disco was fun and all eras.

 

I also really enjoyed and Early June cruise with fun college kids with families giving them a grad present and going together. Karaoke was a blast..all women no matter what age got properly serenaded...lol.

Edited March 26, 2016 by sjn911

[bradm77]

We recently sailed on 3/7 on Fascination (5 day). We had sailed in early March before, and a few hundred college-aged Spring Breakers weren't that big of a deal.

 

But that was THEN (2013) and this is NOW (2016). Cities up and down the Florida coast have passed laws making it illegal to have an open container on the beach during Spring Break. What that meant for us was that 1600 of the guests (approx 80%) were college-aged Spring Breakers on our sailing.

 

We go through it by employing what I called our "Avoidance Survival Strategy" aka "Go where they ain't".

 

On Sea Days, when the DW really wanted to soak up some sun, the outdoor decks were so PACKED you had spring breakers laying on towels directly on the deck because there were zero chairs available. ZERO. Every hot tub was packed for hours on end by the same people.

 

We spent the sea days mainly on promenade and in the casino. Thank God we had booked side-by-side villas on HMC for our group of 18 so that we could enjoy at least 1 day "in the sun" without being overrun by hammered drunk twentysomethings!!

 

Did I mention that the captain cancelled HMC for some waves so HUGE they wouldn't have even splashed over the side of a bathtub? :(

 

On Nassau day, we were in port from 8-5. We got off at 11, had lunch at Hard Rock, and were back on by 1PM and enjoyed a few quiet hours at Serenity Deck.

 

When we had a last-minute stop at Freeport from 7-1 due to missing HMC, we stayed on the boat and enjoyed Serenity and Lido pool deck while the ship was mostly empty. Even on board, we could hear the breakers over at Senor Frogs!! :p

 

316!!! 316!!! 316!!! Some College aged girls don't LAUGH LOUDLY when they are falling down drunk in the MDR for late seating, they literally SCREECH in a way that makes your ears bleed. They are also seated at the table closest to the 2 tables your group has. :rolleyes:

 

Moral of the story - If they can't drink all day every day on a beach, they will go somewhere where they CAN drink all day every day.

 

Long story short, we survived it. Never again in March. NEVER AGAIN IN MARCH.

 

Not Carnival's fault, but by far our worst cruise out of the 14 we have done.