How bad can Spring Break be?

[Tink1987]

Hi all,

 

I am looking at the March 25th Vista Southern Carribean cruise as part of my 30th birthday celebrations.

 

I've read certain things about Spring Breakers on Carnival and just wanted to get others opinions please. Would you avoid this cruise? I've tried looking at college calendars and seeing as Easter is a little later next year some spring breaks seem to be a little later compared to previous years I've seen.

 

It would just be my husband and I and I've already admitted my age up there :) . We like a few drinks on the evening but don't want unruly college kids taking over the pool, the whole cannonball competitions etc.

 

Really hope I haven't offended anyone with those comments - just wanted to get honest opinions. Thanks everyone! :)

[sparks1093]

I would expect that most spring break action occurs on the 3 and 4 day sailings, I wouldn't expect that a 7 day itinerary would have a lot of spring breakers onboard.

[figdu]

Our first cruise was on Triumph in 2006 and was during spring break. We had a wonderful time but were with a group of 43 people. While we had a lot of fun we won't do spring break again.

[crewsweeper]

What Sparks said about shorter cruises.

 

Your Vista cruise is a 9 day cruise coming at the end of April.

 

Most College spring breaks in 2017 are during the first 2-3 weeks in March although some northern schools may have breaks during the final week in March. Easter is in mid April and that's usually the last week that many K-12 school districts use for their break. A 9 day cruise would be a bit on the expensive side and a bit too long for many families. That said, however, you'll not necessarily be children/teens/college free on any ship any time. But the typical spring break fears should be put to rest for your cruise. Enjoy it/ the new Vista and the great ports you're heading too. And Happy 30th.:)

Edited August 12, 2016 by crewsweeper

[ChristineMoon]

My 2nd cruise was during spring break. The price doubles that week compared to the trip before and after it... I'm sure there were some college age kids, but like the previous poster said, many wouldn't go for a full week. However, there were kids everywhere. The morning soft serve ice cream line was longer than the breakfast buffet, as well as the line for the pool slides.

 

Admittedly, they tended to hang out in the lido buffet and the main dining room didn't have kids running around. If there were kids running around the halls, it might've been on the lower decks, but I didn't see any.

[louanne93]

We cruised a 3 day during spring break last year and the college kids were mostly at the bar and not at the pool. Some were at serenity but not at the regular pool. They weren't bad. It was the 30 and up that were disgustingly drunk! Lol!

I would say you are fine! Go and have a great time!

[cb at sea]

There really is little difference. "Spring break" usually means more families...not so much tons of college kids cruising alone....there is an age limit to cruising without adults....

[idraconis]

Been on 11 cruise, 8 of which were during break. There were a few college age kids a board doing what they do. None of the cruises were ruined by those kids. I believe most college folks tend to do land based trips. It's easier to get booze. I hope you have a great time.

[riffatsea]

I agree that "spring break" on longer cruises means lots of families and not partying college kids!

We have been on many many cruises in March and April but they have all been 1 week or longer and we have not had any problems at all. Carnival does a great job keeping the youngsters occupied.

[RuthlessBoss]

I agree that "spring break" on longer cruises means lots of families and not partying college kids!

We have been on many many cruises in March and April but they have all been 1 week or longer and we have not had any problems at all. Carnival does a great job keeping the youngsters occupied.

 

I was on Dream during a break. Except for the ship being full of college age cruisers who took over most venues, there was no heavy drinking nor rowdiness noted.

[Love2Cruz2015]

I was on the Conquest last year during Spring Break and had a fabulous time. Both families and college kids were on board, but it wasn't rowdy by any means...just a good vibe and the CD Mike Pack was amazing in energizing the crowd. Go for it.

[Purvis1231]

Once while sailing out of Port Canaveral upon boarding we observed a group of college guys in their BVDs in the hot tub (one was most and was in his jeans). They were drinking booze from wine bottles. They were nice and offered to share.

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

I can only imagine what some "spring breakers" do that results in all the negative associated with college breaks...but cruises are a whole different animal. Many of the age old tales of spring break cruises dates back more than a decade or two when 18 year olds could drink on a cruise and unsupervised 18 year olds could purchase tickets on their own. But, alas, memories are long, stories are re-told, and vintage videos on you-tube still exist.

 

A spring break cruise is, in this day and age, more about "families" and lots of school age kids. Sometimes more than a 1/3 of the paxs are under the age of 18. And, I love it. Bars are less crowded, the casino has plenty of room, less smokers (if you care about that). The late dining room seating is mostly adults with a few older teenagers (families seem to like early dining).

 

Areas that cater to adults (the spa, the gym, the bars, the adult pools, and even serenity are less crowded as families tend to do things together since the "kids" are part of the vacation not an afterthought dragged along.

 

The buffet may be crowded...but it opens up the dining room for breakfast or brunch when it is served. Also, if you decide to forego one port, I guarantee you will have the ship to yourself.

 

I'd much rather sail with young people than old foggies like me...no scooters, walkers, wheelchairs that crowd the hallways (no offence meant to anyone) so to get from point A to point B is a snap.

[TullMan]

It can be very bad. Drunk college kids tend to stay up late. They don't care that people are sleeping at 2am as they walk the ship visiting other drunk kids. I tried it once to avoid the hurricane season. A little wind and waves is better. Never again!

[wilmingtech]

Here is a Calendar to help you - https://www.studentcity.com/plan-a-trip/overview/when-my-spring-break

 

-Sean

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

It can be very bad. Drunk college kids tend to stay up late. They don't care that people are sleeping at 2am as they walk the ship visiting other drunk kids. I tried it once to avoid the hurricane season. A little wind and waves is better. Never again!

 

Since you haven't cruised a "spring break" cruise for eons I am not sure you are the best resource. Ten years ago cruising was a whole different animal...now, especially on Carnival, cruises when "school's out" are not geared to College age kids but to families.

 

Besides, since you have to be 21 to drink (and it costs lots and lots of money on a cruise) I can't think of many College seniors that can afford it. Besides, how many college kids want to vacation with a chaperone over the age of 25. Your experience may differ.

[Love2Cruz2015]

I think the difference here is the length of the cruise...if you go on a 3-4 days cruise that happens to fall on the weekend of Spring Break, then you might see more of the college spring breakers...but if you do a week long cruise, like I did...you'll find as others have said, mostly families.

[oumagic]

We went on two cruises last year. A 4 day Mexico during spring break and a 7 day Alaska during summer. We preferred the spring break crowd. Yes, there were a lot of 20 somethings having fun but I liked that crowd better than the 60 somethings not having fun or the unsupervised teens. The language on the spring break cruise around the pool got a little salty around my kids, enough where I asked one young man to please keep it down, but he apologized and then moved away a little and quit screaming the F-bomb.

 

When I asked the drunk 60 year old to please watch his language in the elevator during my Alaska cruise, he took it as a personal offense and wanted to fight.

 

I am 40 something with 10 and 12 year old kids at the time of the above cruises.

Edited August 12, 2016 by oumagic

[Havingfun2010]

When you say spring break, do you mean for college or school? Carnival does have a 25 year old must be in and booked with a person under 21 so why would college kids be an issue? The over 25 is responsible and can be kicked off.

 

Now if you are talking about school age kids, those are the problem. It seems that parents on Carnival, will not let their little child walk 3 blocks to a bus stop and drive them in the car, but than they get on a ship, and let them run around with 3500 strangers. ( I know a person that actually did this).

 

I don't mind the kids, I just mind the parents on the ship and the general lack of parenting skills they have.

[FlaMommy75]

We cruise over Spring Break every year and have never had a problem. As others have mentioned it is A LOT of families. Most the college students we have encountered were there with their families or their friend's family.

 

I am a teacher in the Tampa Bay area and my Spring Break for 2017 is March 20th. My children attend school in the next county over, which is in one of the biggest school districts in Florida and it is March 13th. I think you will be totally fine the week of March 25th :)

[maldenmusic]

I think you will be fine. Not everyone has spring break at the same time.

[Oldrunner1959]

My husband and I cruised during Spring Break a few years ago ... a four-day out of Miami. It was easy for us to find a quiet place on deck (if that's what you prefer). And (as I am an early riser) there was NEVER a line at the omelette station in the morning. :D

[SadieN]

My husband and I cruised during Spring Break a few years ago ... a four-day out of Miami. It was easy for us to find a quiet place on deck (if that's what you prefer). And (as I am an early riser) there was NEVER a line at the omelette station in the morning. :D

 

 

Agree with this. Our experience is out of Ling Beach.

 

A few years ago we found a killer deal on double cabins (two doubles were cheaper than a quad) during spring break.

Most of the Breakers were fine. There was 'That One Group' that was out of control. Even had a girl pee during Muster. Lots of stories from that cruise. (Travel is no fun without good travel stories.)

Considering another one if the price is right.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[highfields]

We were on the Pride this February 2016 and we had over 450 unruly, unsupervised kids running everywhere. Apparently it was Presidents Day week when East Coast schools have the week off. We were told that over 750 kids were coming on board as we were leaving. So, yes, it can be overwhelming. The adults only pool was opened to all ages due to the large numbers of kids. So services were impacted. Never again.

[poolreader]

Our Anniversary is the end of March and one of our cruises each year is around that time. We have been on short 4 day cruises, 7 day, and 14 day around that time, on several different lines.

 

On the longer cruises we see more young children during that time. On the short cruises we see many more young 'adults'. We now avoid short cruises on Carnival during the spring break time. Too many people falling down drunk, with arguments or parties going on in the hallways keeping us awake at night