Markanddonna Posted February 6, 2022 #1 Share Posted February 6, 2022 I hope you can provide some input into the spring break issue. First, I realize nothing is normal as we are hopefully at the end of the pandemic. I would like to take out 8 year old granddaughter on a 4 night cruise out of Port Canaveral in mid March (her spring break). My DH is worried about "spring breakers" (read college students on the ship.) To be honest, I'm so sick of no travel that I'm willing to brave random nonsense. Does MSC tend to attract a lot of college students and locals who are heavy partiers on their 3-4 night cruises? We tend to go on my longer cruises, so don't have much experience with the shorter ones. Any thought or advice on this? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fla Mike Posted February 6, 2022 #2 Share Posted February 6, 2022 Not spring break, but we were on a four nighter on Divina in early November... very few to none college age heavy revelers. Contrast that to our Carnival Magic cruise in September which is the reason Carnival has it's reputation. My guess is the Spring Break crowd will go where they know their crowd is. I'd avoid Carnival, RCL, and NCL. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrostyJoe Posted February 6, 2022 #3 Share Posted February 6, 2022 27 minutes ago, Markanddonna said: I hope you can provide some input into the spring break issue. First, I realize nothing is normal as we are hopefully at the end of the pandemic. I would like to take out 8 year old granddaughter on a 4 night cruise out of Port Canaveral in mid March (her spring break). My DH is worried about "spring breakers" (read college students on the ship.) To be honest, I'm so sick of no travel that I'm willing to brave random nonsense. Does MSC tend to attract a lot of college students and locals who are heavy partiers on their 3-4 night cruises? We tend to go on my longer cruises, so don't have much experience with the shorter ones. Any thought or advice on this? Thanks. I have no clue except avoid avoid Freedom of the seas at all costs out of POM (https://collegepartycruise.com) I recommended comparing prices of the sailing you’re interested vs weeks surrounding it. Relative pricing is probably a decent indicator of load factor and spring break crowd. Also, worst comes for worst, I would imagine spring breakers will mostly hang out in the main pool area; but y’all can probably fine peace at other parts of the ship. I would also try to find a room furthest away from the elevator to minimize chance of hallway noise.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mushroom Posted February 6, 2022 #4 Share Posted February 6, 2022 Seriously consider Yacht Club. The party crowd won't bother you there. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Wheels Only Posted February 6, 2022 #5 Share Posted February 6, 2022 The crowd that you are worried about will be on Carnival. Most of that crowd (thankfully) doesn't even know that MSC exists. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrostyJoe Posted February 6, 2022 #6 Share Posted February 6, 2022 What about second part of OP question? About difference in crowd/locals for 3-4 night cruises vs the longer one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fogfog Posted February 6, 2022 #7 Share Posted February 6, 2022 It’s possible because MSC has super low rates right now The 4 days last week wasn’t bad because it departed Sunday The 3 day that started Thursday was packed with parties and lots of brides, girls trips etc. and some teen girls about 12 with their moms. Even in YC there were some partiers and behavior we haven’t seen before. So I’d chose a 4day starting a Sunday 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrinaLC Posted February 6, 2022 #8 Share Posted February 6, 2022 It may be changing as MSC becomes better now, but in our experience the college crowds haven’t really discovered it yet. I would certainly view it as a better bed than the main stream “US“ cruise lines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlbdude Posted February 6, 2022 #9 Share Posted February 6, 2022 (edited) Before the pandemic we would always sail on MSC during our elementary kids Florida spring break for a 7 day cruise. It was always one of the busier cruises but filled with more families with young kids over young adults on break themselves. Edited February 6, 2022 by mlbdude 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrostyJoe Posted February 7, 2022 #10 Share Posted February 7, 2022 2 hours ago, mlbdude said: Before the pandemic we would always sail on MSC during our elementary kids Florida spring break for a 7 day cruise. It was always one of the busier cruises but filled with more families with young kids over young adults on break themselves. Were you able to find quiet areas with bar service back then if you wanted to get away from the crowds? I haven’t sailed MSC yet but pretty much all the other lines we’ve sailed so far that was the case…including NCL Sky when they were open bar shipwide Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlbdude Posted February 7, 2022 #11 Share Posted February 7, 2022 31 minutes ago, FrostyJoe said: Were you able to find quiet areas with bar service back then if you wanted to get away from the crowds? I haven’t sailed MSC yet but pretty much all the other lines we’ve sailed so far that was the case…including NCL Sky when they were open bar shipwide The SeaSide was the toughest. Not a chance up by the pools. Inside was fine and quieter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrostyJoe Posted February 7, 2022 #12 Share Posted February 7, 2022 (edited) 27 minutes ago, mlbdude said: The SeaSide was the toughest. Not a chance up by the pools. Inside was fine and quieter. Ah I see. I guess with the OPs grand daughter, it’ll change the calculus especially of if the GD likes to swim. I doubt MSC will be that busy either way this March. I will say though, we’ve started almost exclusively using the pools in the evenings before or after dinner (and before the rowdier crowd comes). It’s so much nicer not to deal with the sun beating down, crowds/noise….almost magical if it’s some quiet solarium with no one around. Maybe this is something the OP can consider doing with GD. Of the cruises we’ve been to with rowdy crowds, they usually hung out in the mid ship pools in the evenings. The ones in the rear seemed almost always either couples, families, or no body else with completely different vibe that felt like a different ship. But I do remember seeing YouTuber TheShipLife on a recent MSC sailing and aft was where the most active party was going on so maybe MSC is different 🤷🏻♂️ Edited February 7, 2022 by FrostyJoe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dexddd Posted February 7, 2022 #13 Share Posted February 7, 2022 14 hours ago, mushroom said: Seriously consider Yacht Club. The party crowd won't bother you there. Maybe not college kids in YC, but we had one extended family with several young kids who were a train wreck. Add that they let diapered kids in the pool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dexddd Posted February 7, 2022 #14 Share Posted February 7, 2022 We sailed Seaside during spring break a few years ago and college kids not an issue. YMMV. We've sailed NCL several times during spring break and never a problem. Those were all seven day trips though so I'd worry more about the shorter, cheap trips. Like Carnival. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlbdude Posted February 7, 2022 #15 Share Posted February 7, 2022 We are on the Seashore March 12th this year and my expectations is it will be less crowded than normal. I think the OP will fine. The pools on MSC are deep and don’t allow drinking in them so even when seating is limited the pools are fine. On sea days we plan more indoor time during peak top deck usage. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke gs Daddy Posted February 7, 2022 #16 Share Posted February 7, 2022 Take her on a Disney Cruise. JMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markanddonna Posted February 8, 2022 Author #17 Share Posted February 8, 2022 1 hour ago, Luke gs Daddy said: Take her on a Disney Cruise. JMHO. We humble people from Columbus Ohio just don't have the funds for a Disney Cruise. 🙂 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrostyJoe Posted February 8, 2022 #18 Share Posted February 8, 2022 1 hour ago, Markanddonna said: We humble people from Columbus Ohio just don't have the funds for a Disney Cruise. 🙂 Not to mention I bet Disney is sailing full! And will be full next year, and years to come… vs. a unique situation with the other lines now… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke gs Daddy Posted February 8, 2022 #19 Share Posted February 8, 2022 8 hours ago, Markanddonna said: We humble people from Columbus Ohio just don't have the funds for a Disney Cruise. 🙂 I get it. you can take 2 Carnival or MSC for 1 Disney. We are from Columbus too. Wife and I did a 4 nighter last month on MSC and enjoyed it. Although, it sailed way less than 50% we had fun. We did not see hardley any young people and it was not spring break either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markanddonna Posted February 8, 2022 Author #20 Share Posted February 8, 2022 2 hours ago, Luke gs Daddy said: I get it. you can take 2 Carnival or MSC for 1 Disney. We are from Columbus too. Wife and I did a 4 nighter last month on MSC and enjoyed it. Although, it sailed way less than 50% we had fun. We did not see hardley any young people and it was not spring break either. Luke gs Daddy, I noted you were from Columbus so that is why I mentiioned we were just humble people from Columbus...also looking to get away from the snow, ice, and cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrinaLC Posted February 8, 2022 #21 Share Posted February 8, 2022 Also on the “seaxxxx” ships there are tons of deck areas away from the pools and bars where you can easily get away from the crowds, if any Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAGR Posted February 8, 2022 #22 Share Posted February 8, 2022 1 hour ago, Markanddonna said: Luke gs Daddy, I noted you were from Columbus so that is why I mentioned we were just humble people from Columbus...also looking to get away from the snow, ice, and cold. Columbus (technically Westerville), too! To clarify, we TRY to get away from the snow, ice, and cold, but we also know that it always tries to follow us. I'm trying to recover from our heat wave yesterday!😎 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YellowDog Posted March 3, 2022 #23 Share Posted March 3, 2022 For the GD...don't forget the Seashore has a whole waterpark area tailored to kids. My kids (8 at the time) loved it on the Seaside. Also, the Jungle pool area had a smaller wading area for kids as well on the Seaside...that may be mirrored on the Seashore too. Im on this cruise too with 2 11 y/o. Not worried about the college crowd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markanddonna Posted March 3, 2022 Author #24 Share Posted March 3, 2022 I reminded my daughter about the copy of the birth certificate today. She obviously forgot and I went into panic mode. Fortunately, it is now ready at the office for pick up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare morpheusofthesea Posted March 3, 2022 #25 Share Posted March 3, 2022 On 2/6/2022 at 3:10 PM, Markanddonna said: I hope you can provide some input into the spring break issue. First, I realize nothing is normal as we are hopefully at the end of the pandemic We were on the Seashore February 12 ,2022. Now I know it is 7 night vs your 4 night, but what the CD (cruise director) Gene mentioned in his intro to our evening theatre show was 'telling'? He must have been exaggerating when he announced to the audience that there were just over 1000 guests on our sailing, but that bookings report that spring break will be 6500 (kind of hard if maximum capacity of Seashore is 5632 guests). Speaking to a butler on Ocean Cay he repeated the jump in numbers for spring break, but then suggested that numbers will go back down after spring break. He followed up by stating that it really doesn't matter for service in the YC. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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