Spring Break Dates

[HB Cruiser]

I have some friends (ages middle 60's) that are wanting to take a cruise in March for their anniversary. They have never been on a cruise before and I want to advise them correctly. Personally, I don't think they would enjoy being on a cruise during any of the spring break weeks. Can I get some dates from you all of when your local college is taking their spring break.

 

Our local college, Southern Illinois University, is taking their spring break the week of March 9th.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Tim

[FL_Cruiser64]

I have some friends (ages middle 60's) that are wanting to take a cruise in March for their anniversary. They have never been on a cruise before and I want to advise them correctly. Personally, I don't think they would enjoy being on a cruise during any of the spring break weeks. Can I get some dates from you all of when your local college is taking their spring break.

 

Our local college, Southern Illinois University, is taking their spring break the week of March 9th.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Tim

 

South Florida is, I think, first week of March.

 

EDIT: here is a link with sone spring break dates of colleges (scroll further down, it also continues on the next page)

http://www.tripsmarter.com/panamacity/springbreak/sbcalendar.htm

[piercetc4]

spring breaks across the country usually take up most of march and apriil- possibly the week before mar 9 would be good and the last week of april....... my kids spring breaks are mid march and mid april- ( one in high school here and the other in college in michigan....) if that helps

[piercetc4]

maybe several ppl will post their spring breaks so you can help them find a less rowdy week to sail? good luck!!!

[reallyitsmema]

If you google spring break or spring break dates, lots of calendars pop up. Most link to a TA site so I can't post a link, but take a look, the week of March 6 looks like a popular one.

[cjankowski]

Our area schools most are the week before Easter (March 30 - April 3).

[cappy09]

In Palm Beach County spring break is Mar. 30-Apr 3 My DH an I are cruising on 3/1 just to avoid all the Spring breakers...

[alicam]

We were on the Serenade of the Seas last March 8-15....sailed out of San Juan...I can honestly say that I didn't see a lot of students or kids on it for that sailing...

[reallyitsmema]

In Palm Beach County spring break is Mar. 30-Apr 3 My DH an I are cruising on 3/1 just to avoid all the Spring breakers...

Interesting theory but looks very busy...

 

March 2-6, 2009 (Mon-Fri)

College / University

Enrollment

Alverno College

2,654

Barry University

9,324

Beloit College

1,300

Bennett College

572

Bethune-Cookman College

2,895

Bishop's University

1,817

Boston College

13,723

Bowling Green State University

22,882

California University of Pennsylvania

7,728

Cambrian College

4,401

Clark University

2,883

College of Charleston

11,320

Duquesne University

10,184

Fairfield University

4,935

Florida A&M University

12,792

Florida Atlantic University

26,245

Georgia State University

27,134

Grand Valley State University

25,000

Greensboro College

1,233

Lebanon Valley College

1,906

Lehigh University

6,836

Loyola College, Maryland

6,131

Loyola University, Chicago

15,545

Mary Baldwin College

2,242

Moore College of Art and Design

493

North Carolina A&T

11,103

North Carolina State University

31,130

Pepperdine University

6,053

Rice University

4,195

Rocky Mountain College

898

Saint Cloud State University

17,173

Saint Francis University

2,121

Schoolcraft College

10,213

Silver Lake College

1,000

Stetson University

2,273

Universite du Quebec (Montreal)

40,624

University of Evansville

2,350

University of Virginia

20,190

Valparaiso University

3,874

Villanova University

9,335

Virginia Western Community College

9,000

Western Carolina University

11,000

Western Michigan University

24,433

Wingate University

2,041

Xavier University

6,500

TOTAL

412,581

[newbiecruiser09]

Our public schools here (elem & high school) are off April 3-12. Some of the private schools have off the week after (Easter is the 12th). Most of the colleges around the DC area have off in March sometime.

[bethcollins]

Please be aware, also, that this list is far from comprehensive. There are many schools, including some very large ones, that are not listed at all.

[reallyitsmema]

Exactly, there are lots of different calendars out there. That just showed over 400k students for one week, was just pointing out that is not a quiet week for spring breakers.

[piercetc4]

maybe end of feb or beg. of may would be better to avoid spring breakers? if that were my goal, that is what i would do :D

[wrp96]

Typically you will find spring breaks from the first week in March to about the 3rd week in April. Another week to avoid is the 3rd week in February.

 

If they want to sail during March and want to avoid large amounts of kids, they need to look for longer itineraries (10+ nights or more) or itineraries out of ports that require long flights. San Juan typically gets less spring breakers than sailings out of Florida for example because people assume the flights will be more expensive expensive.

[HB Cruiser]

I am not too worried about them cruising during high school spring breaks, mainly interested in the college breaks.

 

Thanks for all the help and ideas! Keep 'em commin'.

 

Tim

[FL_Cruiser64]

In Palm Beach County spring break is Mar. 30-Apr 3 My DH an I are cruising on 3/1 just to avoid all the Spring breakers...

 

 

Not really. My son is at FAU and his spring break is March 2nd.

[dgg4]

If you pick a cruiseline and itinerary that is not known for partying or a large number of young people then there are likely to be less "spring breakers".

 

Personally we have sailed with our children (pre-teen and teenager) through the Panama Canal at spring break on Celebrity and there were only 50 kids on the ship and no partying college students.

[LisaH]

This thread is also helping me. I posted one the other day about cruising on JOS March 2010 and was concerned about Spring Breakers. This is a 10-day cruise at the very end of March but does encompass Easter (disembarkation day). I decided we will keep it and not change dates.

[MrZoey]

Most of the state universities in Michigan have breaks the first three weeks in March!

[honeywell]

They might consider choosing a longer sailing period (10 days?) or consider Celebrity (not marketed aggressively to families or young adults).

[Gene&Gina]

Our daughter goes to Ga. Southwestern and her break is March 9-13. Hope that helps :cool:

[Micki Dee]

Anytime in March is going to be bad, IMHO. College spring breaks run through the whole month. My DD's break at Central Michigan University is March 9th-13th.

 

Since you say they're definitely cruising in March, their best bet would be to go with a longer cruise ( 7+ days ). The Spring Breaker's tend to stick to the shorter cruises and the less expensive one's too. They are, after all, mostly students with limited funds.

[julia]

I have some friends (ages middle 60's) that are wanting to take a cruise in March for their anniversary. They have never been on a cruise before and I want to advise them correctly. Personally, I don't think they would enjoy being on a cruise during any of the spring break weeks. Can I get some dates from you all of when your local college is taking their spring break.

 

Tim

 

 

Tim:

 

Two words for your friends:

 

"HOLLAND AMERICA"

[rae8836]

As other posters have mentioned, the entire month of March is questionable. You might want to use an indirect method: Using the RCI web site 'search' function, ask for 5 day cruises in March, 2009, and don't specify anything else. Check the results to see what has sales and what does not. The ones with sales are less popular - potentially good for your folks. Try the same search for 6 day and 7 day.

 

As an example, DW and I are on 6 day IOS March 15. Same cruise runs two other dates in March. Our date has no sales (basically sold out) while the other dates have some good rates.

 

This doesn't say anything about kids - but does address crowds.

[dmdicato]

I am a teacher in Ohio....our spring break is the last week in March.

Hope that helps!

Darlene