Step aside, Disney World and Daytona Beach, Florida. Spring break cruises are attracting both families and college students for memorable vacations in March and April because they offer easy planning, an array of price points and compelling attractions both on board and off.
College students can follow the party to ships laden with bars and late-night entertainment. On short, affordable Bahamas cruises, beachy private islands welcome stress-shedding coeds with waterside bars, shoreside DJs, sandy sports and even amusement parks.
Cruising is so popular that travel agencies run hosted group trips during the biggest spring break weeks to make it easier for college students to book sailings and meet fellow partiers.
Families can spend their week off from school enjoying waterslides, ropes courses, roller coasters, miniature golf and go-karts — all found on cruise ship top decks. Instead of a week at Disney, a short spring break sailing on Disney Cruise Line combined with a park adventure lets families combine beach days with amusement rides.
However, there are some key policies the under-21 crowd needs to know before planning spring break at sea. Below, we outline what you need to know about these March and April sailings and highlight the best spring break cruises for college students and families.
For more cruise guides, news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.
Spring break cruises: What to expect
Spring break cruises take place during the typically slower shoulder-season travel months of March and April. However, spring break travel has become so popular that Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico cruises during peak school holiday weeks are often more expensive and more crowded than surrounding weeks.
Families should know that the shorter cruises take on more of a party atmosphere, so stick to the longer sailings, which will be filled with school-age children.
Older or childless couples will probably want to avoid all the weeklong or shorter warm-weather sailings out of U.S. home ports if they’re seeking a quiet getaway.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
Cruise lines also have policies that might surprise the 18- to 20-year-old crowd hoping to let loose on their college vacation. Here are some key things to know.
Age restrictions on bookings
Many popular cruise lines do not let travelers under the age of 21 book a cruise without a “chaperone” who is 21 or older. On Carnival Cruise Line, the responsible adult needs to be at least 25. This can present problems for a group of 20-year-olds who want to sail together. You’ll need to bring along — gulp — a parent or at least an older friend.
Drinking age
Regardless of the drinking age in the islands, the minimum age to drink on many cruise ships sailing from the U.S. is 21. That’s even true on MSC Cruises, a European company, on its sailings from U.S. ports. The only line we found among the popular spring break cruise lines with a drinking age of 18 or older is Margaritaville at Sea.
You also are not allowed to bring your own booze on board, whether you’re of age or not.
Related: Can I bring alcohol on a cruise ship? A line-by-line guide
Beverage packages
For the 21 and over college crowd, beverage packages can be an affordable option if you plan on drinking a lot on board. Be aware, however, that some lines limit the number of drinks you can order at one time or on one day. In most cases, everyone sharing a cabin must purchase a drink package if one person does; you cannot share a package among friends or buy drinks for friends if you have a beverage package and they do not.
Smoking, drugs and bad behavior
Cruise lines have strict policies when it comes to smoking on board, and they include vaping and cigars in their policies. You can only smoke in designated areas of each ship, never in your cabin or private balcony. Breaking these rules can lead to $500 fines or even getting kicked off the ship.
You could also get into serious trouble if you try to smuggle drugs or marijuana on board. If you’re caught, you could be prevented from embarking the ship or forcefully disembarked mid-cruise. You’d then be on your own to get home, and the cruise line will not refund the costs of your missed cruise.
And, yes, cruise ships do have jails, called brigs, on board. Your ship’s security officers do not tolerate fighting and other bad behavior and will detain anyone who is out of line on board.
Kids clubs
Parents looking at a week’s vacation at sea with the kids will be thrilled to know that the onboard kids clubs are complimentary from morning until about 10 or 11 p.m. at night.
However, with so many kids on board during these holiday weeks, you might find that lines are long to check kids in and out, or that activities might have to move to other areas of the ship if the dedicated youth spaces get too packed.
Related: Best kid-friendly cruises: The 7 best cruise ships for kids
Spring break party cruises
For spring breakers who want to travel and party with hundreds of other college-age kids, look for travel agencies that run hosted spring break cruises during the most popular spring vacation weeks.
For example, College Party Cruise hand-picks the most fun cruise ships for the college crowd, books cabins to sell to as many as 1,000-plus 20-somethings and offers special events and discounts at bars in port to group members. You can have fun with your college besties, but you can also meet like-minded young adults from around the country and make new friends on your cruise.
Travel agencies like CPC make the planning easier because they bundle taxes and gratuities into your upfront cost and take the work out of picking the right ship and destination. Most cruises are short trips out of Florida. (Note: Even with these charter sailings, you must have one person in your cabin who is 21 or older.)
Related: How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise
Best college spring break cruises
Royal Caribbean
CPC often charters Royal Caribbean ships for its college spring break cruises because they’re huge, filled with thrilling attractions like rock climbing walls and surf simulators, and offer plenty of bars, nightlife venues and onboard entertainment for young adults.
Spring breakers should consider three- or four-night cruises to the Bahamas from Florida ports on the line’s megaships, such as Independence of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas. You’ll definitely want a stop at the line’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, with its water park, zip line and adults-only beach.
West Coasters might prefer three- to four-night cruises from California to Ensenada, Mexico, on Navigator of the Seas. Or, try a four- or five-night cruise from Galveston, Texas, on Mariner of the Seas to Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico. We hear the margaritas are great.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival’s “Fun Ships” are known for their themed bars, abundant and included casual dining (Guy Fieri’s burgers and Shaq’s fried chicken sandwiches, anyone?) and pool deck fun and games. College students will feel right at home in this casual atmosphere, especially when trip costs won’t threaten to add to their student debt.
Three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas or four- and five-night Western Caribbean cruises from New Orleans, Galveston and various ports in Florida are ideal for college spring breakers, as they often include visits to cruise line private islands, various Bahamian ports, Mexico or Key West, Florida.
If you’re out west for school, Carnival’s three- and four-night Baja Mexico cruises to Ensenada and Catalina Island, California, will provide the same amount of fun in the sun.
Related: The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line ships and itineraries
The only potential downfall? Carnival requires guests under the age of 21 to travel with someone aged 25 or older.
Margaritaville at Sea
Margaritaville at Sea offers quick and cheap two-night cruises between Palm Beach, Florida, and Freeport, Bahamas. Even better for spring breakers is that the drinking age is 18-plus while at sea and in the Bahamas, and guests need only be 18 to book a cruise (though you must be 21 or older if you wish to lengthen your trip with a cruise-and-stay package featuring a hotel stay in the Bahamas).
In 2025, the cruise line will add three- to five-night cruises to its roster, with a second ship based out of Tampa.
The Jimmy Buffett-themed ship knows that it’s always “5 o’clock somewhere,” perhaps at its 5 o’Clock Somewhere bar. Between beach breaks on Grand Bahama Island and beer breaks on board, don’t miss the “Tales from Margaritaville” show, based on Buffett’s book and featuring his greatest-hit songs.
Virgin Voyages
This relatively new cruise line will surely be a hit with spring breakers for one important reason: No kids are allowed. Virgin Voyages’ ships require guests to be 18 or older to sail, and programming has decidedly adult themes. You can get a tattoo on board, attend a drag show and get a little naughty at late-night pool parties.
Cruise fares aren’t always the cheapest, but they include meals in all restaurants (which serve everything from Korean barbecue to Mexican tacos), plus Wi-Fi (an often pricey perk on other lines), nonalcoholic drinks (coffee, soda, juice), gratuities for the crew and fun and fabulous group fitness classes. You only have to worry about your bar bill.
To keep costs down, book a Social Insider cabin that sleeps four. Space is tight, but you’re only in your cabin to shower and sleep.
Look for four- and five-night cruises on Virgin’s Scarlet Lady to destinations like the line’s private beach club on the Bahamian island of Bimini, Key West, the Dominican Republic and Mexico. Always a rebel, Virgin only recommends that one person in your group be 21 or older; anyone can book a cruise as long as they’re 18 when the ship sets sail. The drinking age on board reflects that of the destination (it’s 18-plus in international waters), so choose your itinerary carefully.
MSC Cruises
Skip the expensive spring break trip to Europe and instead take a quick Bahamas cruise with an international flair on MSC Cruises’ MSC Divina, MSC Magnifica or MSC Seashore. The ships offer three- and four-night cruises to Nassau and Ocean Cay, MSC’s private island, and attract a multinational, multilingual crowd. Also, MSC’s fares are consistently affordable relative to other cruise lines.
There is not much to do on Ocean Cay other than soak up some sun on your choice of beaches, enjoy refreshing drinks at beachside bars and snack on burgers and french fries at beach shacks and barbecues around the island — the perfect way to decompress after a stressful semester. In Nassau, you could get your snorkel on or simply park yourself at Señor Frog’s for the day. We recommend ordering some local conch fritters to help soak up all the alcohol you consume.
Back on board, MSC has some of the best pizza at sea, plus sushi and tacos if you feel like a splurge. Do an onboard bar crawl to find your favorite, or try out all the arcade and virtual reality experiences, including a Formula One race car simulator. If your epic spring break moves you to sing, know that MSC offers karaoke in myriad languages.
Best spring break cruises for families
Disney Cruise Line
Whether you’re going for a weeklong Caribbean cruise on Disney Magic or Disney Fantasy or a short Bahamas cruise on the new Disney Wish followed by half a week at Disney World, families know Disney will deliver an amazing spring break vacation.
And the options aren’t just convenient to East Coasters. The line sails ships from Galveston, New Orleans and San Diego for family vacations to Mexico.
Disney Cruise Line’s ships go above and beyond, with cabins designed for families to share, restaurants that double as entertainment venues so no one is ever antsy at dinner and, of course, plenty of opportunities to interact with your favorite Disney, Pixar and Marvel characters.
Families can splash in the pools together and zip down the water rides by day and then watch first-run Disney movies and the brand’s famous musical shows together at night. While kids pilot the Millennium Falcon or attend Marvel Super Hero Academy in the ships’ expansive kids club, parents can enjoy a night of fine dining at multiple adults-only restaurants or grab a drink at a “Star Wars”-themed bar.
Related: 11 ways to save money on a Disney cruise
Disney’s Castaway Cay private island is a can’t-miss port stop, with lots of beach day fun and an on-site barbecue buffet. And no matter where you sail in the Caribbean, Bahamas or Mexico, you know Disney will have shore excursions vetted specifically with families in mind.
Royal Caribbean
While the college spring breakers gravitate toward Royal Caribbean’s shorter cruises, families will want to book weeklong Caribbean and Bahamas trips on the line’s largest ships at sea: Harmony of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas. Most of the ships sail from Florida ports, but Harmony of the Seas cruises from Galveston.
These megaships feature enormous kids clubs and teen hangouts where kids can make friends while parents get a much-needed break. They also have plenty of fun spots for families to play together, including waterslides, escape rooms, mini-golf, rock climbing walls and carousel rides. The whole family can enjoy shows that include Broadway musicals, ice skating performances, high-diving acrobatic events and parades down the central indoor promenade of each ship.
Plus, Royal Caribbean’s two private destinations — Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas and Labadee in Haiti — offer a mix of gorgeous beaches and attractions, ranging from mountain coasters to water parks, perfect for families. The other ports give families the opportunity to teach the kids to snorkel or kayak, enjoy boat rides and aquariums, or spend even more time playing together on the beach.
Related: Labadee vs. CocoCay: Which Royal Caribbean beach is right for you?
Carnival Cruise Line
Families on spring break should check out Carnival’s newest Vista and Excel Class ships because they cater to families more than any other ships in the fleet. All have Family Harbor cabins that come in a variety of sizes and prices. These rooms are designed for families and come with access to an exclusive lounge with games, snacks and concierge assistance.
On your sea days, the entire family will have a blast racing down waterslides, splashing in watery playgrounds, trying thrill rides like an onboard roller coaster and a suspended cycling ride, testing their fear of heights on a ropes course and playing rounds of basketball, foosball and pingpong. Fuel up with nonstop pizza and soft-serve ice cream.
When kids head off to the kids, tween and teen lounges for video games, socializing and organized activities, parents can slip off to the spa or the adults-only Serenity sun deck.
For a week’s vacation, families have lots of choices. Carnival Horizon, Carnival Vista, Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras explore all over the Caribbean from Florida; Carnival Jubilee sails to the Western Caribbean from Galveston. Carnival Panorama offers West Coasters a cruise to Mexico from Long Beach, California. No matter where you go, you’ll find plenty of beach time and water sports, plus active and cultural adventures ashore.
Norwegian Cruise Line
NCL offers its share of Caribbean and Bahamas sailings, but families looking for something different should consider the line for its weeklong Hawaii cruises aboard Pride of America.
Sailing weekly from Honolulu, the sailings hit all the top spots: the Big Island with access to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, an overnight visit to Maui where guests can catch a sunset or sunrise from atop Haleakala or go on whale watching excursions, and an overnight stop at Kauai to tour the stunning Waimea Canyon or cruise along the Napali Coast. That means you can see it all without packing and unpacking, changing hotels or figuring out transportation.
Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship
On board, the casual vibe means families don’t have to worry about packing formalwear. Multiple dining venues offer the choice of when and where to eat; you won’t find assigned tables or dining times here. Pride of America may not have the go-kart tracks and laser tag found on other Norwegian cruise ships, but you’re really only using it as a floating home base for your Hawaiian exploration.
Bottom line
No matter which kind of spring break experience you’re looking for, you’ll find the perfect getaway at sea. College students can let loose with other young adults on easy and affordable trips, while parents can treat their kids to a memorable week of vacation.
Know the rules and prepare for crowds, and you’ll be all set for a spring break that will make all your friends jealous.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
