SteveinSC Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 Sailing out of Tampa, April 04, on Rhapsody. SPRING BREAK for the kiddos. Curious as to how......crazy.......it will be? Will I regret it (doubtful....its still a cruise)? Will it be fine (aka. will i drink more)? Will my kids be happy because of more kids to play with in AO? Looking to the all RC knowing board, here, for thoughts.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 No, you will not regret it. Even a bad cruise (I've heard there are such things...I've never personally experienced one) is better than no cruise. I know you will have a great time. I really enjoy sailing out of Tampa. We are sailing on Brilliance in November. Off topic but....I have family in Rock Hill. LOVE it there. bcarney, RCIfan1912 and SteveinSC 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveinSC Posted September 16, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 7 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said: No, you will not regret it. Even a bad cruise (I've heard there are such things...I've never personally experienced one) is better than no cruise. I know you will have a great time. I really enjoy sailing out of Tampa. We are sailing on Brilliance in November. Off topic but....I have family in Rock Hill. LOVE it there. I have never had a bad cruise either, but my # of 5 pales in comparison to yours. I suspect it will be a great trip...but the crew im traveling with doesnt have kids, so its a concern to me that they arent overwhelmed by the increase in shin kickers. Im taking precautions by booking excursions already, and planning as much as possible. Rock Hill IS great....and getting better. I grew up in the Charlotte area (Lincolnton, NC) and moved to Fort Mill, SC in 09 after getting married. Moved to RH in '15 after having our second son, in order to gain more home, yard, etc..... Couldnt be more please with it. Now, with the Panthers building their headquarters and practice facilities here.....keeps getting better!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 15 minutes ago, SteveinSC said: Now, with the Panthers building their headquarters and practice facilities here.....keeps getting better!!!! I hadn't heard this news ! Very exciting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 It’s different cruising over spring break with your own kids. I don’t suggest it if it’s an adult only trip. We’ve sailed Oasis twice over spring break with our kids. The first time they were 11 and 17. The second time 18 (her spring break) and 24 (working girl). Needless to say, we had more fun with our “adult” kids as we got them their own cabin across the hall. Overall it was a full ship with lots of kids but never bothered me. For the most part pretty well behaved. This past March we were on Freedom with 2 other couples. Groups of kids running around were beginning to get annoying. From here on out I’m sticking with cruises after Easter and before Hurricane season (June) starts. SteveinSC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basil Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 My family and I are on the Symphony-of-the-seas on April 11th. I booked it before I realized it was spring break. So I am a little nervous about kids running around. Then I remember, I am on vacation on a cruise. Life is good and just have fun plus more importantly...they are not my kids. So I will have another drink and enjoy! Baked Alaska 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 1 hour ago, basil said: My family and I are on the Symphony-of-the-seas on April 11th. I booked it before I realized it was spring break. So I am a little nervous about kids running around. Then I remember, I am on vacation on a cruise. Life is good and just have fun plus more importantly...they are not my kids. So I will have another drink and enjoy! Here in Florida, spring break tends to be in March. Colleges are usually the 2cd week of March, public schools the 3rd week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveinSC Posted September 16, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 39 minutes ago, Jill said: Here in Florida, spring break tends to be in March. Colleges are usually the 2cd week of March, public schools the 3rd week. Spring Break, for public schools where we are, is usually the week before or week after Easter.......whenever that may be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveinSC Posted September 16, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 Something else to think about.....has anyone cruised in Latin America countries, and noticed a difference in the ports for Semana Santa (week of Easter)? I know in Honduras, Semana Santa is a HUGE deal, and places like Tela and La Ceiba get VERY BUSY during the week. Would imagine that spills into Roatan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basil Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 1 hour ago, Jill said: Here in Florida, spring break tends to be in March. Colleges are usually the 2cd week of March, public schools the 3rd week. Here in Michigan it is the week before Easter. My Brother's children have the week after Easter. I guess it really depends which state, either way there will be some kids out of school that week. SteveinSC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseGus Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 in most states if actually depends on the school district as they set school schedule, within state mandated guideline. I know in here in contiguous cities the spring break weeks are different SteveinSC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhageerah Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 7 hours ago, SteveinSC said: Sailing out of Tampa, April 04, on Rhapsody. SPRING BREAK for the kiddos. Curious as to how......crazy.......it will be? Will I regret it (doubtful....its still a cruise)? Will it be fine (aka. will i drink more)? Will my kids be happy because of more kids to play with in AO? Looking to the all RC knowing board, here, for thoughts.... Been out of Tampa during spring break but on Vision of the Seas, and it was not an issue whatsoever! We mainly sail at least during spring break and have yet to have any serious issues. Only real issue I can say that we have had was on one (and only one) cruise there was a group of kids that loved running up and down the halls. You will have a great time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tzb Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 we will be on oasis starting april 12, 2020 so i'm curious about this as well. i'm not worried about it, per se, but interested in others' experiences with cruising during spring break. SteveinSC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MO & LO on the go! Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 We went on a cruise that turned out to be Florida college spring break. 5 nighter I think. The pool deck was out of control busy with drunk people everywhere, no where to sit, and spilled alcohol/cups all over the deck. The kids were grouped up in the walkway and it was hard to walk around up there. We just avoided it and it was fine. We did not have our kids but I don't think it would have changed our feeling about it if we did. SteveinSC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdixon22 Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 We have sailed twice on Independence of the Seas for Spring Break and it was fine. There are a "few" more college kids and a lot of drinking but they were well behaved. LOL. You will have a good time. SteveinSC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeatArmy2010 Posted September 17, 2019 Report Share Posted September 17, 2019 We sailed on a spring break cruise once. It was fine, but we like to tell people there were so many kids in the pool that when one jumped in, two were squirted out! tzb, Vwjo, cdixon22 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveinSC Posted September 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2019 15 hours ago, bhageerah said: Been out of Tampa during spring break but on Vision of the Seas, and it was not an issue whatsoever! We mainly sail at least during spring break and have yet to have any serious issues. Only real issue I can say that we have had was on one (and only one) cruise there was a group of kids that loved running up and down the halls. You will have a great time! Having been on Vision, you will be able to speak to one of my hopes. My hope is that since Rhapsody is a smallER ship, it will be less people to compete with for things? I knew sailing over Spring Break all but insured a full ship.....so sailing on a smaller ship eases that, in my mind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveinSC Posted September 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2019 12 hours ago, BeatArmy2010 said: We sailed on a spring break cruise once. It was fine, but we like to tell people there were so many kids in the pool that when one jumped in, two were squirted out! Hilarious mental picture..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 17, 2019 Report Share Posted September 17, 2019 I was on Mariner of the Seas for spring break this year and I really didn't think it was bad at all. SteveinSC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveinSC Posted September 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2019 32 minutes ago, Matt said: I was on Mariner of the Seas for spring break this year and I really didn't think it was bad at all. Only so many people you can put on a ship, right? Any idea what the occupancy average is for RC cruises? I imagine over holidays, were talking a full ship. Other times, not so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melski94 Posted September 17, 2019 Report Share Posted September 17, 2019 Spring Break cruises sail full. Not just full of cabins with double occupancy but every room is almost full with its max occupancy. We cruise every year for Spring Break. The crew is used to it and adjust people to AO to accommodate so many kids. By April, there are very few colleges out for Spring Break. You will see multigenerational families or large groups of family friends. Of course, those adults could rival college kids on the pool deck! SteveinSC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveinSC Posted September 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2019 1 minute ago, melski94 said: The crew is used to it and adjust people to AO to accommodate so many kids. I wondered if they would ramp up staffing in AO to accomodate. Good to hear! 2 minutes ago, melski94 said: You will see multigenerational families or large groups of family friends. Of course, those adults could rival college kids on the pool deck! You nailed it. My parents are joining us, as well as my brother and sister in law. We will be those adults rivaling the college kids (while our kids are oblivious to our shenanigans in AO)....lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 17, 2019 Report Share Posted September 17, 2019 3 hours ago, SteveinSC said: Any idea what the occupancy average is for RC cruises? RC ships sail full (or nearly full) all the time. It's quite rare these days to have a sailing that is not sold out. SteveinSC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zacharius Posted September 17, 2019 Report Share Posted September 17, 2019 17 hours ago, BeatArmy2010 said: We sailed on a spring break cruise once. It was fine, but we like to tell people there were so many kids in the pool that when one jumped in, two were squirted out! Oh man...hilarious picture but that sounds truly awful to me. My wife and I do anything and everything possible to travel (cruise or otherwise) when there is the least chance of any kids/families. February and early May are perfect North America vacation times because of that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhageerah Posted September 17, 2019 Report Share Posted September 17, 2019 4 hours ago, SteveinSC said: Having been on Vision, you will be able to speak to one of my hopes. My hope is that since Rhapsody is a smallER ship, it will be less people to compete with for things? I knew sailing over Spring Break all but insured a full ship.....so sailing on a smaller ship eases that, in my mind? I can honestly tell you that I have sailed on one of the smallest (Majesty) to the Oasis and usually when everything is at capacity during spring break or over Christmas break and really have not had any issues outside of the first day. And honestly the only issues with lines on that first day are when we try to go to the Windjammer! Outside of the first day the only real things that we wait for are admission to bingo or shows, and that is only because they have something else going on prior to our admission and we have to wait until the venue clears before the let us in. RCCL does a magnificent job of managing the crowds so even if the ship is sailing at capacity you will rarely get the impression of how many folks are really on the ship. Of course depending on the time the pool deck can get crowded, as well as when its time to get off when you are in a port. We choose to use the pool during hours where its not as popular, and get off the ship later so we avoid the mad rush once we get in port. But of course that depends on what time we have to meet for our shore excursion. Trust me even though you are on a smaller ship you will be impressed at what you will see once you get onboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesKinetic Posted September 17, 2019 Report Share Posted September 17, 2019 Have done a spring break cruise the last two years (once by myself, once with family) and have another one booked next spring break. You might have a few more kids/college students than usual, but otherwise there's really no difference in the experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.