The unknowns of spring break: teachers. The people charged with shepherding us through childhood and making sure we learn something in the process of growing up. Their reward: a week off in March or April and a three-month vacation in the summer. Spring break is an educator’s first chance to sleep in on multiple weekdays in a row since the New Year. It’s also their first and best chance for booking a cruise at a reasonable price. Their other vacations come at the cruise industry’s peak times, and while spring break is the peak season, it’s the most reasonably priced one.
Teachers are also the cruisers who are most likely to want to relax on their cruise rather than party it up or fill their vacation with tour groups. Traveling in a sedated way is one of cruising’s hallmarks. However, it is slightly more difficult to do in a season known for its popularity with the “are we there yet” crowd, and the premier market for red solo cups. It’s still possible to book a relaxing vacation, though, the chief difficulty is scheduling. Parents can keep their kids out of school an extra day for their vacation, and college students have never been particularly worried about skipping a class or two. If a teacher misses their class, though, the whole thing comes to a halt.
Never fear, it is still possible to find a cruise that suits you!
Non-Educational Vacations for Educators
Teachers are a diverse bunch that teach everything from kindergarten to college, and their spring break vacation isn’t necessarily starting March 12th the way it is for most college students. So a short cruise is their best chance of getting a cruise that matches neatly with their vacation. The 3 and 4-day itineraries that make it easy to get to and from the cruise, when all you have is seven days, are also the ones that are most likely to be swamped with beery college students.
For instance, there is a tempting ship sailing out of Port Canaveral with a 5-day itinerary that leaves plenty of time to get to, and back from your cruise. We’re going to suggest that teachers avoid booking it. It is the Carnival Sunshine, and its combination of a bargain price and 5-day schedule during the week most colleges have their spring break, meaning it’s going to be crowded with a younger, rowdier set than it usually is. Unless, that’s what you’re looking for of course.
If you’ve been teaching for a little while, though, the Disney ships start to look good. Yes, they’re primarily targeted at family cruisers, but they’re not all kid’s stuff. There are adults only areas on their ships, including an adult’s only spa area that will help you forget mid-term grading. The adults’ area dining and night spots have an atmosphere that is more sophisticated and sociable than boozed-up and boisterous. While it is a premium line, their 3 and 4-night cruises are affordable—albeit at the upper end of the definition of affordable—and they’re the line that has short cruises that will work with your schedule and is least likely to be swamped with 20-somethings during spring break. Disney is also great for bringing back the magic of childhood, which can be an amazing thing for those that are constantly around the most unpleasant realities of the same.
Disney Cruises are expensive, however. For the same price, you pay for a 4-night cruise on Disney ship you can get a 7-night cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Spirit. You can get a 7-night cruise on the Freedom of the Seas for less. As these are longer more expensive cruisers college spring breakers are probably not going to be an overwhelming percentage of the passengers aboard. Also, these are regular rotations so you’re going to be able to book one that occurs over your spring break no matter which week it is, almost. The trick is that the schedule doesn’t perfectly match yours, and you will likely end up having to take a day of vacation either before or after your cruise to ensure you have time to travel to, or from your cruise.
As far as other short cruises out of Port Canaveral over the spring season, Royal Caribbean and Carnival are another option. Depending on when you sail, they may or may not be brimming with a hard party crowd. This may actually be what some educators want on their time off. There are 20-something teachers after all that might enjoy the reminder of their college days, but for everyone else we recommend looking into longer cruises, and more upscale ships.
To Keep in Mind
As a society, we’re so used to thinking of teachers as a classroom fixture. We tend to forget that they are people with their own range of interests, and don’t get tucked into backroom storage until we arrive after the break. They have a job that ranges from kids who haven’t entirely gotten the hang of walking and talking to kids that think they know everything and are oblivious to the fact that they obviously don’t.
As a result of this, most cruise lines, and the travel industry in general give teachers a steep discount. This is something that is booked through the cruise line itself, there are travel agents that offer “international teachers” cards, or words to that effect that promise steep discounts on cruises and excursions. In truth these cards aren’t necessary, and if there is a discount for teachers to be had, then it can be obtained by simply telling the cruise line or excursion operator.
You don’t need to pay extra to prove you’re a teacher, and get a discount. Your work is appreciated.
Normally, we recommend flying in a day early, and making sure you don’t miss the boat with a Fly Snooze Cruise package. A teacher takes a day off, and their class stops. In this case we suggest you take a look at our cruise parking and standalone Port Canaveral transportation packages to make sure you get to your ship on time.
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