Many adult cruisers want to avoid school vacations, especially on family-friendly lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival, which host more kids than usual.
Even mostly adult lines like Celebrity Cruises end up with more kids on board when school isn't in session.
Related: More tropical cruise ports add new, serious travel warnings
In March, through early April, however, many colleges let out for Spring Break. That's a final week or two off before college students head back to school to finish up the year's final semester.
Many cruise passengers are careful to avoid some cruise lines during Spring Break. Cruises in this period, especially shorter ones on Carnival and Royal Caribbean, can become party ships. The average age of passengers drops while the average number of people in cabins goes up. That's not always a scene families and adults want to be part of.
In addition, some cruise ports are big destinations for Spring Break in their own right. That can mean that ships leaving from those ports are more likely to be filled with college students looking to blow off steam and perhaps get the most out of their drink packages.
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These are the top Spring Break destinations
"This year, we recorded a significant growth in interest in traveling for spring break 2025, as well as a shift in where travelers plan to vacation this season," Airport Parking Reservations reported.
"Between sun-kissed getaways and cultural hotspots, we analyzed search and social listening data from travelers across America to find out where people love to travel most."
Many of the top destinations, according to the study, also host cruise ships. These are the top 5 Spring Break destinations by web search, according to the report:
- New Orleans
- Puerto Rico
- Fort Lauderdale
- Austin
- Las Vegas
New Orleans, Puerto Rico and Fort Lauderdale all host multiple cruise lines. Fort Lauderdale, in fact, is one of the world's busiest cruise ports and traditionally a top Spring Break destination.
"With its balmy climate and miles of beachside bars, it’s no surprise that Fort Lauderdale, Florida, ranks among our three most popular spring break destinations," Airport Parking Reservations shared. "Fort Lauderdale saw a significant boost in popularity with 75,800 searches in 2025, compared to 41,450 in 2024."
Spring Break cruising is all about the party
"Almost three in five (58%) 18- to 24-year-olds plan to pause their studies and spend their spring break enjoying parties and nightlife. This interest rises to two-thirds (64%) of the 25- to 34-year-old demographic," according to the report,.
The number of people looking for a party during Spring Break does decrease as people get older.
"Partying continues to attract half (50%) of those aged 35 to 44, before dropping to 42% as travelers reach 45 and older," it added.
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Younger travelers do, however, want to do more than party.
"Catching up with family and friends is another major draw for spring breakers. Almost half (48%) of 25- to 34-year-olds plan to share their vacation with loved ones, followed by 46% of 18- to 24-year-olds," the report shared.
Older folks, however, seem to avoid travel during these weeks.
"Only 27% of those aged 65 and older plan to take a family vacation between March and April," the study reported.
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