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 Travel & Outdoors | February 2008 
Cruise Through a Perfect Spring Break
 Kristina Peltin - Daily Aztec
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| | Relaxing aboard a cruise ship this coming March might be the perfect way to unwind with close friends. (MCT Campus | | |
The warmth of the sun envelopes you as the cool breeze plays in your hair. There is nothing in view but peaceful blue ocean - and old people playing bingo.
Taking a cruise is just one of the gazillion ways you can spend your Spring Break. Even though we've all heard plenty of rumors and stereotypes about cruises, everyone's experiences are different.
Cons
One word: cramped. Some people think of it as a nice escape, but marketing and Latin studies graduate Antonio Castro recommends a cruise only with someone you really enjoy spending a lot of time with in close quarters.
Yes, everything you need is on one boat - room and board, food, entertainment - but, you're confined to a single space.
Castro took a cruise from Long Beach, stopping in San Diego, Catalina and Ensenada, Mexico. He explained that besides the pre-purchased tickets and coverage charges, all the amenities on the ship cost extra.
Also, grandparents usually love cruises. So if you go on one, expect a lot of people to be out of your age range. No offense to grandparents, but students from San Diego State probably don't want to spend their Spring Break with them.
Pros
Cruises really give a new meaning to transportation. You're traveling to cool places - usually more than one - and you are fed and entertained in the process.
It's basically like a few trips in one festivities and you only have to unpack once. Almost all cruises have plenty of entertainment, events and activities on the ship, plus you can enjoy activities such as snorkeling and sightseeing at the ports.
"Having meals available to you whenever you want is definitely a bonus," international security and conflict resolution senior Jordan Tresham said. "Plus the feeling of being out on the open sea was really peaceful."
Cost can be a pro or a con, depending on your optimism. All cruiselines charge differently and, when the entire sum is added up, it can look like a big chunk out of your savings. On the other hand, the price can look really cheap after adding all the little things - food, drinks, amenities and on-land activities.
Basically, you have to weigh it out on your own preference scale. Tresham said that when you take into account transportation, lodging and food for other trips, it usually comes out to approximately what you would spend on a cruise.
The key is to decide what's important to you for your Spring Break. If you want a getaway where you can relax, catch up on reading and get closer to people, then it could be a great trip. If you'd rather be on your own schedule and really explore and experience a place, then a cruise probably isn't for you.
There are many cruise lines and planned trips to choose from. Both www.jaunts.com and www.cruise.com offer many options with different discounts and bonuses.
A few cruises are specifically for Spring Break and may offer discounts. For example the Dawn Princess Cruise Ship has a $420 deal for a 7-day Mexican Riviera Cruise. The round trip departs from San Diego on March 30 and stops in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. |
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