What's you favorite time of year to cruise?

[cduff0908]

Looking for your thoughts on when the best time to cruise is and why.

Leaning towards Caribbean or Bahamas and haven't decided if DD (10) should miss school or not.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Our favorite time is when we find a cruise we want to take at a price we can live with. We've cruised in Feb, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, and Dec. Mostly Sep/Oct or May, since that's when the rates are typically lower (off season)

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

Early December if being out of school is an option. I love how beautifully decorated the boats and Castaway Cay are during the holiday season, and it's a bit less crowded.

 

[Ofinn]

Whenever I get the lowest price. Prices being equal I'd pick May followed by Sept.

 

[Drusilla99]

We always go with spring break. We don't want our kids 15 & 13 to miss school, the weather has always been beautiful for us, it's usually early enough to avoid any hurricane/tropical storm issues, and I book as soon as they open so yes, they can be pricier, but not as bad as they could be.

 

[nikkistevej]

We prefer Sept/Oct/Nov- its still warm, rates are down, and DD's bday is in September, BUT we don't now because we don't like to take her out of school. So we have to do "peak" times which equals $$$$$$.

 

[Crush518]

Not going to tell everyone how to parent, but cannot believe people take their kids out of school for a week at a time to go on a cruise....I saw a ton of kids on Dream last week school age and it was first week of May...Doubt their Spring Break was that late and I am fairly certain most go to school until end of May...I guess some of those kids could be home schooled but sure not all......Sure its great for kids to go on a trip like this but I could never imagine taking them out of school to do so...Where I live you only get so many days and I am fairly certain vacation does not count as an excused trip....

 

[plutos1fan]

Hi,

Our family last Cruises have been in the September and October time frame. Our first cruise was also in October. We like this time frame of October and September except the possibility of hurricanes. We have also done an Alaska cruise in August, a cruise in January and a cruise in July.

 

[mlayton14]

Not going to tell everyone how to parent, but cannot believe people take their kids out of school for a week at a time to go on a cruise....I saw a ton of kids on Dream last week school age and it was first week of May...Doubt their Spring Break was that late and I am fairly certain most go to school until end of May...I guess some of those kids could be home schooled but sure not all......Sure its great for kids to go on a trip like this but I could never imagine taking them out of school to do so...Where I live you only get so many days and I am fairly certain vacation does not count as an excused trip....

You told everyone that you didn't want to tell them how to parent, and then you proceeded to tell them how to parent. For us a week together when it is more affordable is way more important than whatever they are going to teach during that week in 2nd grade or kindergarten which is how old my kids are. I really think parents need to make their own judgment based on their own circumstances. If you think there is a one size fits all for families, maybe you are the one that needs to go back to school

 

[Trera]

Early December if being out of school is an option. I love how beautifully decorated the boats and Castaway Cay are during the holiday season, and it's a bit less crowded.

Agree with this post. Christmas time is great and the weather is still nice in Early December.

 

[ImDMous]

We love the beginning of May. The rates are lower, boat is not super crowded and the weather has been perfect.

 

[JackieB10]

You told everyone that you didn't want to tell them how to parent, and then you proceeded to tell them how to parent. For us a week together when it is more affordable is way more important than whatever they are going to teach during that week in 2nd grade or kindergarten which is how old my kids are. I really think parents need to make their own judgment based on their own circumstances. If you think there is a one size fits all for families, maybe you are the one that needs to go back to school

I agree. My kids know that as long as they keep their grades up I don't mind them missing school for a week long vacation. In fact, it is stated in our school handbook that students are entitled to 2 weeks of family vacation, as excused absences. The teachers will sometimes give them work to do while we are gone or their assignment is to write a report on places that they seen and things that they learned on the trip. This is fun for my children as well as the other children in the class, since they usually present the report orally. I think that kids learn A LOT from traveling and sometimes even more than they would in the classroom that week.

With that said, I understand everyone is entitled to their own opinion and that some people would never take their kids out of school for a vacation.

 

[Eeyorebabies]

Our school out here does independent study for kids gone longer than 5 days at a time. So not only are my kids going to be gone for our 7 day cruise, but 4 days at WDW, and the 3 days drive to get there. we have taken our kids out of school every year and guess what, they all test 2 grades higher than the grades they are in. Mine aren't missing any work, the school still gets attendance credits for the kiddos, everyone wins. My children learn more in the 1-2 weeks while on vacation that they do that same time in the classroom. Outside of normal schooling, they learn about different cultures through port excursions, they learn to socialize with others, they learn patience when standing in line, they learn economics when they get to budget for what they want out of money they have earned, they learn to be independent while learning to share with other children, they learn how to travel by reading maps and road signs, etc. So yes, it is Disney and it's a lot of fun, but learning can be done other places than behind a desk.

 

[Eeyorebabies]

Also keep in mind that there are a lot of year round schools, so many of those children could very well be on their track's break. Year round schools do not get a summer break, instead they get blocks of time off throughout the year. So between homeschooled children, year round children, independent study children, I would say that's a good amount of children that could fill up a cruise. Then add the ones that the parents decided to pull their child out during non testing times and more of a down time in the school year, I am not at all surprised at the amount of children seen at the parks and cruises throughout the year.

 

[darkwing818]

Our favorites are October & May....... (we've cruised in January, April, May, June, September, October & December)

 

[JMHDisney]

I think mid-late April or early May is perfect. It's warm, even in the Bahamas, and no storms so it's nice and smooth. We went this year over Spring Break. I don't really have a problem with taking time off school (especially in the younger grades and when kids are doing well), but I do think it's hilarious when people say a Disney cruise is educational.

 

[southerngirl528]

ANY time I can scrounge up the DVC points, moolah or whatever to get myself on a Disney ship!!!

 

[darkwing818]

Also keep in mind that there are a lot of year round schools, so many of those children could very well be on their track's break. Year round schools do not get a summer break, instead they get blocks of time off throughout the year. So between homeschooled children, year round children, independent study children, I would say that's a good amount of children that could fill up a cruise. Then add the ones that the parents decided to pull their child out during non testing times and more of a down time in the school year, I am not at all surprised at the amount of children seen at the parks and cruises throughout the year.

Our DD's were in "Year Round" school from elementary through middle school. We loved the concept, one of the secondary upsides, it gave us more vacation planning options.

 

[wcw57]

I only cruise on months that end in "Y", "H", "L", "E","T", or "R"

 

[mhconley]

We always take DS out of school for a week for vacations either to go on a cruise, WDW or some other destination, and sometimes twice a year. My parents took me and my sister out of school every year for vacations and I believe we turned out better because of it. Family comes first. School, work and everything else is second.

We cruise in late September or early October.