Welcome guest writer Sarah Cinq-Mars! Sarah's a 5th-grade teacher based in North Carolina. When she isn't teaching or being taught the latest slang by her students, she's catching up on the latest true crime podcast, playing with her 11-year-old dog, or checking out the area's newest restaurants.
Teachers have a multitude of responsibilities on their plate at all times. As a teacher myself, sometimes all I can think about is when my next vacation is and what I'm going to do.
Growing up, I did not travel much. We went to Florida, Tennessee, or just places surrounding my hometown in Connecticut. The thought of a cruise never came up during family discussions. As I transitioned into adulthood, my fiancée introduced me to the world of cruising, and in October 2023, I started my journey as a cruiser.
Over the last year, I have taken 5 cruises with my fiancée, and it is by far my favorite way to travel. If you’re a teacher, here is why you should consider taking a cruise for your next break!
You get the most bang for your buck
For most teachers, finances are an important factor when choosing when and where to vacation. The overall price of a cruise includes a lot. For example, your cruise ship cabin, food, basic amenities, activities, and gratuities are all included in your cruise fare.
If you would like to get a piece of pizza on the pool deck and then hang out at the pool after playing a round of mini-golf, all of those amenities are included. Also, not only do you have onboard amenities included, but while cruising, you can visit multiple destinations.
During my vacation on Celebrity Ascent in July 2024, for example, we began in Athens, Greece, stopped in 4 ports, and ended the trip in Rome. While aboard one cruise, I went to Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Kuşadasi, and Naples. I could not imagine going to all those destinations while on a land vacation. The transportation alone would have emptied my wallet.
Of course, different cruise lines have different fares; however, there are plenty of accessible cruises for teachers. For example, Margaritaville at Sea has a program where teachers sail for free with another paid passenger. Norwegian Cruise Line also gives teachers a 5% discount and $50 onboard credit. Even these little perks can help teachers save money!
While you can definitely splurge on a premium cruise line or stay in a balcony cabin, I've found affordable fares if you search hard enough. Even on today's newest ships, you never know the deals you might find if you work with the right travel agent.
The more time you spend on the ship, the more convenient you will realize it is
Vacation is supposed to be relaxing, and I am always most relaxed on a cruise ship. All the amenities are aboard one ship which puts all the activities in one place.
A normal sea day would begin in your cabin, waking up to the beautiful scenery of the ocean, and getting ready on your ship in your own space. Then you could head to the Main Dining Room, buffet, or any other restaurant on the ship to get breakfast! The day is yours from here. Whether you want to participate in a dance class, attend a game show, lounge by the pool, or play some ping pong, those are all available options.
All mainstream cruise lines have itineraries or schedules for each day on your ship. There is almost always something to do. This eliminates the painstaking responsibility of planning your day and making a million decisions, just as we as teachers do all day at school.
If you are cruising on Royal Caribbean, for example, check out the Cruise Compass available on the ship's mobile app. Similarly, Carnival Cruise Line's cabin stewards leave a printed copy of the ship's Fun Times in your stateroom each night.
When it rolls around to dinner time, you can head back to your already-serviced cabin to get ready! There are many options for dinner, including the Main Dining Room, the buffet, and specialty restaurants, allowing you to pay for an elevated dining experience.
My favorite part of cruising is that after dinner you can decide what the night holds for you. You can have a casual evening in the casino, sing karaoke, attend a show in the ship's theater, or party all night at a deck party. No matter what mood you are in, there is a planned evening for you!
Everything is done for you on a cruise ship
Speaking of a serviced cabin, all the mundane tasks of our normal lives are done for you on a cruise ship. Whether making the bed or putting away your dishes, you do not have to lift a finger.
The first time I ate a meal on a cruise ship, my fiancée witnessed my confused face as I searched for a place to put my finished plate in the buffet. I was surprised when I learned that I could leave my plate on the table and a crew member would take care of the cleanup. This simple pleasure made the experience even better for me. As a teacher who cleans up messes all day, it was nice to have it taken care of for me.
Similar to hotels, your cabin attendants are there when your room needs a refresher. It was amazing not having to worry about the bathroom trash, making the bed, or any other tasks that are not considered very enjoyable.
Read more: Why you should get your cruise cabin serviced in the evening instead of the morning
Unlike hotels, your cabin attendants are much more accessible throughout your journey. On every cruise I have been on, the attendants have introduced themselves to us and provided us with contact information in case we needed anything like ice, extra hangers, towels, etc.
The atmosphere is what you make of it
If you are the type of person who loves the social aspect of teaching, a cruise is a perfect vacation for you. Every cruise I have been on, I have met multiple interesting people! If you want the option to be social with people, there are plenty of opportunities to make friends and connect with others from all over the world on the ship.
On the other hand, sometimes after being asked hundreds of questions and making a million decisions a day, we don’t want to talk to anyone. If this is your outlook, you can find relaxing spots on the ship to take the much-needed time to yourself. Listen to music, read a book, close your eyes in the hot tub, float in the pool, whatever you need to do to decompress.
The atmosphere on a cruise ship is what you want it to be. It will adapt to your needs. This is one of my favorite parts of cruising. Nothing that is planned is a necessity or mandatory. One minute you might want to go to a social game show or a game of trivia that stimulates the brain, and the next minute you might want to sit on the pool deck with headphones in and escape the world.
Read more: 19 things to do on a cruise that don't involve eating, drinking, or gambling
There are adult-only spaces on cruise ships
Sometimes, being in a room with 20-plus children, all with different personalities, can be very overstimulating. After those long days in the classroom, I just want an adult to talk to.
Every cruise ship I have been on has access to an adults-only area. Although we love our students, it is nice to have space to be a grown-up. For example, my fiancée and I spent most of our time in the enclosed Solarium while onboard Celebrity Ascent. It was a nice change to have a space where I had the freedom to worry about me, myself, and I.
These adult-only areas typically offer food and drink service, so you don’t have to leave your space to venture to the main pool deck. Let's face it, vacation is about decompressing, and decompressing without the responsibility of looking after anyone but ourselves is the main priority.
Read more: 13 Best Adult Cruise Lines
Bottom line
While cruising never was an option growing up, as a teacher, I was blown away at how affordable and convenient it can be. It has been my saving grace when I need a break from all the responsibilities that come with teaching.
If you’re looking to decompress during a break after dealing with the stresses of teaching, cruising is going to be your best option. Travel to multiple destinations, make the most out of your time off, and get the most for your hard-earned money!
Read more: 10 lessons learned after trying Carnival for the first time
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
