As a rite of passage, college students will often embark on a spring break vacation to celebrate the return of warm weather and the approaching summer vacation. While some students choose to visit the beach or a similar destination, some young undergrads opt for a college cruise to multiple warm weather locales. Though setting sail on a cruise is both exciting and relaxing, planning the trip requires must thought and preparation. Making it affordable is done through online deals and travel coupons.

Most spring break vacations last no more than nine days, usually beginning on a Saturday and ending the following Sunday. Students who set sail should avoid lengthy trips that last more than five to seven days. While most cruises fit this description, some, especially trans-Atlantic and Alaskan cruises, have itineraries that can span up to two weeks or more.

When booking a cruise, students should consider transportation time and expenses getting to and from the embarkation port. If the port is more than a few hours away, the trip may require an overnight stay both before and after the cruise, affecting the amount of time available at sea. Overnight stays also add to the overall expenditures of the trip, tacking on lodging, parking and additional meal costs. An online travel promotion code may lower some of the costs with package deals.

Students should also consider the destinations and reputation of the cruise line when they choose to sail. For example, college undergrads who want to spend spring break partying and participating in traditional spring break activities may want to avoid a ship with a particularly family-friendly reputation. Additionally, some destinations such as Cancun and Acapulco may have a denser population of vacationing spring break students than the quieter and more exclusive locations such as St. Thomas and St. Croix.

If the ship will be in port for more than a few hours, students may also be interested in the land excursions available at the port. Some ports offer ATV rentals and trails, guided tours, watercraft rentals and interactive activities with sea life, such as swimming with dolphins and stingrays. The cost of most of these excursions are not included in the cruise line's all-inclusive rate, so students should bring additional money for extra expenditures.

Finally, before leaving on the cruise, college students should check their passports to make sure they are not expired. Many international cruises require a current passport in order to enter the country by cruise. Passengers who fly to another country to embark from an international cruise port must also bring a valid passport. There are some exceptions, however, for "closed loop" cruises from the U.S. Passengers who sail from the U.S. to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean need not bring a passport. Closed loop passengers must instead bring photo identification and a certified birth certificate.