Senior class trips are a great way to celebrate the end of your long career as a student – you know, before you begin a shorter career as one. High school is a wonderful accomplishment, and you should celebrate how far we’ve come, how hard you worked, and how well you and your friends have stuck together. It’s the beginning of great things as well – endless possibilities and exciting goals. It’s good to get away together to be thankful, to celebrate and relax, and also to look forward.

Hopefully you’re familiar with educational travel through your school. Field trips add such a great dimension to learning, and there are tons of great places out there for this theme. But senior class trips tend to be more celebratory in nature. You know – more Splash Mountain, less Epcot. Here are five great destinations for that kind of trip . They’re fun and exciting, and they’re proven as a great choice for students.

1. L.A. is always a thrilling idea for students. Hollywood has made Los Angeles an exciting place for the film industry. Students love the idea of touring the Hollywood Walk of Fame, standing on the grand staircase at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, and maybe even glimpsing some real live celebrities.

The Kodak Theatre is a new classic in Hollywood. It’s the permanent home for the Annual Academy Awards. But perhaps even more relevant to this age group – the American Idol finale also films there. There are museums with Hollywood memorabilia and, of course, the Hollywood sign itself for great photo opportunity.

You can’t beat L.A. for its weather. It’s gorgeous almost year-round and very near the beach. There are also a lot of great amusement parks in the area, including Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, and Disneyland. Los Angeles would be a fun choice for any senior class.

And speaking of Beaches . . .

2. Virginia Beach is one of the best beaches in the country with its three mile boardwalk offering public access to the sand and surf and places to rinse off afterward. The beach is perfect for everyone’s favorite water sports and seaside activities. There is also an amusement park with a few thrill rides, including a sky-high fling-and-spin sensation called Skyscraper.

Virginia Beach also has a great park called Motor World devoted to auto racing that includes miniature golf and paintball courses. Busch Gardens is one of the best amusement park franchises in the U.S., and you’ll find its Europe-themed park nearby. And there’s a great shopping center as well as a mystery dinner playhouse. There are all kinds of wildlife facilities and nautical/maritime museums too. But who wants to go to a museum on their senior class trip? There’s no roller coaster there!

3. What about a cruise? A cruise offers many destinations, but you only have to unpack once. Plus, the mode of transportation is an entire vacation in and of itself. Swimming, surfing, rock climbing. Entertainment and dance clubs – sometimes even specific to youth. A cruise would be highly motivating for the fundraisers too. Think Royal Caribbean theme nights with talent shows made to imitate cruise-line entertainment.

4. Can you say aloha? Of course, a trip to Hawaii is for the seniors who had the foresight to be saving for a few years. But the thrill of this trip will be worth it. The Hawaiian islands have vibrant colors, landscapes that will take your breath away, and waterfalls to discover. There are so many beaches there, students could spend their time just exploring those. Still, Hawaii is packed full of activities as well.

Hawaii is perfect for groups that want a little adventure with their fun. It offers snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities, helicopter rides and mountain hiking. You can even swim with dolphins or explore Diamond Head. Pearl Harbor Memorial is a must for Hawaii student tours where they can see The USS Missouri docked toward the place where the USS Arizona rests underwater.

Hawaii as a graduation trip – can you think of anywhere more amazing?

5. And we can’t forget Orlando. The Disney theme parks were designed for the kid in all of us, and they have an entire night just for graduates. Disney Grad Nite provides the perfect party with rides open late, entertainment, music and dancing. The Disney parks have so many attractions, a group could never see them all on one trip. But Orlando isn’t only Disney, also showcasing the Universal Studios parks, Sea World, and – of course – beaches.

If you’re looking for exciting and popular, one of these five destinations might be just the ticket. Maybe in another post we’ll stretch our imagination and help you discover the most unique choices for graduation trips. Just remember, the ultimate goal is to celebrate with your friends – and you can do that anywhere.

I don’t know about where you live, but in the midwest lately, it’s felt like autumn in July. And autumn brings with it the start of a new school year, which for seniors can mean many things, including the planning of that all-important final celebration known as the senior class trip.

If you’re checking out our blog, you may be looking into ideas already. Perhaps you’re on the committee or just thinking more about how to leave school with a bang than the fact that you’ve got one more year in it. Either way, we’re stuffed full of ideas for senior class trips around here, and today I want to open your ideas to the possibility of taking your crew on the water. 

Of course, one of the greatest things about a cruise is that it’s not just on the water. The ports are one of the best parts. You’ve probably had a guided tour through a museum – well, consider your cruise a guided tour through the ocean. 

We can help you book student cruises  to Belize, the Bahamas or Jamaica, Cancun and the beautiful island of Cozumel, and of course many, many more. If you’ve got a good-sized group, a cruise can be extremely cost-effective considering all that you’ll receive from it. 

So take a look at student cruises for your graduation trip. It will definitely be the most memorable part of your year.