April Cruise Deals

We travel to a range of destinations in April, including:

• The Canary Islands
• The Mediterranean
• Northern Europe
• Norwegian Fjords
• Spain and Portugal
• Western Europe

We have two dress codes in place to make your time on board that extra bit special. Here’s a useful guide so you know what to expect and you cand dress for any and all occasions.

During the day:  The dress code during the day is just your typical holiday wardrobe. Think t-shirts, shorts and sundresses (unless you’re heading to Northern Europe in winter!). Away from the pool, we ask for shoes to be worn and no pool wear in the ship’s lounges, inside bars, restaurants or reception. It may be chilly on deck and breezy in the evening (even in the tropics), so be sure to pack light layers. We’d also recommend flat shoes for strolling the decks.

Evening dress codes: We have two dress codes that apply in the evenings: Evening Casual and Black Tie. Nights where the dress code is Evening Casual, you can bring out your best shirt, dress and smart, dark denim. For nights where the dress code is Black Tie, make sure to pack your best tux, suit or cocktail dress.

There are some venues on each ship where dress codes don’t apply, so make sure to check your Horizon paper that’s delivered to your cabin each day to check where these are, as they vary ship by ship.

Dress codes for children: For those travelling on family-friendly ships, dress codes also don’t apply to children aged 17 and under. However, they can still dress to impress if they want to! 

In April, the northern hemisphere is in bloom; across the Netherlands bright tulips blossom in one of the largest natural gardens in the world. It’s even t-shirt weather in some Mediterranean shores! What’s more – in many of your favourite destinations, April tends to benefit from reduced crowds, giving you more room to roam. Plus, as a result of fewer travellers about, prices on shore are likely to be lower than in other months, too.

With an average temperature of 18°C in April, springtime in Spain almost feels like summer. You’ll want to pack for the rain, however, as the occasional shower is to be expected, and the evenings do get cool. We’d recommend bringing along:

• T-shirts
• Long-sleeved tops
• A light jumper and a jacket
• Casual shirt and trousers/skirt or dress (for some evenings on-board)
• A hat for sun protection
• Sunscreen with SPF
• Swimming costume/swim shorts
• Shorts
• Trousers
• Flip-flops or sandals
• A good book
• Walking shoes
• Your dinner jacket, cocktail dress or ballgown (for our Black Tie evening)

With plenty of sunshine and mild temperatures with average highs of nearly 20°C, you’ll want to pack reasonably light clothing. Since Lisbon in April attracts around 11 days of rainfall, however, you’ll want to pack for more than just t-shirt weather. We’d recommend making sure you bring along:

• Long-sleeved tops
• T-shirts
• A light jumper and a jacket
• Casual shirt and trousers/skirt or dress (for some evenings on-board)
• A hat for sun protection
• Sunscreen with SPF
• Swimming costume/swim shorts
• Shorts
• Trousers
• Flip-flops or sandals
• A good book
• Walking shoes
• Your dinner jacket, cocktail dress or ballgown (for our Black Tie evening)

By April, winter’s icy chill is thawing in the Norwegian Fjords but it’s not gone completely. With the highest average temperature of the fjords, Olden can reach highs of 13°C and chillier lows of 2°C, with nine days of rainfall for the month. Dropping to lows of 3°C and with eleven days of rain, Haugesund reaches respectable highs of 10°C; Kristiansand has the same highs, and dips to average lows of 1°C and averages eight days of rain for the month of January. Nordfjord and Stavanger experience identical highs of 10°C and lows of 4°C, though the latter experiences two days more rainfall than the former at twelve days total for the month. The coldest of the bunch – though not by much – is Ålesund, with average lows of 3°C and highs of 8°C, plus 12 days of rain.

In the throes of spring, Western Europe in April is bursting with verdant hues, fresh breezes and a smattering of sunny showers. Bruges reaches average highs of 11°C and lows of 6°C, with nine days of rainfall. St Peter Port gets a tad warmer, with average highs of 12°C and lows of 7°C, and a day fewer of rain at a total of eight for the month.

In April, Portugal ranges from mild temperatures to summer-like warmth. Lisbon features the highest average temperature, with lows of 12°C and highs reaching 20°C, plus a week’s worth of rainfall. With highs a couple of degrees lower than Lisbon, Porto can dip down to 9°C, with nine days of rainfall. Praia da Vitória attracts the most rain with two weeks’ worth of it, though it makes up for it with average highs of 18°C and lows that fall only to 13°C. Ponta Delgada reaches 18°C in April with lows averaging 12°C and nine days of rain, while Madeira climbs to temperate highs of 13°C, has lows of 7°C, and experiences eight days of rain for the month.

The weather in April in Northern Europe tends to be quite brisk, although it can stray into milder territory. In Rotterdam, average highs reach 14°C while lows drop to 4°C, with just over a week’s worth of rainfall for April at eight days in total. In Cherbourg, the average highs are slightly lower at 13°C although lows only drop to 8°C, with the same amount of rain. Hamburg and Bruges both experience nine days of rain during the month and similar lows and highs: Hamburg at 5°C and 9°C respectively, and Bruges at 11°C and 6°C.

Over the Easter period, you can travel with us to a number of destinations. Here’s where we normally travel:

• Norway – on exclusively-for-adults Aurora
• The Mediterranean – on Azura
• Northern Europe – on Iona
• Spain and Portugal – on Ventura

Pleasantly sunny and warm almost all year round, in April the Canary Islands are no different. Because of this, we’d recommend packing:

• Swimming costume/swim shorts
• Sunscreen with SPF
• Sunglasses
• A hat for sun protection
• Casual shirt and trousers/skirt or dress (for some evenings on-board)
• Cover-up or similar, e.g., canvas trousers and loose-fitting tops (dark or bright colours are better at absorbing UV rays)
• Shorts
• A light jumper
• A pair of trousers
• T-shirts
• Flip-flops or sandals
• A good book
• Walking shoes
• Your dinner jacket, cocktail dress or ballgown (for our Black Tie evening)

Though it’s technically spring in the Norwegian Fjords during April, temperatures are variable and can drop to nearly freezing. Because of this, you’ll want to make sure you pack everything you need to stay toasty while you explore one of the world’s most scenic regions. We’d recommend packing:

• Layers
• Jumpers
• Long-sleeved tops
• Casual shirt and trousers/skirt or dress (for some evenings on-board)
• Waterproof or water-resistant trousers
• Sunscreen and lip-balm with SPF (if travelling to a snowy region)
• Salopettes, goggles and sunglasses (if travelling to a snowy region)
• Winter jacket
• Thermals
• Boots
• Winter accessories, e.g., scarves, hats and gloves
• Your dinner jacket, cocktail dress or ballgown (for our Black Tie evening)

Sunny and warm in springtime, a cruise holiday to the Med will give you a taste of the upcoming summer ahead – and in some regions you won’t even be able to tell the difference. We’d therefore recommend packing:

• T-shirts
• Long-sleeved tops
• A light jumper and a jacket
• Casual shirt and trousers/skirt or dress (for some evenings on-board)
• Cover-up or similar, e.g., canvas trousers and loose-fitting tops (dark or bright colours are better at absorbing UV rays)
• A hat for sun protection
• Sunscreen with SPF
• Swimming costume/swim shorts
• Shorts
• Trousers
• Flip-flops or sandals
• A good book
• Walking shoes
• Your dinner jacket, cocktail dress or ballgown (for our Black Tie evening)

Temperate but changeable with sunny showers aplenty, you’ll want your luggage to cover your bases. We’d recommend packing:

• Long-sleeved tops
• A light jumper and jacket
• A coat
• Casual shirt and trousers/skirt or dress (for some evenings on-board)
• A hat for sun protection
• Sunscreen with SPF
• Swimming costume/swim shorts
• Trousers
• Flip-flops or sandals
• A good book
• Walking shoes
• Toiletries
• Your dinner jacket, cocktail dress or ballgown (for our Black Tie evening)

While temperatures are starting to warm over Northern Europe in April, the wind can still pack a bite and the weather can vary dramatically between regions. Because of this, we’d recommend tailoring what you pack for your holiday based on the following list:

• Layers
• Jumpers
• Long-sleeved tops
• Waterproof or water-resistant trousers
• Casual shirt and trousers/skirt or dress (for some evenings on-board)
• Sunscreen and lip-balm with SPF (if travelling to a snowy region)
• Salopettes, goggles and sunglasses (if travelling to a snowy region)
• Winter jacket
• Thermals
• Boots
• Winter accessories, e.g., scarves, hats and gloves
• Your dinner jacket, cocktail dress or ballgown (for our Black Tie evening)

In April, the Med is firmly making the transition to summertime, though in some regions it feels like it’s already there. In Spain, highs average 20°C while the lows can dip to a cool 11°C, and April experiences about a week’s worth of rainfall. With the same variation in temperature, Turkey clocks in with only three days of rainfall for the month. With five days of rainfall for April, Gibraltar has warm highs of 20°C and lows of 13°C. Greece gets just as warm with as few days of rainfall, and dips to average lows of 12°C, as does Malta but with only three days of rain predicted for the month. With nearly two weeks of rainfall, Montenegro experiences average highs of 19°C in April and lows of 8°C, while Italy expects a week’s worth of rain, 19°C highs and lows of 11°C.