April Cruises – Easter & Springtime Sailings

Why April Is One of the Best Months to Cruise

April sits at the sweet spot of the cruise calendar: the Mediterranean is open and uncrowded, the Caribbean is still well into season, and transatlantic crossings get under way as ships reposition for the European summer. Sailings range from short 4-night breaks to extended voyages of 37 nights, with a median of around 10 nights — long enough to cover real ground, short enough to suit a fortnight’s holiday. Whether you want a quick Easter break or a proper spring adventure, there’s a shape of sailing here to match.

Where Do April Cruises Go?

The cruises sailing in April cover an unusually wide spread of the world. The western Mediterranean leads the way, followed by the Caribbean, transatlantic crossings, Japan, the broader Mediterranean, and Central America — and that’s before you get to the West Coast of the USA, Southeast Asia and Polynesia. Here’s how each part of the world looks in April.

Southern Europe and the Mediterranean

The western Mediterranean is the single busiest region in April, and it’s easy to see why. Ships sail from Rome (Civitavecchia) and Mediterranean ports, visiting the coastlines and islands that fill up later in summer. If you’ve always wanted to explore the Med without the August crowds, April is a well-timed choice. You can also look at 7-night Mediterranean cruises as a classic starting point — a week gives you a good sweep of the region. For dedicated Mediterranean sailings in 2027, the Mediterranean cruises 2027 page has everything in one place.

The Caribbean

The Caribbean is the second most popular April destination, with sailings departing from Florida ports. Miami is the main embarkation hub — worth noting that Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) is about half an hour away, so a Florida trip can sail from either; it’s worth checking both for dates and prices. Port Canaveral is another Florida option. If you’re combining your Caribbean cruise with time in New York, the Caribbean 2027 cruises with New York stays page covers exactly that kind of package.

Transatlantic Crossings

April is peak season for transatlantic repositioning sailings, as ships move from the Americas to Europe ahead of the summer. These are typically one-way itineraries — you’ll need a flight home from your disembarkation port — but they offer some of the most rewarding sea days of the year and often represent strong value. We can book the return flight and any hotels either side as part of a Cruise1st Package, so it needn’t be complicated.

Japan

April brings a solid range of Japan cruises, with Tokyo among the ports of call. These are fly-cruise sailings — we can arrange flights, transfers and pre- or post-cruise hotels as part of your booking. Japan in April is a popular choice and these sailings do fill up, so it pays to plan ahead.

Central America, the West Coast and Beyond

Sailings through Central America and along the Los Angeles-anchored West Coast USA routes give a different kind of April itinerary — longer, often one-way, and suited to travellers who want a genuinely different cruising experience. Southeast Asia and Polynesia also appear in April, for those chasing something more unusual. Vancouver, British Columbia features as a disembarkation port for West Coast sailings.

Round Britain and No-Fly Sailings

A small share of April sailings depart from UK ports — including Southampton — meaning no flight is needed at all. Most of Britain can reach Southampton by road or rail, which makes these genuinely accessible. If you’re looking specifically at sailings from home, the cruises from Southampton page and cruises from the UK hub are the best places to browse. Bear in mind that on a one-way sailing ending abroad, you’ll need a flight home — we can sort that for you.

Easter Cruises in April 2027

Easter 2027 falls in April, making this one of the busiest booking periods of the year. If you’re planning an Easter cruise in 2027, getting in early gives you the best choice of ships, cabin grades and departure dates. Easter cruises from Southampton are a popular option for those who’d rather not fly — you can be aboard and at sea on Good Friday, with no airport queue in sight. Southampton sailings in April also pair well with a pre-cruise hotel night; we can add that to your booking.

Which Cruise Lines Sail in April 2027?

MSC Cruises has the widest choice of April sailings, followed by Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, AmaWaterways and Princess Cruises. Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America Line also have April departures. It’s worth noting that AmaWaterways specialises in river cruising — if you’re looking for an ocean sailing, filter for ocean cruise lines when you search.

Ships to Know for April 2027

Several ships stand out for April sailings, from established favourites to a brand-new arrival.

MSC World Asia — New for 2027

MSC World Asia launched in December 2026, making it one of the newest ships you can sail on in April 2027. At 215,863 GT it is among the largest cruise ships ever built. The ship’s design takes clear inspiration from Asian culture: a 12-metre floating dragon sculpture sits at the heart of the World Promenade, and an 81-metre spiral slide drops across 12 decks. Out on The Harbour outdoor theme park, there’s a Cliffhanger swing 50 metres above the ocean, free-fall waterslides and 7 pools. If you’re choosing a cabin, the MSC World Asia cabins and deck plans page is the place to start.

MSC World Asia Cabin Grades

• Deluxe Inside Cabin Fantastica — 15 m², sleeps 4. Around 50% more floor space than a standard inside cabin, with noticeably more room to move around.
• Infinite Ocean View Fantastica — 20 m², sleeps 4. A windowed cabin at 20 m², twice the size of standard ocean-view grades.
• Balcony Aurea — 17 m², sleeps 4. A private balcony with direct access to fresh air and sea views that inside-cabin guests don’t get.
• Grand Suite Aurea — 35 m², sleeps 4. About 40% larger than standard suites, with a separate seating area.
• MSC Yacht Club Owner’s Suite — 104 m², sleeps 4. The largest suite on the ship — almost twice as spacious as other Yacht Club suites.

MSC World Europa

MSC World Europa (215,863 GT, launched 2022) is MSC’s largest ship and shares the World-class scale with MSC World Asia. The headline feature for thrill-seekers is the Venom Drop @ The Spiral — an 11-deck stainless steel dry slide that is the longest of its kind at sea. Chef Niklas Ekstedt’s Chef’s Garden Kitchen brings a named-chef dining experience, and the Luna Park Arena adds dodgems and Guinness World Records live events. See the MSC World Europa cabins and deck plans for stateroom options.

MSC Musica

MSC Musica is a 294-metre Musica-class ship that was renovated in 2024 — so you get the elegance of the original design refreshed for today. The three-tiered waterfall atrium sets the tone, and the 1,200-seat La Scala Theatre hosts Broadway-style productions featuring song, dance and acrobatics nightly. For dining, the Kaito Sushi Bar and the Butcher’s Cut steakhouse (arriving November 2026) sit alongside the exclusive MSC Yacht Club for those who want a ship-within-a-ship experience. Browse the MSC Musica cabins and deck plans before you choose.

MSC Musica Cabin Grades

• Inside cabin Bella I1 — 14 m², sleeps 4. A solid entry-level option, 4 m² larger than the smallest inside cabins on the ship.
• Ocean-view cabin Bella O1 — 16 m², sleeps 4. A partially obstructed view (lifeboats in the sightline) at a lower price than an unobstructed ocean-view grade.
• Aurea Suite S3 — 28 m², sleeps 5. Balcony suite, the largest in this selection, with 2 m² more than the next grade down.
• Super Family Balcony FLA — 40 m², sleeps 4. More than twice the size of a standard balcony cabin — the practical choice for families or longer sailings.
• MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite — 47 m², sleeps 4. A full suite with separate living area and dining room, more than twice the size of a standard Yacht Club suite.

Costa Smeralda

Costa Smeralda is home to the world’s first Frescobaldi wine restaurant at sea — the Osteria Frescobaldi, a genuine one-of-a-kind dining experience. The 4,500 m² Solemio Spa includes a rare snow grotto, and the Colosseo Theatre spans three decks for evening shows. The ship also has a Food Lab cookery school for guests who’d rather learn to cook than watch. See Costa Smeralda cabins and deck plans for stateroom details.

Costa Smeralda Cabin Grades

• Inside cabin I1 — 10 m², sleeps 4. The most affordable entry point, well suited to guests who plan to spend most of their time exploring the ship or ashore.
• Ocean-view cabin with sea view E1 — 17 m², sleeps 4. Natural daylight and a changing sea view from your bed, without the extra cost of a balcony.
• Balcony cabin with sea view B1 — 14 m², sleeps 4. The only balcony cabin exclusively on Deck 5 — a lower, more stable position with less motion.
• Grand Suite GS — 33 m², sleeps 4. Spacious suite, considerably larger than the 28 m² standard suites on board.

MSC Euribia and Others

MSC Sinfonia is worth a mention for families: its Lirica-class size of 65,542 GT means it can enter smaller harbours that the giant World-class ships cannot reach, while still carrying a top-deck water park, the Teatro San Carlo for evening shows, and dedicated LEGO and Chicco children’s zones. MSC Euribia, MSC Virtuosa, MSC Fantasia, Costa Diadema and Sun Princess all have April sailings too. Costa Diadema is notable for its Samsara Spa — at 6,200 m² across four decks it is the largest spa in the Costa fleet — and its Archipelago restaurant curated by three Michelin-starred chefs.

What Do April Cruise Fares Include?

What your fare covers depends on the cruise line and the fare tier you choose. Here’s a quick guide to the main lines sailing in April:

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean offers several fare types. The standard Cruise Fare covers the sailing itself, with dining, entertainment and pools included but drinks and speciality dining extra. Fare types such as early booking bonuses, last-minute fares and solo-traveller options are also available on select April sailings — our expert advice team can talk you through what’s on offer when you call.

Costa Cruises

Costa Cruises has a clear tiered structure. The All Inclusive fare covers full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks), unlimited premium drinks via the My Drinks Plus package, entertainment, a reserved dining table and use of pools. The Comfort Plus tier adds 24-hour room service. A base fare (Flash or Last Minute) covers full board and entertainment but excludes drinks — you can add a package after booking.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises offers two main tiers for April 2027. Princess Standard is the base fare — the cruise itself, with packages available to add. Princess Plus includes 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to $15 each (up to 15 drinks per day), MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photographs plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating. If you want everything laid on, Princess Plus is the one to look at. For 2027 Southampton sailings specifically, see Princess Cruises 2027 from Southampton.

Sailing from Southampton in April

Southampton is the key UK departure port for April, with sailings to England coastal routes and further afield. If you’re based anywhere in England, most of Britain can reach Southampton by road or rail without needing to fly. For those who want the full no-fly experience, cruises from Southampton covers the full range of departures. World cruise sailings also leave from Southampton — see world cruises 2027 from Southampton if an extended voyage appeals. P&O also sails from Southampton in 2027: P&O cruises 2027 from Southampton has those options listed.

Make It a Full Holiday

Most April cruises involve a flight — to Florida, to the Mediterranean, to Japan or beyond. Cruise1st can arrange the whole trip: flights out, transfers to the port, hotels either side, and the cruise itself, all on one booking. If you’d rather leave the piecing-together to someone who does this every day, that’s exactly what our team is there for. A Cruise1st Package brings it all together, and you have one point of contact if anything needs to change.

Spring Cruises and Other Months

April sits at the heart of the spring cruise season. If your dates are flexible, it’s worth looking at March cruises and May cruises alongside April — the destinations overlap significantly and you may find more availability or a better-priced sailing by moving a week or two in either direction. May cruises from Southampton is a good starting point if you want a UK departure a little later in spring. For the broader picture, the spring cruises page covers the whole season in one place.