March Cruise Deals

You’ve a number of options when it comes to booking your springtime getaway for March. For scenic landscapes and steady sunshine, why not give a Canary Islands holiday a go? Or if you don’t mind going a little further from home and your mind’s another season away, consider a Caribbean cruise holiday for an early taste of summer. If you enjoy temperatures on the brisker side of the spectrum, then our March Norway holiday might be just the thing for you, as during that time period lows can reach around a little over -2°C although they can creep up to just over 3°C. Likewise our Western Europe holidays in March will present with variable weather rather than warm temperatures, while in Spain and Portugal climes tend to be pleasantly mild.

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! 

A March cruise holiday’s a great option for several reasons. If you love sunlight but melt in hot weather, you can enjoy postcard prettiness in your chosen destinations as springtime’s in full swing –  and the weather makes for the perfect backdrop to outdoor adventures. Spring months also tend to mean reduced crowds, which is great if you prefer a quieter, more intimate atmosphere – plus, as a result of fewer people around, on-shore prices may be lower than in other months.

It’s technically spring in Norway during March, but temperatures do regularly drop below freezing. Naturally, you’ll want to make sure you pack everything you need to stay warm. We’d recommend making sure you bring along:

• Layers
• Jumpers
• Long-sleeved tops
• 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)

As Spain is pleasantly temperate in March, you’ll want to bring mainly light clothing items with a few heavier garments for the cooler evenings. We’d recommend packing:

• T-shirts
• Long-sleeved tops
• A light jumper and jacket
• 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)

While winter is on its way out in Norway during March, it’s still very cold and regularly drops below freezing. Of the regions we visit during this time period, Åndalsnes is among the warmest, with average highs of 5°C and lows reaching -1°C, plus ten days of rainfall, and you can expect this sort of weather in Romsdalsfjord too. Slightly warmer on average is Stavanger, which can climb to the almost temperate 6°C and lows only slightly above freezing at 1°C. In Narvik, the highs average 2°C and can creep down to -3°C, and there’s a little less rainfall of eight days for the month. Alta is among the chilliest, with highs averaging a little below freezing at -1°C and the lows at -8°C. In Tromsø, the highs average just above zero at 1°C while the lows can reach -4°C.

The weather in Spain during March is pleasant and mild pretty much across the whole region. With highs averaging 20°C and lows of 8°C, Alicante only experiences two days of rain in March. Cartagena is similarly warm, dipping down to lows of only 10°C though considerably more rainfall totalling eleven days. Not far behind is Malaga, with temperatures reaching 19°C and lows of 9°C, plus four days of rain for the month. Cádiz can creep up to 18°C on average and hit temperate lows of 12°C and a mere five days of rainfall, while Barcelona can grow as warm as 17°C with average lows of 10°C and a handful of rainfall days totalling five. With more than double the days of rainfall at twelve in the month of March, Vigo can reach respectable highs of 17°C although things can dip down to 8°C, and La Coruña reaches highs of 15°C, lows of 9°C and a day fewer of rainfall.

In March, the weather in Portugal is all springtime sunshine with a splash of summer. In Lisbon, the average highs can climb to 18°C while the lows stay a reasonably mild 10°C, plus there’s only six days of rainfall. With double the amount of rainfall for the month of March, Ponta Delgada makes up for it with only slightly less warm weather on average, with lows of only 12°C and highs that can reach 17°C. In Madeira, the highs reach an average of 12°C while the lows can creep down to 6°C, plus nine days of rainfall for the month.

Pleasantly sunny and warm almost all year round, in March 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
• 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)
  
  

Wonderfully warm, both day and night, your March cruise holiday to the Caribbean will give you a delightful taste of the summer lying ahead. Because of the heat, we’d recommend packing lightly with an emphasis on protective gear against the sun. Here’s what we’d suggest:

• Swimming costume/swim shorts
• Sunscreen with SPF
• Sunglasses
• A hat for sun protection
• Shorts
• A light jumper
• T-shirts
• Flip-flops or sandals
• A good book
• Walking shoes
• Your dinner jacket, cocktail dress or ballgown (for our Black Tie evening)

When packing for your cruise holiday to Western Europe in March, remember that the weather in this corner of the world is likely to be highly variable. We’d recommend bringing along:

• Layers
• Jumpers
• Long-sleeved tops
• Waterproof or water-resistant trousers
• Sunglasses and sunscreen with SPF
• Winter jacket
• Thermals
• Boots
• Winter accessories, e.g., scarves, hats and gloves
• Your dinner jacket, cocktail dress or ballgown (for our Black Tie evening)

The weather in Portugal during March is steadily temperate, though you’ll want to make sure your luggage covers all the bases in case things get a bit chilly. We’d recommend making sure you pack:

• Long-sleeved tops
• A light jumper and jacket
• A coat
• 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)
  
  

In March, the Caribbean benefits from gorgeous hot weather and blue skies reminiscent of summertime pretty much on all of its islands. Curaçao and Aruba share identical average highs of 31°C and lows of 25°C, though the latter has a day more of rainfall during the month of March totalling three days. Similarly, Grenada can grow as warm as 30°C and only strays down to average lows of 23°C, as does St Lucia, although Grenada is host to ten days of rainfall while St Lucia experiences a little more at a total of thirteen days. With three fewer days of rainfall, Barbados still benefits from highs of 29°C and lows of 23°C, as does St Maarten although with ten days of rainfall. The same highs apply to St Kitts and St Vincent during March, although the former can dip down to 22°C and has a rainfall of thirteen days, while the latter averages lows of 24°C and slightly less rainfall at twelve for the month of January. In Antigua, expect highs of around 28°C and lows of 22°C with seven days of rainfall, while Grand Turk is just as warm with an average low of 23°C and ten days of rain. Tortola experiences a little less rain for the month at eight days in total, highs of 28°C and average lows of 20°C.