April means a full month of spring Royal Caribbean cruises to choose from, as well as the moving of ships back to Europe.
This article is an effort to share what you need to know about going on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the month of April, with important news, tips, and helpful information along the way.
Just like March, April is when many families look to enjoy a spring break cruise. That means higher demand for cruises in April through the Easter holiday, and higher guest counts more than likely.
Easter falls on April 17, 2022, which is usually the culmination of spring break demand. The last week and half of April could see less demand for cruises, since school will be back in session.
If you want to avoid crowds, look for a cruise in the last week of April.
Ships sailing in April 2022
- Freedom of the Seas from Miami, Florida
- Anthem of the Seas from Cape Liberty, New Jersey
- Odyssey of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Allure of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Symphony of the Seas from Miami, Florida
- Independence of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
- Harmony of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
- Mariner of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
- Oasis of the Seas from Miami, Florida
- Liberty of the Seas from Galveston, Texas
- Adventure of the Seas from Galveston, Texas
- Explorer of the Seas from San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Navigator of the Seas from Los Angeles, California
- Spectrum of the Seas from Singapore
- Grandeur of the Seas from Bridgetown, Barbados
- Brilliance of the Seas from Tampa, Florida
- Enchantment of the Seas from Baltimore, Maryland
- Jewel of the Seas from Miami, Florida
- Wonder of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Vision of the Seas from from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Radiance of the Seas from Los Angeles, California beginning April 23, 2022
- Serenade of the Seas from Los Angeles, California, beginning April 26, 2022
- Voyager of the Seas from Copenhagen, Denmark, beginning April 15, 2022
Three more Royal Caribbean cruise ships return to service in April.
Radiance of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas will start back up with a repositioning cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver so that they can be ready for the start of the Alaska cruise season in May.
Voyager of the Seas will sail from Barcelona to Copenhagen on April 15, and then begin regular service from Copenhagen in late April to kick off Royal Caribbean's European season.
At the end of April, only one Royal Caribbean cruise ship will remain out of service since the pandemic, which is Rhapsody of the Seas.
Transatlantic sailings
April is the time of year for many Royal Caribbean ships to leave the Caribbean waters and sail east to Europe.
Wonder of the Seas will bid adieu to her temporary home in Fort Lauderdale and sail to Barcelona, Spain on a 14-night transatlantic cruise on April 20th.
Here's a look at the other transatlantic crossings in April:
Brilliance of the Seas 14-Night Portugal & Spain Crossing to Rome: April 25, 2022- Jewel of the Seas 14-Night British Transatlantic to Amsterdam, Netherlands: April 29, 2022
- Odyssey of the Seas 14-Night Spanish Transatlantic to Rome, Italy: April 23, 2022
- Vision of the Seas 14 Night Transatlantic Cruise to Barcelona, Spain: April 29, 2022
Health protocols for April 2022 cruises
With Royal Caribbean ships sailing from many places other than the United States in April 2022, the exact protocols will vary somewhat, but the core requirements seem to be universal.
All Royal Caribbean guests age 12 and older must present proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with the final dose of their vaccine administered at least 14 days before sailing.
With the exception of the transatlantic crossings that do not allow anyone unvaccinated onboard, Royal Caribbean does not require kids younger than 12 to be vaccinated.
All crew members on every ship will be fully vaccinated.
Masks are optional for vaccinated passengers onboard its ships indoors.
Unvaccinated children are expected to wear masks indoors and in crowded settings. All children, regardless of vaccination status, will need to wear a mask in Adventure Ocean. Guests under 2 do not have to wear a mask at any time.
Covid testing requirements are nearly all the same, with the exception of transatlantic crossings.
Vaccinated guests must show a negative COVID-19 test result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 2 days before boarding day.
Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 11 must show a negative test result for a PCR test (not antigen) taken no more than 3 days before boarding day. This test cannot be taken on boarding day for unvaccinated kids.
Guests under 2 years of age do not need to complete a pre-cruise test.
Different protocols for some sailings
Be sure to refer to Royal Caribbean's requirements for your sailing, especially if you are on a transatlantic cruise, or sailing from somewhere outside of the continental United States, such as Puerto Rico or Barbados.
As an example, the transatlantic crossings require all passengers to be fully vaccinated, and only one day before the cruise to get a negative Covid test result.
It's important to double check the protocols on Royal Caribbean's website well before your embarkation day to ensure you are doing everything you need to be, in the right timeframe.
April weather on a cruise
Spring in the Caribbean means warm temperatures before the summer heat arrives in the region.
You'll find higher temperatures across the board, with it far less likely to be chilly during your cruise once in the Caribbean.
You will find warmer temperatures in places like The Bahamas, and if you take a Southern Caribbean cruise, expect average high temps to reach the low 90s.
April is the the end of the dry season in the Caribbean, so don't expect too much rain.
Just like in the Caribbean, expect warm temperatures in the Mexican Riviera, with high temperatures in the mid 80's to low 90's.
April weather in the Mexican Riviera is some of the best weather once you get to Mexico. April is the driest month of the entire year based on historical data from the Mexico Tourism Ministry.
Easter on a cruise
If your cruise sails over the Easter holiday, you can expect some special events onboard.
The exact activities will depend on the sailing, but in the past we've seen:
- Easter Sunday Catholic Mass
- Easter Word Search
- Easter Scrapbooking Workshop
- Family Easter Scavenger Hunt
In addition, Royal Caribbean has had special foods in the Windjammer and main dining room.
