March is two different cruise months. Spring-break weeks fill Caribbean ships with families and push fares up; the rest of the month is shoulder season with some of spring's best value. Timing within the month matters more than the destination list.
Japan: cherry blossom season opens
Late March into early April is Japan's most-wanted cruise window: blossom reaches Tokyo and Kyoto, days run 12–18°C, and ships sell out months ahead. Japan's official tourism board publishes the season's blossom forecast from late January — track it as your sailing approaches, because bloom week moves by days, not weeks. Ten-night fares run $1,200–2,000 per person, higher over peak bloom. Pair with the Tokyo to Osaka route, and see what two weeks in Japan costs if you add land days.
Caribbean: ride the post-break dip
Weather stays excellent — 26–29°C, dry, calm seas. The trick is the calendar: spring-break weeks spike to $700–1,000 for seven nights, while early and late March drop back to $550–850. Eastern Caribbean routes have the easiest flights.
Mediterranean: cheapest month of the season
Early-season Mediterranean is cool — 14–18°C, some rain, shorter days — but ships are uncrowded and fares are the year's lowest at $700–1,200 for seven nights. Choose it for ports and museums, not beaches; Athens, Rome and Barcelona are walkable without summer's queues.
Panama Canal: last dry weeks
March closes the Canal's dry season: still clear and manageable humidity before April's rains build. Full transits run $1,800–3,000 for 14–16 nights. The Panama Canal transit guide covers formats; the Canal and Central America route is the full-transit benchmark.
Canary Islands: warming spring
The Canaries edge toward 20–23°C with long sunny days and lighter crowds than Easter. Fares hold at $700–1,100 for the week. The Canaries and Morocco route adds Agadir and Casablanca; what a Canaries cruise costs breaks down the budget.
The five-minute version
- Japan: blossom window opens late March, $1,200–2,000, book months ahead.
- Caribbean: $550–850 outside spring break; avoid break weeks at $700–1,000.
- Mediterranean: cheapest month, $700–1,200, cool and uncrowded.
- Panama Canal: last dry weeks, $1,800–3,000 full transit.
- Canaries: 20–23°C, $700–1,100, calm before Easter.