April is when most of the cruise ships that will spend the summer sailing in the Mediterranean or North Atlantic return to Europe. Springtime in the Mediterranean is pleasant, and you’ll miss the heat and crowds of summer.

Most of these sailings are a terrific cruise bargains too with per-day fares as low as $50 per person. Another benefit is that you’ll arrive in Europe rested and relaxed. After several days at sea, you’ll have adjusted to the new time zone with no jet lag, and you’ll be in great shape for sightseeing.

Azamara transatlantic repositioning cruises.

You may not have heard of Azamara Cruises, but their pedigree is first rate. The line was formed in 2007 by parent Royal Caribbean who took two cruise ships from their Celebrity brand, renovated them, and created Azamara. The line was created to provide affordable luxury to travelers interested in exotic destinations, exceptional service, and personal enrichment.

Azamara has on-board experts who offer classes on a variety of topics from photography to wine. Food is a little more ambitious than on most of the mainstream cruise lines, and a dinner in one of the alternative restaurants is included in the fare. Dining is all open seating.

Other nice extras include butler service, daily in-cabin fresh fruit and fresh flowers, flat-screen TVs, and luxury European bedding in all categories. Nearly three quarters of the staterooms have balconies. Suites are especially nice with whirlpool tubs, guest powder rooms, and two TVs.

Active travelers can take advantage of yoga and Pilates classes, as well as the gym, jogging track, and full-service spa.

The 710-passenger Azamara Journey sails from Miami on April 11, 2010 and spends a week crossing the Atlantic before arriving in Ponta Delgada, Portugal. After two more days at sea, she calls at Gibraltar, and Cartagena and Palma de Mallorca in Spain before disembarking passengers in Barcelona on April 25.

Celebrity transatlantic repositioning cruises.

Founded in 1989, Celebrity merged with Royal Caribbean in 1997. Since then, the line has become known for some of the best food at sea, professional service, and its roomy staterooms.

Celebrity has lots of special touches you won’t find on most other cruise ships, including passed hors d’oeuvres served in the lounges between midnight and 1AM, a world-class art collection, and Champagne and caviar bars. A popular feature on their Constellation is “A Taste of Cirque du Soleil,” an entertainment first at sea.

There’s plenty to do on sea days with a variety of enrichment programs, cooking demonstrations, and wine-tasting classes. And the AquaSpa pampers passengers with everything from body wraps to acupuncture treatments and Oriental Medicine rituals. Golfers can play some of the world’s most famous courses in the simulator.

With amenities like chilled Champagne, fresh fruit and flowers, evening canapés, and more comfortable balcony furniture, ConciergeClass staterooms are an affordable cross between cabins and suites. Upgrade to one if you can.

Celebrity Constellation is a Solstice-class ship that features unique amenities like a greenhouse conservatory, extensive facilities and programs for children, an Italian coffee house, a floral shop with classes in flower arranging, and a two-story library. She’s an elegant, sophisticated vessel that looks more like a Manhattan hotel than a cruise ship.

Passengers who want healthy dining choices will appreciate the Aquaspa Café and the Sushi Café.

Constellation Leaves Miami on April 11, 2010 and arrives in Le Havre, France after eight days at sea. From there, she calls at Dover, and Rotterdam before completing the voyage in Hamburg on April 24. Fares at press time were very reasonable.

The second of Celebrity’s Solstice-class vessels, Celebrity Equinox has eight distinctive dining venues serving a variety of cuisines, AquaClass staterooms that adjoin the AquaSpa, and wireless Internet access. The most unique features of the ship are the Lawn Club, where passengers can enjoy outdoor activities played on real grass, and the Corning Glass Museum glass-blowing demonstrations.

On April 19, 2010, Equinox leaves Fort Lauderdale en route to Ponta Delgada, Portgual. After a day at sea, she visits Lisbon, Cadiz, Barcelona, and Nice before arriving in Rome on May 3. The voyage calls at some of the most appealing ports in the Mediterranean and has a balance of sea days and port calls.

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