On entering the airport area, turn on your US data SIM card or connect to the free wifi.  

At customs, be prepared for questions like these:

What is the purpose of your trip, how many days will you spend in the U.S., what places will you visit, where are you working and what are you doing, how much cash are you taking with you.

Then pick up the car as instructed. 

The promenade was made for a walk to compare the time shift. There are plenty of refreshment options along the promenade and you can even surf on the artificial wave.

Sports matches are inherent to America. If you are travelling during the winter season, we recommend attending a game of the 2023/2024 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers hockey team. Tickets can be purchased on the TicketMaster website. The average ticket price is around $50 and we recommend purchasing your tickets in advance. Free parking is available at Sawgrass Mills Shopping Center.

If you are in Miami during the off-hockey season, you can also watch a Miami FC soccer game featuring Lionel Messi, a Miami Heat basketball game, or an American football game at Miami Dolphins Stadium.

After the morning rush hour, head to South Beach to fish for bronze. Park a few blocks directly off the famous Ocean Dr, which is lined with Art Deco style homes. Parking is based on $3 per hour and you pay at a parking meter. Grab lunch at the classic American restaurant Big Pink or admire the toned bodies of local musclemen in the shade of a palm tree in Lummus Park.

Wynwood is a street art district that is most famous for the graffiti in the Wynwood Walls Museum's outdoor exhibit. For parking, use the public lot a few blocks from the Wynwood walls. Pay for parking by scanning the QR code located in the parking area. Tickets for Wynwood walls can be purchased at the ticket machine right at the entrance to the exhibit. No advance reservations are required. A visit to the exhibition without an organised tour will take approximately 1 hour

In the afternoon, take a stroll in Cuba's Little Havana district. Park for free at a McDonalds restaurant and stroll Calle Ocho from the Tower Theater to Cuban Memorial Boulevard Park, with its memorial to the fallen soldiers of the Bay of Pigs invasion.

8th Street, or Calle Ocho, resembles the Walk of Fame in Holywood. Here, however, the stars on the sidewalk are exclusively Latino celebrities. Along the way, you can peek into traditional Cuban food shops, cigar factories, and even the tables of the famous Domino Park, where Cuban grandfathers play their much-loved game of dominoes. Afterwards, cool off with a traditional Cuban ice cream at Azucar Ice Cream, just across the street from the Tower Theater.

Meet dolphins at the Dolphin Plus Marine Mammal Responder in Key Largo, a rescue and research station exploring dolphin life. This is a truly unique experience where keepers will first introduce you to dolphin life and behavior both in the wild and in captivity. If you want to get up close and personal with the dolphins, book one of the dolphin encounter packages in advance, either in the water or on the water platform where keepers will allow you to interact directly with these amazing mammals. 

Buy a takeaway or dine in at John Pennekamp Camp Area, a recreational park lined with mangroves. Check out the local underwater life at the Visitor Centre or take a refreshing dip in the sea at Cannon Beach. Park admission is approximately $10 per car and 4 visitors.

On your return from Key Largo, stop by Everglades Alligator Farm where your kids will have the unforgettable experience of holding a baby alligator at one of two shows. In addition to alligators, the farm offers several other species of animals to see, such as parrots, turtles, snakes, etc. If you've experienced a little adrenaline rush, you can also take a ride around the local wetlands in an airboat - a watercraft powered by a giant motorized fan. Advance reservations are not required.

From your accommodation, head to Fort Lauderdale Airport to return your car. Then take a taxi to Port Everglades. The ride to the port takes about 10 minutes and will cost you approximately $16.

On arrival at the terminal, attach tags to large bags and hand them over to the porters free of charge. Keep your hand luggage with you.

Enter the terminal lobby, where you will go through the check-in process. Prepare for security screening and document check - passports, ESTA and online check-in confirmation.

Each person in the cabin will receive a card that serves as your room card, your ID card upon embarkation and disembarkation, but also as a payment card on board as it is linked to the credit card from your reservation. Only this card is used to pay on board.

After embarkation, you will receive in-app evacuation training, which will conclude with a visit to the muster station - the assembly point where you will move to in the event of an evacuation. Follow the instructions in your app or on the radio.

Your stateroom will not be immediately available after embarkation as cleanup is still underway. Cabins are usually not available until after 2pm. Have lunch in the buffet restaurant or start your ship tour. Towels are available for loan at the pool.

Once your cabin is available, your checked luggage will probably not yet be available. These will be delivered to you in the hallway outside your room during the afternoon.

You will meet your maid who will clean your cabin regularly during your stay. Agree with him/her what time of the day you would like to be cleaned. If you have a cabin for 4 people, the sofa will be laid out for you or the beds, which are built into the ceiling, will be opened by the maid. Once your suitcases arrive, unpack and store them under the bed.

The ship leaves port at 4pm so be sure to head up to the upper deck to properly enjoy the departure.

Arrival 8:00
Departure: 18:00

The cruise ship terminal on St. Martin is uniquely situated as it is in close proximity to the capital of the Dutch side of the island, Philipsburg. From the harbour to the town centre is a 10-minute walk along the main road.

Minivan buses leave for Maho beach every 10-20 minutes from the Emmaplein bus station (on the corner with Front street), which is a 5 minute walk from the harbour pier. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes. Get on the buses marked "Maho" or "Cupecoy". Tell the driver you want to leave the bus at Maho Beach. The minivan will then stop at the Royal Islander Club resort.

Maho Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world because it is located at the end of the runway of Princess Juliana International Airport. The experience is not only the planes landing over your heads, but also the planes taking off from the runway, scattering the sand on the runway into the surrounding area. So expect it to be crowded, but yes, it's worth it. Plus, the sea is a stunning turquoise colour, so you could easily spend all day here. If you get hungry, there's a beach bar with snacks on the edge of the beach.

After you've had your fill of Maho beach, head back to the marina and stroll along the boardwalk around the beautiful Great bay.

Arrival: 8:00

Departures: 18:00

Dominica is a separate Caribbean nation (not to be confused with the Dominican Republic) that is volcanic in origin, so you won't find white beaches like you do on other Caribbean islands. The capital is Roseau, where your boat will dock. The island has a very mountainous relief, which is covered with rainforest. It is the source of 365 rivers and streams, and locals say with exaggeration that they have a river for every day of the year. The main attraction for travellers on the island is therefore the beautiful scenery and countless waterfalls.

If you want to visit the waterfalls, you can book your trip directly on the app in advance or you can arrange it individually at the port. In our experience, we recommend visiting Twin Falls (or also Trafalgar falls) and Jacko falls. 

If you have booked your trip directly through the cruise ship, follow the instructions in your app. You will probably first report to one of the halls where you will be handed your armbands and given further instructions.

After disembarking, head to the green port building where you will find your group's guide. During the minibus ride, which takes around 30 min, your guide will share interesting facts about the island and the local culture. If you feel unwell in the car, don't forget to take your medication. The roads on the island are very winding. It is said that this is due to the popularity of Caribbean punch :). After getting off the minibus, you will walk through a part of the rainforest to the first of two waterfalls in the area, called Twin falls. As the name suggests, these "twin falls" are located right next to each other, however the second one is located in less accessible terrain where only the most adventurous will venture. Feel free to cool off and take a dip in the crystal clear and refreshing water. You will then return to the minibus and drive less than 10 min to the second of the Jacko waterfalls. Here you will also find toilets and you can also refresh yourself with punch and a selection of local fruit.

After returning from your trip, have lunch on the boat and head back to the harbour to explore the local shops or just observe the quiet Caribbean life of the locals. Also try to catch some of the open wifi in the harbour area.

Arrival: 8:00

Departures: 18:00

The island of St. Kitts and its smaller brother Nevis show the contrast between the Caribbean islands. Unlike St Thomas, St Kitts is more arid and less mountainous. However, it offers beautiful views, especially when travelling towards the south-eastern tip of the island towards Nevis. If you're lucky, you may see wild green howler monkeys crossing the road now and then.

If you love the beautiful sea and beaches, take a taxi at the harbour and head to Cockleshell Bay beach. This beach is a 25-minute drive from the harbour, but offers stunning views of both coasts. You'll find the taxi stand just at the end of the pier on your right hand side. You will pay $8 per person/per direction for a taxi.

On your way to the beach, ask the taxi driver to stop at Timothy Hill Overlook for some great photos of the tip of the island. 

The beach itself will then give you a beautiful view of the island of Nevis.  Entrance to the beach is free. Please arrange a pick up time for your return journey directly with the driver who brought you to the beach.  You can catch free wifi at the Spice Mill restaurant, where you can also purchase sunbeds and an umbrella ($15 for an umbrella and 2 sunbeds).

On your return from the beach, browse the harbour terminal where you can buy local souvenirs.

Arrival: 7:00

Departures: 15:00

San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States and the smallest island of the Greater Antilles. As a former Spanish colony, Spanish is spoken here, and the overall atmosphere flows with a Latino spirit combined with American commerce. Despite attempts to include Puerto Rico as a U.S. member state, Puerto Rico remains unincorporated and its citizens cannot vote in U.S. federal elections.

Your ship will dock in the heart of Old San Juan, allowing you to take a walking tour of the historic downtown area. The hike we've chosen for you is just under 6 km long and will take you through the most important colonial sites in the area. 

If you don't feel like sightseeing, head to Balneario del Escambrón beach, which is a 2.5km walk from the port or a 10-minute taxi ride.

Continue along the coast to La Fortaleza, a fortress built in 1540 to defend the island. Subsequently used as a prison and armoury, the building now serves as the residence of the Puerto Rican governor.

If you continue along the waterfront, you'll reach the Puerta de San Juan, the most colourful and famous gateway to the walled city. There is also a small beach where you can cool off.

In the northwest of old San Juan stands the castle of Saint Philip. This imposing citadel, better known as El Morro, is one of the largest fortifications built by the Spanish in the Caribbean in the 16th century. Made up of six tiered levels that integrate barracks, dungeons and warehouses, this fortress was designed to protect the city from attacks from the sea, and still has some of its original works facing the ocean. In its history, El Morro has never been conquered.

After exploring the castle's surroundings, head east to San Cristobal Fortress. On the way, stop at the cemetery of Saint Mary Magdalene. This quaint cemetery was founded in the 19th century. The Spanish built it outside the city walls because of their intense fear of the afterlife. Its location on the ocean shore was based on the superstitious belief that the deceased began the journey to the "afterlife" and the proximity of the sea symbolized the beginning of eternity. This cemetery is the final resting place of Puerto Rico's most prominent natives and inhabitants.

This fortress standing guard at the eastern gate was built to protect the city from enemies approaching by land. Covering more than 27 acres, this fortification is the largest fortification the Spanish created in the New World. 

The Puerto Rican Capitol, also known as the Casa de las Leyes (House of Laws) and most commonly referred to as El Capitolio (The Capitol), is the seat of the legislature, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives, responsible for the legislative branch of the government of Puerto Rico. The Beaux-Arts neoclassical building, entirely covered in white marble, was built between 1921 and 1929 to resemble the ancient Pantheon in Rome. The Presidential Walkway is located in front of the Capitol. This outdoor exhibit contains bronze statues of the nine U.S. presidents who visited the island during their terms in office.

Slowly begin to make your way back towards the harbor. Walk past the theatre and through Christopher Columbus Square to Calle Fortaleza, one of the oldest and most photogenic streets in Old San Juan. You may know it as "Umbrella Street" because it was famous for the multi-coloured umbrellas that were suspended over parts of the street. The original umbrellas have since been replaced by other decorative canopies - from butterflies to kites to a giant Puerto Rican flag. While you're here, pop into one of the street's many shops and restaurants, such as Barrachina, known as one of the birthplaces of the piña colada cocktail.

After a historic stroll through Old San Juan, you'll definitely deserve lunch. So head back to the ship and enjoy lunch overlooking the harbor. The ship departs at 3pm and be sure not to miss the view from the departing ship.

Make your first stop in the famous street painted pink - Paseo de Dona Blanca.

Then head past the statue of Gregorio Luperón, the revolutionary who fought for the restoration of the Dominican Republic's independence, to the Cathedral of the Apostle Philip.

And complete the circuit on Umbrella Street, a street overhung by rows of colourful umbrellas.

On the way back to the port, visit the local souvenir shops where you can buy locally grown vanilla extract or, if you still have energy left, go to the Fortaleza de San Felipe, which is close to the port, where there is an amphitheatre and a yellow lookout tower.

After you have finished exploring the city, head back to the cruise ship for lunch and explore the port terminal, where you will find a large number of shops and bars, among other things. Here you can take photos with the parrots or the Taino Bay sign with your cruise ship in the background. If you get tired of the hot Caribbean sun, you can just relax at the pool bar or let yourself drift down the wild river on the inflatable circle. Free wifi is available throughout the terminal.

After disembarkation you will go through security and document control. You will then collect your checked baggage in the terminal lobby. The number or letter of the belt can be found in the app or on the baggage tag.

Flights back to Europe generally depart later in the afternoon, so you have a full day in Miami ahead of you. Book a taxi and go shopping at the Dolphin mall outlet mall.

Visit Dolphin mall, a renowned outlet mall with over 240 shops and restaurants near the airport. You'll find storage bins next to the toilets next to the Food Court, or store your suitcases with one of the Bounce service providers. You can put the kids in a trolley with a built-in tablet.

Plan to arrive at the airport at least 2.5 hours before departure, as there are often long queues at security. Have a safe journey!