Carnival Magic - September 7, 2025 (7 Nights)

Not only is Miami the starting point for a good number of cruise vacations to the Caribbean and elsewhere, it is a vibrant city offering visitors countless recreational and sightseeing opportunities. When arriving for a cruise from Miami, take the time to explore the city, its beaches and its historical neighborhoods. The tourist options are far too numerous to mention in detail, but plan on a fun-filled day in South Florida before or after the cruise itself. Besides, part of the fun of traveling is the attractions found everywhere the plane touches down, and Miami will not disappoint those who take a day or two to explore its many wonderful secrets.

There is a large cruise port facility on the waterfront directly in front of the central business district. Passengers arriving in Miami via ship can literally walk to the center of downtown, but will likely have a free shuttle service available as part of their cruise itinerary. Taxis, public bus service and even rental cars are available at the docks, and there is a visitor information center in the main terminal.

Miami is known for its historical neighborhoods and the most famous district in the city is the Art Deco district, located along the South Beach waterfront area from 6th to 23rd Streets and containing a number of antique shops, art galleries and remodeled buildings. There are also a collection of fine - and funky - restaurants in the vicinity, along with souvenir shops selling outrageous t-shirts, anti-fashion outerwear and every type of shoe and boot found on the planet. The Coconut Grove district is one of the oldest in the city and has a huge number of residences and other structures dating back a century. There are also museums, including the very nice Vizcaya Museum, a Renaissance-style estate, and small clothing boutiques that are located on nearly every street corner. Along SW 8th Street is the delightful area known as Little Havana, where tourists watch handmade rolled cigars being completed at several different shops, and where one finds the Cuban Museum of the Americas. If renting a car, visitors will enjoy driving across the bridge to Key Biscayne where the famous Miami Seaquarium is located at 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway.

There is no end to the fine dining opportunities in Miami, and the cuisine varies from traditional American to European Continental, West Indies barbeque and Cajun. The outdoor patio at La Marea at the Tides at 1220 Ocean Avenue provides an open air dining experience and is a favorite for people watching. On SW 8th Avenue in Little Havana there is scrumptious fare at the Versailles Restaurant, offering such delicious courses as picadillo, ropa vieja and other spectacular entrees known throughout the Caribbean but new to many visitors. And there are plenty of Burger Kings and Outback Steakhouses in Miami, as both of these popular chains have their world headquarters in Florida.

Walking distances in downtown are not great, but to see the sights one should consider a car rental. There are free shuttles for passengers arriving at Miami International Airport in connection with their cruise, but these buses take visitors only to downtown or to the docks. Public buses are numerous and connect all the outlying neighborhoods, and the taxi drivers are familiar with all the popular boutiques and restaurants in the South Beach area.

The port area is quite large and passengers should become familiar with the area where their ship is docked; most cruise packages have a detailed port map sent to all passengers. ATMs are found outside any downtown bank branch, and most of the popular restaurants, museums and hotels have bilingual staff. Spanish is spoken by a good percentage of the local population as either a first or second language, and for those needing to communicate home and are not carrying a cell phone, Internet cafes are found throughout the South Beach and Art Deco districts. And be prepared for rapidly changing weather when visiting Miami. Rain, wind, scorching sun and ground fog can all be experienced in as little as two hours.

The capital and largest city in Puerto Rico, San Juan is an exciting mix of old and new. This modern metropolis is a favorite cruise destination for those exploring the Caribbean, and visitors delight in the historical buildings and attractions in the Old San Juan district. The city is the second oldest European-established community in the Americas and is famous as both a tourist destination and a bustling international port. Visitors to this region will have their hands full deciding what to do next, as the city offers a great number of walking tours, fine shops and restaurants, street markets and nearby beach getaways.

Cruise vessels arriving in San Juan will dock either in the harbor directly in front of the Old City district or across the bay; taxi service will be available at either location. For those disembarking in the Old City, most of the downtown area attractions are within walking distance, as are many of the major hotels, banks and internet cafes. San Juan has a number of city bus tours and these usually depart from the cruise dock in Old San Juan.

Old San Juan, located on the small island known as Isleta de San Juan, is the historical center of the city and is connected to the mainland by both bridge and causeway. It was the center of town during Spanish colonial times and the historical buildings found in this part of the city are a must see. Of particular interest is the Fort San Felipe del Morro and Fort San Cristobal, as well as La Fortaleza, another historical fort that now serves as the governor's mansion. This entire district is filled with interesting shops that offer everything from clothing and memorabilia to fine-crafted items. Visitors can take a ferry to Catano and visit the famous Bacardi Rum factory, or hop a taxi and explore one of the white sand beaches at Condado and Isla Verde.

San Juan and in particular the Old City district is full of interesting restaurant establishments, serving everything from the usual hot dogs and burgers to international gourmet dining along Recinto Sur near the waterfront. European dinner menu items are quite common but there is also plenty of seafood, sushi and vegetarian courses available. Most cruise ships do not depart San Juan until late at night so it is popular for visitors to take their evening meal in the town. Old Town is full of bar and grill restaurants for those who wish to eat a bit and sample the local cocktails.

Old San Juan is within walking distance of the cruise docks, unless the arrival is on the mainland. Taxi service is plentiful and drivers know every destination in the city. The local omnibus vehicles travel all of the main avenues and can be hailed with a wave at any street corner. Rental car agencies are located in nearby Condado, which is also easily reached by taxi.

San Juan is a United States territory. As such, the currency is the US dollar. Spanish and English are the most common languages, although English is spoken more frequently in the areas where tourists frequent. It is important to wear comfortable walking shoes when visiting the city as many of the streets are made of blue cobblestone and the terrain is rather hilly.