Celebrity Equinox - March 15, 2025 (7 Nights)

Ever since Orlando became one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States, it also became one of the most popular ports for cruise departures. Port Canaveral is now among the busiest cruise ports on the East Coast, and although it is mainly a departure/arrival point rather than a destination, tourists will find no end to interesting activities and sightseeing opportunities. The port itself is located near the Kennedy Space Center, just a 50 minute drive east of Orlando. If you want to mix up your cruise itinerary just a bit, consider working in a magical weekend in Orlando, or just take some time to enjoy the beautiful Atlantic beaches - and the great surfing - in and around Port Canaveral.

Carnival Cruise Lines operates from Terminal 5 or Terminal 10 at Port Canaveral, as does the Royal Caribbean Line. Other cruise lines have or share other terminals. There are very few sightseeing opportunities near the piers, nor are there many shops except those located at the Cove Marketplace. However, taxis can be hailed at the dock facility and shuttle service is available to take cruise passengers to and from Orlando.

Port Canaveral offers up some of the best surfing on the Atlantic Coast, and the Canaveral National Seashore is one of the longest undisturbed stretches to be found anywhere. Very secluded, it is perfect for strolling, beachcombing and otherwise just relaxing away from the hustle and bustle of cities. In Cocoa Beach, families will enjoy spending time at Lori Wilson Park on North Atlantic Avenue, where the water is shallow and perfect for swimming. Historic Cocoa Village, smack in the center of the Indian River citrus fruit country, has a number of restored buildings and has a good mixture of boutiques, souvenir shops and restaurants. And of course a trip to the Kennedy Space Center is one of the most memorable visits you will ever make. If coming from Orlando, you may want to stop at Walt Disney World complex, where you will find no end to all types of entertainment. From the Magic Kingdom to the futuristic displays at Epcot Center, this is one of the most visited theme parks on earth. Disney also operates its Hollywood Studios near the Magic Kingdom, where many of the popular TV shows are filmed. And at Universal Studios Florida, you can tour the entire facility and take in the fun rides, enjoying exhibits depicting the production of some of TV and cinema's most famous characters. Sea World Orlando, near the southern end of International Blvd and close to the Orange County Convention Center is another top attraction in the area. Here you can feed the dolphins, explore the Wild Arctic exhibit and visit the orcas at Shamu Stadium.

Both Port Canaveral and Orlando are full of dining options, and aside from the theme-oriented establishments at or near Walt Disney World, Orlando has a good mix of traditional and regional specialty restaurants. At the City Fish Restaurant in downtown you can enjoy fresh grilled lobster, extravagant seafood burgers and various shrimp delicacies. The popular Tijuana Flats, also located in downtown, has the best Tex-Mex cuisine in the city. In the Port Canaveral area the Grill's Seafood Deck and Tiki Bar is located near the terminals on Glen Cheek Drive and has a commanding waterfront view that is as wonderful as the seafood itself. Coconuts on the Beach is a fun restaurant in the Cocoa Beach area, located on Minutemen Causeway and offering some of the best clam chowder in the state.

To travel between Port Canaveral and Orlando you can either take a taxi or use a shuttle bus service. However, most cruise travelers feel more comfortable renting a car, especially if they are planning to spend some time in Orlando before or after their cruise trip. The Lynx public bus service operates routes from downtown Orlando to International Blvd and the various theme parks.

Both Orlando and Port Canaveral have a number of Internet cafes, and passengers arriving by air have Internet connection and WiFi available at the airport. When visiting the eastern part of Florida, make sure to bring a light slicker or umbrella, as rain squalls are common. Changing currency is not important, as most Caribbean and Bahamas cruise destinations are ports where U.S. dollars are accepted.

Popularly known as the "Conch Republic" and storied in its history, Key West, FL is a favorite stop on the cruise log for tens of thousands annually. Its charming architecture, the fun-loving attitude of the locals and the many funky restaurants, shops and souvenir stands make for an energy-filled vacation destination. Perhaps the only frost-free community in the United States, Key West offers visitors a welcome Caribbean breeze, plenty of fishing and boating, beach strolls and some of the most unusual specialty shops on the planet.

Cruise ship traffic is heavy in this town, which serves both as a destination and departure point. Most of the larger vessels anchor near the Truman Annex at Pier B, at Malloy Square or at the Navy Mole adjacent to Fort Zachary Taylor. If arriving or departing from the base location, a trolley service takes visitors from the cruise pier to the waterfront near the center of town. The Truman Annex dock has visitor information booths, souvenir shops and ATMs on the site.

Key West has a long and varied history, having been in existence since the early 19th century. A walking tour that takes visitors away from the bustling waterfront and into the heart of the community soon reveals a number of charming mansions and restored manor houses. The famous home of Ernest Hemingway is located at 907 Whitehead Street and is now a small museum, complete with the old writing studio which was left intact. The swimming pool on the property is the oldest in the city, and the many cats that wander about the house are direct descendents of the late writer's pets. The two mile long Harborwalk is a never-ending street of curios shops and snack restaurants, and will delight visitors for hours. The Key West Aquarium, located on Whitehead Street, is the oldest attraction on the island, and has one of the most amazing seahorse displays to be found anywhere. Also on Whitehead Street is the famed Audubon House and Tropical Gardens, named after the famous painter and birdwatcher. Rare prints by the artist and the immaculately kept grounds are a highlight of the visit. And of course there are a number of seaplane and boat tours departing from the marinas along the waterfront, which is a favorite spot for photographing the many schooners and other boats that never seem to stop cruising by the city center.

Aside from shopping at the huge number of gift shops in town, the community is perhaps best known for its unusual dining establishments. The A & B Lobster House on Front Street serves the best lobster platters in town and also has a full service cigar bar. Mangoes is a favorite stop for visitors and is renowned as a people-watching establishment. Near Mangoes and also on Duval Street is the local's choice - Louie's Backyard. The outdoor deck is right on the water's edge and the sound of the breakers on the beach below is memorable. Not to be forgotten is Pepe's Cafe and Steakhouse on Caroline Street, which serves the best omelets around and has a huge assortment of grilled meat entrees.

Most visitors prefer to walk, since the town itself is rather small in size. Tourists can make the walking trip from one end of town to the other in less than 20 minutes. Besides, the community is set up to serve the visitor with its centrally located curios shops and restaurants. The locals enjoy getting around on bicycles and mopeds, and tourists can rent these from a number of vendors in the Duval Street area. Conch Cruisers, which are battery operated open-air vehicles, are a good way to get to one of the landmarks once the feet get tired. And there are plenty of taxis that take cruise visitors from the docks to the center of town. Public bus service connects the city to the rest of the Florida Keys and then eastward to Miami. The Old Town Trolley Tours offer another alternate means of transport and are extremely fun for the kids.

Key West is a part of the State of Florida, and as such uses US Dollar as a currency. There are a number of banks that will exchange funds from several of the Caribbean republics. Some of the restaurants have Wi-Fi connections, with or without purchase depending on the merchant, and there are plenty of telephone booths in the hotel lobbies and near the cruise docks for those who have left their cell phones at home.

Nassau is the capital and largest city of Bahamas. A popular tourist destination, Nassau is a favorite cruise port and offers visitors a stunning mix of architecture, white sand beaches and entertaining nightlife. The downtown area of the city is the hub for all tourist attractions, walking tours and gift purchasing; visitors will find no end to the scenic wonders of this historical but ultra-modern metropolis.

Cruise ships arriving in Nassau generally dock at the Prince George Wharf, directly in front of the downtown area. Nearby Rawson Square and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism are excellent starting points for walking tours and getting acclimated to the bustling activity in the city. A great number of shops in this district have brochures and street maps available for visitors, printed in English and in other languages. Festival Place is the exit point at the port for those arriving by ship and here visitors will find internet cafes, call booths, currency exchange centers and a number of local tour companies offering day trip packages.

The Bay Street thoroughfare and Woodes Rogers Walk are the two busiest streets near the waterfront, and tourists can take in the Pirates of Nassau Museum or visit the historical Vendue House and Christ Church Cathedral. The famous Straw Market is a magnetic draw for tourists; the original facility was burned to the ground in 2001 and a new construction site is underway, but the activities continue at present on the waterfront side of Woodes Rogers Walk. At the Straw Market everything a visitor could hope to purchase as memorabilia can be found. The Ardastra Gardens are famous for their drill formation flamingo parades, and the 18th century Balcony House, the oldest wooden structure in Nassau, is the perfect place for panoramic views and photo opportunities. Blue Lagoon Island has dolphin shows and stunning beaches. Fort Charlotte is an amazing tour that includes a visit to the old dungeons and breathtaking views of the harbor.

Nassau has a truly international flair when it comes to either casual or fine dining. Near the waterfront one can find a huge number of open air restaurants as well as smaller outdoor establishments that serve up snacks and cocktails. Barbeque beef, pork and chicken are local favorites, but a number of restaurants specialize in European continental cuisine. At night there is no shortage of watering holes; these taverns and nightclubs are open very late in Nassau.

Nassau has what are called Jitney buses, which run on a regular schedule between Paradise Island, Cable Beach and the downtown area. Taxis can be hailed at any street corner, and a number of rental car agencies operate in the city; visitors should remember that driving in the Bahamas is on the left side of the road. Most of the major tourist attractions in the city itself are within walking distance of the cruise docks.

The official currency in Nassau is the Bahamian dollar, which is valued as much as the US dollar. Visitors can make change on board ship or at a number of locations in the port area. You can, however, use both US and Bahamian dollars for your shopping. Unless a cell phone is used, calling internationally from a public telephone requires the purchase of a local BATELCO card. Although English is the most common language spoken in the Bahamas, many of the locals speak some French and/or Spanish. Should you need to use the Internet, there are a number of cyber cafes in downtown area that you can utilize.

You may be familiar with the smaller, outlying islands of the Bahamas that are accessible only as part of a cruise package. CocoCay (sometime written as 2 separate words i.e. Coco Cay) is one of the most beautiful such islands. This amazing getaway destination is reachable via Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (Celebrity is another cruise brand under RCCL), which operates all of the facilities onshore. There is nothing quite like the feeling that you have arrived at your very own private paradise, far from the congestion of the tourist resorts and the frenzied pace of the cities and towns. A truly fantastic vacation spot, Coco Cay means relaxation, fun in the sun, excellent beaches and plenty of long strolls in the welcoming tropical breeze.

Visitors arriving on a Royal Caribbean or Celebrity cruise ship will be transported via private tender vessel directly to the main beach area, where one finds the food pavilion, souvenir shops and excursion headquarters. The ship remains anchored in the bay, and because there is usually only one cruise liner calling on this island at any given time, the transport from ship to shore is very quick.

In Coco Cay there are plenty of beach areas, hiking trails and overlooks that offer excellent views of the surrounding ocean. Walking trails lead from the food pavilion area to various other beach locations where visitors find hammocks, open air shelters, picnic tables and of course a great number of inflatable boats waiting for adventure. The Caylanas Aqua Park is a floating garden of pools, botanical delights and swimming holes, and is perfect for both couples and families with small children. The beach volleyball courts are very modern and well maintained. There is a licensed, professional snorkeling instruction service on the beach as well, offering tourists the opportunity to try their hand at this sport in the sheltered, green waters of the bay. Another popular activity at Coco Cay is off-road adventure for the little ones, with mini mustangs, tiny model Jeeps and even pink Barbie Escalades available for the kids to drive. The souvenir shops are operated by licensed companies and offer straw hats, sunglasses, popular clothing designed in the region, and everything from cups, mugs, pins and bolo ties.

Like most of the private islands in the Caribbean, Coco Cay has a large food pavilion court that serves up such fine entrees as fresh fish, barbeque beef and pork, soups, salads and refreshing cocktails. There is no charge for the meals on this island as the cost is included in the price of the cruise trip.

Walking is the only form of transportation needed, as the activities are near the pavilion and on the nearby secluded beaches. The trails are rather short and there is no need to worry about getting lost, as all destinations are clearly marked with signs.

Money is not needed on Coco Cay except to buy souvenirs or to gain access to the Aqua Park. U.S. Dollar is accepted at the gift shops. The island has no modern telephone service, and emergency communications must be made on board ship.