Celebrity Eclipse - January 8, 2027 (9 Nights)

When one thinks about a Caribbean or a Bahamas cruise, it is usually assumed that Miami is the departure point, but the northern suburb of Fort Lauderdale has its own modern port facility and has rapidly become a favored jumping off point for ships taking vacationers to exciting tropical destinations. And the beaches, nightlife and colorful restaurants in this city are enough to keep everyone occupied and happy both before and after the cruise itself. A nice mix of South Florida bustle and quieter southern atmosphere is a good way to describe this vibrant city. Its 23-mile stretch of white sand beach is as inviting as any to be found elsewhere.

Vacationers departing from Fort Lauderdale embark at the modern, full service facility at Port Everglades. Only a ten minute taxi ride from both downtown and the Fort Lauderdale International Airport, the dock areas have a number of visitor information centers, vending machines and ATMs, as well as a small number of kiosks stuffed with see-and-do brochures and restaurant advertisements. The complex is also the busiest section of the commercial dock area and there is plenty of security around to make sure passengers are guided to the area where the cruise ships anchor. Most departures are at the Midport and Northport areas of the terminal facility.

First of all it is imperative to get away from the dock area, which is heavily congested and offering little in the way of entertainment. The sand beaches of town are the favorite draw, and although they have been immortalized as the popular spring break destination for college students, they are actually quite clean, family-friendly and have undergone some major renovations in the past few years. New lighting for nighttime beach activities, landscaping improvements and the addition of many new shops and restaurants along the waterfront has completely transformed this glorious stretch of coastline. A great walking tour of the city would not be complete without a stroll along the Intercoastal Waterway, running directly through the city center. Downtown has a new flavor with the cropping up of boutiques, antique shops and upscale restaurants. One of those restaurants is the Mangoes on E. Las Olas Blvd. - a traditional Miami restaurant in its design as well as in its offerings that center around combination lunch and dinner plates including both steak and seafood. Another favorite is the 15 Street Fisheries, located naturally on 15th Street and considered the finest chowder house in the area. Those who want a bit more exotic experience can try the famous Jungle Queen Riverboat. It has drawn visitors for six decades and takes visitors on an inland sightseeing cruise as well as offering nighttime dining on board. Those who have come with families can try two and a half mile boardwalk on Hollywood Beach, known for its low-key atmosphere and street performers.

Aside from the local favorites already mentioned, there are a number of smaller establishments along the waterfront that offer everything from pizza to seafood stews and hot dogs. La Bonne Crepes on Las Olas Blvd has a yummy breakfast of waffles, French toast and mouthwatering crepes. The H2O Cafe on South Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd is famous for its Italian cuisine and serves up pasta, chicken and barbeque beef with a Cuban influence. Its outdoor seating area is in full view of the beach activities and is perfect for an evening meal while exploring the waterfront.

Most of the cruise lines will have shuttle service to and from downtown for their passengers regardless of whether they have confirmed reservations at one of the local hotels. For vacationers arriving at the airport there is a free shuttle to Port Everglades itself, and rental cars can be booked ahead of time and picked up either at the airport or in downtown.

Internet cafes are numerous throughout downtown Fort Lauderdale and of course there is Internet connection and WiFi at the airport. Although there are a number of banks that can exchange U.S. dollars for foreign currencies, it is best to wait until arriving at individual Caribbean ports, as many of these destinations will be full of merchants accepting American money, thus helping to save tremendously on exchange fees.

Philipsburg is the biggest town located on the Saint Maarten island. Saint Maarten island is divided into two parts - Dutch and French. Philipsburg is located in the Dutch part of the island. You can also visit the French side of the island, the main city of which is Marigot. Philipsburg and Saint Maarten island have amazing beaches, very large and vibrant duty free shopping opportunities (it's one of the largest shopping centers in Caribbean) as well as many types of entertainment and fun activities.

The majority of cruise ships will dock in Great Bay on the Dutch side of St. Maarten. The pier, which is one mile from the Philipsburg city center, is called the A.C. Wathey Pier. Taxis are available directly at the pier to transport travelers into town for a small fare. In addition, one can walk from the pier to downtown Philipsburg in approximately 15 minutes. Some ships may choose to dock at Little Pier and then transport their passengers into the center of Philipsburg.

There is much to see and do in Philipsburg and in St. Maarten. In Philipsburg you can enjoy some of the trendiest restaurants and you can shop in the multitude of duty-free shops available. The most famous shopping streets are Front and Old Streets, although you can enjoy great shopping in many other places. On another note, you can explore Orient Beach (part of which is clothing optional) to enjoy the beautiful white sand that stretches for over 1 1/2 miles along the coast. If you are a big fan of nature, you can take a trip to the Butterfly Farm to admire hundreds of butterflies of various colors and species. For the more adventurous travelers, kayaking activities and snorkeling are available for you to experience the exotic wildlife and coral reefs of St. Maarten. You can also take a historical tour of St. Maarten via bicycle. Finally, St. Maarten is also a great place to sail. In fact, you can even compete in a shortened version of the America's Cup race if you so choose.

There are plenty of nice restaurants to enjoy on both Dutch and French side of the St. Maarten island. On the Dutch side, you can, for example, go to Chesterfield's for a casual lunch or to St. Antoine, which is a more upscale place. On the French side, in Marigot (the main town on the French side) you can go to l'Oiseau Rare - a French bistro that has a great view of Marigot harbor. Or you can visit Le Mini Club, which is famous for its Creole and French cuisine. These are just some suggestions, there are many other places where you can have wonderful dining experience.

Once you arrive at the port, you can either hail a taxi to travel into the center of Philipsburg, or you can choose to take the 15 minute walk. Cab fares are extremely reasonable. Another option is to take a water taxi from the cruise pier to the center of Philipsburg. That will cost you $3 one-way and $5 roundtrip. It is possible to rent a car in St. Maarten, but if you are only staying for a day as part of a cruise, this may not be your best option. In that case, you can just walk or use a taxi to explore the area.

The island of St. Maarten is owned by two different countries. One side of the island has French as the official language, while the other side has Dutch as its official language. However, English is the language most frequently spoken on both sides of St. Maarten. The official currencies of St. Maarten are the Euro on the French side and the guilder on the Dutch side, but the US dollar will be accepted everywhere. Most stores will post prices both in the local currency and in US dollars. If you want to stay in touch with folks back home, you can use the Internet Paradise cafe located at the intersection of Yrausquin Boulevard and Front Street.