Norwegian Encore - December 13, 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.

Roatan is the largest island in an archipelago called the Honduras Bay Islands. It is located on the Meso-American Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world. Roatan is widely considered one of the best places on earth for snorkeling and scuba diving. It is also well know for the many whale sharks found in the water, which you can observe on your trip. The island is blessed with beautiful beaches and is rich in bio-diversity. Roatan is also home to a number of unique cultures. Christopher Columbus discovered the Honduras Bay Islands including Roatan. The islands were already populated when he arrived there.

The Port of Roatan has the docking capability to host the world's most advanced cruise ships. The ships usually dock at Coxen Hole, which is named after John Coxen, who was a pirate in 17-th century. Coxen Hole is actually the capital as well as the biggest town (population of around 5,000) in Honduras Bay Islands.

Today, as one of the main cruise destination in the Caribbean, Roatan offers visitors a wonderful assortment of activities that appeal to all interests and ages. Activities include natural and cultural experience or just relaxing on the beach. For more active visitors, scuba, snorkeling and zip line tours are available. One of the most popular activities in Roatan is diving, because Bay Islands is part of a massive reef system and is home to abundant sea life, sharks, whale sharks and the largest number of sponges in the Caribbean. Caves, crevices, thousand foot walls, and wrecks make Roatan one of the best diving destinations in the world. The West Bay and West End area of Roatan offer the best diving and are located close to the Port. Roatan is also famous for its water skiing and snorkeling. Most of the dive and snorkel sites are located close to shore, which makes them convenient and fun for visitors to enjoy. Snorkeling is great all over the island, so if you have time, there is lots to explore. Snorkeling equipment like fins and masks can be rented from dive shops and through tour providers. In Roatan, you can also dive with sharks. Reef Sharks display daytime schooling behavior common only to a few types of sharks. Typically they are about 6 to 9 feet long and weigh a few hundred pounds each. They are powerful creatures and are known as the hunters of the reef in nature's system of checks and balances. If you're interested in this type of activity and would like to dive with sharks, you can visit dive shops or tour providers who can arrange it for you.

The center of Roatan's shopping, dining and entertainment is the Town Center at the Port of Roatan. Here you can find international shopping, themed restaurants, fun waterfront bars, and live entertainment. For a casual lunch, you can try The Lighthouse which has great grilled lobster. For a bit more upscale lunch, go to Las Rocas, which has a great variety of local Bay Island cuisine.

Taxis and buses are available at the dock. Typical taxi fares are around $5 per person to town and roughly $10 per person to the West End. When you disembark at the port, you are already in Town Center, the main entertainment and shopping district. You can also rent a car, but most cruise travelers who are there on a single day choose to walk and take taxi when appropriate.

The Lempira is the official currency of Honduras, but United States dollars are accepted all over the island. It is important to remember that exchange rates for foreign currency may vary. Most businesses in Town Center will accept credit cards. The best place to call folks back home or get on the Internet would be in Main Street Mall located in Coxen Hole.

Cayman Islands consists of 3 islands, of which the Grand Cayman is the largest. Grand Cayman island also hosts George Town, which is the capital of Cayman Islands. Seven Mile Beach, located on the west coast of George Town, is regarded as one of the best beaches in the world. George Town is a beautiful and alluring area of the Cayman Islands with much to offer to travelers from all around the world. Most travelers find George Town an exciting port of call when cruising the Caribbean.

Cruise ships usually anchor in the harbor; after that the passengers are transferred to either Northern or Southern cruise ship dock of George Town port. It's very convenient because both of these docks are located right in the center of George Town and you can start enjoying all that this beautiful island has to offer right away.

George Town offers a fascinating plethora of activities and attractions, including three within immediate walking distance from the port - the Cayman Islands National Museum, the Cayman Maritime Treasure Museum and the remains of Fort George, a fortress built in 1790 to protect the harbor. Those who enjoy multimedia shows may also wish to consider a visit to the Pedro Saint James Castle, which is a stone structure created in 1780, much of which was preserved in its natural state and is now host to hourly multimedia displays. Another place you may want to visit is the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. There is much to observe in these famous gardens and it is not uncommon to come face to face with endemic blue iguanas when walking one of the many nature trails of this 1900s Cayman sand garden and farmhouse. You should also stop by Seven Mile Beach - an amazing beach that is perhaps the most popular spot of cruise travelers.

There are a number of outdoor cafes and restaurants located directly on the shore, many of which can be seen when pulling into port. In addition, local eateries such as the Sunset House and Breezes by the Bay are located in downtown George Town. Those who enjoy contemporary international fare may wish to visit the Bacchus Restaurant and Wine Bar where the menu changes on a daily basis. For an alternative experience, one may visit the Sapphire Lounge, the island's only authentic martini lounge. One can choose from an impressive 225 different cocktails and over 125 unique martini creations. For those who find the cozy atmosphere of a genuine Irish Pub enjoyable, Fidel Murphy's Irish Pub is the perfect choice. Vacationers who prefer a sports bar will not want to miss a trip to Legendz, the busiest and most popular sports bar on the island.

Although many walkable shopping and dining areas lie throughout the George Town harbor, areas such as Seven Mile Beach and many of the bars and lounges are not within walking distance. However, getting around George Town is not difficult as taxis are readily available at the cruise docks and at every resort. In addition, bus transportation is available and the Grand Cayman public bus system is an excellent way to transverse the island for a nominal fee. Buses are easily identified by blue license plates and daily service typically starts at 6am.

The Cayman Islands has its own currency named Cayman Island Dollar. A US dollar is worth about 80 cents in Cayman dollars. You can, however, use US dollars for pretty much all your shopping and meals. The official language is English. Should you need to use the internet, you can easily find cafes and shops in George Town center that offer wifi service.