The two weeks
Back-to-back Eastern Caribbean sailings — one trip, fourteen nights, two Perfect Days.
Week 1 · Oct 3 – Oct 10
| Sat Oct 3 | Miami | Departs 4:30 PM |
| Sun Oct 4 – Mon Oct 5 | At sea | |
| Tue Oct 6 | Philipsburg, St. Maarten | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wed Oct 7 | Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas | 7:00 AM – 2:30 PM |
| Thu Oct 8 | At sea | |
| Fri Oct 9 | Perfect Day at CocoCay | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sat Oct 10 | Miami | Arrives 6:00 AM |
Week 2 · Oct 10 – Oct 17
| Sat Oct 10 | Miami | Departs 4:30 PM |
| Sun Oct 11 – Mon Oct 12 | At sea | |
| Tue Oct 13 | Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Wed Oct 14 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Thu Oct 15 | At sea | |
| Fri Oct 16 | Perfect Day at CocoCay | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sat Oct 17 | Miami | Arrives 6:00 AM |
Ports and times are the plan from Royal Caribbean — the sea gets the final say.
Turnaround day in Miami — see the excursion shortlist.
Miami · Sat Oct 10
Turnaround day: the ship docks at 6:00 AM and sails again at 4:30 PM. Realistic window off the ship: about 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM — six-ish hours to play with.
Royal Caribbean (book in the Cruise Planner)
Royal’s exact Oct 10 lineup and prices live behind the Cruise Planner login — check there. Their usual Miami offerings, per cruiser reports:
- Everglades Airboat Adventure — airboat ride plus wildlife show, roundtrip port transport. Cruisers report $65–$89/adult. Royal’s back-to-ship guarantee is the big plus on turnaround day.
- Panoramic Miami city tour — narrated bus through South Beach, downtown, and Little Havana highlights.
- Bayside Marketplace on your own — transfer with free time for lunch and shopping by the bay.
Royal’s excursions cost more than the independent versions, but they leave from the terminal and the ship waits if they run late.
Best independent picks
Prices per adult, as listed Oct 2 — recheck when booking.
- Everglades + Biscayne Bay combo — Gray Line Miami. 6 hrs, 8:30 AM from the Holiday Inn Port of Miami (5 min from the port), back about 2:30 PM. $89/adult. The most Miami you can fit in one booking.
- Everglades half-day, small group — Wild Lime Adventures. 7 AM–1 PM, port pickup, 1-hr airboat plus nature walk. $189/adult. Premium, back early.
- Millionaire’s Row bay cruise + Bayside lunch — Island Queen, 90 min, 11 AM or 12 PM sailing from Bayside Marketplace (5–10 min from port). $35/adult ($30 online). The low-stress day.
- Little Havana food & culture tour — 2.5–3 hrs, 10–15 min from port. Miami Culinary Tours $69.99/adult; Bobby’s Bike Hike $65/adult with an 11:30 AM start, done about 2:30 PM. Confirm a morning departure for Oct 10 when booking.
- Big Bus hop-on hop-off + Wynwood Walls — open-top bus loop (South Beach, Wynwood, Little Havana), 24-hr pass ~$42–$47/adult; Wynwood Walls ~$12/adult. Flexible 9 AM–2 PM plan.
Also on the table
- Duck Tours South Beach — 90-min amphibious land-and-sea tour, ~$48/adult, 11 AM departure done by 12:30 PM.
- Calle 8 Little Havana cultural tour — 2 hrs, 9 AM start, $129/adult. The safest time buffer.
- South Beach, self-guided — Ocean Drive, beach walk, Lincoln Road. Free, flexible filler.
Nothing booked — pick your favorites and we’ll lock times. For independent tours, confirm Oct 10 availability at booking; most offer free cancellation.