There’s a reason Miami is the cruise capital of the world. You can step off a plane, drop your bags at the port, and wake up the next morning in the Bahamas. This 7-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary is the classic first cruise — three island stops, two relaxing sea days, and no flights between ports.
## Day 1: Miami, Florida — Embarkation Day
Arrive at PortMiami by early afternoon. Most ships sail around 4 p.m., so use the morning for a walk around South Beach or a Cuban coffee in Little Havana if you flew in the night before. Once on board, unpack, find your muster station, and head to the top deck for sailaway — watching the Miami skyline shrink behind you is the real start of the trip.
Tip: book a cabin mid-ship if you’re worried about motion. You’ll feel the least movement there.
## Day 2: At Sea
Your first full day is for the ship itself. Book the specialty restaurant you actually want now, before the good time slots fill up, and try the pool early — it gets crowded after lunch. Sea days are also the best time for the spa, which usually runs port-day discounts you’ll want to skip in favor of being ashore.
## Day 3: Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau is an easy, walkable port. Head straight to the Straw Market for souvenirs, then take a taxi to Cable Beach if you want sand without a tour-group crowd. If you’d rather do one big thing, the Atlantis water park day pass is the classic Nassau splurge — book it through the ship or independently, but compare prices first; independent tours are often cheaper.
## Day 4: At Sea
A second sea day breaks up the island stops nicely. Use it for the onboard show you missed, a cooking class, or simply a long breakfast on your balcony. This is also the day to confirm your shore excursions for St. Thomas and San Juan.
## Day 5: Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
St. Thomas has some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Magens Bay is the famous one — calm, postcard-clear water — but Sapphire Beach is quieter and closer to the cruise terminal. Take an open-air taxi (they run constantly from the port) and agree on the fare before you get in. If you dive or snorkel, the morning boat trips from the harbor are worth every dollar.
## Day 6: San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan is the most rewarding port on this route for walkers. The ship docks right in Old San Juan, so you can step off and be on blue cobblestone streets in minutes. Walk the walls of El Morro fortress, grab mofongo for lunch, and save an hour for the colorful colonial streets around Calle Fortaleza. No passport needed here — Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory.
## Day 7: At Sea
Your last full day. Pack in the morning so the evening is free, settle your onboard account before the final-night rush, and book your debarkation time slot. End the cruise the way it started: on deck, watching the horizon.
## Day 8: Miami — Debarkation
Ships usually clear customs by 7 a.m. If you have a late flight, store your bags with the cruise line’s post-cruise program or at the airport and spend a few hours in Wynwood’s street-art district.
## Best Time to Sail
December through April brings the driest, calmest weather. Summer sailings are cheaper and the water is warmer, but it’s hurricane season — buy travel insurance that covers weather disruptions if you sail between June and November.
## What to Pack
One smart outfit for the main dining room, reef-safe sunscreen, a small daypack for port days, and a power strip — cabins famously have only one or two outlets. Everything else, the ship provides.