The trip
Overview
Pairing Florida with an eastern Caribbean sailing turns a long-haul flight into two holidays. The journey opens with three nights in the Miami area — beach, Art Deco, the Everglades if you fancy airboats, or a theme-park detour for families who route via Orlando — before a seven-night cruise whose possible calls include Nassau, San Juan, St Thomas and St Maarten, plus a cruise-line private island on many routings. Which islands your week includes depends on the sailing; the confirmed itinerary always matches it.
Eastern Caribbean weeks are the classic big-ship pattern: two or three sea days for the waterslides, shows and pool decks these ships are famous for, alternating with island days of powder beaches and duty-free harbours. It is unapologetically a holiday-holiday — less culture-dense than Europe or Asia, more geared to sunshine and fun per day.
From the UAE, fly into Miami direct or via a European hub. This works best in the UAE winter, when the Caribbean is dry, warm and outside hurricane season.
Highlights
- ✦Three-night Miami or Florida beach stay before the ship
- ✦Possible calls at Nassau, San Juan, St Thomas and St Maarten
- ✦Private-island beach day on many routings
- ✦Big-ship facilities — waterparks, shows, dozens of dining venues
- ✦Warm, dry Caribbean winter matching the UAE holiday season
Who it suits
- ●Families wanting maximum fun-per-day over a winter school break
- ●First-time Caribbean visitors who want islands and a city in one trip
- ●Groups mixing beach devotees with theme-park fans
Why this journey works
- ✓The Florida stay absorbs the jet lag before the cruise starts
- ✓Caribbean winters are dry and warm exactly when UAE residents travel
- ✓Big eastern-Caribbean ships carry the best family facilities afloat
Day by day
Days 1–3
Florida first
Fly from the UAE into Miami and check into a beachfront or South Beach hotel for three nights. Days for the Art Deco district, Wynwood's murals, an Everglades airboat morning or simply the beach; families can swap this leg for Orlando's parks with a coach or car transfer to the port on boarding day.
Day 4
Board in Miami or Fort Lauderdale
A short transfer delivers you to PortMiami or Port Everglades — two of the world's busiest cruise gateways, efficient and quick. Sail-away past the Miami skyline is one of cruising's better opening scenes.
Days 5–10
Islands and sea days
The week alternates sea days with eastern Caribbean calls drawn, depending on the selected sailing, from Nassau, San Juan's old fortified city, Charlotte Amalie on St Thomas, Philipsburg on St Maarten, Puerto Plata, and a private-island day where the line operates one. Beach time dominates; San Juan adds the one properly historic old town of the route. On board, the sea days are the point — these ships are floating resorts and children in particular never run out of deck.
Day 11
Disembark and fly home
Back into the Florida port after breakfast, with transfers timed to an afternoon or evening flight home — or a final Miami night if the connections work better next morning.
Possible ports of call
Inspirational routing — line, ship, islands and any private-island call are confirmed when we quote the actual sailing.
When to go
The Caribbean cruises year-round, but December to April is the dry, dependable season and the one we recommend from the UAE. June to November is hurricane season — sailings operate and ships route around weather, but itinerary changes are possible and we say so honestly. Christmas and New Year departures carry premium pricing and sell out early.
Planning around seasons, regions and style? Read the full Caribbean destination guide →
What’s included
- ✓Cruise fare for the selected sailing and cabin category
- ✓Return flights from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Miami
- ✓Three nights in a Miami-area hotel with breakfast
- ✓Transfers between airport, hotel and the cruise port
- ✓Main-restaurant dining on board
- ✓PCT travel consultant support before and during travel
Not included
- —Shore excursions
- —Drinks packages unless quoted
- —Gratuities where the cruise line charges them
- —Travel insurance
- —Visas and travel authorisations where required
Ways to extend it
- +Swap the Miami stay for four Orlando theme-park nights
- +Add two Key West nights by road after the cruise
- +Upgrade to a suite-class area for a quieter big-ship experience
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