Norwegian Jade - Southern Caribbean from Tampa

Where this cruise calls, day by day

7 ports and 5 sea days over 11 Nights.

1. Day 1

   Tampa, FL

   United StatesDepart

   Tampa's terminals sit in Channelside, in the city rather than out on an industrial spit, so you can walk from the ship to an aquarium and a row of restaurants. The catch is the Sunshine Skyway Bridge: everything sailing from Tampa has to fit under it, which caps ship size and keeps the megaships in Miami. Tampa International is about 20 minutes away.

   • The Florida Aquarium, next door to the terminals
   • Ybor City and Seventh Avenue - the old cigar district, reachable on the TECO streetcar
   • The Tampa Riverwalk from Channelside up to Armature Works
   • Busch Gardens if you have a full day and like roller coasters

   Getting ashore

   Cruise Terminals 2, 3 and 6 sit in Channelside within a few blocks of each other; Tampa International is about 10 miles out, usually 20 minutes.

   Best months

   Nov-Apr (summer is hot, wet and inside the hurricane window)

2. Day 2

   Key West, FL

   United StatesPort

   One of the few Florida stops that is a genuine port call rather than a turnaround. Ships berth either at Pier B on the old Navy mole or at the Mallory Square pier, and both put you within a few blocks of Duval Street. The island is small enough to cover on foot and crowded enough by noon that the early hours ashore are the good ones.

   • The Hemingway Home on Whitehead Street and its six-toed cats
   • Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, the best swimming beach in town
   • The Southernmost Point buoy, if only to get the queue over with
   • Mallory Square's sunset celebration - only worth planning for if your ship stays late

   Getting ashore

   Ships dock at Pier B (the former Navy mole) or the Mallory Square pier depending on size; both are a walk of a few blocks into Old Town, with no tender involved.

   Best months

   Dec-Apr (Sep-Oct is hurricane peak and midsummer is airless)

3. Day 3 · At sea

4. Day 4

   George Town

   Cayman IslandsPort
   George Town port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore

5. Day 5 · At sea

6. Day 6

   Oranjestad

   ArubaPort
   Oranjestad port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
7. Day 7

   Willemstad

   CuracaoPort
   Willemstad port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore

8. Day 8 · At sea

9. Day 9

   Tortola

   British Virgin IslandsPort

   Road Town is a small administrative capital that empties into Tortola Pier Park, a purpose-built shopping village at the dock. The town itself is thin, and it clogs when two ships are in. This is a call you leave: most people cross the ridge to Cane Garden Bay, or take the ferry to Virgin Gorda for The Baths, which is the best thing in the British Virgins.

   • The Baths on Virgin Gorda, by ferry
   • Cane Garden Bay
   • Smuggler's Cove at the west end
   • Sage Mountain National Park

   Getting ashore

   Docked at Road Town beside Tortola Pier Park; Cane Garden Bay is about 20 minutes over Ridge Road by taxi, and the Virgin Gorda ferry runs 30-45 minutes.

   Best months

   Dec-Apr; Aug-Oct is hurricane season

10. Day 10 · At sea

11. Day 11 · At sea

12. Day 12

    Tampa, FL

    United StatesArrive

    Tampa's terminals sit in Channelside, in the city rather than out on an industrial spit, so you can walk from the ship to an aquarium and a row of restaurants. The catch is the Sunshine Skyway Bridge: everything sailing from Tampa has to fit under it, which caps ship size and keeps the megaships in Miami. Tampa International is about 20 minutes away.

    • The Florida Aquarium, next door to the terminals
    • Ybor City and Seventh Avenue - the old cigar district, reachable on the TECO streetcar
    • The Tampa Riverwalk from Channelside up to Armature Works
    • Busch Gardens if you have a full day and like roller coasters

    Getting ashore

    Cruise Terminals 2, 3 and 6 sit in Channelside within a few blocks of each other; Tampa International is about 10 miles out, usually 20 minutes.

    Best months

    Nov-Apr (summer is hot, wet and inside the hurricane window)