Nieuw Amsterdam: 12-Night Cruise from Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) - November 8, 2026

You'll have 9 hours hours to explore Half Moon Cay (Little San Salvador Island), Bahamas, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM - a solid full day ashore. That's enough for 2-3 attractions and a sit-down lunch without rushing. Tackle the most distant spot first, then work your way back toward the port. Bring reef safe sunscreen, a hat, and swimwear you can stay in all day.

The Nieuw Amsterdam is a mid-sized ship, which means excursion options in Port of Oranjestad, Aruba, Caribbean are plentiful. Plan your top priorities in advance and you'll generally find services accessible without long waits. Walking through downtown Oranjestad provides a mix of colonial Dutch architecture, colorful shops, and waterfront views.

Your ship arrives in Cartagena, Colombia at 7:00 AM, one of the most common arrival windows. If you've booked a morning excursion, aim to be among the first off. If your plans are flexible, waiting 30-45 minutes lets the initial wave pass. Walking the old city is the essential Cartagena experience.

With roughly 1 hours hours in Panama Canal, Panama - arriving at 6:00 AM and departing at 7:00 AM - you'll want to be strategic. A ship-arranged shore excursion is a smart choice here - the ship will wait for its own excursions to return. Stick to attractions close to the port. The Miraflores Locks Visitor Center offers observation decks and exhibits detailing the canal's operation.

Arriving in Panama Canal, Panama at 2:00 PM with only 1 hours hours before your 3:00 PM departure is a tight window. A ship-arranged shore excursion is the safest play here - you'll get priority disembarkation, and the ship will wait for its own excursions to return. Focus on one or two experiences close to the port. The Miraflores Locks Visitor Center offers observation decks and exhibits detailing the canal's operation.

Arriving in Colon, Panama at 5:00 PM with only 4 hours hours before your 9:00 PM departure is a tight window. A ship-arranged shore excursion is the safest play here - you'll get priority disembarkation, and the ship will wait for its own excursions to return. Focus on one or two experiences close to the port. Seeing the canal in action is the highlight for many visitors.

Your ship arrives in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica at 7:30 AM, one of the most common arrival windows. If you've booked a morning excursion, aim to be among the first off. If your plans are flexible, waiting 30-45 minutes lets the initial wave pass. Take a guided boat tour through canals and waterways to see green turtles, monkeys, sloths, and tropical birds.

You'll have 8 hours hours to explore Ocho Rios, Jamaica, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM - a solid full day ashore. That's enough for 2-3 attractions and a sit-down lunch without rushing. Tackle the most distant spot first, then work your way back toward the port. Bring comfortable shoes for uneven terrain and swimming gear for waterfalls and beaches.

Your cruise ends in Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida, where the Nieuw Amsterdam is scheduled to dock at 7:00 AM. On a smaller ship, the disembarkation process moves quickly - most passengers are off within one to two hours. If you're flying out, book your flight at least four hours after the ship's scheduled arrival. Las Olas Boulevard is the heart of the city for shopping, dining, and people watching.