Your Caribbean Cruise Companion

8-night route: Fort Lauderdale -> St. Kitts -> Antigua -> San Juan -> Puerto Plata -> Fort Lauderdale. Departure: Mar 28, 2026 at 3:30 PM. Return: Apr 5, 2026 at 7:00 AM. Built for your style: relaxing, beaches, shopping, and dining.

Ship: Celebrity Eclipse 4 port days + 3 sea days Interactive planner + checklist DIY savings tips included

Trip Countdown

Sail date: Mar 28, 2026 at 3:30 PM

--Days

--Hours

--Minutes

Quick Wins

Book only 1-2 paid excursions. DIY the rest.
Use San Juan as your best walk-and-shop day.
Pick one full beach reset day (Antigua or St. Kitts).
Return to ship 60-90 min before all-aboard.

Ship Review - Celebrity Eclipse

Review Summary

Generally strong ratings and a loyal repeat-guest crowd. Most feedback praises service, food, and the calmer premium atmosphere.

Typical ratings around 4.2-4.5 Strong service culture Good main dining quality

What You Will Love

Adults-friendly vibe and quieter spaces (Solarium).
Solid included dining plus optional specialty nights.
Good sea-day comfort for true relaxation.

Known Trade-Offs

Some cabins/areas can feel older than new mega-ships.
Add-ons can raise total cost if not planned.
Wi-Fi and drink package value depends on usage.

Personal note: This guide is tailored to your booked sailing and your travel style: beach-forward, relaxing, food-focused, and smart on budget.

Route + Ideal Daily Rhythm

Day	Date (2026)	Stop	Port Window	Best Plan for Your Preferences
1	Sat Mar 28	Fort Lauderdale	Departs 3:30 PM	Board early, unpack, light dinner, early reset.
2	Sun Mar 29	Sea Day	All day	Solarium/pool mornings, relaxing lunch, show at night.
3	Mon Mar 30	Sea Day	All day	Solarium/pool mornings, relaxing lunch, show at night.
4	Tue Mar 31	Basseterre, St. Kitts	8:00 AM-6:00 PM	Beach plus one scenic/history stop.
5	Wed Apr 1	St. John's, Antigua	7:00 AM-4:00 PM	Turquoise beach morning + shopping afternoon.
6	Thu Apr 2	San Juan, Puerto Rico	8:00 AM-5:00 PM	Old San Juan walk, fort, food, boutiques.
7	Fri Apr 3	Puerto Plata, DR	10:00 AM-6:00 PM	City culture loop + local food + souvenir stop.
8	Sat Apr 4	Sea Day	All day	Spa/chill, pack in afternoon, farewell dinner.
9	Sun Apr 5	Fort Lauderdale	Arrives 7:00 AM	Easy breakfast, customs, onward travel buffer.

Port Crowd Snapshot (How Busy Each Stop Looks)

Based on same-day port schedule snapshots for your dates. Useful for deciding early starts, taxi timing, and whether to stay near port or go straight to your main activity.

Date	Port	Other Ships in Port	Estimated Total Passengers in Port	Crowd Level
Tue Mar 31	Basseterre, St. Kitts	Marella Explorer (~1,924)	~4,776 (Eclipse 2,852 + Marella 1,924)	Moderate
Wed Apr 1	St. John's, Antigua	None shown in snapshot	~2,852 (Eclipse only)	Light
Thu Apr 2	San Juan, Puerto Rico	Carnival Celebration (~5,374), Explora II (~920)	~9,146 (Eclipse 2,852 + other ships)	Heavy
Fri Apr 3	Puerto Plata / Amber Cove	None shown in snapshot	~2,852 (Eclipse only)	Light

Quick read: San Juan is your most crowded port day, so start earlier there. Antigua and Puerto Plata should feel easier with fewer competing cruise crowds.

Today Mode (Quick Port-Day Screen)

Set your current stop. All-aboard time is auto-set from your itinerary.

Today's stop Safety buffer (minutes)

Return-to-Ship Timer

Target leave activity: --
All-aboard: --
Port: --

Interactive Port Planner (Must-Do + DIY Savings)

Must-Do

Brimstone Hill + scenic island highlights tour.
Beach time at South Friars or Cockleshell Bay.

DIY Budget Plan

Shared taxi from port to one beach club.
Chair + umbrella + lunch, then return direct.

Keeps costs down and avoids overpacked tour schedules.

Food + Shopping

Port Zante souvenirs and local crafts.
Beach bars for simple local lunch.

South Friars Bay
Calm swim and chill vibe

Cockleshell Bay
Beach bars + Nevis views

Brimstone Hill
Historic lookout stop

Port Zante map South Friars Bay Cockleshell Bay

Must-Do

Half-day best-beaches combo excursion.
Shirley Heights viewpoint for one iconic photo stop.

DIY Budget Plan

Taxi to one beach only (Dickenson or Fort James).
Return early for Redcliffe + Heritage Quay shopping.

Food + Shopping

Duty-free in Heritage Quay.
Local boutiques and artisan pieces in Redcliffe Quay.

Dickenson Bay
Classic turquoise-water day

Redcliffe Quay
Boutiques and colorful lanes

Shirley Heights
Epic views and panoramic island shots

Heritage Quay Redcliffe Quay Dickenson Bay

Must-Do

Old San Juan self-guided walking loop.
Visit one fort: El Morro or San Cristobal.

DIY Budget Plan

Walk from port directly into Old San Juan.
Set one lunch stop + one shopping stop.

San Juan is your easiest and best-value independent day.

Food + Shopping

Mofongo and Puerto Rican coffee.
Local crafts, rum gifts, boutique fashion.

Old San Juan
Colorful streets + plazas

El Morro
Ocean cliffs and fortress walls

Paseo de la Princesa
Scenic waterfront walk

Old San Juan El Morro Paseo de la Princesa

Must-Do

Puerto Plata city highlights and cultural loop.
Umbrella Street + central park + malecon area.

DIY Budget Plan

Taino Bay: self-guided city stroll works great.
Amber Cove: compare taxi total to shared tour pricing.

Food + Shopping

Amber/larimar jewelry, Dominican coffee and cacao.
Local lunch over port-only restaurant pricing.

Umbrella Street
Playful city-center photo stop

Malecon Area
Local life and ocean breeze

Amber/Larimar Finds
Great souvenir category

Taino Bay Amber Cove Umbrella Street

Real Spend Tracker (By Port)

Track actual spend while traveling. Saved on your device.

Port

Port	Category	Amount	Note	Status	Pay Status
No entries yet.

Build Your Own Cruise Day (Drag and Drop)

Drag activities into your ideal day buckets. Saved automatically in your browser.

Sea Day Plan

Beach Port Plan

City/Shopping Port Plan

Evening Onboard

Packing + Practical Tips

Essentials

Passport, booking docs, app login, card and small cash.
Reef-safe sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, SPF lip balm.
2-3 swimsuits, lightweight layers, comfy shoes.
Portable charger and refillable water bottle.

Health + Comfort

Prescription meds in carry-on only.
Motion sickness meds/patches if needed.
Small first-aid basics and blister care.
Pack a sweater for cool indoor A/C spaces.

Money-Saving Moves

Book only one premium specialty dinner.
DIY city-walk days in San Juan and possibly Puerto Plata.
Use included meals before port shopping splurges.
Track onboard account daily.

Interactive Pre-Cruise Checklist

Your checks save in your browser automatically. Great for daily prep.

Documents

Passport validity checked Online check-in and boarding pass done Travel insurance and emergency contacts saved Digital and paper document copies ready

Packing

Meds packed in carry-on Reef-safe sunscreen and beach gear packed Dinner outfit packed Chargers and battery bank packed

Port Planning

1-2 must-do excursions booked DIY backup plans saved for each port Small cash bills set aside for taxis/tips Return-to-ship safety window planned

Print tip: use browser print for a hard-copy travel sheet.

Last-Night Disembark Helper

Night Before

Pack checked luggage and tag it before cutoff time.
Keep passport, meds, charger, and one outfit in carry-on.
Screenshot final onboard account balance.
Set alarms and breakfast/disembark window.

Morning Of

Quick breakfast and final cabin sweep.
Keep documents in hand, not packed away.
Plan transport buffer from port to airport/hotel.
Hydrate and keep one snack handy for transit.

Reservation Vault

Paste booking numbers, meeting points, and contact notes.

Final Personalized Game Plan

Best Beach Day

Choose Antigua for postcard sand/water, or St. Kitts for a calmer, easier mixed day.

Best Shopping Day

San Juan for culture + boutiques; Antigua for duty-free and quick buys near port.

Best Dining Day

Do a local lunch in San Juan and one polished onboard specialty dinner on a sea day night.

Personalized using your booked itinerary, ship details, cruise reviews, and destination guides. Final step before each port: check your app for day-of timing updates.