
Ports & Excursions
Every year Holistic Holiday at Sea aims for an even more fulfilling experience, and the 2019 cruise is no exception. For the first time, we’ll be cruising to a new continent with the introduction of Colombia. This port itinerary is more exciting than ever – make sure you’re part of the experience!
Day | Port | Arrive | Depart | Status |
Sun. Mar 3 | Miami | – | 7:00pm** | Docked |
Mon. Mar 4 | At Sea | – | – | – |
Tue. Mar 5 | Ocho Rios, Jamaica | 10:00am | 6:00pm | Docked |
Wed. Mar 6 | At Sea | – | – | – |
Thu. Mar 7 | Oranjestad, Aruba | 7:00am | 2:00pm | Docked |
Fri. Mar 8 | Cartagena, Colombia | 9:00am | 5:00pm | Docked |
Sat. Mar 9 | Colon, Panama | 9:00am | 6:00pm | Docked |
Sun. Mar 10 | At Sea | – | – | – |
Mon. Mar 11 | Costa Maya, Mexico | 10:30am | 6:30pm | Docked |
Tue. Mar 12: | Cozumel, Mexico | 8:00am | 6:00pm | Docked |
Wed. Mar 13 | At Sea | – | – | – |
Thurs. Mar 14 | Miami | 7:00am*** | – | Docked |
Shore Excursions
MSC Cruises offers a variety of shore excursions at each of the ports of call. An exciting range of experiences awaits you: tour the magnificent and historic city of Cartagena and take in some local music and dance; visit the Panama Canal; take an eco-tour in the rainforest; explore Mayan ruins, go snorkeling or just relax on the beautiful beaches in Mexico; and go ziplining or river tubing in Jamaica, to name a few.
Online bookings are closed, but you can still book MSC’s regular excursions that aren’t sold out at the MSC Customer Service desk onboard. Vegan excursions are no longer able to be booked.
Vegan Excursions
Vegan excursions are no longer able to be booked. A wholesome vegan lunch or snack is offered on fifteen popular excursions. Explore the ports with local guides and prearranged transportation, with the comfort of knowing your food is taken care of.
All Cruise Excursions
Online bookings are closed, but you can still book MSC’s regular excursions that aren’t sold out at the MSC Customer Service desk onboard. In addition to the fifteen special vegan shore excursions, MSC Cruises offers a variety of shore excursions at each of the ports of call. You will find a wide choice of relaxing, natural and cultural tours suitable for older and younger guests, as well as more active and sports-oriented excursions.
Important Excursion Information
- Only one excursion may be booked in each port.
- Prices and availability are subject to change prior to confirmation.
- All prepaid, confirmed excursions will be added to your cruise booking record and will be reflected in your ticket documentation.
- There is no way to know what time any particular excursion will begin until you get on board.
- Any shore excursion cancelled for any reason by the cruise line will be fully refunded by the MSC Cruises USA office.
Miami, Florida
SUN. MARCH 3, 2019 7:00PM
From Miami’s glitzy waterfront skyline to the elegant splendor of Miami Beach’s pastel-coloured art deco extravaganza, from the subtropical wetlands of the Everglades to a choice of stunning beaches giving onto the azure blue of the Atlantic Ocean, this all-American resort is a holidaymaker’s dream. Miami’s year-round sunshine, its cosmopolitan ambience, dramatic glass-and-steel architecture and fascinating hinterland have made it popular as a holiday destination in the United States for people all over the world – regardless of the season.

Ocho Rios, Jamaica
TUES. MARCH 5, 2019 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Rightly famous for its beaches and music, beautiful, brash Jamaica is much more besides. There’s certainly plenty of white sand, turquoise Caribbean sea and swaying palm trees, but there are also spectacular mountains and rivers, tumbling waterfalls and cactus-strewn savannah plains.
From shopping to nature adventures, Ocho Rios offers something for everybody. On Main Street, you will be able to shop or eat local cuisine. Many outdoor activities are offered on the rivers, such as kayaking and tubing. We recommend you visit the Cobaya Gardens and Museum: an explosion of tropical plant and animal life with exotics flowers and colorful parrots at every corner. Another must-see attraction are the waterfalls along the Dunn River: almost 650 feet of natural steps over which the water flows to then fall about 200 feet directly into the sea. To enjoy this spectacle to the fullest, these enchanting waterfalls can be climbed via stairs set on either side.

Oranjestad, Aruba
THURS. MARCH 7, 2019 7:00AM - 2:00PM
Established in the late 1700s, Oranjestad is an eclectic mix of history, shopping, and nature. The capital of Aruba, it serves as a base for exploring the island, which has remained in a semi-wild state. Amidst the white dunes of the Arikok National Park, around Yamanota, if you look carefully you will see goats, donkeys and iguanas living in the wild; the cunucu, Aruba’s stretch of desert country, is dotted by the divi divi, the national tree. Between Bushiribana and Balashi instead you can fund poignant abandoned gold-diggers’ towns, where mines were discovered at the beginning of the 19th century and gold extracted for over a century.

Cartagena, Colombia
FRI. MARCH 8, 2019 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Cobbled streets, balconies overflowing with blooming bougainvillea and pastel-coloured buildings lining the elegant plazas, make Cartagena one of Latin America’s most photogenic cities. Founded in 1533, this Spanish colonial city is steeped in history. Its location made it a popular port for plunderers and pirates but today the city is quick to give up its treasures to modern visitors.
Signs of the city’s pirating past can be seen on every corner. The best example is Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas – built to fend off pillagers, it is the city’s largest fortress and one of the strongest forts ever created by the Spaniards during their colonial period. Nature lovers, meanwhile, can leave the swashbuckling to others and take in a Mangroves Ecological Tour, where the natural treasures of the region are available for all to enjoy.

Colon, Panama
SAT. MARCH 9, 2019 9:00AM - 6:00PM
Colon is known as the northern gateway to the Panama Canal, and is not far from Panama City. Aside from the canal and natural delights, the shopping is by far the largest attraction. Colon 2000 is a port area dedicated to duty-free shops and enticing restaurants. There’s also the Colon Free Zone, which caters to wholesalers and is the largest commercial shopping area outside of Hong Kong!

Costa Maya, Mexico
MON. MARCH 11, 2019 10:30AM - 6:30PM
Costa Maya is, unsurprisingly, a coast flush with Mayan temples and pyramids. Dating back to 100AD, the once ornately adorned architecture reveals the ancient beliefs of the Maya. Unleash your inner Indiana Jones as you explore Mayan ruins, or work on your tan the easier way – by soaking up the sun at an all-inclusive beach getaway. If shopping is more your speed, the locals provide many opportunities for purchasing souvenirs. A more active option is to rent jetskis and speed along the turquoise water.

Cozumel, Mexico
TUES. MARCH 12, 2019 8:00AM - 6:00PM
Bustling with the vibrant energy of a favorite cruise port, the island of Cozumel provides every aspect of a tropical vacation. Shop for jewelry or souvenirs, choose from one of the many restaurants, or lounge with a margarita on the beach. There is a museum and the ruins of a Mayan plaza. Alternatively, there is Xcaret – a Yucatan theme adventure park, that melds typical theme park adventures with natural wonders and cultural flair.

Miami, Florida
THURS. MARCH 14, 2019 7:00AM
From Miami’s glitzy waterfront skyline to the elegant splendor of Miami Beach’s pastel-coloured art deco extravaganza, from the subtropical wetlands of the Everglades to a choice of stunning beaches giving onto the azure blue of the Atlantic Ocean, this all-American resort is a holidaymaker’s dream. Miami’s year-round sunshine, its cosmopolitan ambience, dramatic glass-and-steel architecture and fascinating hinterland have made it popular as a holiday destination in the United States for people all over the world – regardless of the season.
