[metalforever]

How about Cayman Islands or Puerto Rico . Those are my 2 suggestions personally. There really are many other places to explore.

[slayergeek]

How about Cayman Islands or Puerto Rico . Those are my 2 suggestions personally. There really are many other places to explore.

Carmen Islands is possible, but not Puerto Rico, that is too far to get to and back in the 4 days allotted (at least not with sailing super fast and dealing with the wind and fuel costs involved)

Miami to Cayman Islands 450 miles (724 km)
Miami to Jamaica 547 miles (880 km)
Miami to Puerto Rico 1,014 (1,631 km)

[toby]

How about Cayman Islands or Puerto Rico . Those are my 2 suggestions personally. There really are many other places to explore.

Carmen Islands is possible, but not Puerto Rico, that is too far to get to and back in the 4 days allotted (at least not with sailing super fast and dealing with the wind and fuel costs involved)

Miami to Cayman Islands 450 miles (724 km)
Miami to Jamaica 547 miles (880 km)
Miami to Puerto Rico 1,014 (1,631 km)

But is it? Puerto Plata was between 700-800 miles and we did that. But yeah, wind and fuel costs may make it less likely. Being that it's a US territory could also complicate the band situation. That being said, we'd have to be sailing practically the whole time before and after on sea days. So, yeah, highly unlikely.

[slayergeek]

How about Cayman Islands or Puerto Rico . Those are my 2 suggestions personally. There really are many other places to explore.

Carmen Islands is possible, but not Puerto Rico, that is too far to get to and back in the 4 days allotted (at least not with sailing super fast and dealing with the wind and fuel costs involved)

Miami to Cayman Islands 450 miles (724 km)
Miami to Jamaica 547 miles (880 km)
Miami to Puerto Rico 1,014 (1,631 km)

But is it? Puerto Plata was between 700-800 miles and we did that. But yeah, wind and fuel costs may make it less likely. Being that it's a US territory could also complicate the band situation. That being said, we'd have to be sailing practically the whole time before and after on sea days. So, yeah, highly unlikely.

Yea, it being a US territory makes it impossible. Cruise ship HAVE to sail to at least 1 foreign port, of be fined for having a non US crew not working under US labor laws. 7 days cruises can make multiple stops and be fine stopping there...but a one way there, one way back, would be impossible without risking serious legal consequences for the cruise line.

[metalforever]

How about Cayman Islands or Puerto Rico . Those are my 2 suggestions personally. There really are many other places to explore.

Carmen Islands is possible, but not Puerto Rico, that is too far to get to and back in the 4 days allotted (at least not with sailing super fast and dealing with the wind and fuel costs involved)

Miami to Cayman Islands 450 miles (724 km)
Miami to Jamaica 547 miles (880 km)
Miami to Puerto Rico 1,014 (1,631 km)

But is it? Puerto Plata was between 700-800 miles and we did that. But yeah, wind and fuel costs may make it less likely. Being that it's a US territory could also complicate the band situation. That being said, we'd have to be sailing practically the whole time before and after on sea days. So, yeah, highly unlikely.

I hadn’t realized Puerto Rico was so far , it has been on my bucket list to visit for quite some time.

[mbob]

Puerto Rico will never be a port for 70K regardless of distance. Cruises out of the US are required to stop at at least 1 foreign port. They did away with the ability for cruise lines to do cruises to "nowhere" or to only cruise to US ports.

Carmen Islands is possible, but not Puerto Rico, that is too far to get to and back in the 4 days allotted (at least not with sailing super fast and dealing with the wind and fuel costs involved)

Miami to Cayman Islands 450 miles (724 km)
Miami to Jamaica 547 miles (880 km)
Miami to Puerto Rico 1,014 (1,631 km)

But is it? Puerto Plata was between 700-800 miles and we did that. But yeah, wind and fuel costs may make it less likely. Being that it's a US territory could also complicate the band situation. That being said, we'd have to be sailing practically the whole time before and after on sea days. So, yeah, highly unlikely.

I hadn’t realized Puerto Rico was so far , it has been on my bucket list to visit for quite some time.

[metalforever]

Puerto Rico will never be a port for 70K regardless of distance. Cruises out of the US are required to stop at at least 1 foreign port. They did away with the ability for cruise lines to do cruises to "nowhere" or to only cruise to US ports.

But is it? Puerto Plata was between 700-800 miles and we did that. But yeah, wind and fuel costs may make it less likely. Being that it's a US territory could also complicate the band situation. That being said, we'd have to be sailing practically the whole time before and after on sea days. So, yeah, highly unlikely.

I hadn’t realized Puerto Rico was so far , it has been on my bucket list to visit for quite some time.

So does that mean since Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth of the USA that is why it wouldn’t qualify to visit their port on this type of cruise ?

[MuzakMaker]

I'm always pitching for The Bahamas again.
Generally a safe port plus with it being so close, having the ship anchored for large chunks of the cruise helped get the pool deck up faster and fewer issues with the level of wind during pool deck sets.

I don't get sea sick but I definitely felt the boat more this past year than I remember any other year

[metalforever]

So far I have noticed people on here mentioning the following ports of interest feel free to add to it :
Bahamas,
Cayman Islands ,
Turks & Caicos ,
Coco Cay .

[mooyagi]

If we go back to Bahamas, it better not be Nassau. Worst port we've been to by far. I hated how aggressive the locals were. Bimini was quite nice.

Cayman Islands is still a tender port, and that was annoying enough with only 2000 cruisers. Good place to visit otherwise.

Turks and Caicos was our favorite, would love to go back.

Coco Cay looks like fun. I wonder if it's too expensive for Andy's budget or if RC doesn't want us types there. They should unleash us on the Disney port!

RC is building up a new destination on the Mexican coast too. I love going to Mexico. Seemed at the time that not many were big on Costa Maya but we went out of the port a short ways and had tacos and beer sitting at a restaurant on a quiet beach. That's hard to beat.

[toby]

If we go back to Bahamas, it better not be Nassau. Worst port we've been to by far. I hated how aggressive the locals were. Bimini was quite nice.

Nassau is definitely the worst port in the Bahamas. It's not even close. I've gotten off a ship in Nassau only twice. Both times were only because a group of us 'took over' a local karaoke bar (someone in the group knew the owner, so he opened up only for us). Other than that, it's pretty awful unless you spring to go to Atlantis. Been to several of the other private islands there (like Coco Cay and Great Stirrup Cay). I'm not sure why Coco Cay hasn't been a destination for 70K before. I know in most previous rounds, it's been occupied on our port day, but it seems like it's not for 2026. I know before the remodel, it required tenders to get from the ship to the shore, but I don't think that's the case anymore.

[Pellaz]

If we go back to Bahamas, it better not be Nassau. Worst port we've been to by far. I hated how aggressive the locals were. Bimini was quite nice.

Nassau is definitely the worst port in the Bahamas. It's not even close.

Oh, my sweet summer child.
You have apparently never been to Freeport.

Nassau has built a brand-new cruise facility and, from the cruise vloggers I've seen, it is MUCH, MUCH improved, without the annoying, in-your-face locals. The port area in their videos reminded me of Cozumel a lot, and while there are a lot of stores and vendors at both locations, they're not in-your-face pushy.

Regarding pushy locals.... Frankly, I thought Ocho Rios was a dump, and not in small part because of the pushy locals on the long walk from where we inexplicably docked -- the commercial port -- over to the actual cruise port area.

Other than that, it's pretty awful unless you spring to go to Atlantis.

Atlantis is remarkably pricey for just a couple of hours at Aquaventure...and if a bad storm pops up, they will close the waterpark without refund.
I've been there numerous times -- I've booked a November trip there for several years, flying in and out -- and it is pretty awesome for a first-time visit, but you HAVE to know exactly where to go to maximize the experience with limited cruise-excursion time.
(Side note: the Comfort Suites Paradise Island, right near Atlantis, has better and cheaper rooms than Atlantis itself...and guests there enjoy full access to Atlantis. That's where I stay. For cruisers, it may still be possible to book a room there in advance, arrive from the ship, check in, get your Atlantis cards, check out, and enjoy Atlantis for MUCH cheaper than, say, four day-passes. )

Been to several of the other private islands there (like Coco Cay and Great Stirrup Cay). I'm not sure why Coco Cay hasn't been a destination for 70K before. I know in most previous rounds, it's been occupied on our port day, but it seems like it's not for 2026. I know before the remodel, it required tenders to get from the ship to the shore, but I don't think that's the case anymore.

It isn't; they have now built a dock for "Perfect Day at CocoCay." I was really hoping we would go there next year and I'm disappointed that we aren't. Seems like a no-brainer.

My personal favorite remains Grand Turk. It was my favorite cruise destination even before I went on 70K and it still is, to this day. However, it is a Carnival port; they built it and control access. The fact that 70K, on a Royal ship, has been there twice is pretty amazing.

Royal is also building a new cruise destination near the tip of Paradise Island (think of the lighthouse when you are arriving at Nassau). Seems like it will be kinda small for a big, full ship like ours, though.

[toby]

If we go back to Bahamas, it better not be Nassau. Worst port we've been to by far. I hated how aggressive the locals were. Bimini was quite nice.

Nassau is definitely the worst port in the Bahamas. It's not even close.

Oh, my sweet summer child.
You have apparently never been to Freeport.

Actually, I have, but it wasn't the port. It was by plane. I can see how the port might be less than desirable, though. Good to hear Nassau has improved their port situation. I haven't been in probably 10 years. But back then, it was atrocious.

[BoltThrower]

Let’s sail to Greenland while it’s still an international destination.

[toby]

Let’s sail to Greenland while it’s still an international destination.

I'm pretty sure the fuel surcharge would be pretty hefty. lol

[Pellaz]

Let’s sail to Greenland while it’s still an international destination.

I'm pretty sure the fuel surcharge would be pretty hefty. lol

From Florida? Yep. Not even sure we could get there and back in 4 nights/5 days, too.

Now, if NYC were the homeport....