Carnival Horizon 4 Jan 2027: Miami Prep Guide, Ports & Costs

Carnival Horizon leaves Miami on Monday 4 January 2027 for six nights, so you get to start the new year by promptly abandoning it for the Caribbean. Bold. She’s a Vista-class ship with a 2026 refurbishment on record. The route as currently reported strings together Celebration Key (Carnival’s newer private beach destination), Jamaica and a Grand Cayman tender day, plus two sea days to recover from all that enthusiasm. Below is what to book, what to carry and what to pay, and the dates that will bite you if you ignore them.

Start Here

• From about 6 Oct 2026 (or 5 Nov): peek at Cruise Manager for specialty dining. Which date applies to this sailing isn’t confirmed, so see the deadlines section below. No panic-refreshing yet.
• 19 Dec 2026 (Platinum and Diamond) or 21 Dec (everyone else): Online Check-in opens. Pick your Arrival Appointment straight away, because early slots go first and the good ones vanish like the last slice of pizza at a family reunion.
• By 1 Jan 2027: finish check-in. That’s the earlier of the two reported cut-offs, so it spares you the drama.
• Before you pack: sort your ID. A passport is the safest bet, but the rules differ for US adults, children under 16 and non-US citizens, so see Documents below. Jamaica’s C5 declaration is free at enterjamaica.gov.jm.
• Embarkation day, 4 Jan: wine goes in your carry-on (one sealed 750 ml bottle per adult 21+), and so do your cans. Liquor and beer do not go anywhere, so don’t get creative.

Carnival Horizon, 4 January 2027: At a Glance

Item	Detail
Sails	Mon 4 Jan 2027 from Miami, 6 nights, back Sun 10 Jan
Reported route	Celebration Key, sea day, Montego Bay, George Town (Grand Cayman), sea day
Ship	Vista Class, built 2018, refurbished 2026, 133,500 GT, 15 decks
Capacity	3,960 passengers, 1,450 crew
CDC inspection	95/100, inspected 8 Feb 2026
Season	Winter, outside hurricane season (1 Jun to 30 Nov)
Gratuities	$17 per person per day (standard), $19 (suite)
Port parking	$25 per day (Garages C, D, F, G)

Our own database has no port list for this sailing. The route above comes from outside schedules, not Carnival’s own itinerary page. Check the Carnival Hub app or Carnival.com before you book flights or excursions, because itineraries love a plot twist. See also our Carnival Horizon ship page.

What to Do Now and the Deadlines That Bite

Five dates deserve a spot on your calendar: the specialty dining window, the check-in opening for Platinum and Diamond guests, the check-in opening for everyone else, and two reported cut-offs. The sources disagree on the dining window and the cut-off, which is why the list is longer than you’d like. The dates below are our arithmetic from the sources, so confirm them on Carnival’s own help page.

Date	What happens
Around 6 Oct or 5 Nov 2026	Specialty dining may open, if the window is 90 or 60 days out. Carnival’s help results mention both, for different cruises, and which applies to a 6-night Horizon sailing isn’t confirmed, so Cruise Manager is your referee. Today is 95 days out.
19 Dec 2026	Platinum and Diamond check-in opens (16 days out)
21 Dec 2026	Everyone else: standard check-in opens (14 days out)
1 Jan 2027	72 hours before sailing, the earlier of the two reported cut-offs
3 Jan 2027	Midnight Eastern, the other reported cut-off

The advice from the check-in guides is to log in right at midnight Eastern when your window opens. Slots are limited and first come, first served. Skip it and Carnival assigns you a time, which may be one you’d never have chosen. Fate is not a great travel agent.

• Download the Hub app and use it for your daily schedule, show reservations, spa and excursions.
• Reserve specialty dining in Cruise Manager. Payment is taken when you book.
• Don’t panic if a venue shows “sold out”. Carnival has said space for 2026 sailings was released later.

Embarkation Logistics: Miami

Horizon is listed at Terminal F, but check your boarding documents for the real answer. Carnival uses Terminals D, E and F, and Terminal F was being renovated for bigger ships. Terminal F’s address is 1103 North Cruise Blvd, and the port’s is 1015 North America Way. Put the right one in your GPS, unless you enjoy a scenic lap of downtown Miami.

Traffic can be rough. Carnival warned guests on Horizon’s 28 Feb 2026 sailing about detours and heavier traffic from many ships in port plus downtown and port construction. It advised signing up for text alerts. Construction may still be going in January, which is our inference, so leave slack.

Parking

Option	Rate	Notes
Garages C, D, F, G	$25 per day	Overnight counts as long-term
Garage AA	$35 per day	7.0 ft clearance
Off-site lots	From about $8 per day	“From” price with a shuttle, so treat it as a floor

• If billed per calendar day, seven days at $25 is about $175, and at $35 it’s about $245. That’s our sum, so verify how the garage bills.
• The port takes cash and major credit cards. Debit cards are not accepted.
• A free shuttle runs between garages and terminals on cruise days. Drop passengers and luggage at the terminal first.
• Rates are per vehicle per day. Confirm they’re current, since the port’s page is undated.

From the airport and the hotel

• The airport is about 9 miles and 13–14 minutes from the port by car.
• Taxis are metered, with a $15 minimum. Typical fares are roughly $25–$40 (unverified), and rideshare is about $30–$32. Both are per vehicle, not per person. Ignore old “$35–$40 flat rate” claims.
• Porters expect $2–$5 per bag.
• For a night before, downtown and Brickell are the practical choices. InterContinental Miami and Hotel Beaux Arts Miami (44 rooms) are 5–10 minutes away. The Setai Miami Beach is 20–30 minutes, so save it for a longer pre-cruise stay.
• Hotels with reported port shuttles are Comfort Suites Miami Airport North (free one-way, about $10 per person back), Regency Miami Airport by Sonesta (free one-way with Stay & Sail) and Hampton Inn Brickell (about $8 per person, around 3 runs a day). Those terms come from 2024–2025 listings, so call first.

Arrival time

Your Arrival Appointment is when the terminal door opens for you, not when you can show up. Appointment slots usually run from 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM in half-hour blocks, but Horizon’s range for this date is unconfirmed. Turning up hours early usually means waiting outside, which is a very expensive way to people-watch.

• Your Final Boarding time is printed on your boarding pass. Miss it and you don’t sail.
• Carnival must submit its final manifest at least 60 minutes before departure.
• Sailaway is reportedly 3:30 PM, but that’s unverified and may not be the all-aboard time.

The Ship and How to Work It

Horizon is a big Vista-class ship, so treat the Hub app as your cruise director. She carries 3,960 passengers across 15 decks, which is a lot of people who all want the same waterslide. Her latest CDC score is 95, and you can check inspections with our CDC inspection lookup.

She’s refurbished per our records, but there’s no confirmed list of what changed. Don’t plan around shiny new venues until Carnival says so.

Eating

• Free: Guy’s Burger Joint (lunch only) and BlueIguana Cantina.
• Extra cost: Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse, Bonsai Teppanyaki, The Chef’s Table, JiJi Asian Kitchen, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Seafood Shack and Cucina del Capitano.

Play, pools and quiet

• Dr. Seuss WaterWorks has the slides, and SkyRide is a free elevated bike ride (yes, pedalling above the ocean is a thing).
• Serenity Adult-Only Retreat is free. Havana Bar & Pool is for Havana stateroom guests aged 12+ only.
• Entertainment includes the IMAX theater, Punchliner Comedy Club, Playlist Productions and Family Feud Live.
• Bars include Alchemy Bar (martinis) and Havana Bar (Cuban-themed, Deck 5).

Kids

Camp Ocean and Dr. Seuss Bookville are the main youth spaces. These age groups are fleet-wide, so confirm them for Horizon.

Club	Ages
Penguins	2–5
Stingrays	6–8
Sharks	9–11
Circle “C”	12–14
Club O2	15–17

Daytime Camp Ocean is free for ages 2–11. Night Owls babysitting is for Family Harbor guests and costs $9 per hour per child, 10pm–1am US time. Recheck that price before booking.

The Ports

As currently scheduled, you get three ports and two sea days, but Carnival rotates itineraries, so confirm. The hours below are reported and unverified, and all-aboard is earlier than the listed departure. The exact time is printed in the daily planner and the Hub app. Believe the planner over this table, always.

Day	Port	Reported hours
Mon 4 Jan	Miami	Departs 3:30 PM
Tue 5 Jan	Celebration Key, Bahamas	7:00 or 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Wed 6 Jan	At sea	–
Thu 7 Jan	Montego Bay, Jamaica	9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Fri 8 Jan	George Town, Grand Cayman	8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Sat 9 Jan	At sea	–
Sun 10 Jan	Miami	Arrives 8:00 AM

Celebration Key

This is Carnival’s own beach destination, so there’s no independent option. Tripadvisor describes a dedicated pier with about a five-minute walk to the main entrance, and open-air trams along the dock. Carnival’s own docking details for this sailing aren’t confirmed, so check the Hub app nearer the date. The reported inclusions are beaches, two freshwater lagoons, first-come loungers and umbrellas, freshwater showers and one quick-service meal per guest.

• Reportedly, drink packages don’t work on the island, so drinks go on your Sail & Sign card à la carte. Yes, even if you’ve paid for Cheers!
• Shade is thin, so bring a hat, reef-safe sunscreen and water shoes.
• Prices for cabanas and other extras aren’t confirmed.

Montego Bay

Don’t walk anywhere from the pier. Doctor’s Cave Beach is just over 3 miles away, about 10 minutes by taxi. Use licensed JUTA taxis from the port loop, which reportedly have fixed fares, and skip the unmarked cabs.

• Port to downtown is reportedly about $5, and a private driver to the beach about $15–$30.
• Dunn’s River Falls is about 62 miles and roughly 1 hour 50 minutes each way. That’s about 3 hours 40 minutes on the road in an eight-hour call. A ship excursion means the ship waits for you, and independent means you carry the timing risk, along with all the stress that comes with it.
• Hurricane Melissa hit as a Category 5 in late October 2025. Cruise calls at Jamaican ports resumed in late 2025, and the State Department’s January 2026 advisory, as reported by Caribbean Journal, named western Jamaica, including Montego Bay, as recovering and advised confirming services and amenities before you go. Check Carnival’s port notices for current conditions.
• Caribbean Journal reported that the State Department cut Jamaica’s advisory from Level 3 to Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”) on 17 Jan 2026. Check travel.state.gov for the current level.

George Town, Grand Cayman

This is a tender port, so be back at the tender terminal at least 30 minutes before all-aboard. Tenders take about 10–15 minutes, and queues lengthen sharply in the last hour. Nobody wants to be the person sprinting along the waterfront while the ship’s horn judges them.

Option	Cost
Taxi to Seven Mile Beach (about 3 miles)	About CI$20 / US$25 per ride, up to 4 people
Public bus (routes WB1, WB2)	CI$2 (US$2.50) per person
Stingray City, cruise-line tour	About $80–$110 per adult
Stingray City, group tour	About $60–$75 per person, 3–4 hours
Stingray City, independent	About $40–$90

Tour prices are mid-2026 ranges, so verify them. The bus doesn’t run on Sundays, but this call is Friday. We’d skip combining Seven Mile Beach and Stingray City in one day, which is our inference. The tender plus a beach round trip leaves very little breathing room.

US dollars work everywhere, at CI$0.80 per US$1.00. Tipping follows US norms, at 15–20% in restaurants and CI$2 per bag for porters. The US advisory for the Cayman Islands is reported as Level 1 (“Exercise normal precautions”), per May 2026 coverage in the Cayman Compass. Check travel.state.gov for the current level.

Weather, Sea State and Packing

Expect warm, mostly dry weather with a chance of a cooler snap. Hurricane season runs 1 June to 30 November, so a 4 January departure is outside it. Risk is minimal, though out-of-season storms are possible, so never say “zero risk” out loud near a cruise ship. January figures for the individual ports aren’t confirmed.

Measure	Figure
Miami January average	68.6°F
Miami typical high / low	About 75°F / 61°F
Sea temperature	About 75°F
Caribbean winter highs	Often 78–84°F
UV index	6 (High)
Miami January rain	About 7 days, 61 mm

Winter cold fronts can stir up the Gulf Stream and Florida Straits, so a bumpier ride on the sea days is possible. No sea-state forecast exists yet for a sailing this far out, and Horizon’s stabiliser performance isn’t documented, so don’t count on a mill-pond crossing. Motion-sickness remedies are a cheap precaution.

• Swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat, since UV is 6.
• A light layer for breezy decks and cool evenings.
• A light rain jacket or compact umbrella.
• Water shoes for Celebration Key.

January and February are peak travel months, so expect fuller ships and busier ports. Everyone else had the same bright idea.

Money

Gratuities are the one cost you can’t dodge. They rose by $1 on 2 April 2026, to $17 per person per day in standard staterooms and $19 in suites. Our tipping guide covers extras: cruise ship tipping guide.

Cabin type	Per person, 6 nights	Two people
Standard (6 × $17)	$102	$204 per cabin
Suite (6 × $19)	$114	$228 per cabin

That assumes six nights are charged, so check your final folio. Child rates aren’t confirmed.

Fares move, so treat these as direction only. One listing showed interior $441, oceanview $551 and balcony $681 per person, with suites sold out. An earlier snippet had interior from $357, a gap of $84.

Drinks

Skip Cheers! unless you reliably drink about six cocktails a day. It’s roughly $82–$84 per person per day pre-cruise, including the 20% service charge, and about $88–$90 onboard. Prices differ by source, so check at booking.

• Six days at $82.54 is $495.24, and at $83.94 it’s $503.64. Whether Carnival bills six or seven days isn’t established.
• It covers up to 15 alcoholic drinks per 24 hours, each $20 or less. Drinks above $20 get only a 25% discount.
• Every adult in the cabin must buy it. Bottled wine and room-service drinks are excluded.
• Bottomless Bubbles (soda only) is $11.99 per adult per day plus service charge, up from $9.50, and $6.95 per child.

Our guide to bringing alcohol on a cruise has more. The official policy allows one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per guest 21+, in carry-on, on embarkation day only.

• Corkage is $15 per bottle in a dining room or bar and free in your cabin. Fortified wines like port and sherry are not allowed.
• Liquor and beer are prohibited and will be confiscated.
• Non-alcoholic drinks are limited to 12 sealed cans or cartons per person in carry-on, and bottles aren’t allowed. The size cap is reported as 12 oz, so check it.
• Bottled water is $4.99 for a 12-pack of 500 ml bottles, delivered to your cabin.

Wi-Fi

Pre-buying Wi-Fi saves real money. There’s no free ship-wide Wi-Fi, though the free Hub app gives you your schedule and maps.

Plan	Pre-purchase per day	Onboard per day
Social	$20.40	$25
Value	$23.80	$32
Premium	$25.50	$35

Six days of Premium pre-purchased is $153, versus $210 onboard. That saves $57 over six days, or $9.50 a day. That’s the saving, not the price, so don’t let your wallet get confused.

Dining and photos

If you only pay for one dinner, make it Fahrenheit 555. These prices come from roundups, so treat them as “about”.

Venue	Per person
Cucina del Capitano	$24 adult, $11 children 11 and under
Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse	$52 adult, $15 children’s menu
Chef’s Table	$124 plus 20% gratuity, so $148.80 ($297.60 for two)

Prices for Bonsai Teppanyaki, JiJi and Guy’s Pig & Anchor aren’t confirmed. ProPortraits packages run 5 photos for $99.99, 10 for $199.99 and 15 for $299.99, with no sitting fee. See also what’s free: what’s free and what’s not.

Documents

A passport is the safest option, but it isn’t required for US citizens on this closed-loop sailing. Carnival recommends one valid 6+ months past the cruise. Without proper documents you won’t be allowed to board, and no fare refund is issued. Brutal, but fair warning.

• US adults: alternatives include a passport card, state enhanced driver’s licence, certificate of naturalization, Native American Indian card, or a birth certificate plus government photo ID.
• Student IDs and digital copies aren’t accepted.
• Children under 16: reportedly a certified birth certificate only. Hospital “keepsake” certificates don’t count, however cute the footprints.
• Minors travelling without a parent: bring a signed letter from the absent parent or guardian. Guests aged 20 and under must reportedly sail with a relative or guardian aged 25+, so verify that. The drinking age is 21.
• Green card holders: a valid Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) is needed, and Carnival may hold it until debarkation.
• Other non-citizens: carry a passport valid 6+ months. ESTA or a US visa may apply, depending on nationality.
• Flying to Miami: you need REAL ID-compliant ID for domestic flights.

Destination paperwork and the packing list of banned things

• Jamaica’s C5 declaration is free at enterjamaica.gov.jm, and lookalike sites charge $50–$100. Whether Carnival files it for you isn’t confirmed.
• Cruise visitors leaving Grand Cayman within 24 hours reportedly need no visa. No cruise passenger fee is confirmed there.
• Celebration Key reportedly has no separate entry fee. Verify US customs allowances at cbp.gov.
• CPAP, BiPAP, ventilators, nebulizers and oxygen concentrators are allowed. Hand-carry them and all medication, with prescribed narcotics in original containers plus the prescription.
• Cannabis and CBD are prohibited. So are irons, coffee makers, candles and extension cords.
• Speakers, including Bluetooth, are held until the end, and drones are held by security for port use only.
• A 2026 update to the banned list was reported, and what changed isn’t confirmed, so check Carnival’s current list.

FAQ: Carnival Horizon 4 January 2027

What ports does Carnival Horizon visit on 4 January 2027?

As currently reported, it calls at Celebration Key (Bahamas), Montego Bay (Jamaica) and George Town (Grand Cayman), with sea days on 6 and 9 January. Those come from outside schedules, not Carnival’s own page. Confirm on Carnival.com or the Hub app, since itineraries can change.

When does online check-in open for this cruise?

Standard check-in opens 14 days before sailing, which is 21 December 2026. Platinum and Diamond guests get 16 days, or 19 December. Those are our calculations. The deadlines section above covers the cut-off.

Do I need a passport for a Miami round-trip Carnival cruise?

US citizens don’t strictly need one on a closed-loop sailing, but Carnival recommends it. Alternatives include a passport card or a birth certificate plus government photo ID. Without proper documents you won’t be allowed to board, and the fare isn’t refunded.

How much are gratuities for six nights on Carnival Horizon?

Gratuities are $17 per person per day in standard staterooms and $19 in suites. Over six nights that’s $102 or $114 per person, so $204 for two people in a standard cabin. That assumes six nights are charged, so check your final folio.

Can I bring wine on Carnival Horizon?

Yes, guests 21+ may bring one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne each, in carry-on, on embarkation day only. Corkage is $15 per bottle in dining rooms and bars, and free in your cabin. Liquor, beer and fortified wines are not allowed.

How much does parking at PortMiami cost?

Garages C, D, F and G are $25 per day, and Garage AA is $35 per day. Seven calendar days at $25 would be about $175, if billed that way. The port takes cash and major credit cards, but not debit cards.

Is the Cheers! drink package worth it?

Probably not, unless you reliably drink about six cocktails a day. It’s roughly $82–$84 per person per day pre-cruise, so about $500 for six days. Every adult in your cabin must buy it. Check the current price at booking.

The Bottom Line

Do the paperwork early and spend selectively. Check in on 19 or 21 December, pick an early Arrival Appointment, and confirm your terminal and ports on Carnival’s own pages. Bring wine and cans, pre-buy Wi-Fi if you need it, and skip Cheers! unless you’re a serious drinker. Leave room in your Montego Bay and George Town days for the all-aboard time printed in your daily planner, because the ship will not be moved by your tragic backstory.

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