Independence of the Seas leaves Miami on Sunday, 20 December 2026, for seven nights that, if Royal Caribbean’s listing holds, put you in Ocho Rios on Christmas Eve and Falmouth on Christmas Day. That’s a Jamaican double-header, plus a tender stop in Grand Cayman and two sea days to recover from all of it. Today is 28 September, and a couple of the dates below are closer than they look. Yes, it’s still September. No, that’s not a reason to relax.
Start Here
- Now: Confirm your port list in your booking. Our database has no ports for this sailing, so the route below comes from Royal Caribbean’s listing and is subject to change.
- Now: Check every traveller’s ID against the Documents section. Names must match across your documents and reservation, and yes, that includes the one who “never uses their middle name.”
- Thu 5 Nov: Online check-in reportedly opens at midnight Miami time. Check in early for the pick of arrival slots.
- Before you sail: Price drinks, internet and specialty dining in the Cruise Planner. Pre-buying internet beats onboard pricing.
- Thu 17 Dec: Finish check-in, which Royal recommends doing at least 3 days ahead. Sort your Miami parking or hotel before then, because 20 Dec is a peak holiday week.
The Sailing at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ship | Independence of the Seas, Freedom Class, built 2008, refurbished 2023 (our database) |
| Dates | Departs Sun 20 Dec 2026, returns Sun 27 Dec, 7 nights, round trip from Miami |
| Scheduled route (dates counted from departure) | Bimini (Mon 21), sea (Tue 22), George Town (Wed 23), Ocho Rios (Thu 24), Falmouth (Fri 25), sea (Sat 26) |
| Size | 154,407 GT, 15 decks, 3,634 passengers, 1,360 crew (our database) |
| CDC sanitation score | 99 out of 100, inspected 30 Oct 2025 |
| Check-in opens | Thu 5 Nov 2026 (blog rule, confirm in the app) |
| Season | Winter, Christmas week, peak pricing |
The route is Royal Caribbean’s “7 Night Western Caribbean Holiday” listing (itinerary ID07W749), which gives the port order and the sea days. The Cruise Web lists a 20 Dec 2026 sailing with the same four ports of call. The weekdays and calendar dates in this guide are our own count from the 20 Dec departure, not printed in the listing. Royal says ports may change for weather, safety or operational reasons. Don’t assume this sailing matches its neighbours: the 27 Dec sailing is a different, Perfect Day-style holiday routing.
What to Do Now and the Deadlines That Bite
The first hard date is Thursday 5 November, when online check-in reportedly opens, and checking in early gives you more choice of arrival slot. That date is our arithmetic on a 2024 Royal Caribbean Blog rule: 45 days before sailing, at midnight in the departure port’s time zone. It isn’t Royal’s own published figure, so confirm it in the app once your booking shows the window. Set the alarm. Future you will be smug about it.
- Arrival slots are reportedly first come, first served, and the slot you pick appears on your mobile boarding pass.
- You need personal details, ID document details for every guest, and your Crown & Anchor number if you have one.
- Royal recommends finishing check-in at least 3 days ahead, which here means Thu 17 Dec.
- App check-in stays open until 8am on sailing day and the website closes 48 hours before. All guests must be checked in no later than 90 minutes before the scheduled sailing time.
- Whether your loyalty tier changes when check-in opens is not confirmed, so don’t plan around priority.
An older blog says check-in closes the day before. Royal’s own FAQ says the app runs until 8am on sailing day. Trust the FAQ, but don’t test it.
No booking window or sell-out date is confirmed for this ship, so treat popular extras as first come, first served. Before you sail, the Royal app can book internet and drink packages, spa, specialty dining, shore excursions and activities, with availability varying by ship. General guidance says specialty dining and excursions can sell out, especially on sea days and formal nights. Your sea days are Tue 22 and Sat 26 Dec. Cruise Planner promotions vary by sailing and can change without notice.
Embarkation Logistics in Miami
Your terminal isn’t confirmed, so trust your boarding pass and the Royal app, not a forum post. Royal Caribbean “primarily operates out of Crown of Miami (Terminal A)”, but that doesn’t assign individual ships, and another source lists Terminal B for Royal. Confirm before you leave the hotel.
- You choose an arrival time during app check-in, and it appears on your mobile boarding pass.
- Arrive early and you can’t start boarding. Arrive late and you may wait for a later group.
- Soft Miami guidance says boarding begins around 11:30am, possibly later, and you should arrive no earlier than 11:00am. If your boarding pass says otherwise, the boarding pass wins.
- Skip pre-check-in and you must finish at the pier at least 2 hours before the published sailing time.
- Royal’s FAQs word the final cutoff two ways (90 minutes before sailing time, or 90 minutes before port operations close). Use the time on your boarding pass.
- Show your SetSail Pass from the app for scanning, and carry documents on your person, not in checked luggage.
Parking
| Option | Rate | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Garage A (Royal Caribbean) | Not confirmed | Check royalmiamiparking.com |
| Garages C, D, F, G and Surface Lot E | $25/day long-term | Official PortMiami page |
| Off-site with shuttle | From about $6.99/day | Vendor “from” price, not verified |
If $25 a day applies, a week is 7 × $25 = $175. Garage A’s rate may differ, so check before budgeting. Debit cards are not accepted, so bring the right plastic; cash, Visa, MasterCard, Amex and Discover are fine. Garages reportedly take no reservations and can fill by mid-morning in peak weeks.
Airport transfer and the night before
MIA to PortMiami is about 9 miles and roughly 14 minutes, and fares are per vehicle, not per person. Uber averages about $31, though other sources say $25–$30. Taxis are quoted from a $27 flat rate up to $35–$45, and the official flat rate is unconfirmed.
| Hotel | Cruiser perk |
|---|---|
| Hampton Inn & Suites Miami/Brickell-Downtown | PortMiami shuttle $10 per person; Stay & Cruise package |
| Hilton Miami Downtown | Park, Stay & Go package with shuttle and parking, up to 7 nights |
| Comfort Suites Miami Airport North | Free one-way shuttle to port, returns $10 per adult, free overnight parking |
| Ramada by Wyndham Miami Springs | Shared shuttle about $12.50 per person |
| InterContinental Miami | Downtown waterfront, close to the terminals |
Rates for Saturday 19 Dec weren’t checked, and shuttle terms weren’t verified with the hotels. Check hotel sites before booking.
The Ship and How to Work It
Independence is a 2008 Freedom Class ship with slides, a surf simulator and an ice rink, not one of the newer Oasis- or Icon-class giants. Think of her as the seasoned veteran who still shows up with a few tricks. Our database lists 154,407 GT, 15 decks, 3,634 passengers and 1,360 crew, plus a 2023 refurbishment. Royal’s ship page lists 13 dining options and four pools. Here’s the full ship page on our Independence of the Seas profile. Its CDC sanitation score is 99 out of 100 from 30 Oct 2025, and you can check for a newer inspection with our CDC inspection lookup.
Eating
| Included | Extra cost (per Royal’s guide) |
|---|---|
| Main Dining Room, Windjammer Marketplace, Café Promenade (open 24/7), Sorrento’s Pizza | Johnny Rockets, Giovanni’s Table, Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, Chops Grille, Fish & Ships |
Sources conflict on Sugar Beach and Fish & Ships. Some listings treat Sugar Beach as included and one third-party guide calls Fish & Ships free, so confirm both in the Cruise Planner. Whether Playmakers food is charged isn’t confirmed. Whether your booking is fixed seating or My Time Dining also isn’t confirmed for this ship, so check your reservation.
Playing
- Perfect Storm dueling racer slides, Typhoon and Cyclone. Yes, they named them like a weather report.
- FlowRider surf simulator, a rock climbing wall, a casino and a Puzzle Room.
- Studio B: an ice rink at night with figure-skating shows, and glow-in-the-dark laser tag (“Battle for Planet Z”) by day.
- Solarium: adults-only, with lagoon-like pools and whirlpools.
- Schooner Bar with guest pianists, and Boleros, a Latin club with a live six-piece band.
Old posts raving about the SkyPad VR trampoline are out of date, because it has closed. The December 2026 show lineup isn’t confirmed. For kids, Royal lists Adventure Ocean and Royal Babies, and Royal Babies & Tots covers ages 6–36 months. Cruise Critic puts that nursery at $9/hour from 9am–6pm and $12/hour from 6pm–midnight, but the current rate isn’t confirmed on Royal’s site. Check Royal’s FAQ for Adventure Ocean age groups.
The Ports: Christmas in Jamaica
You get four ports and two sea days, and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day both land in Jamaica, so holiday hours are the wild card. Arrival and all-aboard times for each port aren’t published yet. Check the Royal Caribbean app or your Cruise Planner booking closer to sailing, and don’t book anything tight until you have them.
| Date | Stop | Docking |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 21 Dec | Bimini, Bahamas | Pier at Resorts World Bimini, no tendering (reported) |
| Tue 22 Dec | Sea day | – |
| Wed 23 Dec | George Town, Grand Cayman | Tender port |
| Thu 24 Dec | Ocho Rios, Jamaica | Harbour pier |
| Fri 25 Dec | Falmouth, Jamaica | Historic Falmouth Cruise Port |
| Sat 26 Dec | Sea day | – |
Full sailing lists live on our Independence itineraries page.
- Bimini: Independent is easy. Paradise Beach is free, a free resort tram runs from the pier, and Alice Town is about a 45-minute walk. The $40 beach pass is skippable if the free beach does the job, which is our opinion.
- George Town: Tender delays are the main risk for tight excursions. Shops and snorkelling at Eden Rock and Devil’s Grotto are within about 10 minutes of the waterfront. Seven Mile Beach is about 3 miles north. The Cayman dollar is fixed at 1 KYD = 1.20 USD, US dollars are accepted, and change usually comes in KYD.
- Ocho Rios: Dunn’s River Falls is about a 5-minute drive. Cruise days are a fair bet for crowds, so use licensed taxis and agree the fare first. Hurricane Melissa (Category 5, landfall 28 Oct 2025) hit Jamaica; the port reopened to cruise ships 11 Nov 2025 and guided climbs have resumed.
- Falmouth: The Georgian town is a 5–10 minute walk from the gate, and the port reopened 2 Dec 2025. Dunn’s River is about an hour each way, so a ship excursion is the safer bet for making all-aboard. Skip a second climb if you did it yesterday. Your knees have suffered enough.
| Port | Item | Price (blog-sourced, verify) |
|---|---|---|
| Bimini | Resorts World beach day pass | $40 |
| Bimini | Cabana / golf cart (per day) | $100–$400 / $60–$90 |
| Bimini | Taxi, about 15 minutes | $5 flat |
| George Town | Shared taxi to Seven Mile Beach | $5–8 per person each way |
| George Town | Public bus | About $2.50 |
| George Town | Stingray City group tour (3–4 hours) | $60–75 per person |
| Ocho Rios | Dunn’s River climb | $25 adult, $17 child (minimum age 6) |
| Ocho Rios | Mystic Mountain bobsled | $99–139 |
| Ocho Rios | Blue Hole / Nine Mile | $20–25 / $25–30 |
| Ocho Rios | Dolphin Cove | $99–199 |
| Falmouth | Taxi to Dunn’s River | About $100 each way |
| Falmouth | Taxi round trip to Blue Hole | About $150 |
Falmouth taxi quotes may be per car, so confirm before you get in. Tipping in Jamaica isn’t obligatory. Tour guides typically get 10–20%, and rounding up for taxis is nice. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day hours for shops and attractions aren’t confirmed, and Dunn’s River’s own opening hours should be checked with the attraction before you plan your day around them.
Advisories are worth a re-read close to sailing. Reported levels are Jamaica Level 2 (lowered from Level 3 in January 2026), Bahamas Level 2 (concerns centre on Nassau and Freeport, not on this route) and Cayman Islands Level 1. These come from secondary summaries, so check the State Department pages.
Conditions and Packing
The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends 30 November, so this sailing falls after it, and climate sites describe December as Miami’s driest month. NOAA says 97% of Atlantic tropical cyclones occur inside the season. Off-season storms do happen occasionally, so glance at the forecast before you fly.
| Miami, December | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average high | About 24°C (75°F) |
| Evening low | About 17°C (63°F) |
| Rain days | About 7–8, depending on the source |
| Rainfall | Roughly 23–79 mm (0.9–3.1 in), depending on the source |
| Sea temperature | About 25°C (77°F) |
Those are Miami numbers only, so expect the southern ports to be warmer, though we have no sourced figures. Sea-state data for this route isn’t available, so treat seasickness as possible, not predictable. Pack:
- Warm-weather clothes, swimwear and sun protection.
- A light layer for cool evenings and air conditioning.
- A light rain jacket.
- Wrinkle-friendly outfits, because irons and steamers are banned.
Money
Budget the automatic gratuities on top of the fare: $129.50 per person for the week at the standard rate. They’re charged per guest, per day: $18.50 in non-suite staterooms and $21.00 in suites. Whether the line bills 7 or 8 days isn’t stated, so treat the totals as estimates. Our tipping guide covers who gets what.
| Cabin type | Per person/day | 7 days, per person | Two adults |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-suite | $18.50 | $129.50 | $259.00 |
| Suite | $21.00 | $147.00 | $294.00 |
An 18% charge is added on beverages and specialty dining, and 20% on spa and salon. You can adjust the amount at Guest Relations before disembarkation. No Royal Caribbean increase has been announced, but recheck before sailing.
Listed fares don’t agree, so trust your own booking. CruiseMapper shows a from-price of $668 for 20 Dec (basis unstated), while The Cruise Web shows from $1,461 per person with taxes and fees (cabin category unknown). CruiseMapper’s December snapshots are below.
| Miami sailing | From-price |
|---|---|
| 6 Dec | $491 |
| 13 Dec | $647 |
| 20 Dec | $668 |
| 27 Dec | $1,094 |
The 27 Dec fare is $426 above 20 Dec ($1,094 − $668), about 64% higher. Christmas pricing waits for no one. It’s a different routing, and snapshots change.
Extras (third-party figures, not confirmed for this ship)
| Extra | Price |
|---|---|
| Deluxe drinks package | $56–$115 per person/day |
| Refreshment package | $32–$42 per person/day |
| Classic Soda | $9.99–$18 per person/day |
| Internet, 24-hour pass | $34.99 |
| Internet, 7 nights, one device | $230.93 ($32.99/night) |
| Internet, 7 nights, four devices | $755.72 ($26.99/day per device, $188.93 each) |
| Giovanni’s Table | $15 lunch, $25 dinner per person (undated) |
| Chops Grille | About $45–$65 per person |
Internet prices were seen on Star of the Seas in February 2026 and should be similar fleet-wide. Pre-buying is cheaper than onboard. Drink packages carry an 18% gratuity, so treat quoted prices as before that charge unless the Cruise Planner says otherwise.
At the fleet median of $75 per person per day, the all-in cost with 18% is $88.50 a day, or $619.50 per person for 7 days. Reportedly every adult (21+) in a cabin must buy Deluxe if one does, so two adults is $1,239.00. That’s an illustration, not a quote, and it only pays off for heavy drinkers.
Bringing your own
- One sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per guest of drinking age, on embarkation day only. No beer, liquor or boxed wine.
- Corkage is reportedly $15 per bottle if you open it in a bar or restaurant, and free in your stateroom.
- Up to 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles or cartons of non-alcoholic drinks per stateroom, in carry-on.
- Royal’s pages conflict on whether seized items come back, so assume they’re gone. More in our alcohol guide.
Documents and Rules
US citizens can use several documents on a closed-loop sailing, but Royal calls a passport the more efficient, secure option. Confirm that your sailing qualifies. Closed-loop rules apply to round trips from the US that don’t call at Panama, Colombia or Martinique.
| Traveller | Accepted |
|---|---|
| US citizen | Passport book or card; or original birth certificate plus valid government photo ID; or Enhanced Driver’s License (select states) |
| US permanent resident | Green card plus valid passport from country of citizenship |
| Non-US citizen | Valid passport, 6+ months after the cruise ends |
| Canadian citizen | Passport; original birth certificate only for ages 14 and under |
- Birth certificates must be original, state-certified copies. Photocopies, hospital certificates and baptismal papers are rejected, and pre-1 July 2010 Puerto Rican certificates are invalid.
- Names must match across documents and your reservation. Guests without the right documents may be denied boarding.
- Children may use a birth certificate alone. Royal’s wording is “under 15” in one place and “15 and under” in another, so check for a 15-year-old.
- Minors travelling without a legal guardian need a notarized form signed by the guardian.
- Whether the 6-month passport rule applies to US citizens on closed-loop sailings isn’t clear, so treat it as a recommendation.
Non-US guests should check visa requirements with the cruise line and the relevant governments. Royal’s prohibited list includes illegal drugs and marijuana, and the ban reportedly extends to medicinal use and CBD. Prescriptions in original containers are generally reported as fine, but check Royal’s own guidance. Also banned: clothing irons and steamers, power strips and extension cords, fireworks, weapons and knives over 7 inches. Royal redesigned the list in February 2026 and a July 2026 update exists, so recheck before packing.
FAQ: Independence of the Seas, 20 December 2026
When does online check-in open for my December 20 Royal Caribbean cruise?
Reportedly Thursday 5 November 2026, at midnight Miami time, which is 45 days before sailing. That comes from a blog rule rather than a figure Royal publishes, so confirm it in the app. Royal recommends finishing at least 3 days ahead. The app stays open until 8am on sailing day, and everyone must be checked in no later than 90 minutes before sailing.
What ports does Independence of the Seas visit on the December 20, 2026 cruise?
Royal Caribbean’s 7 Night Western Caribbean Holiday listing shows, in order, Bimini, a sea day, George Town in Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, Falmouth, another sea day, then Miami. Counting from the 20 December departure, that puts Bimini on Monday 21, George Town on Wednesday 23, Ocho Rios on Thursday 24, Falmouth on Friday 25 and Miami on Sunday 27 December. Those dates are our own count, not printed in the listing. Our database has no ports for this sailing. Royal says ports are subject to change, so confirm in your booking.
Do I need a passport for a cruise from Miami?
Not always for US citizens on a closed-loop round trip. Royal also accepts an original state-certified birth certificate plus valid government photo ID, among other options. But Royal calls a passport the more efficient, secure option, and non-US guests need a valid passport. Confirm that your specific sailing accepts closed-loop documents.
Can I bring wine on a Royal Caribbean cruise from Miami?
Yes, one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per guest of drinking age, on embarkation day only. No beer, liquor or boxed wine. Opening it in a bar or restaurant reportedly costs $15 corkage, and in your stateroom it’s free. Assume anything prohibited that’s seized at check-in is not coming back.
How much are gratuities on Royal Caribbean for a 7-night cruise?
The automatic charge is $18.50 per guest per day in non-suite staterooms and $21.00 in suites. Over 7 days that’s $129.50 or $147.00 per person, so $259.00 for two adults in a standard cabin. That’s an estimate, because the billed days for a 7-night sailing aren’t stated. You can adjust it at Guest Relations before disembarkation.
What time should I arrive at PortMiami for Royal Caribbean?
Arrive at the slot you pick during check-in, which appears on your mobile boarding pass. Early arrivals can’t start boarding, and late ones may wait for a later group. Soft Miami guidance says boarding starts around 11:30am and to arrive no earlier than 11:00am. Without pre-check-in, finish at the pier at least 2 hours before sailing.
Is December a good time to cruise the Western Caribbean?
Weather-wise, it looks good. The Atlantic hurricane season ends 30 November, and climate sites describe Miami’s December as its driest month, with a high near 24°C (75°F), roughly 7–8 rain days and 25°C (77°F) seas. The trade-off is price and crowds, since Christmas week is peak season. Port temperatures further south aren’t sourced here, but expect warmer.
The Bottom Line
This is a festive, port-heavy Christmas week on a 2008 ship with a 99 CDC score, so the smart moves are early and boring. Confirm your ports, sort your documents, set a reminder for Thursday 5 November, and budget $129.50 per person in gratuities before you look at a single extra. Then pack for a mild December, tell the family that Jamaica on Christmas Day comes with holiday-hours roulette, and go sit by the pool.
Ships in This Story
- Independence of the Seas Royal Caribbean · Latest CDC score 99
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