We did not explore Miami before this cruise, as we have done this at other times. Both embarkation and disembarkation went smoothly as we booked the airfare with Viking and they cover all the details. The ship was wonderful. Cruising on a smaller ship is always a treat. The itinerary had to be changed from the time we booked to the day we embarked. We were to go to Mexico and Belize on this trip as well as Cuba. Since Viking could not dock in Havana, that changed the time frame and Mexico and Belize were deleted from the itinerary. Viking did have an excursion to Havana with an overnight stay at a 5-star hotel that was free. Very nice excursion with a small walking tour, lunch, dinner at The Tropicana, and breakfast the next day included. On the way back to the ship, we stopped at the Bay of Pigs Museum. Service on Viking is always superb! A trip not to miss!