Glenn Lindgren: The best way to combine a cruise with a visit to Miami is to add a few days onto the beginning or end of your trip.

Jorge Castillo: When that's not possible, you still may have time to selectively experience Miami on your layover.

Glenn Lindgren: Our experience with cruise schedules is that your 10-hour layover can dwindle down to eight hours or less -- weather delays, time needed to embark/disembark and so on. So our advice is to focus on one or two activities.

Raúl Musibay: You must ask yourself this question: Is your main goal to get a good Cuban meal? Or do you want to see a few sights?

Something is always happening on South Beach.

Jorge Castillo: If you only have a short time, you may want to focus your time on South Beach/Miami Beach.

Glenn Lindgren: We recommend a stroll down Ocean Drive with its Art Deco buildings, wild people, trendy boutiques and so on. You can eat at Larios on the Beach -- good Cuban food from Gloria Estefan and Husband.

Raúl Musibay: Or one of our favorites, Chalan on the Beach for Peruvian seafood.

Many South Beach restaurants feature sidewalk dining.

Going on a Cruise? What to Do in Miami When Your Time is Short

Jorge Castillo: Another attraction is the Lincoln Road shopping area. Stroll down this shady mall for shopping and restaurants.

Take a stroll down the tree-lined Lincoln Road Mall, a place for restaurants, shops, and galleries.

Raúl Musibay: The Bayside Marketplace, just across the causeway from Miami Beach has typical mall type shops but with a real Latin flavor. They have music, entertainment, food...

Jorge Castillo: All three areas: South Beach, Lincoln Road and Bayside Marketplace are easily reached by cab from the Cruise Ship docks. So if you have four hours or more before the ship leaves, getting lunch and seeing some of the beach sites is very feasible.

Glenn Lindgren: Have time after the boat arrives, but before your flight leaves? If you have a car, and you want to bring home some Cuban food, we recommend picking up a box of pastelitos – four dozen can easily fit in a carry on – to go. The Versailles bakery next to the restaurant of the same name in Little Havana, has all of the traditional favorites.

Two views of the Bayside Marketplace. Above: Raúl and son Onel enjoy an early morning visit. Below: You can come by car or boat.

Jorge Castillo shows just how easy it is to pick up a big box of pastelitos to bring home. Four dozen fit in a box this size, a perfect size for your carry-on bag.

Jorge Castillo: If you time it right, you can grab a Cuban lunch in the Versailles Restaurant and pick up the pastelitos next door.

Glenn Lindgren: Always allow more time to return rental cars, check in and so on at the Miami airport.

Raúl Musibay: Let me tell you with the increased airport security, you don't want to be late.

HOURS: Monday through Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.| Friday & Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. | Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Some restaurants and bars stay open later. Holiday hours vary.