I have tried to convince my husband for years to go on a cruise. Our 3 children range from 5-15 and it was a great first experience for us.
We flew to Ft. Lauderdale (cheaper than flying into Miami) the day of the cruise, landing at 10:30 am and took a cab ($72) to the Port of Miami. I thought this was reasonable to transport a family of 5 with lots of luggage. Embarkation was organized and easy and we were on the Lido deck eating by 12. We were able to get into our rooms around 1:30. I am not a picky person, but I was even surprised at the retro room. It really grew on me by the end though. :>) Since there were 5 of us, we had a king bed, 2 uppers and 1 small trundle. The beds were firm but very comfortable. Overall a very comfortable cabin with a good location.
Our two older children loved Camp Carnival and Club O2 respectively. As this was a family time vacation, they only went for 2-3 hours each evening to make friends but really enjoyed the activities presented. Our youngest did not want to go, so he stayed with us.
Quiet location, good access to elevators leading to dining.