My wife and I cruised on the Celebrity Equinox March 16 to 26, 2012 () Caribbean cruise. Here's what we thought:

Hotel and shuttles: The night prior to the cruise we stayed at the Hampton Inn at 250 N. Andrews Avenue in Ft. Lauderdale. A $20 metered cab ride (plus tip) gets you there from the airport. The Hampton was clean, comfortable and well run with an attentive staff and good, free breakfast. Be aware: some will be put off by the area. While it's an easy10-minute walk from the Hampton to popular Las Olas Blvd., the hotel is on the outskirts of downtown and is very near a park that caters to the homeless. My wife and I actually walked through that park when we made a wrong turn. While that didn't bother me, it did her, and others will be disturbed as well. Beside Las Olas, there's nothing near the hotel, so you'll need a cab to get around. The Hampton offers a free shuttle to the cruise port, and the shuttle service will take you back to the airport after the cruise for $10 per person, plus tip. A cab costs about the same, and I'd recommend that route. We tried the shuttle and it was fine, especially since we had extra time. But we had to call for the shuttle, wait 25 minutes for it to arrive, and then make two stops before getting to the airport. That's not a big deal, but if I'm paying the same money I'd rather have the convenience a cab offers --- just for me and my wife, straight to the airport.

Embarkation: A snap. We got To Equinox at 11:25 am and were on board at 12:15 pm. Read more