We took the 5 night cruise out of Jacksonville on December 10 2011. This was the second cruise for my wife & I, but the first with our three boys, ages 14, 13 & 9. We booked this cruise based on price alone, and shared a cabin for 5. This sacrifice was worth it for the amazing memories we have from our trip.

We flew into Orlando for some Sea World time before & after the cruise, and drove to Jacksonville. The port is easy to find, and you drop off your luggage directly at the pier, so you do not have to carry it from a parking lot. Parking is expensive @ $15/day, but it is secured & really close to the ship, with a broad sidewalk connecting you to the terminal.

The check-in process in J-ville was less organized that when we traveled RCL, but moved quickly. We brought 1 bottle of wine w/o issue, & many other people were bring in multiple bottles with no problem. Read more