We gave ourselves some peace of mind by flying into Fort Lauderdale the day before our cruise. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express 17th Street - a very good choice. Nice room, great location; we were able to walk up to the bridge to view the ships in port that day, and the day we sailed. Van transport was provided by the hotel the day we arrived, and a concessionaire in the hotel provided a ride to the port terminal for $8 each. Nice breakfast included, and very friendly service.

On boarding day, the van stopped first at another line's terminal, where we were shocked to see hundreds of passengers lined up, waiting to be checked in. Our arrival at Celebrity terminal was a breeze. Just a few minutes of pleasant formalities, and we were aboard, being greeted with flutes of sparkling wine.

Our first impression of the Oceanview Cafe was outstanding, and that impression stayed throughout the cruise. The setup is the best we've seen, with rarely any waiting while others got their food or drinks, wonderful presentation, and very good food. Especially pleasing were the curries, Pad Thai, roasts, made-to-order gyros, sushi, tiramisu in a glass, and ice creams. We ate all breakfasts, lunches, and snacks there. Hamburgers, from top deck, were very fine. Read more