This was our first time cruising and we went to Jacksonville for boarding the Fascination. Parking was $75 for the duration and I didnt feel as if my car would be vandalized etc as it had a secure fenced in area.

As we entered the actual port after dropping off our luggage we encountered two pretty long lines as boarding started at 12 PM. Mistake #1.....dont try to board until 3.....you will do nothing more than stand in line for 2 hours getting through security getting checked in etc....MAKE sure you have birth certificates on everyone in your party no matter what they tell you on the phone....I called 2 days prior to departure and was told me normy wife needed our birth certificates to board only the kids....BUT we had to bring our marriage certificate to show her last name....she brought that and the birth certificate for herself.....didnt have mine which presented a prob......anyhow got that faxed over and disaster averted. Meanwhile as we sat waiting for about 35-40 mins from about 245-320....after wards no one was coming through for boarding so if you wait til about 3.....you walk right through everything and just get right on.

As we got on went through the safety drills blah blah blah....kids wanting to see it all etc...normal typical teenagers and 10 yr old. Read more