My wife and I cruised with our 12 year old son and almost-10 year old daughter. It was the kids' first cruise, and my wife's and my first since 1993. We've done lots of traveling with the eastern USA and Canada with the kids, and my wife and I have also enjoyed the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America.

We'd planned to stay Saturday night at Embassy Suites - 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale and then board Allure of the Seas on Sunday morning. DIDN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY. :-(

While waiting in the security line at Atlantic City International Airport, I received an automated call from Royal Caribbean informing me that our Sunday sailing was postponed to TUESDAY due to Tropical Storm Isaac. Ugh! We flew to Fort Lauderdale and found ways to keep our kids occupied Saturday afternoon, all day Sunday and all day Monday in a beach town experiencing the outer bands of a tropical storm. I'll spare you all those details as it's unlikely you'll ever be in a similar circumstance. But I can say I can highly recommend the hotel. The accommodations were treat, and he location is great not only because it's across the street from a shopping center and two different supermarkets, but also because of the nearby Sun Trolley that for 50 cents takes you to the beach. Read more