We have cruised 6 times, 1 RCCL, 1 Carnival, 1 Norwegian, and this was our 3rd Celebrity. Obvious, we have Celebrity most to our liking. When I booked the cruise, I was a tad short on funds so I went with inside cabins (my teenaged sons in one, wife and myself in another). I had never tried an inside cabin, and while I'd heard some negative comments on it, most of those comments entailed claustrophobia which none of us have a problem with. More on that later.

We live on the east coast, and had little trouble finding decent non-stop fares to Puerto Rico. You can pay $40 per person for transportation to the pier from the airport, but I'd read that cabs are the less expensive option, which proved to be true. Rates to the pier (and other locations) are clearly printed in the airport. Most of the cabs were mini-vans, so there was no trouble fitting the 4 of us and our bags. I believe it was about $32 with tip each way.

One of the nice things about this cruise is that it doesn't depart until 8:30 PM, which allows for some airline delays, and less travel stress. I know a lot of people flew in the day before and stated at a hotel, which wasn't an option for us as I didn't want my son to miss another day of school. We arrived at about noon, and were able to board as soon as we go to the ship. Celebrity's embarkation is quick and painless. I would say we were on the ship within 30-40 minutes of getting to the pier. Read more