What: Adventure of the Seas 7-day Southern Caribbean (Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten, St. Thomas) out of San Juan Who: my husband and I (9th and 8th cruise respectively  first RCL), 4 friends (3 cruises  first RCL) traveling from Columbus Ohio. We range in age from mid-30s to mid-40s. When: Departing September 10th, 2006

DH and I came down a day before everyone else. We flew from Cincinnati, rather than our home airport of Columbus as the airfare was about ½ the price. We stayed at the Sussex Hotel on the Cincinnati airport property the night before we left  park and fly special, 11 days of parking and one night room for $139. The hotel is under renovation, and is due to become either a Sheraton or a Marriott this fall. Note: We were on the second floor, but there are no working elevators right now. That meant that we needed to be physically able to drag our bags upstairs.

The next morning we flew out on "Ted" through Chicago - no delays, uneventful flight. Read more