Background Information: Our best friends had booked a cruise to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, and asked if we would be interested in coming along for the fun. We had never cruised before, but it sounded like fun. Besides, we would be celebrating our 8th anniversary on board! So, my wife and I booked the cruise through our local travel agent. As our excitement grew in anticipation of the cruise, several other couples booked as well. Our final tally was 7 couples, with four couples being "first time cruisers". In preparation, we read the many reviews from veteran cruisers on this site, and felt like we were well prepared for our voyage.
Travel To Port of Embarkation: Through our travel agent, we booked a direct flight to Ft. Lauderdale FL for the day before our cruise. The extra travel day was a great idea to account for inclement weather in January in New England. The extra day also allowed our vacation to begin one day earlier, along with the fun and excitement of a group of friends traveling together. We traveled to the airport (30 minutes) for an early flight. Champagne on the limo made for a fun trip.
Hotel Info: Our travel agent booked us into the Embassy Suites in Hollywood/Ft. Lauderdale FL. The hotel was great, with clean and roomy suites. The hotel pool and other accommodations were perfect for our first day in the sun. There were many shops and restaurants nearby for our enjoyment. The hotel restaurant featured italian cuisine, that looked and smelled great. Part of our crew opted for a nearby TexMex and its gigantic and tasty margaritas.