Just got back from a family (3 cabins) cruise to Key West, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios.

We stayed at the Best Western Oakland Park Inn. It was okay, but the shuttle from the airport was $5/person and the shuttle to Port Everglades was $10/person (call and make your shuttle reservations a couple of days before or you may have to go to the port later than you want). We arrived at the hotel at 9:30 pm and the hotel bar was closed but the desk person recommended the Ft. Lauderdale Ale House which was better (2 blocks away). Went to the Original Pancake House the next morning for breakfast. Must not be too many breakfast places in Ft. Lauderdale because there was a 20 minute wait that was not worth it. However, there is nothing else in walking distance of the hotel.

Ship check in was very quick but probably because we didn't get to the terminal until 1:30 pm or so. Freedom is not that old of a ship but it hasn't had any of the new Carnival improvements that you will read about on their web site. No Guy's Burger Bar, Rum or Tequila Bar, Red Frog's Pub, etc. Read more