We have just returned from a wonderful cruise to the Panama Canal. My husband and I traveled with our daughter and her husband on the Coral Princess. Since we wished to meet some family in Florida, we booked our own airfare and hotel for two nights prior to embarkation. We booked direct flights with USAirways from Pittsburgh, arriving in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, Feb. 25th.

We stayed at the lovely Atlantic Hotel on Fort Lauderdale Blvd. It is one of the luxury Sheraton offerings, and it was very luxurious. We enjoyed the pool area and bar, especially the bartender, a friendly English lady. We did eat breakfast at the restaurant, which was very good, but very pricey. Our first night we ventured to the Rustic Inn Crabhouse, located on Ravenswood Rd. We had a ball!! It is very rustic, and every diner receives a mallet with their crab dinner. Whenever someone is celebrating a special event, like birthdays and anniversaries, the entire restaurant joins in by pounding their mallets on the wooden tables. Great fun. Great food. Try their famous garlic crab.

Although the hotel was beautiful, I would try a different location if going early, again. The beach was right across the street, but everything else was an expensive taxi ride away. Read more