This was my tenth cruise and second on Celebrity. My husband and I were looking for a warm winter getaway and the Southern Caribbean itinerary was just the thing.

We arrived a day early and spent the night at Courtyard Marriott Miramar in a quiet, more residential neighborhood with a lot of restaurants and a movie theater nearby. The next morning we walked across the bridge to Condado to go to Starbucks.

We got to the Pan Am pier a little before one. Almost got on the wrong ship when cab driver dropped us off at the Jewel of the Seas. A short walk got us back on track. Check-in was smooth and quick. We got on board and went to Oceanview to have some lunch. By the time we were done, our cabin was ready and we changed into our swimsuits so we could hang out at the pool. Arriving so early made it feel like we had an extra half-day for our cruise. Read more