My wife and I actually booked this cruise way back in January while we were still on Voyager. This got us a little onboard credit and pretty much the pick of the ship's cabins. We chose to go with JS 8172 as we enjoy aft balconies quite a bit. Plus the extra space in the JS cabin was very nice.

We actually arrive in Fort Lauderdale two days before the cruise. This gave a us a little time to enjoy the city and not be in a rush. Renting a car from Hertz gave us transportation that was actually cheaper than depending on a taxi or bus to get around in. Not to mention the convenience factor.

Our hotel was the Hampton Inn in downtown Fort Lauderdale. It's not as fancy as the resorts on the beach, but it is very clean and comfortable. There's a very good breakfast available every morning that has both hot and cold items to choose from. They also vary the selection a bit so you don't have the same thing every day. Read more