This was our first ever cruise and our first visit to Miami. The trip was an early present for my husbands 50th and we had been planning it for some time. We stayed overnight prior to the cruise at the Intercontinental Miami and I can recommend it for a comfortable stay close to the port.

On the day of embarkation we arrived by taxi at the port at about 11.15am, we had read other reports of people arriving at this time and going straight on-board, this was not our experience, people were still coming off the ship and it was a little chaotic out front and porters were tied up with luggage coming off. Once inside the terminal things were well organized but we had to wait for some time in long lines and did not board until about 12.45.

Our room was ready at 1pm and it was more than we had hoped for. We booked a superior balcony but as first timers did not know what to expect. The room was more spacious than expected and the bed extremely comfortable, the balcony has spoiled us for future cruises as I could not now have a room without! The bathroom was on the small side but was big enough to shower/wash without banging into things and had plenty of storage, also the shower was powerful enough. Read more