This was our ninth cruise - fifth on Princess - third on Caribbean Princess.
We flew to Ft Lauderdale on Saturday afternoon. Our hotel reservations were with the Springhill Suites in Ft Lauderdale. Very affordable rates. This hotel offers a free shuttle pickup from the airport. When you arrive at the airport, call the hotel and they will send the driver to pick you up. The shuttle runs until midnight.
The hotel offers a free breakfast the following morning (0630 - 1030 hrs) Check in was easy and quick. The room was spacious and CLEAN. Upon check-in at the hotel, reserve a spot, with the front desk person, for the shuttle to the cruise the following morning. This fills up fast. Because we could not get on the shuttle until 1:30, we opted to take a cab (954-777-7777). The cab fare was about $12.50. I have to admit, this was by far, the fastest I have ever experienced in going from the hotel to entering my room on the ship. I called for the cab at 10:52 am and I found myself in my stateroom at 11:29 - some 37 minutes from start to finish.