Introductions first. We are a couple in our late 40s. We cruised with a group of 12 which included two couples in their 40s, a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, and a couple with elementary school age children. This was our first Carnival cruise, our third cruise total. We had never been to any of the ports we visited.

We flew from Pittsburgh to FLL a day early to avoid delays. I highly recommend that if you don't book flights through the cruise line, and especially if you are coming from a winter climate, you allow for weather delays. We stayed at the Rodeway Inn. It offered an airport shuttle and they picked us up about 20 min. after we called. The hotel itself is your typical chain hotel. Nice and clean, a small pool in the courtyard and a little lounge. Friday nights, ladies drink free. They had just opened a new restaurant called The Chef's Table. Don't let the decor and menu fool you. Looks like a diner, reads like a diner, but the food was definitely 4 star! We had salads with delicate mixed greens in a light vinaigrette with fresh parmesan shaved on top. The mac and cheese choices turned out to be lovely pasta dishes with freshly made sauces beautifully presented. And the prices were so low we felt like we were ripping THEM off!

Saturday morning we had the shuttle take us back to the airport where we had booked ground transportation to Miami through Carnival. We had no trouble finding the Carnival rep and by 11am or so we were on our way to the cruise terminal in Miami. Read more