We booked this cruise as a group of 18 approximately 1 year prior to sailing. We had 4 in our family, DW, DS 15 and DS 10. We traveled with friend (9 adults) and their children (4 x 10yo and a 4 yo). I also go connected with a CC group which made for many people who we knew prior to sailing.
Hotel: We live in South Florida so we did not need a hotel prior to the cruise. Many people from the CC Group stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel in downtown Miami and loved it. We had a group of 44 meet for dinner Friday night at Bubba Gump Seafood at Bayside, and that was a lot of fun and good food.
Embarkation: We arrived at the Port of Miami at 11:30 and went thru check-in really quick. We were on the ship by 12:15 and although the cabins were not going to be ready until 1:30, our cabin steward allowed us to put our carry-on stuff inside so that we could walk the ship and get lunch. The only problem we had (if you call it a problem) was that we wanted to rent a cabana on Half Moon Cay and when we went to the Excursions desk, around 12:30, all the cabanas were rented.
Good location, not many people walking by; plenty of closet space