We flew into Fort Lauderdale the day before our cruise and took a short cab ride to the Embassy Suites, a very busy but comfortable hotel with a nice manager's reception and a very good breakfast. There are many restaurants and shops within easy walking distance. We were planning to take a cab to the port but the hotel shuttle service for $8 pp was well organized and much more user friendly than other shuttles we have used. Hotel and shuttle rated A.
We left the hotel at 11:00 am and boarded the ship at 11:30. It was the easiest boarding we have had to a cruise ship. Rating A+
We had a nice buffett lunch and had access to our cabin about 1:30 pm.