Wow! I just returned from my first cruise last night. It was 5 nights on the Navigator of the Seas. I loved it! (I'm having a hard time getting my land legs back at this point. Everything still feels like it's moving.)
Anyway, to start, I and my 2 travel partners flew to Fort Lauderdale the day before the cruise and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Airport/Cruise Port. I highly recommend staying there if you are planning to cruise out of Port Everglades. The rooms are nice sized and clean. They serve a deluxe continental breakfast which is a great way to start off your day before boarding. (It started my week long love affair with food, that's for sure!) The hotel has a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel. They also have a free shuttle from the hotel to the cruise port. Ask them for the number of their taxi/transportation company they use and call them for transportation when you return to Fort Lauderdale. They will take you from the cruise port to the airport for $7 per person. I can't remember the name of the company, but the owner's name is Kendt (pronounced Kent). Ask for Angel to drive you if he's available. Nice kid.
Embarkation was a very smooth process. We got there about 11 and that worked great! There weren't very many people there at that time so we were some of the 1st people on the ship. We got our luggage several hours before dinner. Debarkation was very smooth too, though it did take a bit longer as we had to stand in lines getting off.
Great view, plenty of room, tons of storage space, quiet location, LONG walk to the dining hall and other restaurants.