We traveled by bus from mid state NY to the port, no hotel needed.
Ship is beautiful, embarkation easy (did everything online ahead of time).
Views from 270 are amazing, lines for the North Star long, we never experienced it.
Cabin was roomy and clean, glad we didn't choose deck 6, never been on a ship with lifeboats that are so obstructive to the view.
We have been here before so we decided just to go to the beach.
Took a bus to the recommended "Hell". Are the promoters for real, there is nothing there besides the post office (which was closed) and 3 tiny shops of which 2 were open.
Pouring rain just made it to the shops at the port, everyone had a good time at senior frogs
Was advised not to go out of the gate, so we stayed and went in to a few shops, stopped in to Margaritaville.