We are a married couple, who has sailed on many Transatlantic cruises previously, but this was our first cruise with HAL.
Pre-cruise: We stayed the night before at Holiday Inn Express Fort Lauderdale Airport South. A good hotel with free shuttle service from/to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. And for a fee, shuttle service to the cruise port.
Embarkation: Went smoothly.
Our cabin had a nice veranda.