I would like to preface this review by saying: I understand and sympathize with the effect that Hurricane Matthew had on all of the Bahamas. This is not meant to downplay the suffering of those involved, merely to outline how this affected our travels, and why I feel it might have been handled differently on Royal Caribbean's part.

I chose a 4-night cruise, as I was traveling with my boyfriend, and this was his first time on a ship. The already short trip, with two ports of call promised, was shortened even further when Hurricane Matthew tore its way up the east coast. The scheduled Thursday-night departure was pushed back to Friday due to Port Miami's closure. From what I understand, many other ships departing that week had revised itineraries due to the storm's effect on the east Caribbean, and I'll go more into that one later.

After exhaustive research, we decided on Port of Miami's parking, and I recommend the same for anyone else driving to port. There are simply no other safe alternatives, and the higher premium is worth your peace of mind. Check-in, security, and boarding was quick and easy. I want to note here that I really like RC's SeaPass cards; they are a really easy method of identification, payment, and room access throughout the trip. Read more