We don't repeat ships and have cruised various lines - Celebrity (our favorite up until now), RCCL (next year again), Norwegian (bad), MSC (worse), Carnival (our first 30 years ago). This particular trip we went the two of us.

We drove to FLL and parked away from the port. This was an experiment for us and we would definitely do it again. It is not only cheaper but you don't have to deal with the line of cars coming out of the parking ramp. This area is shared by the MSC Poesia and it is also a large ship.

We arrived at 11:30, were given the number 8, led through security and then seated. At 12:15 they started boarding the handicapped and vips and then calling numbers. Check in is then according to the deck and lines were short and quick. At 1:00 we were on board and allowed to go to our rooms. Very painless albeit boring. Read more