Summary: The last time we cruised on a Grand-class ship, the food was disappointing and the dining room/buffet staff provided excellent service. This time, the situation was reversed. That said, we had a great time and will probably cruise with Princess again if they have an itinerary we want that's cheaper than what Celebrity offers.
About us: My boyfriend (BF) and I are a forty-something couple, who were cruising with a his 80+ year old parents (one of whom -- Papa -- has mobility limitations). We love cruising as a family, because no one has to worry about planning meals or entertainment, and we can all do our own activities during the day and meet up for dinner. When I cruise, I plan everything to the max and then "escape completely" when on board.
Hotel Info: We stayed at the Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Airport South, where I found rooms DIRT CHEAP on Priceline. The hotel had a free shuttle from the airport, was located near a shopping center, and provided transportation (for a fee) to the cruise terminal. The free airport shuttle dropped us off at a restaurant in the shopping center, but the center would have been easily walkable for three of us.
Food was greatly improved from our experience on the Star a few years ago. The service had gone down hill considerably.