We flew into Miami on Easter Sunday and stayed at the Hampton Inn Miami/Brickel-Downtown (50 SW 12th St). We've stayed there before and truly enjoy this hotel that has been open for about a year. The rooms are spacious, the comp breakfast is appetizing and the hotel is an easy 10 minutes to the Port of Miami by taxi($25)or shuttle ($8 pp). There are many good restaurants with a wide range of prices and types within easy walking distance.

We checked most of our luggage (intended for the following weeks Trans Atlantic cruise) with the hotel and grabbed the shuttle to the port with a shoulder bag and wheeled carry on, each.

We arrived at the port about noon and were quickly whisked through the empty waiting lanes. A friendly greeter directed us to an even friendlier check in clerk who completed her work quickly and efficiently. She directed us to a side room to obtain a wheel chair for my wife. There were already 3 ladies waiting for assistance and no Royal Caribbean employees. I seated my wife and went to find assistance. I found someone in a small back office who relayed my request by cell phone for 1 chair for my wife and 3 chairs for the ladies. Read more