My husband and I did the seven-day Western Caribbean aboard the Westerdam December 2-9. It was our third time to visit the Caribbean in three years and our second Westerdam sailing.

We flew Delta from Knoxville to FLL with no problems, and stayed at the Marriott Renaissance near Total Wine and the port. HAL has a generous 'bring aboard' policy for wine and we always pick up a bottle or two before a cruise. We ate at a nice little Italian restaurant near the hotel and had breakfast at Panera before sailing. It's a quick trip to the port from the hotel by cab. (We've tried other near-by hotels often favored by cruisers, but found that they are tired and dated; we enjoyed the Renaissance much more.)

Embarkation was quick and easy and our cabin was ready when we boarded. We were in SA 7076 which is mid-ship. The cabin and veranda are large with lots of storage, the bed, pillows, and linens comfortable as always, and the separate shower and spa tub were a nice touch. We were close enough to the Neptune Lounge to access to quick snacks and good coffee. Late in the cruise we had an hour or so of plumbing problems (the toilet wouldn't flush), but it was quickly dealt with. Read more