This is an EXTREMELY LONG review with many details that may not interest everyone. CD - Matt was awesome-ports were great-staff phenomenal and food was delish!! December 2 Friday 2am Day Before our Cruise I woke up at 2 am, one-half hour before the alarm was to go off....I felt the adrenaline rush although I was on around 3 hours sleep!! Our friend picked us up at 4am and to airport by 4:15. While waiting for our 6am flight a woman sitting alone must have heard me mention cruising (imagine that) and she informed me she was leaving Miami for her first cruise with RCCL on Sunday. It was a last minute fill in for someone and she was excited. We spoke of cruising, I told her she would love it and become addicted. Found out we were staying at the same hotel in Miami - Holiday Inn Bayside.

Our flight went off without a hitch around 6am and we were in Miami by noon. After gathering our luggage we went outside to grab a cab and alas ran into the woman we met at Rochester Airport and her friend from Albany and since we were going to the same hotel we talked about splitting a cab! Right away we saved $10!!

We arrived at HI around 12:45 and since I HAD TO have a port side room with a great view, I was told our room would not be ready for another 1/2 hour. I was not happy, but check-in really was not supposed to be until 3pm. After 1/2 an hour passed, I went back up to desk and was told I had another 1/2 hour wait....by now I was NOT happy. Took a picture of the Christmas tree in the lobby and waited some more. In our room around 2:15 and like everything else to come, well worth the wait. The views from our 10th room floor (room 1005) were awesome and we dropped off our bags and headed to Bubba Gumps for something to eat. Read more