Our family just returned from our first cruise. We are both in our mid-thirties and were celebrating our 10th anniversary. We travelled with our children, ages 7 and 5. We drove from Alabama and spent the night at the Radisson at the Port in Cape Canaveral, FL. The two-room suite was great and with the military rate, free transportation to the port, free parking, and pick up after the cruise it was a great deal. Currently the earliest that the shuttle will take you to the port is 11:30, so make sure that you are signed up for that shuttle if you stay there.
Embarkation went smoothly and the lines were long but moved quickly. Within 30 minutes of getting in line we were on the ship. After passing through security your first line is where you present your tickets and passports or birth certificated and picture ID. After than you go to another line and get you keys (sign and sail cards). After picking those up it is a walk up a hallway to have your picture taken and then across the gangway you go to board the ship. When you enter the lobby they have you look into a small camera that takes a picture for security purposes.
After coming on the ship we headed up to find our cabins. We booking two balcony cabins, side by side, on deck 9, the Lido Deck. Cabins 9293 and 9289 are the last two cabins on the port side before you walk out to the pool area. We loved the location. So close to the pools, slide, hot tubs, buffet, and pizza...all without having to leave our deck. I was concerned about noise from the pool area, but the only time it was a problem was when the door to our hallway was left open and the live band was playing. Other than that it was great. We would book these rooms again.