I flew from Atlanta to Ft. Lauderdale the day before the cruise and stayed at the Rodeway Inn ($62.50), had dinner at the hotel's restaurant, and had the best prime rib I've had in a long time. The hotel was a perfectly nice place to stay and was chock full of people waiting to board the Infinity and a Holland American ship departing the same day.

After the complimentary continental breakfast, Rodeway personnel urged us to take the early (9:30) shuttle to the Port despite notification from Celebrity that because of the budget sequestration, there would be delays in disembarkation, and therefore embarkation, so we should not show up for boarding until 12:30 rather than 10:30, the time originally scheduled. The Rodeway guys told us that the cruise lines always said that, but that unless the lines notified the hotels to the contrary, we would save a lot of time and tribulation by showing up at the originally appointed hour, especially in light of the fact that four thousand or more people would be boarding the two ships that day.

About 20 of us took Rodeway's advice, got to the Port at about 9:45 and waited for 45 minutes until the doors opened precisely on time and as (originally) scheduled. Because of Rodeway's good advice, embarkation went smoothly. Once past security, which was pleasant compared to what must be endured before boarding a plane, we were guided by Celebrity to the appropriate sections of the waiting area. Boarding started shortly after 11:00. Suite passengers boarded first, then Aqua Class, then Concierge class. I was in a Concierge class cabin and boarded at about 11:15, so don't know the remaining order of boarding. Read more