BACKGROUND INFO: Family of eleven embarks on second family cruise. Members are as follows: my Great Grandma (GG), a youthful 87; my Grandma (GMA), 65; my Grandpa (GPA), 67; my Great Aunt (GA), 53; my Uncle (UD), 42; his kids, ages 11 (boy) and 13 (girl); my Mom, 44; my Dad, 43; my boyfriend, 26; and myself, 23.

It's a long list. I might mention that cruising is the only possible vacation option when ALL of us are going because of the variety of activities/dining options it provides. We love each other and enjoy each other's company, but a week in a resort with all 11 of us would be certain hell.

HOTEL INFO: We flew out of Detroit on the day before embarkation. We always do this, because we find it's much less stressful than panicking about missing a flight, losing luggage, etc. It also gives us more travel-recovery time so our first day on the cruise isn't wasted in bed. We flew Delta with no problems. We stayed at the Coral Gables Miracle Mile in four rooms, which I got on Priceline for $70 apiece about five weeks before the cruise. They had an airport shuttle. The hotel was just fine for us; it was a little old, so therefore a bit shabby, but the employees were nice and the rooms were clean. The hotel was within walking distance to the Miracle Mile, which features many shops and restaurants. The restaurants we found were mostly upscale, and since we still were in our traveling sweats, we settled for Jimmy John's. Read more