We arrived in Fort Lauderdale 2 days prior to sailing and stayed at Springhill Suites in Dania Beach. We have stayed at this location several times prior and like the location, the breakfast buffet that is included, the fact that they pick you up at the airport and also transport you to the port at no charge. Of course, tips are always appreciated!
While in Fort Lauderdale, we grabbed a taxi to Hollywood and enjoyed a car show and some shopping before jumping on the trolley ($1.00 per person) to go the beach. It was a Sunday and the beach was quite busy. We enjoyed people watching and some appetizers and drinks before going back to the hotel.
We were anxious to get to the port and arrived at 11:00 AM. The check in went very quickly. I like that they now take your photo when checking in instead of making you wait in another line before boarding. It really sped the process up.
We selected this cabin for the convenience and proximity to the stairs and elevators. It was on the second deck so we just had to go down one deck to get off at the ports which was a bonus coming and going. When we came back onboard we just dropped our bags at the cabin and headed to "our" spot near the pool! The cabin was as expected. I liked the new décor, especially the curtains! The restroom had plenty of storage. We did not have a mini fridge but our cabin attendant had put one in place due to our diamond status.