This was my third cruise on RCI and the eight cruise total, but the best one yet. We arrived in Ft. Lauderdale on Friday the 20th of February, 2015 and it was 65 degrees. Took a cab to the Pelican Grand Noble hotel at 2000 N. Ocean Blvd., cost about $40.00 with tip. The hotel was just beautiful, right on the ocean but very chilly, but coming from Chicago we are used to that. We stayed at the hotel for 2 nights and left on Sunday the 22nd of February, 2015. This was the first time that we had actually gotten a phone call to tell us by what deck you were staying what time you could embark on the ship and ours was deck 6, #6624 and we could embark at 3:00. We have always gotten on the ship at about 12:00, so I thought this was so odd, needless to say we still checked out of our hotel and took a taxi, about $30.00 and got to the pier at about 12:00. I think that RCI is the best cruise company for embarking the ship, the seamless one yet. We are a group of 4 with 2 people needing wheel chair assistance and we usually have such trouble getting on the ship with much confusion in where we should stand to receive this assistance. This was the second time that RCI made it very uncomplicated and not confusing at all. We were booked in and on the ship by 12:45 and sitting at the Windjammer buffet by 1:00 and able to get into our rooms by 1:15.

We had a handicapped balcony room, which was very beautiful on deck 6 and had our suitcases by 3:00. We unpacked and went down to deck 4 for the muster drill. The first night we ate in the dining room and the food was just wonderful, our head waiter Prakash and assist. waiter George and we had second seating at 8:30 in the Romeo and Juliet dining room on deck 3. The first day on Feb. 23 was a sea day and a day to roam around the ship, it's just beautiful, especially the Royal Promenade. The second day, Feb 24 we pulled into Grand Cayman and had to use tenders to get off the ship. We decided to do the excursion of the amphibious bus which did land and sea. We were supposed to meet at the theatre at 8:00 which we did and they started to call the tours out of the theatre. Ours tour was at 8:30 and they did not call us out of the theatre until last at 8:20. We made our way to deck 1 and out to the tenders. We finally made to the island which only took about 10 minutes and made it off the tender. We found the coordinator that told us that our tour may have already left. He finally found the tour and they already had their ladder picked up but we made it. This was the only part of the cruise that was not so hot. I think the coordinator could have done a better job with the tours and paid more attention to the times of each tour. He made us feel like we were to blame and we did everything right according to what they wanted us to do. The tour took us thru town and they proceeded to go into the ocean, which freaked me out a bit. It was very interesting and they went as far and a bit around the ships in the ocean which parked about a mile out. It was well worth the money.

The third day, Feb. 25 we pulled into Falmouth Jamaica. We did not have an excursion planned but right off the ship and across the dock is a nice little outdoor shopping mall with lots of little shops to buy souvenirs and lots of jewelry shops. The weather was just perfect and we had a lovely day shopping. The fourth day, Feb 26 was a sea day and we just spent it relaxing. The fifth day, Feb 27, we pulled into Coco Cay, Bahamas and it was by tender again. We did not get off the ship that day but just spent it relaxing for the final day and packing. Another beautiful day! The last day, Feb 28 was disembarkation day and we pulled into Ft. Lauderdale at about 5:00 a.m. So interesting to sit on the balcony and watch them pull into the dock, so quiet and peaceful. We chose to get off the ship the earliest time at 7:30 a.m. and we had to meet at the Bolero's lounge at 7:00 for wheel chair assistance to get off the ship. This is usually where each cruise line drops the ball and does not get us off when they say. I have to say this was the best disembarkation I have ever been involved in. They had us off the ship by 7:30, thru customs and terminal and in a taxi going back to the airport by 7:45. I was very impressed. this was the first time with any cruise they we actually got off when they said we would. Read more