Having a very active Cruise Critic Roll Call will probably contribute to many reviews and comments regarding this cruise.

Last June we started the 1/27/2008 roll call. We had 1330 posts and 13,800 views. Over 50 CC members signed up for out "Meet & Greet" and met in the Crow's Nest right after the Muster Drill. Westerdam's Beverage Manager, Hans Becker, hosted our meeting and provided hospitality that far exceeded our expectations. We strongly recommend organizing a CC Meet & Greet. It is amazing how meeting 50 or so people early in the cruise turns an anonymous group of people into a community of friendly faces.

Our vacation started a few days earlier flying into Orlando from NH and driving to Fort Lauderdale 2 days before departure. After reviewing the prices for wine if purchased on board we decided to bring our own. The Total Wine store on 17th Street near the Embassy Suites has the most remarkable selection of wine we have ever seen. The prices are amazing. We thought that wine prices here in NH were low but Total Wine beats them by far. We bought a mixed case of red and white for about $130 that would have cost $500 on board. We packed them in a small rolling case and had no trouble carrying them on board. In fact the security checker indicated she would like to join the party. I might add that I bought a liter bottle of Skye Vodka on board for about $25. This is a decent price and not worth trying to smuggle hard liquor aboard. Read more