I should preface this review by explaining that my wife and I love to travel and our preferred mode of travel is by cruiseship. We have travelled far and wide around the world and if there is one thing that we have learned from this is that the more one travels the more one realizes how much more there remains to be seen in the world. I feel sorry for people who don't enjoy travel and I also feel sorry for people who wait until they are too old to enjoy their travel experiences.

We live on a small Gulf Island near Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Our neighbors (for 6 months each year) spend their winters at their home near Galveston, Texas. We visited with them in Galveston prior to flying on to Ft. Lauderdale where we stayed for another few nights at the Marriott Hollywood Beach Hotel. This is a lovely new hotel right on the beach and it is only a short cab ride to the pier at Port Everglades.

Embarkation was absolutely painless. A very professional (older) staff had us onboard 10 minutes after arrival! The quickest and smoothest handling ever. 'Nuff said. Read more