This was my very first cruise. My parents took me on this trip as a graduation gift for just having earned my MLIS. I'd always wanted to go on a cruise but never gave it real consideration until the 'what would you like for graduation' question was posed by my parents. They had both been on cruises before and suggested that as it would be a celebratory occasion we should take a cruise. It was truly a family affair as seven of us, yes seven, embarked on my graduation cruise. Our party included my 26 year old brother, my grandmother, both parents, and my cousin and her 14 month old. While my parents (3128) had adjoining rooms with the other members of the party (3126), my brother and I roomed at the opposite end of the ship (3000). For my first cruise, I was very happy with the experience.
~Departure/First Day - September 6, 2008, Port Everglades~
I had no idea what to expect. On our flight down earlier in the morning the plane was practically full of individuals also going on the cruise. Upon our arrival at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport we realized that we had not made transportation arrangements from the airport to the port. No biggie, the process was actually a very smooth one with no waiting. We had our luggage within just a few minutes of disembarking the plane and as the Ft. Lauderdale airport must clearly be used to cruise goers, the long line of available taxis ($15 per taxi) made the short trip to the port an easy one. I was surprised at how quick the process was and how streamlined the process one. Later I'd come to realize that it likely had to do with us going on the cruise on a Saturday and the luck of it being hurricane season and the ship being the only one at the port that day.
More than adequate closet space for two people. Small but quaint bathroom. Rooms are small but more than sufficient. Really terrific view. The noise from the raising and lowering of the anchor may be bothersome to some. Very quite area of the ship.