I'm just going to hit some highlights here! We are a couple in our 50s who love both going to ports and relaxing on the ship.

Pre-Cruise Hotel: We stayed at Four Points by Sheraton in Cocoa Beach and it was awesome. A little "boutique" type of chain hotel with a restaurant that had a large fish tank with a shark in it. There is also the Cocoa Beach Surf Company (selling beach stuff, surfboards, etc.) and a Starbucks. Across the driveway is another part of the CBSC that rents surfboards, chairs and umbrellas for the beach and gives surfing lessons. The pool is a little weird because it is at the edge of the parking garage, but it worked for us.

Embarcation: Terminal One makes this a breeze. We got to the Avis around 9:45 and expected to wait until at least 11 for a ride to the port, but they had a shuttle ready to go at 10. We got to the port about 10:15 and got all checked in. They started boarding at 11 and by 11:15 we were sitting by the pool having a drink. Rooms were ready right at one. Read more