A friend found a Groupon that successfully teased us with double occupancy for under $200. We opted for the slightly more expensive Oceanview room, but with taxes and port fees (about $67 each) we were still able to get on for under $100 per person per night. Knowing this price and that the Grand Celebration launched in 1986, we weren't expecting much going into it.

We arrived at the Port of Palm Beach around 3 PM. They had plenty of staff up front to valet our vehicle. We grabbed our luggage and brought it up on the curb to get tagged. We then went inside the Port of Palm Beach toting our tagged luggage, which is where someone finally takes it from you. Getting through security was quick and followed by a stop to fill out a charge authorization form. Everyone was a little cramped looking for a flat surface to write on, so this process can be improved if Bahamas Paradise adopted more current technology by encouraging the form to be completed online in advance. Not unlike other cruises, we showed our ID to get cards issued that have the dual purpose of identification and onboard charging. The wait was short and followed by offers for excursions, drink packages, and dining reservations. We'll get to those in a bit.

We strolled on board and, like other smaller ships, there was a minimal wait to catch an elevator to our assigned floor. We found our Oceanview stateroom and was pleasantly surprised by the size of both it and the adjoined bathroom. Nothing huge, but more than we had expected for the price. Everything was clean and stateroom attendant Garry greeted us and ensured us that he would take care of everything. We dropped our carry-on bags and went to find something to eat. Read more