bajathree

Those traveling will need to show their passports and the driver their DL. You will be asked if you have any weapons and they may ask to pop the trunk....thats about it. As for entrance it all depends which direction you are heading to the port from. I would try to avoid the 17th street entrance.

Look at the Tampa Marriott Water Street...it will check all the boxes you are looking for.

Moderate....the aft facing CLS are defiantly in an active zone....similar to the boardwalk balconies. As mentioned in a prior post there is also a lack of privacy on the balcony and inside the cabin when the curtains are open. If it's quiet and calm you are looking for then look at the side ocean facing CLS's.

Park at the port for convienience and ease. There are some outside port options but they have raised pricing that it's really not worth it. One word....driving to the port has become very popular since the restart and many more people are now driving...so advise get to the port earlier than later to avoid having to park in overflow parking.

Windjammer will have hamburgers and hotdogs.

I have stayed dead center in a rear facing CLS and never remember it being overly noisy with the slider closed....and I am a light sleeper.

Defiantly weather...I have been on ships that skipped Nassau due to winds and on others that were a very rocky ride approaching...enough that they even tossed Oasis class ships around.

You can usually find the Riverside at a pretty good discount rate on Hotwire under their "hot rate". Just look under downtown-Las Olas area under 3.5 star hotel.

And there you go 😉

I don't know about that....even though they say they don't.....don't kid yourself...the cruise lines work with certain large market TA's more than others. My best guess on seeing no availability this far out is that it's being held up in block space by TA's.

Like stated above...it's now completely online from what I have heard.

Don't have a time frame for you but I just recently saw it reported that you can now renew your passport online....finally!!!

Just last month we came into FLL for an Odyssey sailing...I was just behind the Embassy Suites/Publix plaza on Miami Rd. A tow truck cut us off as we were driving down Miami Rd...he then backs up to block us ...got out of his truck screaming at us for no reason ...cursing and threatening us....I had to drive over the sidewalk and grass to get around him. This happened in the middle of the afternoon around 2PM. I wouldn't want to walk around the 17th area in the evening for sure....and similar to your husband I am 6'2" and a big guy...that is a sketchy area of FLL.

These are the crime statistics of 17th street area which is in the Harbordale/Poincina Park area of Fort Lauderdale https://www.areavibes.com/fort+lauderdale-fl/harbordale/crime/ https://www.areavibes.com/fort+lauderdale-fl/poinciana+park/crime/

There are a number of differences. Most notably on Ultra Class they went back to a unified main dining room where Quantum Class had the dreaded separate dining rooms from when Royal was going through their period of toying with doing away with traditional main dining....that flopped and died very fast. Ultra is slightly larger. Ultra added the sky pad with glass floor walkway around it. Ultra class added a dedicated Teppanyaki. Odyssey also did away with the indoor family pool making it open air.

I also didn't like Quantum when I sailed on it when it very first came out....however I love Odyssey. Odyssey is an "Ultra" Quantum class ship.

Lived in FLL for several years. I would get off 17th street if possible....it's really not the best location in FLL...seedy touristy area....there are much nicer locations in FLL.

All I can say is that Port Canaveral isn't cheap parking. I recently did a 3 night sailing from there and was shocked what it cost for parking for such a short sailing.

Yea...I was just recently watching a You Tube video review of the Brightline saying I wish we had that here in Tampa as a choice to travel to FLL/Miami....I would defiantly use it.

Since you are only doing 1 night I wouldn't choose this hotel if the beach is important to you as it's about 2 miles to the sand. The Las Olas area would be for many dining and bars offered. If the beach is your thing then look at something more like the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. which is 50 feet from the sand.

I haven't been on one but living in Ft Lauderdale I can tell you there are many to choose from. I cant give a recommendation to one but if you do a google search I am sure you will find much info and choice.

Odyssey and that 8 night southern is a favorite.

Defiantly sea days. I would only pick the first night of the sailing for specialty dining if you are getting the BOGO deal.

Agree...Riu day pass is absolutely not worth it.

I have to totally agree. I used to always do My Time but have switched to traditional since restart. The last few sailings on the last few ships I have been on in the past year...the MTD lines have been backed up out the dining room to the staircase/elevators.